OETG draws up agency hit list

MARCH 2010 - Written by Michael Bruce, Travel Today

Orient Express Travel Group has drawn up a hit list of travel agencies as it revealed plans to grow the 1ndependence brand to 150 members.

It comes as OETG continues to bed down improved technology systems in the wake of its deal with Consolidated Travel last year. Consolidated owner Spiros Alysandratos, through his investment vehicle CTG, purchased a 50% stake in OETG (Travel Today, August 27).

A hit list of around 100 agencies has been drawn up across five states. There are currently 65 members in the 1ndependence brand.

“We’ve got a finite list of GDS expiry dates and agency affiliations,” OETG chief executive Tom Manwaring said.

Business development managers will hone in on agencies whose franchise is up for renewal. “We are trying to cherry pick another 100 agents. Up until now those agents have chosen us,” he said.

BDMs are using two selling points to drive deals – the scale of OETG and the access to improved technology through the relationship with CTG.

“We will look to get to 100 to 150 agents for 1ndepence, agents everywhere from Bunbury to Ballarat,” he said.

Manwaring said the group is close to reaping the full benefits of its partnership with CTG. He admitted the two companies were likely to eventually share the same back office system. “At some stage there will be a similar backbone. Whether it’s all of it or some of it, that’s yet to be determined,” he explained. He said the group was still assessing the best technology system to take it to the “next level”.

1ndependence has waived its $250 joining fee until January 2011.

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Franchise models outdated: OETG

MARCH 2010 - Written by Michael Bruce, Travel Today

Franchise models in the travel industry are outdated and in need of an overhaul, the boss of Orient Express Travel Group has said.

Speaking to Travel Today, chief executive Tom Manwaring said the current franchise models are “over-complicated” and lack transparency.

Members are being asked to pay up to thousands in franchise fees without a clear indication of what they are getting in return, he explained.

“The models that are there at the moment are stuck in the 80s and 90s,” Manwaring said. “Travel franchise systems have never been clearly explained to the holder or the consumer. Outside of Flight Centre (Escape Travel), have they really been successful?”

Manwaring said transparency should be the key selling point, with members confused about where their dollars are going.

“It doesn’t help me if I’m sitting in Ballarat and ads are running in the Perth Times,” Manwaring said.

The challenge was to come up with a model that rewards members with profits while encouraging them to direct business to a single point.

Manwaring admitted that OETG looked at the franchise model for its 310-strong Select network in the past, but ruled it out as many Select members are located in the same street.

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Wings Travel Melb win’s OETG-SIA Honda

FEBRUARY 2010

 

Select agency Wings Travel Melbourne last night (Tues Feb 23) won a Honda Jazz car in a Singapore Airlines – Orient Express Travel Group promotion run through OETG’s Express Ticketing over the June-December period.
 
Wings Travel was in the draw for the car for selling more than $50,000 worth of Singapore Airlines tickets.
 
The draw was at last night’s Chinese New Year dinner staged by OETG for its Select Group agents in New South Wales.
 
Holiday Xperience Travel, Melbourne won the draw for second prize – two firm business class tickets on Singapore Airlines to any on-line destination – for recording SIA sales of $30,000 while Seniors Holiday Travel, Brisbane won the third prize draw -- two firm economy class tickets on Singapore Airlines to any online destination – for qualifying with $10,000 in sales. Every $50,000, $30,000 and $10,000 respectively was eligible for an entry in the draw.
 
As the event was a New South Wales agency event, none of the winners were present.
 
Subhas Menon, Singapore Airlines Regional Vice President and Dale Woodhouse, Singapore Airlines Sales and Marketing Manager, drew the winning agencies.
 
OETG CEO Tom Manwaring said "Singapore Airlines commitment to the promotion was the airline’s recognition of the scale and importance of OETG’s Select group within the large Asian market in Australia".
 
“This was a fabulous prize and we really appreciate Singapore Airline’s approach to the business partnership with us,” he said.

 

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OETG 1ndependence Push

FEBRUARY 2010

 

Orient Express Travel Group’s 1ndependent buying group for independent agents is being expanded to include a centralised hotline for sales and ticketing enquiries 1300 163 367 in the Express Ticketing office in Adelaide.

Higher levels of service, additional resources, products, competitive prices and commissions have been allocated to the 1ndependence brand.  To benefit immediately, OETG will be waivering the $250 joining fee until January 2011 for qualifying agents.

OETG says the benefits of membership included full agency independence through Express Ticket  and Express Fares promotions and product offering, 24-hour access to automated Express Ticket for all GDS systems (Sabre, Galileo and Amadeus) across specific carriers on a 24/7 basis, priority tickets and quotes turnaround, access to OETG’s competitive preferred airline agreements, competitive rebates and incentives and the latest industry specials, fares and promotions published daily and transmitted directly to members through www.1ndependence.com.au.

CEO Tom Manwaring said OETG would soon announce details of its first ‘Independence Partner Meeting’, within Australia, in October-November.

“It will be the first of an annual gathering for our 1ndependence brand,” he said. “Both our agents and partner airlines have requested this forum, to advance knowledge and profit opportunities.”

Wholesaler brands Orient Express Holidays, Cathay Pacific Holidays, Transglobal Destinations, Freestyle Holidays, Rail Plus and Royal Caribbean Cruises are also available to members.

This is the first significant marketing initiative undertaken for 1ndependence, and follows the recently announced upgrades for Express Ticketing and Express Fares, said Mr Manwaring.

“Centralising it in Adelaide where we also operate our Round the World desk is recognition that we plan to grow this side of our business,” he said.

As well as the Select and 1ndependence buying groups which access Express Ticketing and Express Fares, OETG operates wholesaling brands Cathay Pacific Holidays, Orient Express Holiday and Transglobal Destinations, corporate travel business Orient Express Travel Corporate, the GSA business of Mercury Silver Aviation, and Express Events Group which manages travel arrangements for conference and event planners.

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Major OETG Expansion

JANUARY 2010

 

Orient Express Travel Group has launched an upgraded version of its Express Ticketing system, expanding it with four additional airlines and also giving access to Galileo travel agents.

The upgrade also includes more Cathay Pacific and Vietnam Airlines destinations, as well as nett European fares on Singapore Airlines, in addition to the first time inclusion of Thai Airways, China Southern, Air China and China Eastern.

More than 50 carriers are now covered by the system, with OETG CEO Tom Manwaring saying Express Ticket 2.0 would “deliver new levels of efficiency for agents.”

As well as faster document validation and printing, other new features of the system include ‘Express Your Price’ in which agents can nominate and display their selling price on the client’s e-ticket receipt.

There’s also a same day void function and credit card payment facility, including multiple forms of payment.

OETG is continuing its growth after the formation of the company’s partnership with CTG Investments, led by Spiro Alysandratos of Consolidated Travel (TD 24 Aug).

Interests associated with the Alysandratos family also own 17% of Jetset Travelworld.