By Martin Kelly
Stella Travel Services boss Keith Stanley has promised a dramatic overhaul of the travel giant’s retail web strategy.
It will start with the relaunch of the Harvey World Travel website over the next few days, followed by a new Travelscene site soon after.
“You will see dramatic changes over the next six months,” says Stanley, who will elaborate on the Stella strategy at the TRAVELtech conference in Sydney on August 28.
Stanley says that in addition to the new Harvey World and Travelscene brand portals, each Stella agency franchisee will have individual websites.
He says they’ll be able to customise these sites within brand guidelines and, in an ideal world, create their own niche or speciality markets, whether location or skills based.
These sub-sites will also feature consumer booking tools using technology developed by Stella’s online outfit, Best Flights, enabling them to sell everything from air and accommodation through to cruises.
Stanley says these initiatives will arm its franchisees with the ammunition they need to compete online, while giving agents a “vested interest” in developing their own web-based businesses.
There are still a number of issues being worked through, including online product inventory and distribution, where there are significant discrepancies between some of the Stella brands, especially in accommodation.
For example, the Harvey World site uses Octopus Travel, while Best Flights accesses inventory from a range of suppliers including Need It Now and World Hotels.
This is an obvious consequence of the rapid acquisition-led growth of Stella, which controls 1400 retail and corporate outlets across three main brands – Harvey World Travel, Travelscene and Gullivers – plus numerous other businesses.
• To find out more on Stella, you can attend TRAVELtech, where Keith Stanley will be interviewed by TravelTrends.biz Director Martin Kelly.
Travel Trends: August 14, 2007
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Events
'REAL TIME - Sydney, March 30'
- When: March 30, 2012
- Where: Amora Hotel Jamison
- Program: Real Time
- Bookings: $499 + gst Early Bird
BOOK now to get the Early Bird rate for the No Vacancy accommodation industry conference in Sydney.
Real Time is the theme of No Vacancy 2012, reflecting the fact that we live in a world where everything happens now, or not at all.
In no business is this more obvious than tourism. Booking lead times are now measured in hours not days or weeks.
To succeed requires a new way of doing business, a fresh mentality and a fair amount of nerve.
The program is packed with the information you'll need to thrive in today's just-in-time world with a focus on distribution, marketing, innovation, consumers and technology.
Speakers confirmed so far include the following, and there are a few more on the way...
- Rachel Argaman, CEO, Toga Hospitality
- Dave Audley, Heading of Consulting, Experian Hitwise
- Quentin Briard, GM Australia & NZ, Club Med
- Daniel Bridges, Head of Travel, Trade Me (NZ)
- Julio Bruno, Global Vice President Sales, TripAdvisor
- James Cassidy, HomeAway.com.au
- Robbie Cooke, CEO, Wotif.com
- Will Deague, CEO, Art Series Hotels
- Dean Dransfield, Director, Dransfield Hotels and Resorts
- Bob East, CEO, Mantra Resorts
- Leah Lipman, Area Director Reveneue Management Australasia, IHG
- Simon McGrath, CEO, Accor Australia
- Bryon Merzeo, Analyst, STR Global
- Bernard O’Keefe, Group Online Marketing Manager, Hamilton Island
- Todd Parker, Founder, Parker Travel Collection
- Nikolai Pitchforth, Head of Online Travel, Google
- Brett Pointon, Founder, Oaks Hotels and Resorts
- Anton Stanish, GM, The Stayz Group
- Janet Wilson, Managing Director, Nationwide Hospitality
It'll be a great day. As usual, the focus will be on distribution, marketing, sales, innovation and technology for both hoteliers and Online Travel Agents.
Sponsors:
Returning September 17, 2012
The date has been set for TRAVELtech 2012 - Monday, September 17.
Meanwhile, thanks to everyone who attended TRAVELtech: Best of Enemies in Sydney recently.
It was a fantastic event, lots of fun with a touch of controversy.
Please check out the photographs or use this link to see great 360 degree panorama shots of the conference from Panedia.
TRAVELtech is Australia's original web travel, marketing and distribution event, featuring a compelling program, great speakers and fantastic networking.
No Vacancy Southeast Asia
Bangkok, July 2012
No Vacancy continues to evolve. After the success of No Vacancy Thailand, the 2012 event will expand to encompass Southeast Asia.
It'll still be held in Bangkok and Thailand remains central to No Vacancy's future in the region.
More news by early February. Meanwhile, some images have been posted of No Vacancy Thailand below.
The first Destination Online TNQ half-day conference has just been held in Cairns.
It was great - thanks to everyone who came and helped out.
And a message to anyone thinking about heading to TNQ, do it.
Fantastic place and you'd have to say a little under-rated right now.
SPEAKERS INCLUDED
- Richard Eastes, Director, VroomVroomVroom.com.au
- Brad Gurrie, GM Australia and SE Asia, Travelzoo
- Martin Kelly, Director, TravelTrends.biz
- Bryon Merzeo, Australian Manager, STR Global
- Christopher Northam, Area Operations Manager, Mantra Group
- Bernard O’Keefe, Group Online Marketing Manager, Hamilton Island
- Todd Parker, Managing Director, Parker Travel Collection
- Rush Pathak, Digital Manager, Tourism Tropical North Queensland
- Richard Tribe, Director, Ski.com.au
Sponsored by:
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