BANGKOK-based Asialink Holidays has substantially recovered from the collapse of one of its key clients, OAD Reizen, a leading Netherlands travel company which shocked the travel trade when it filed for bankruptcy in September last year (TTG Asia e-Daily, September 27, 2013).
Arjen de Haan, CEO of Asialink, which was the regional groundhandler for the 90-year old family-owned operator, said Asialink has managed to claw back much of the business lost from the overnight collapse. “OAD was a major client for us, but we have recovered a substantial amount of our business.”
The DMC, which specialises in South-east Asia, used OAD’s closure as an opportunity to deploy new technology to drive business.
Asialink has invested about US$1 million over the past year in a custom-designed dynamic packaging system that enables its travel consultants to instantly budget and book round-trip tours for clients, including key elements such as hotels and local transport.
“We’ve had a very positive response (from consultants),” de Haan said. “Of course, (the take-up rate) depends very much on the company in question and how they work but we are working with innovative partners who are willing to learn how to use the system.”
The DMC has also adjusted its business strategy and moved upmarket by focusing on group adventure tour and FIT markets.
“OAD was a mid-market brand which dealt with group and mass round-trip travel,” said de Haan. “It’s very hard to replace that sort of business. That type of operator doesn’t really exist anymore.”
