Shearings has partnered with Inspiretec to deliver a version of Travelink for the new reservations platform, which will go live with the winter 2018-19 product. It follows the operator’s launch of a new Worldwide brochure for 2018.
“This will be a major stepping stone for us to expand our portfolio to other types of holiday, not just focusing on coach and river cruise, but other holidays and transport choices as well,” Richard Calvert, Shearings Leisure Group chief executive, told TTG.
Jane Atkins, Shearings Holidays managing director, added: “The reservations platform will give us more extensive choice of air functionality.
“We’re a coach-centric business but customers don’t have to go by coach. We already sell a significant number of air seats, but Travelink will give us that next level up in our ability to dynamically package and create customers’ itineraries for them.
“It will benefit agents hugely because it will take all of our inventory to the website – it’s not all there currently. At the moment our website has limits and this will pretty much take all the shackles off.
“It will give agents an ‘at your fingertips’ experience – they won’t have to ring any more. The prices will be right there.”
Meanwhile, Shearings has gone against the grain and increased its brochure runs “significantly”. Atkins said: “When you’ve got a transport-inclusive product, whether it’s air, coach or rail, I think you’ve got to have something to showcase it.”
Elsewhere, Atkins has also revealed Shearings is looking at a designated offering for families.
It will be multi-generational focused, but also available for the one generational family unit.
It is aiming to launch a mini brochure for summer 2018 imminently with a full range being launched for 2019.
Shearings’ sales for summer are up 20%.
