Featured Press Article
Just call him the taxi King of the Med - Travel Agents News - 12 Jan 2002
Paul Stanyer aims to become the independent travel agents local taxi firm - all over the Mediterranean. He has launched Holiday Taxis which, he says, will provide an essential element to agents creating packages for clients, allowing them to access and sell a supply of transfers to every major Mediterranean resort at highly competitive rates. With tour operators charging up to £15 per person for transfers Holiday Taxis can bring that down to as little as £5 a head. Stanyer, who was part of the senior management team which helped set up the Holiday Auto's offshoot, Holidayhotels.com, admits his new independent venture won't make travel agents rich overnight, but he says the service will be invaluable to the new independently-minded agency customer.
He said - We recognise that the profit margin is going to be relatively low, at £5 the equivalent of booking a BA internal flight. This service however, is an essential element in creating the new-style package and can be completed in minutes. Customers have become increasingly dissatisfied with the cattle herding mentality of the major tour operators who still think it's acceptable to make customers wait at their destination airport for other passengers, then tour resorts with a standard six stops before finally getting to their hotel. Now that operators have recently started charging families £60 for the privilege, when in many resorts it is cheaper to book a return taxi for parties of two or more, we are seeing open rebellion.
Holiday Taxis, a venture capital backed operation independent from any UK tour operator, will initially feature taxi transfers, but this will be extended to minibuses, buses, limousines and where possible, helicopter transfers. Contracts have already been secured with overseas handling agents in all of the key Mediterranean holiday destinations and Holiday Taxis is currently extending its range to include city break and long haul destinations such as Florida. Check it out at holidaytaxis.com.
