Operator survey to highlight distribution issues
Mark Bradbury told TravelMole why TOWARD Europe hopes its tour operator survey is one step towards solving distribution issues and waving goodbye to Viewdata.
Mr Bradbury (pictured), also RWA director business development, is chairing the working party dealing with “tour operator to distribution channel” issues. He told TravelMole: “We thought we ought to speak to operators to find out what challenges they face with distribution.”
“We have a fair idea already, but this survey will provide the quantitative information to back up the qualitative argument.”
Mr Bradbury says there are three main issues faced by operators over distribution. These are firstly, which channels to use – direct versus traditional versus intermediaries; secondly, choosing the right business model for each channel; and thirdly choosing the right technology.
“Clearly going forward over time, companies will no longer be using Viewdata.”
Operators can participate in the survey without being a TOWARD member, and will have access to results summary, but for the full results and to enable participation in a working group, operators should become a TOWARD member. Annual membership of TOWARD Europe is £2,000 for technology suppliers and £1,000 for operators.
TOWARD Europe is a European-wide organisation has been formed by tour operators and technology suppliers, with the aim of highlighting and solving distribution issues. To participate in the survey click here.
Read our previous stories:
18-Sept-2003 Profitability theme for next TOWARD event
20-June-2003 TravelMole Interview: Vic Macchio, executive director, TOWARD
04-June-2003 Operator participation is litmus test for TOWARD
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