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With a trio of upgrades planned for this year, Travel Counsellors is continuing to invest in its technology offering. We take a look at the latest developments
Travel Counsellors has set its sights on refining its tech offering with a trio of upgrades planned for 2020, each first unveiled at the Travel Counsellors (TC) annual conference last November. We speak with Kirsten Hughes, Travel Counsellors’ UK boss, and digital strategy and innovation director Waseem Haq for the inside track on the company’s latest developments.
The first of the three enhancements is the recent rebuilding of the MyTC app. Since its introduction in 2016, more than 80,000 TC clients have downloaded the software for access to travel documentation and itinerary information.
“The upgrade sees the app now feature on multiple channels, including tablets and desktop computers, where it can be accessed via an online login,” says Haq.
“We believe this will lead to a conversion boost – the app has already led to an 18.4% conversions increase for quotes sent via MyTC.”
MyTC is now available on iOS for iPhone and Andriod devices too, meaning access to more smartphone features including software upgrades. New components of MyTC also include flight alerts, resolution upgrades and notifications when clients view quotes, allowing Travel Counsellors greater customer insight.
Phenix Itineraries for the Phenix dynamic package booking system will be available later in 2020, says Hughes. The technology will allow TCs access to, or the option to build, template itineraries, which can be stored or shared with fellow Travel Counsellors.
Once a TC has found the desired package, they will enter passenger details and travel dates for Phenix to find available options automatically in less than a minute.
“Our Travel Counsellors are currently putting together bespoke itineraries from the product already in Phenix,” Hughes explains. “We want to speed up the booking process by enabling our agents to load flights and accommodation in one click.”
The final innovation is the TC Recommendation Engine, which will enable TCs to suggest holidays based on their clients’ requirements using tags such as “beach”, “family” or “boutique” when it launches this spring.
“We want to offer the right results for the right dates to travel at the right price,” explains Hughes. “For less experienced agents, TC Recommendation Engine will give them the confidence to sell anywhere in the world.”
Lucy Althorpe, winner of Travel Counsellors’ Best Tech Adoption Award 2019, on how tech has boosted her business.
Big payoff: MyTC has allowed me to deliver quotes in the most presentable format. It also enables my clients to make payments on it, see my contact details and notify me when someone wants to book.
Doubled up: I’ve doubled my business using the app – sharing videos and images on it excites my customers more than a PDF itinerary ever would. When I’m working on a quote, the first thing I do is make sure clients download MyTC and log in.
Stay alert: Flight alerts are also great for reassuring customers – I had someone in Bali who knew their flight was delayed even before the airport staff did.
Coach and coffee: I’d recommend that new TCs visit online learning portal Coach. You can sit with a coffee and learn about anywhere in the world from your desk.
