‘Uniting Travel Companies Towards A Common Goal’

Uniglobe Travel International is the world’s largest single-branded travel franchise company with 750 locations in 24 countries. Martin Charlwood, president and COO, speaks to Savio Rodrigues about makes Uniglobe Travel a reckoning brand in the global market and its plans…

What is Uniglobe Travel’s core competency and focus?

Operating under a well-recognised brand name, Uniglobe specialises in providing travel services to small and mid-sized corporate accounts and to leisure travellers. Our systems are designed to help build the profitability of new and existing independent travel agencies. Franchisees benefit from a common image, professional development, training and ongoing support services. Each franchise is independently owned and operated, enabling it to more closely identify and work with its customers. Keeping this in mind, the company has introduced various tools and initiatives contributing towards efficiency in the franchise operation. With the growing strength of the network, the company has received positive responses from some of the top suppliers in the industry paving way the way for preferred relationship for higher revenue to the franchisees.

What is the corporate philosophy that governs Uniglobe Travel?

We aim to be to the leading brand name in the travel sector. The cornerstone of our program is that the Uniglobe travel agent is committed to providing the highest standard of service and performance to customers. The 5,000 Uniglobe employees working throughout the world follow a simple credo: “To be the best that we can be with integrity, initiative and dependability. That is the Uniglobe way.”

What is Uniglobe Travel’s mission statement?

The Uniglobe mission is to supply professional, value-added travel services and superior customer service, delivering a customer experience that is beyond expectation.

Over the past couple of years, Uniglobe Travel has been increasing its presence in the South Asia region and China considerably, what is spurring on these inroads?

The travel and tourism industry in South Asia – India in particular- and China is witnessing stupendous growth.

The growth in tourism – both corporate and leisure travel - is spurring on an emergence of many small and mid-size travel service providers. With globalisation taking businesses to various key cities across the world and with more leisure travellers in this region looking at touring global destinations; South Asia and China are the key areas to tap.

If a comparison were to be drawn between China and India, which country seems to be ideally situated for a travel business of your kind?

In Asia, India and China are certainly the most emerging market and that can be attributed to the global stage as well. The non-bureaucratic and easy governmental procedures make India a favourite when compared to China in terms of business development. More so the human resources standards available in India is certainly quite high when compared to China. Most importantly, the concept of franchising is not nascent to the Indian market though it is relatively new in the context of travel related services, therefore Indian companies are more open to considering franchising options.

On a global scale where does India fit on the growth charts?

Our service in the Indian market is still at a relatively nascent stage. Our brand, though, recognised is relatively new, so we a long way to go in developing our nexus in the Indian market, but, one thing I am certain of that India certainly has the potential to be our leading network base.