One stop e-shop for travel organisers

Travel organisers, for the first time ever can benefit from a dedicated on-line rewards club. The British Airways Executive Secretary International Club (esi), which boasts 30,000 members who organise business travel, is being re-launched on-line.

The new e-service developed by loyalty specialist Black Sun plc is the ultimate dedicated travel website for personal assistants and secretaries.

Until now, communication with Club members has been via quarterly newsletter, but our research showed that the role of corporate travel bookers is fast changing precipitating the move to the web.

Features of the new site include:

- "Keeping You in Touch with British Airways" - news and information pages keeping all travel organisers up to date with what’s going on at British Airways;

- "Especially for You" - packed with exclusive esi offers, competitions and rewards for loyal travel organisers. Travel bookers will be able to redeem Points earned for booking British Airways flights for special gifts;

- "Travel Organiser" - providing a one-stop shop for British Airways travel - including access to the British Airways worldwide timetable, hotel accommodation and car rental;

- Hotlinks to the British Airways booking site.

"British Airways has broken the mould yet again. The relaunch of the service on-line underscores our ongoing commitment to further personalising our service to our customers. This on-line loyalty scheme is the first of its kind in the airline industry": said Jayne O’Brien, General Manager, UK and Ireland Marketing.

"We have been delighted to work together with British Airways to develop this ground-breaking loyalty solution. Creating the ESI on-line club has allowed us to combine an innovative loyalty programme with the added value services members need do their jobs more effectively, thereby rewarding this important and influential audience on a personal as well as professional level." Commented Paul Edison, Creative Director, Black Sun plc

"The Internet offers us the opportunity to build new and innovative relationship vehicles. Because our activities are no longer constrained by print and mail costs we can develop new channels targeting a much wider audience. ESI, for instance, in the near future could well extend its reach from 30,000 members to 500,000 travel organisers including PAs working for frequent flyers in SMEs. We will be able to create for them a web-based community in which club members exchange information and tips with each other.": said Mario De Bilio, British Airways Project Manager for esi on-line.