Ireland's business travel agents are to draw up a new strategy plan in the wake of national airline Aer Lingus converting to a low cost carrier.
At the annual general meeting of the country's GBTA, delegates decided to raise their profile with like bodies including the Institute of Travel Management, Institute of Purchasing Managers and local chambers of commerce.
Outgoing chairman Alan Neenan, managing director of Neenan Travel, said: “Our focus over the last two years has been supplier-based which involved negotiations with the supplier but at the same time trying to keep our other clients and our own best interests at heart. That has diminished.
“Our main focus over the next 12 months will be to work much more closely with our customers, the ITM and other similar bodies to show them where we in the Guild can give them added value through our levels of service and professionalism.”
He said members would send in their views to the new Guild chairman, Victor Gibson, managing director of BTI Ireland, who would collate them. They will then be discussed at a subsequent meeting.
Mr Neenan said it was likely that a working party would be established to develop the chosen strategy.
The Aer Lingus decision was little discussed, said Mr Neenan. “We have got to a certain point where it is clear that they are not moving. We have tried extensively over the last two years to get them to change their strategy and keep business travellers' interests at heart and they have flatly refused to do that.
“They have left business travellers behind. They do not fit into their strategy. They have made that very clear. I suppose one should congratulate them on making the airline profitable but it has been at the expense of the business traveller.”
At the meeting, besides Mr Gibson's election as chairman, Mr Brian Cullinane, managing director of Beacon Travel, was elected deputy chairman.