Argus Car Hire

As any travel agent worth their salt knows, it’s the little extras that prove the sweetest earners in terms of commission.

In the current economic downturn, add-ons and ancillary products should be forefront in the mind of every travel agent, especially in the run-up to January’s booking spike.
Thousands of travel retailers will be flocking to London’s Excel Centre next month for World Travel Market’s 4-day business-to-business event.  If you’re one of those, one seminar you cannot afford to miss is Ancillary Revenue, which takes place on Wednesday 12th, 14-30-15.30 at Room 8 of Excel’s North Gallery.  Attendees can expect emerging ancillary earners such as car hire and activity breaks to be covered on the day.

Speaking at the event will be Greg Turley, CEO of CarTrawler, the car rental distribution system, which serves over 95 international airlines.  Also making contributions at the event will be Nick Monaghan, Director of Distribution at Booking .com, Jess Butcher, Head of Partnerships for Isango!, David Lewis Business Development Manager at Holiday Extras and Penny Wilson, Editor in Chief of Travel Weekly UK.

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Just when I thought I could lay off the ‘rising price of petrol’ stories, OPEC sticks a spanner in the works and threatens to cut production.  The strike action means our UK car hire customers may now may face a new 5 pence hike at the pumps.

Since last month, UK drivers have been enjoying a drop in petrol prices, following pressure from Gordon Brown on retailers to pass on savings to their customers.

Experts now believe that the recent drop in prices which saw unleaded petrol costing less than a pound a litre was just a flash in the pan.

OPEC production is almost certain to be reduced at the cartel’s emergency meeting in Vienna today.  As a result of this, even the most conservative of analysts expect a rise of $10 per barrel.

An increase of two dollars increases the price of petrol by one penny, so motorists are destined for a five pence rise by Christmas according to experts.

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Families have been warned that they may struggle to find a holiday in the sun this Christmas, because holiday companies and airlines have cut thousands of flights. 

According to research undertaken for the Daily Telegraph, there will be 3.1 million fewer passenger seats available on flights to and from the UK in the final three months of this year. 

The estimate comes from the Official Airline Guide (OAG), a body that monitors airlines around the world.  Many of world’s biggest airlines, including British Airways have opted to ground flights to cut down on their rocketing fuel bills as they battle “the worst trading environment the industry has ever faced”, according to BA boss, Willie Walsh.

Travel experts said demand was surprisingly high from holidaymakers eager to secure their week in the sun during winter.  However, because of the cuts in seats, the number of flights and holidays on offer, popular destinations have already booked out. 

The holiday destinations that are seeing a real fall in demand are the short haul flights and city breaks to Europe, as many families have decided to drop weekends away and half-term breaks.  Families are loath to forego their summer and winter holidays, though.

That’s precisely why it’s important to book your winter sun holiday car hire as soon as possible!  Argus Car Hire is offering excellent rates for early bookers in the Canary Islands, Dubai and Barbados.  Book now and brighten up your winter!

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