LONDON, April 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
The Collinson Group today announces the appointment of Peter Gerstle as Head of Travel Products for the company. Peter's appointment is part of the group's strategy of continued investment in its travel offerings to enhance benefits and services for the frequent traveller. Peter will oversee the strategy and management of the Collinson Group suite of travel products and support future innovation of its travel inventory.
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Peter has over 20 years' experience in the travel sector with specialist skills in product and business strategy, commercial management and digital communications. Previously, Peter led easyJet's Innovation and Product Development, where he was responsible for products contributing in excess of £500m in revenue, including pioneering the Speedy Boarding Service. He also introduced easyJetPlus! - easyJet's frequent traveller paid-for membership programme with additional benefits. Prior roles include those of Marketing Director at Pegasus Solutions as well as Global Internet Business Director for InterContinental Hotels.
Peter will focus on end-to-end journey management combining a broad range of existing planning, and assistance services and traveller benefits - to create the ultimate premium travel experience. This will feature initiatives such as dynamic travel redemption; airport VIP services (incorporating accompanied fast-track) and a unique assistance service for travellers experiencing delays, to be launched later this year.
Christopher Evans - Director, Collinson Group, commented: "Peter's strong track record made him the ideal individual to lead the coordination and development of the wide portfolio of travel propositions we have across the group, to enhance the experiences of our customers and those of our clients. Travel will always remain central to the Collinson Group as it is the key area in which to attract and reward affluent customers. Peter's appointment and our continued investment in this area will help ensure we remain at the forefront of supporting and rewarding the traveller throughout the journey."
Peter Gerstle commented: "I look forward to building on my existing expertise of the travel and business market to ensure that the Collinson Group's product development strategy and service offering continues to add value to our customer propositions and enhances the end traveller's experiences in terms of benefits and superior support services."
Peter will be presenting at the forthcoming 8th Ancillary Merchandising Conference on April 9-10th in Barcelona. Peter will be talking about 'customer franchise' and how the concept manifests in a customer engagement strategy that delivers commercial return.
About the Collinson Group
Collinson Group (http://www.collinsongroup.com) is a global leader in shaping and influencing customer behaviour to drive revenue and value for clients. The group offers a unique blend of industry and sector specialists who together provide market-leading experience in delivering products and services across four core capabilities: Loyalty, Lifestyle Benefits, Insurance and Assistance.
The group provides unrivalled insight and expertise around affluent consumers and frequent travellers, creating and delivering products and services that increase engagement, loyalty and value for customers.
We have 25 years' experience, with 28 global locations, servicing over 800 clients in 170 countries, employing 1,500 staff, and managing over 20 million end customers. Our clients are market leaders from across the globe including: MasterCard, VISA, Diners, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Air France, KLM and InterContinental Hotels Group. We have been bringing innovation to the market since inception - launching the first independent global VIP lounge access programme, Priority Pass, being the first to sell direct travel insurance in the UK through Columbus Direct and we created the first loyalty agency of its kind in the travel sector with ICLP. Today we still invest heavily in innovation to ensure that we continue to deliver superior customer experiences.
Loyalty
Our specialist loyalty services leverage unique intelligence and global best practice with market-leading technology and platforms. Driven by data, insight and customer understanding, we create brand advocacy and know how to foster meaningful brand relationships.
With expertise in both establishing and managing partner networks and optimising customer engagement we drive measurable, commercial value through loyalty and incremental revenue programmes.
Lifestyle Benefits
As the world-leading provider of lifestyle membership programmes and travel enhancement products, Collinson Group offers flexible products and services on a global scale, providing brand differentiation and exclusive value. The leading independent airport lounge access membership programme, Priority Pass is used by the world's largest financial services companies and other organisations to add value to their products by delivering premium travel benefits.
Insurance
Collinson Group brings flexibility and creative thinking to insurance through risk managed underwriting services, brokerage and a suite of direct-to-consumer retail products. Its world-class non-core personal lines insurance can increase retail sale revenues, build product portfolios and help clients explore new markets.
Assistance
Collinson Group provides a global assistance service, specialising in lifestyle and emergency assistance, claims handling and travel management, leveraging an international support network and delivering advancements in product development.
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