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We want to work with you, says lastminute.com boss
Lastminute.com, the company famously set up to cut out the middle-man, has told Triton members that their business is vital to the company.
The online retailer was founded in 1998 to offer holidaymakers an alternative to booking on the high street, but in recent years it has bought traditional trade businesses, such as Holiday Autos, and changed tack because it needs agent support.
New chief executive Ian McCaig praised the efforts of Triton in joining forces to become a bigger grouping with more financial clout and said it wanted a long-term partnership with retailers.
“Lots of people are into the short-term, but our relationship needs to be long term. The trade accounts for one third of our business. It is very substantial and we want to grow it.
“When I wake up in the morning and think of the things I’m going to do, it’s not about solving the trade problem, but more about how we can grow that business.”
Just prior to claiming that he wasn’t in the business of casting aspersions on rivals, McCaig launched a thinly-veiled attack on Thomson, reading out a statement from the company about its plans to cut commissions to agents.
McCaig said the focus on technology should not become more important than considering the needs of the customer.
“The industry will change enormously and we have to focus much more on the customer. We’re all focused on the technology, but we can’t forget the customer.”
Report by Jeremy Skidmore (www.jeremyskidmore.com)
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