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Sabre boss warns agents to get online
Agents should get an online presence before it is too late, according to Jeff Harmon senior vice president of Sabre Online Travel Solutions.
Mr Harmon said the launch of Opodo.co.uk yesterday served as a timely reminder for agents to establish their own web presence.
He told TravelMole: “I have been ringing an alarm bell for travel agencies to embrace the online market and I think the launch of Opodo supports that.”
According to research by NOP published yesterday Opodo offers some of the cheapest fares available in the market. But Mr Harmon said that it was not the case that traditional travel agents could not compete with travel internet firms with multi-million marketing budgets and cut-price fares.
He said: “It is the traditional travel agents who have the customers today which is why people like Opodo have to spend millions of pounds trying to lure them away. I am a veteran traveller and if I had the choice to book from an online faceless website to save £2 on a £100 fare, or go with my traditional travel agency, I would go with the name and service that I know.”
Sabre’s Online Travel Solutions division develops, customises and hosts e-Commerce platforms for travel agents and travel providers.
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