TTE 2015: Traveldoo claims double digit UK growth with ‘TMC-friendly’ approach

French travel and expense management technology specialist Traveldoo is pursuing aggressive growth targets in the UK, with what it claims is its TMC friendly approach.

French travel and expense management technology specialist Traveldoo is pursuing aggressive growth targets in the UK, with what it claims is its TMC friendly approach.

The Expedia-owned systems supplier has been targeting the UK for the last two years, having set up a dedicated office under former Travelport and Amadeus senior executive Julian Mills.

Founder, Nabih El Aroussi, spoke to Travolution at the Business Travel Show which ran alongside the Travel Technology Europe trade show last week.

He said the strategy was to support the small to medium sized TMC sector with its white label solution, rather than going direct or pushing open booking.

“We want to help the TMC community to better sell on value and have great product which they can really own.

“We have had a lot of visits at the show from TMCs that want new fresh relationships and fresh product.”

El Aroussi said demand was growing from TMCs to offer their customers travel and expense management and invoicing reconciliation, all in one system and integrated with their own IT.

Traveldoo launched its expenses mobile app at last week’s show, which enables business travellers to input any expenses directly into their trip expense report.

The firm claims the app is pioneering geo-location in the sector and has been designed to offer users simplicity and flexibility.

It allows the user to lodge a digital receipt via the phone’s camera and it is also integrated with Google, so that details of the expense claim can be spoken into the system.

“We need to recognise the importance of the TMC channel as a way a lot of companies want to procure travel and manage travel,” said El Aroussi.

“Corporations say I would like my TMC to give me better supporting technology. TMCs are great professionals but they need the technology to support their services.

“Otherwise they cannot compete against the big players who invest in their own technology.”

El Aroussi said Traveldoo will more than double the size of its UK business this year, saying it was reaping the benefits of previous years when was invested in the market.

“In the UK TMCs firstly want fresh innovative technology and then they want real partners, people who care about their business, not just sign a partnership and then say ‘goodbye.’

“We have been working with partners here for years as part of our global rollout but what we want to have now is a lot more clients.

“We want to build our presence here hand in hand with the TMC community with those open to this kind of partnership. Traveldoo will consistently develop things for the UK market.

“My objective within the next 12 months is people will recognise Traveldoo as being the best product in our category.”

The UK represents around 20% of Traveldoo’s business today and is growing. Having set up its first international base in the UK, the firm is now eyeing Germany and the USA.