2 days ago
Gray Dawes Travel
2024 sales: $668 million
Previous ranking: Not ranked
Employees: 425 full-time, 85 part-time
The Octagon, Colchester
Essex, CO1 1TG, U.K.
Phone: (800) 544-1222
Website
$668 millionNot ranked425 full-time, 85 part-timeThe Octagon, ColchesterEssex, CO1 1TG, (800) 544-1222
Executives
CEO: Suzanne Horner
COO: David Bishop
CCO: Warren Dix
CFO: Richard Allardice
CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER: Sophie Taylor
CHIEF CUSTOMER OFFICER, U.S.: Carolann Martini
SVP (FLORIDA AND LATIN AMERICA): Olga Ramudo
COMPANY FACTS
* Subsidiary of Inchcape Family Estates.
* Specializes in corporate, marine, government and sports sectors with wholly owned offices in the U.S., U.K., Australia and the Netherlands.
* Owns General Wholesale Travel & Tour.
* Works with 20 independent contractors.
* 2% of sales completed by hosted advisors.
* Sales: 90% business, 5% leisure, 5% other.
DEVELOPMENTS
* Invested heavily in its implementation team with enhanced processes and tools. The creation of unique customer landing pages, incorporating entire libraries of personalized video tutorials and content, has accelerated client onboarding by 45%.
* Invested in its customer-facing portal, a personalized travel management platform in which travelers, travel arrangers and travel managers can access the company's tools and technologies, including traveler profiles, trip information, online booking and duty of care information.
LOOKING AHEAD
* Increasing its global footprint with strategic growth in the U.S. and Asia Pacific.
* Continuing the global rollout of its single tech stack platform, built around the ongoing development of its portal and supporting its online booking tool, YourTrip, and traveler tracking tool, TripSure.
* Consolidating its global data management via YourData, enriched by Microsoft PowerBI, for tailored analysis and travel program optimization.
* Cautiously exploring the role of AI across its business, where it can support its high-touch service delivery model. Launching an AI-powered concierge this year to sell rooms to its travelers who already have flights booked. The company's first AI-assisted bot to directly support client inquiries is expected in 2026.
* Continuing to focus on equality, diversity and inclusion as well as enhanced traveler experience initiatives, including blended travel programs; hyper-personalized experiences; and products and growth in traveler tracking, safety and security.
* Among trends the company recognizes: travel managers' widening responsibilities and expanding skill set across technology, meetings, expense management and corporate payment. Issues include obtaining greater exposure to employee needs and insight into improving the traveler experience; gaining efficiencies across interconnected disciplines (travel, expense management, meetings, events); and leveraging data analytics and technology to negotiate better rates with suppliers.
