GIANTS gets name change and forms alliance
GIANTS announced it had struck an alliance to provide World Travel’s agency business services to GIANTS members as of July 1.
The company is also changing its name to Ensemble Travel.
Among the benefits of the alliance to GIANTS agents: technology services provided by a growing World Travel subsidiary called World Travel Interactive.
Agents will be able to heave customized agency Web sites created, participate in electronic marketing programs that can be customized, and join a new GIANTS extranet or members-only Web site.
“We will have specific content for members only and be able to communicate with all our members more effectively,” said GIANTS president and CEO Jack Mannix.
He said an improved profitability program is expected from the new alliance in addition to the existing profit sharing plan that paid out $5 million in 2002.
One addition will be a preferred airline override program operated by World Travel that GIANTS agents can participate in starting July 1. An after-hours, 24-hour customer service line will be another option.
Mr Mannix said some of the services such as the 24-hour customer line will add costs, but other features will be included in current membership charges.
The program, he said, was based on membership feedback. “It is a work in progress that will be upgraded and modified over time,” he said.
Mr Mannix said the new brand is the most visible step in a two-year evolution to strengthen its position.
He cited as a sign of a rebounding travel market the fact that the company has seen a nearly 50% increase in preferred supplier sales by its members in the first four months of 2004, compared to the same period in 2003.
GIANTS is a 1,600-member agency consortium formed in 1968. World Travel BTI is part of the Business Travel International conglomerate of 3,000 worldwide offices.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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