At its annual conference in Benidorm today, The Advantage Travel Partnership announced that it has entered into an agreement with Travelgenix and Travel Marketing Services, to provide members of Advantage with a cost-effective scalable, modern website solution to help future proof their online presence and support them in reaching new customers.

The solution offers different website packages with varying levels of functionality and content that are SEO optimised. From offer-led and call-to-book options to dedicated cruise focused websites and fully bookable functionality, allowing members to scale up their website presence in gradual steps or at pace.

Paul Nunn, The Advantage Travel Partnership’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “In an increasingly digital world, we recognise that we must deliver technology solutions which futureproof our members’ online presence. We know from our own data that more and more people are using travel agents now, including younger travellers, who tend to search and book online, and this new offering will enable our members to provide an omnichannel proposition to meet all their customers’ needs.”

A sophisticated and comprehensive marketing suite will also be accessible, enabling content to be loaded and displayed online, as well as easy sharing across social media. The ability to print A4 and A5 offer posters to display in shop windows will also be available, along with the functionality to build and utilise an email subscription list to target customers.  

Key benefits and functionality:

• An affordable customised website with ongoing support
• Scalable options from non-bookable to bookable
• Functionality to enable easy omni-channel marketing
• Advantage Holidays & Cruise dynamic packaged product featured on all bookable options
• Significant range of supplier content available for businesses with their own ATOL
• Live booking API’s allowing members to generate income 24/7 across a range of holiday products
• Payment gateway integrations with nine providers, including Barclays Merchant Services, Worldpay and emerchantpay
• Rich destination information and customisable content pages
• Integrations with Widgety and Tour Hound

Partnering with Travelgenix and Travel Marketing Systems, two leaders in the travel technology industry, Advantage members will be able to gain access to a suite of advanced digital tools curated by both organisations. These innovative tech packages will provide an optimised, user-friendly online booking platform that can compete effectively with the leading players in the online travel industry. 

David Forder, Head of Marketing, The Advantage Travel Partnership, added: “Having a website should be a minimum requirement for any retail business. It helps enhance a brand’s reputation and provides credibility, and of course can also greatly improve the profitability of a travel business. Our partnership with Travelgenix and Travel Marketing Systems will be a game changer for many of our members, in that it provides a scalable cost-effective technologically advanced website solution that can grow with their business. At one end of the scale, we are making it simple for independent travel agents in the SME space, to have a great looking website that provides omni-channel marketing capabilities. At the other end of the scale, we’re bringing a bookable solution to our members that will enable them to compete with larger online travel businesses, which will really help level the playing field.”

Commenting from Travelgenix, CEO, Andy Speight, continued: "We are thrilled to partner with The Advantage Travel Partnership. This collaboration allows us to leverage our technological capabilities to help Advantage members boost their online presence and compete in the dynamic online travel market. We believe in creating the technology that enables small and medium travel businesses to have the same opportunity as the big players. Our solution is incredibly affordable and allows all travel businesses, no matter the size, to be able to choose an option to fit your requirements".

Steve Rushton, CEO of Travel Marketing Systems, added, "Our partnership with Advantage is about empowering independent travel agents. We're providing the tools they need to not only survive in the online world but to thrive. In addition to the websites, we will be providing everything they need to create a successful, lead-generating marketing system that will help Advantage members revolutionise how they engage with their customers online. ".