Altair Travel Agency Enters The Online Travel Market

Interview with Ilias Souvatzis, Director of Altair Travel S.A.

Ilias Souvatzis, Director of Altair Travel S.A.

Altair Travel Agency, an office with a 30 years of experience in the incoming and outgoing travel market, has recently launched a new B2C website: www.petas.gr—an online system that provides a variety of travel services to the Greek and Cypriot public in the most efficient way.

By Nikos Krinis, GTP Newseditor

GTP: What were the reasons for which Altair Travel decided to enter the online travel market?

Altair Travel: Altair Travel has a 30 years presence in the tourism industry especially as far as corporate clientele is concerned. In the past few years we expanded our business activities by creating a second division for incentives, events, fairs and congress activities. Our constant research for the new trends in the tourism market led us to the decision of going online inaugurating a new brand, www.petas.gr.

Which are the elements that will differentiate petas.gr towards the other competitors in the same field? What are your advantages and proposals to your public?

We strongly believe that we will make the difference in the online field by adding some valuable “offline” services to the online product. Our ambition is to provide the ideal online environment with the lowest possible fares and combine it with high quality offline support, such as a well-trained and qualified helpdesk. It is very important for the user to feel that petas.gr is backed by employees with the ability to meet their needs in the best possible way. Thus the user enjoys the benefits of the offline personal assistance in the most profitable way. It is definitively a win-win situation.

What are your views on the present economic crisis? Do you think that travel agents will deal with a further drop of sales this year?

It is true that in a period of international economic instability the customers either do not feel carefree enough to spend their budget on vacations or they simply cannot afford to go on holidays. Various researches have shown that the percentage of Greeks who gave up their plans for vacations last summer rose by 62 percent versus 59 percent in 2010. In addition, 25,7 percent of the travelers narrowed their holiday period to one week trying to limit their expenses. On the other hand recent studies have shown that during the past three years there’s been a true explosion in online sales across Europe. It is certain that these figures mark the new trends. The consumers nowadays seek for the best offers and feel comfortable enough to book them through the Internet.

So the drop of sales does not also affect the online travel market?

There’s no doubt that the currently unsafe socioeconomic environment affects every aspect of the travel market. However, people have started to realize that the innovative online channels are here to stay and to provide economic travel products. They can purchase their ticket directly anytime, from anywhere as long as they have Internet access and e-mail. Therefore, and taking under consideration all surveys, the online market share is expected to grow in 2012 even though the travel industry profits will decrease.

Do you have any estimation about the technologic future of the online tourism market?

Technologic achievements have offered people the means to create directly their own dream holidays. Planning your vacations has turned into a fun interactive game where you share your experiences and participate in various contests through social media. Nowadays you can even book your ticket through your mobile and arrange your web check-in as well. So the online travel sector is a fast growing industry enriched with the latest technologic applications. I presume that in the future we will be able to easily create our own travel package in real time terms through our mobile.

What are the next strategic steps for petas.gr?

First and foremost our goal is to install a relationship of trust and familiarization with the Greek and Cypriot public. Petas.gr plans on going mobile and expanding its market share on local and international terms as well.