TravelMole Interview: Howard Frost, Travelink

Sunday, 08 Sep, 2003 0

Howard Frost, sales director of Travelink believes the tour operator systems provider could have ‘stolen a march’ on its competitors by signing a three year deal with Thomas Cook-backed UP Trips.

The deal will see Travelink providing reservations systems for the whole UP Trips portfolio, including its new component holiday brand, Cultura.

According to Mr Frost it is the “first time in 20 years” that a company within Thomas Cook UK has introduced a new reservations system. And he believes interest generated by the latest signing could lead to a lot more business for the firm.

Asked why operators such as Thomas Cook had been so reluctant to invest in new technology, Mr Frost told TravelMole: “I think there has been concern that there is no guaranteed return on investment. And in the last 12 months the industry has suffered as result of world events. Companies have been more concerned about covering their pay roll and investment in technology has taken a back seat. But in the last two or three months interest in technology has increased a considerable amount and it is really changing consumer buying habits that are driving that.”

Each of Cultura’s sales and reservations channels – including consumer and trade websites, Viewdata, a customer contact centre and sales team in Bradford along with Brighton-based commercial and marketing teams will be connected through Travelink.

Crucially the partnership will allow Cultura to sell different components of a holiday through Viewdata – which Mr Frost claimed could be an industry first.

He said: “People are more demanding. They might want to shorten or lengthen their trip or put in an extra excursion. It’s not been possible to do that before. What has been created with Cultura is almost a one stop shop where people don’t have to book a low cost flight and then go off somewhere else for the other components.”

See our previous stories:
08 Aug 2003 TravelMole Interview: David Jones, Travelink
23 Jan 2003Travelink poaches Anite client