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The TravelMole Interview: Howard Frost, Travelink
Travelink Systems is set to announce “four significant signings” within the next few weeks according to its new sales director Howard Frost.
Mr Frost, who previously spent five years as marketing director at Anite Travel Systems, officially starts at tour operator systems provider Travelink today (July 1). He said that the new signings were an “endorsement” of the company’s existing windows technology as well as its new browser-based system, which gives operators remote access to the solution from multiple locations.
He told TravelMole: “It’s always important to get new clients. It brings new revenue to the business and because each new client has their own peculiarities it makes sure you continue to go forward by developing new products.”
Travelink has established a niche in the specialist and direct sell sectors where current customers include Elegant Resorts, Barwell Leisure and Ski Solutions. Mr Frost said that while this meant that there was not a total crossover between the clients Travelink and Anite were targeting, some conflict was inevitable. He added: “We will be going after some of the Anite client base.”
Mr Frost questioned his previous employer’s wisdom in purchasing FSS. Mr Frost told TravelMole: “From a strategic point of view I think it was the wrong thing to do. At the end of the day £10million is a lot of money to pay for that company. As an investment can they ever expect to get that money back?”
He claimed that while traditionally FSS and Anite would have tried to win clients from each other, the purchase now meant the combined company faced problems trying to expand their market share. “It makes it a difficult market for them,” he said.
See our previous stories:
26 Jun 2002: Former Anite marketing director Howard Frost joins Travelink
18 Apr 2002: Viewdata to stay, say industry heavyweights
04 Feb 2002: Anite/FSS merger under scrutiny
04 Dec 2001: Anite buys FSS Group
See previous TravelMole Interviews:
25-Jun-2002: Rob Wortham, RWA
17-Jun-2002: Paul Blackney, Worldspan
11-Jun-2002: Mark Jones, Online Travel Corporation
27-May-02: Oliver Hillel, UNEP
20-May-02: Keith Webber, Telewest
13-May-02: Mark O’Brien, Rosenbluth International
07-May-02: Alicia Gardner, Sabre
29-Apr-02: Carolyn Ezzell, Delta Air Lines
23-Apr-02: John Davis, Pegasus Solutions
15-Apr-02: Gregory Hunt, ABTA Arbitration Scheme
09-Apr-02: Stuart Winter, Atinera
03-Apr-02: Roberto Da Re, Dolphin Dynamics
26-Mar-02: Arnaud Debuchy, Amadeus
19-Mar-02: Helen Baker, Lastminute.com
12-Mar-02: Pat Minogue, Galileo
07-Mar-02: Jon Hart, MyTravel
28-Feb-02: Lawrence Hunt, Rapid Travel Solutions
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