Eamonn is going to be at the UMA Motor Coach Expo in Las Vegas during February 2010. If your at the expo and want to talk – contact Eamonn and arrange to meet up.
Eamonn is going to be at the UMA Motor Coach Expo in Las Vegas during February 2010. If your at the expo and want to talk – contact Eamonn and arrange to meet up.
We have an important update to the profile buider within TravelManager currently under development.
(click on the image to expand)
As you can see from the screenshot above. We have a new fleet tab and a rates tab. All of this data will be available through our API so Operators will be able to enter in all of their information into the solution to promote their fleet rates across the internet. Imagine being able to control your pricing across multiple websites through 1 simple to use interface.
You will be able to choose who and where your information is used – so you will be in full control of YOUR data.
You will also be able to use this data to generate real-time pricing both internally and online.
More information and screenshots over the coming weeks….
For the last few months we’ve been working with lead Motorcoach and Tour Companies in designing a new Tours module in TravelManager.
Now that we have some of our users live with Tours on their website and with more to following in the coming weeks it’s a pretty exciting time for Tours. However this is just the starting point over the coming months we want to help more of our existing and new users to get up and running.
If you’re listing your Tours as PDF’s on your website, you’re missing a huge opportunity with the search engines. They love content and by using Tours in TravelManager you get to leverage that content to drive more traffic to your website.
Our goal is bring new and innovative features to TravelManager that will really help sell and promote your Tours. For us this means really listening to your feedback and sharing ideas on how to market your Tours more effectively. Search Engines, Social Networks are potential growth areas for your business, let us help you get the most out of these.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Eamonn
This is a common discussion I’ve been having with operators over the last few years. The typical reaction is that’s too hard to generate an accurate price in real-time and also there’s a fear that online booking will facilitate shopping around for the cheapest price.
The reality is the Motorcoach is not seen as a viable alternative for a large percentage of the population. In fact the figure of 7-9% is quoted regularly at conferences about the percentage of North Americas that use Motorcoaches. So why is it that the remaining at worst 81% don’t ever use your services?
1) Lack of Awareness
2) Unfashionable image of a “Motorcoach” (an old Bus)
3) Not marketing to new markets / customers (too much focus on older/traditional audience)
4) Inability to get a fast quote/price
5) All of the above and more…
I see the Motorcoach Council are trying to coordinate an industry wide campaign with their “Motorcoachified” message which is a step in the right direction on the awareness front but….
Internet Sales coming soon
It’s not enough the industry needs to change how it sells to the new customers who will what the convenience of real-time booking before they see the Motorcoach as a real alternative to taking a car, train or flight.
It can happen but does the industry what this? – We think at TravelManager that 2010 is the year for it happen 
Regards,
Eamonn
**Not convinced of the benefits? Here’s a good article from the LCT (Limousine, Charter & Tour) website: http://www.lctmag.com/features/features-story.cfm?id=1537
If your interested in getting in on the beta program then send an email to info @ gotravelmanager.com with your iPhone / iPod Touch UID number and we will add you – so you can start playing around with the application as soon as it comes online 
Regards
Dean