Anyone can sell travel and experienced agents should focus on consulting and niche markets, according to a travel technology expert.
Dolphin Dynamics CEO Roberto da Re told visitors to the Travel Technology Show in London that new staff from non-travel backgrounds could sell travel in a matter of days instead of months thanks to super user-friendly front end systems.
He said: “This is a reality. Travel suppliers can get people off the streets to sell travel and they can be up and running in no time. That may sound horrific to many of you here but it is happening. You do not need to be a specialist to sell travel.
“There are point-of-sale systems that we provide that allow anyone to sell travel and there is no need for GDS training. Staff just need to learn office policy and non technology related information and they are away.”
But he added that he did not think this was bad news for the travel trade.
“Those who are experienced in the trade are now freed up from doing basic stuff and can concentrate on complex itinerary planning and using their expertise to sell.”
by Dinah Hatch
