13th Jul 2016 07:48
LONDON (Alliance News) - Holiday operators Thomson and First Choice, owned by tour company TUI Group, are planning to phase out their paper travel brochures by 2020 as they work to improve their digital offerings.
Thomson and First Choice, which currently print 4.7 million brochures a year across 58 titles, will introduce new digital tools in stores to help agents provide a state-of-the-art booking service. This will include technology that recognises a customer as he or she enters a store, digital screens and mobile technology to help customers search for holidays, and free Wi-Fi.
The two brands are also looking at virtual and augmented reality, as well as "lifestyle-led content".
TUI said these new tools build on its "fresh approach to holiday inspiration", including the roll-out of iPads to its resort and airline teams, its Holiday Design Stores with interactive maps and "immersive walls", the launch of its app and mobile website, and the introduction of an Apple TV app to serve destination content to customers in the comfort of their own home.
Online, Thomson and First Choice will invest in state-of-the-art video content and technology to "bring holidays to life" and provide personalised and tailored content to each customer.
"We have seen a shift in the way customers research and book their holidays. As a leading travel company it's essential we adapt to these changes to make sure our website and retail shops stay relevant to holidaymakers. We believe there will always be customers who want the expertise, knowledge, assurance and the personal experience received in retail shops from our people. We need to give our retail advisors the tools that customers are demanding to help them continue providing excellent service and content," TUI UK & Ireland Managing Director Nick Longman said in a statement.
"As Thomson looks to become TUI at the latter end of 2017, it's our ambition to deliver a simpler and more personalised booking journey, so every customer can have an effortless experience finding the perfect holiday," he added.
Last year, TUI announced plans to create a simplified structure that would bring the areas of tour operating, hotels and cruises under one organisation in a strategy that would rebrand all of its subsidiary companies under the TUI name.
Shares in TUI were trading down 0.1% at 999.50 pence on Wednesday morning.
By Karolina Kaminska; [email protected] @KarolinaAllNews
Copyright 2016 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Related Shares:
TUI.L