Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Business travel agencies
3.
Global;
4.
Implant;
The following sections look at the role of business travel
agents and the different types of agents operating in
the industry.
5.
E-agent.
Each type has its own particular characteristics
and products, as the next sections of this unit
demonstrate.
Role
Independent
Business travel is concerned with providing products
and services for business people travelling to meetings,
attending conferences and conventions, and taking part
in trade fairs and exhibitions. It also includes incentive
travel, where holidays, short breaks and other travel
services are offered to members of staff as an incentive
to reach work targets.
Across the UK, there are many independent travel
agents that offer business travel arrangements. They
are not part of a national chain and are often managed
by the owner and a small team of staff. They may
be companies that deal exclusively with business
travellers, but are more likely to deal with both leisure
and business clients. Unlike national agents (see
below), independent travel agents are free to offer
their business clients travel services from a wide range
of suppliers. Independent business travel agents trade
on their ability to offer their clients a very personal
service, relying on word-of-mouth recommendation
from satisfi ed customers for extra business. As well
as being members of ABTA - The Travel Association,
many independent business agents join consortia such
as Advantage Travel or Worldchoice in order to benefi t
from supplier discounts, make useful business contacts
and to have their voices heard.
Business travel agencies are usually acting on behalf
of two parties when they undertake their work. They
are serving the needs of the customer, referred to as
the client, on whose behalf they are making the travel
arrangements. They are also an agent for the company
that is supplying the product. These companies are
known as 'principals' and include airlines, hotels and
car hire companies.
Business travel is an increasingly important industry,
since it is often 'high value tourism', earning hoteliers,
caterers, transport providers, travel agents and a host
of other companies signifi cant income. Business travel
is considered a high value industry because:
National
•
Clients often have to travel at short notice, meaning
that they are not able to take advantage of
discounted advance purchase rates;
These are UK-based companies that are part of a
national chain of travel agencies, such as Thomas Cook,
Co-op Travelcare and Thomson. These agencies deal
primarily with holidays and other leisure travel products,
but can meet the needs of business travellers as well.
Agencies that are located in parts of the country with
high concentrations of companies and a large business
community often generate a sizeable proportion of
their turnover from business clients. Organisations of
all sizes and in all sectors of the economy often need
their staff to travel on business. Sole traders, members
of partnerships, company directors, public sector
staff, junior and senior managers, all travel from time
to time on business. This could be in their local area,
elsewhere in the UK, to countries in continental Europe
or further afi eld. Business travel operates across all
•
Business
people
often
use
high
quality
accommodation;
•
Business travel invariably includes an element of
entertaining business clients;
•
Travel is often in upgraded services, e.g. business
class or fi rst class.
Business travel agencies can be divided into fi ve
distinct types:
1.
Independent;
2.
National;
