NEWS CONFERENCE REPORT


The Travel Network Group Conference: A record 325 members attend consortium’s Beyond The Expected-themed forum. Ben Ireland and Samantha Mayling report from Budapest


Lisa Henning: unveiled new support for agents


Gary Lewis, The Travel Network Group


Group launches training and recruitment support


The Travel Network Group unveiled several initiatives to help members with recruitment and training.


The consortium’s new


Recruitment Service aims to save agents time by writing job descriptions, sifting through CVs, vetting applicants and conducting interviews. There will be a phone line for members to call for support. hief oerating offier isa Henning said it would save


“I want to give you the support to get some of that precious time back”


members 25% on the typical industry rate of recruitment. Henning also announced the


Training Services Academy, which will help members train new and eisting staff on seifi


Dynamics system replaces Honeycomb


The Travel Network Group has replaced its Honeycomb booking technology with a new system for dynamic packaging. Dynamics has been designed to help agents better incorporate sales of ancillaries and insurance, and includes a Google Maps tool. Agents, many of whom saw demonstrations of the system at the


conference, will be able to produce new-look documentation for customers with Dynamics, which went live on Monday. Chief executive Gary Lewis said the system was “bespoke” for members, and had been developed over the past three years. “This is not an off-the-shelf product,” he told Travel Weekly.


“The customer journey it helps members create and the range of product it has makes it the best technology in the industry.”


12travelweekly.co.uk28 March 2019


products and systems as well as customer service and marketing – with supplier business partners involved in some events. New staff will receive sales,


systems, marketing and customer service training during two or three-day events at the academy. Recruits will also be assigned a


more experienced ‘buddy’ agent, and given training in a live retail environment. The academy starts in May.


One-day refresher training, starting on June 3, will be available for existing staff to learn about new products and how to create business opportunities. There will be special training for those moving into senior management roles, beginning on May 8. The group will also host open


days for members at its Woking headarters he first will tae place on May 9. Henning said: “Each initiative is because you [members] have told me about not having enough time. I want to give you the support to get some of that precious time back.”


Senior staff take up new roles following board restructure


The Travel Network Group has restructured its board. Lisa Henning has been


promoted from group membership services director to chief operating officer, taking on all member- facing functions including membership, marketing, new booking platform Dynamics, Cruise Club Concierge and retail stores. Group commercial


director Vim Vithaldas has been promoted to chief commercial officer. He assumes responsibility for operations. PR and communications


director Alexis Coles-Barrasso (pictured) joins the board. Henning said appointing a


new head of marketing was an “absolute priority” after group marketing director Si Morris- Green left in February.


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