Lastminute to offer dynamic packaging to agents

Online dynamic packaging technology for travel agents is to be made available by lastminute.com this summer as the online retailer seeks to woo the trade for the first time. The company has recruited former Flight Centre commercial and marketing director Carol Dray to spearhead the as yet unnamed new service in the role of general manager. Flights from more than 100 scheduled airlines, two million charter seats, hotels and leisure activities will be available for agents to self-package. The self-packaging tool is being developed by lastminute.com subsidiary Holiday Autos in an effort to build on the car rental broker’s well-established links with agents. Holiday Autos was acquired by lastminute.com for almost £40 million last March. Lastminute will tap into its wholly owned brands including Med Hotels and flight consolidator Globepost to provide content for agents to create bespoke holidays for their clients. Lastminute.com vice-chairman and executive director Clive Jacobs said: “To survive in this changing market agents need to be able to offer customers the freedom to create their own unique holiday experience. Agents offer fantastic distribution possibilities for lastminute.com and when Holiday Autos was purchased that was seen as one of the key opportunities for the combined business.” Holiday Autos claims more than 70% of its business is transacted online.