Corporate Profile Tempo Holidays (Tempo) started life as Ya’lla Tours and was established in 1990. Tempo is a specialist travel wholesaler focused on the Mediterranean, Europe, Britain and Ireland, Middle East, India and Latin America. From humble beginnings, the company has grown to be one of Australia’s most respected travel wholesalers, offering travel arrangements in over forty two countries. Tempo’s product selection is aimed at providing the FIT leisure market with the broadest range of product available. Targeted specialist group travel is also an important part of the product mix. Tempo’s mission is to be the specialist operator of first choice in all the markets in which we operate, and to ensure that such choice is based on the quality of our products, our service standards, the abilities of our staff and the business and ethical leadership of the Company. Tempo Holidays is part of the Cox & Kings group, which celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2008. Tempo Holidays: The Milestones 1990 Ya’lla Tours launches its first program of Middle East, Greece and Turkey products with three members of staff. 1991 The Gulf war. The product expands to include Spain, Portugal and Morocco. 1992 Introduction of a basic CRS. The appointment of the company’s first full-time sales executive. Ya’lla achieves ‘preferred’ status with Flight Centre and Traveland. Product expansion includes release of a popular Seville ‘World Expo’ program, and the company reaches 2000 clients. 1993 Alitalia becomes Ya’lla’s first partner airline. Purchase of Middle East wholesaler, ‘SM Tours’. 1994 Further product expansion includes the first Italy program. Branch office opened in Sydney. 1995 There are now four brochured programs, and 11 staff. Ya’lla invited as one of three Australian companies to participate in the first Israeli Prime Minister’s Conference on Peace Tourism. 5,000 passengers travel this year. Company wins Israel Tourism Award for Best Wholesaler (wins this award for six consecutive years). 1996 Continued expansion, with wholesale airfare deals successfully conpleted 1997 with Emirates and Egypt Air. Five brochures now covering 11 countries. 1998 10,000 passengers. 2000 There are now 23 staff. Company appoints Chief Operating Officer to enable Directors to concentrate on business expansion. Latin America program introduced. 2001 Finalist in National Tourism Industry Awards for best wholesaler. Company changes name to ‘Tempo Holidays’. Product expansion continues. Company moves to larger premises in bayside Port Melbourne. 2002 Finalist in NTIA awards. Tempo purchases state of the art, web-enabled CRS, and begins implementation. 2003 Full implementation of CRS and the deployment of the first fully integrated online booking engine by an Australian travel wholesaler. Tempo now operating in 28 countries, with 8 separate brochures. 22,000 passengers and 48 staff. Tempo wins NTIA ‘Best International Wholesaler’ award. 2004 Tempo wins ‘Best International Wholesaler’ award for the second consecutive year. Cuba is added as the 29th destination to be featured and is included in the 2005 Latin America brochure. 2005 Staff numbers reach 60 and a new Call Centre system is introduced. The company now operates to 40 countries. Travel Agents recognition scheme, “Tempo Loyalty Club” introduced. Tempo wins Port Phillip Business Awards “Best Small Business”. Expanded operations into New Zealand with a sales office in Auckland, employing 4 staff. Tempo recognised by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and presented with an award of appreciation. 2006 After a year of expansion, Tempo records a growth in turnover of over 25% over the previous year. 6 new destinations, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, India and Sri Lanka, are added to its product range, taking the total to 42. Our staff numbers grow to 85. Tempo expands its sales and marketing operations into Dubai. 2007 Tempo records a record year in turnover and reports a strong profit to its shareholders. It continues its international expansion with a new sales and marketing operation in London. More than 40,000 passengers travel. 2008 Tempo opens an office in Jordan. It is a finalist in the Port Phillip Council’s Small Business Awards. Tempo Holidays becomes part of the Cox & Kings group. Strategic Direction Tempo continues to grow, moving forward from a base in which the company began as a small ‘niche’ operator, to a position which sees the company as a major specialist wholesaler with a very large client base, and many iconic industry partners. Tempo’s ongoing aim is to innovate its product offering, market presentation and service delivery to deliver benefits to the customer which differentiate it in a highly competitive and increasingly commoditised industry. The introduction of value and knowledge based loyalty schemes for customers and staff has cemented Tempo’s position as destination specialists and providers of quality products and service. Tempo has recently launched a new website and continues to pursue an aggressive leading edge technology program which, together with an already enviable world-class product inventory, will maintain the company’s position as one of Australasia’s leading leisure travel businesses. International Operations Tempo has developed its presence offshore with operations established Britain, New Zealand and the Middle East. Customers overseas have the same access to the full inventory of Tempo product in local currencies, as customers in Australia and already, the growth and turnover from these overseas operations have exceeded all expectations. Tempo is committed to continuing its strategic growth into international markets. Technology Tempo’s commitment to innovation and customer service has been demonstrated by its significant investment in technology. The introduction of a state of the art browser based back-office business solution in 2002 with a fully integrated website has provided the means to distribute product, sales, documentation and reservation information to agents and suppliers 24/7 in real time, putting Tempo at the forefront of travel technology use. Tempo was the first wholesaler to implement the Money Direct API and introduce a fully integrated payment gateway allowing multi currency transactions via Credit Card and Electronic Funds Transfer to be receipted against bookings in real time. Our established relationship with our technology partner, coupled with our own internal resources, allows us to develop and deploy new features and respond quickly to an ever-changing distribution environment, ensuring the latest use of technology to enable security, stability, speed and reliability. Tempo launched a brand new reservations booking system in February, 2009 which is fully integrated with Galileo, the airline GDS. This further enhances our online connectivity and real time product inventory, enabling our customers to book and instantly confirm land, cruise, car and air arrangements in the same transaction. Tempo’s active membership of the Open Travel Alliance steering committee has enabled us to ensure that our systems are developed to be fully compliant with the OTA .xml protocol enabling live connectivity with our customers and suppliers and delivering a fully automated and real time B2B, B2C and B2B2C distribution capability. This development has been supplemented by the launch of a new content management system which is fully search engine optimised and indexed to ensure that Tempo is not only at the cutting edge of online travel product distribution but that the content delivered via the website supports our commitment to add value to our customers and provides ever changing content to encourage frequent repeat visits. These developments clearly set Tempo aside from any of its competitors and provide significant efficiencies across the business, greatly improving the transaction to cost ratio as well as providing instant confirmation and improved efficiencies to our customers. Partners and Affiliations Tempo is a full member of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents, the Travel Compensation Fund, the Eastern Mediterranean Tourism Association and the Council of Australian Tour Operators and an affiliate of IATA. Tempo Holidays has strategic alliances with some of the Travel Industry’s leading organisations, including airlines: Singapore Airlines, Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airways and LAN Airlines; and is a partner of leading inbound destination management companies in the regions in which we work. Our sustainable growth and ability to offer outstanding product at highly competitive rates is due to the emphasis we place on nurturing these relationships and we view them as central to our success. Distribution throughout Australia is via the main retail agency networks and this is reflected by our preferred partner agreements with leading retail agent groups including Flight Centre, Harvey World Travel, Jetset Travelworld, Travelscene American Express, Concorde Agency Network, Travellers Choice, Magellan Group and Travel Counsellors. These preferred arrangements are supported and nurtured by our national field sales team. Our dedication to the selection of quality products from the best suppliers, and our focus on product distribution and customer service to over 4,500 retail outlets Australia-wide is a critical component of our company’s strategy. Culture and Ideology Tempo boasts a vibrant and energetic working environment with a clear and demonstrable commitment to staff welfare, training and personal and professional development. With bright and spacious offices boasting panoramic sea views, our staff enjoy an enviable working environment. During the 2006/07 financial year the management team developed and introduced a balanced score card to ensure that a broad based set of short, medium and long term variables were consistently monitored. These measurements have been built into the wider business’ KPIs to drive the financial, customer, process and learning and development areas of the business to ensure the short, medium and long term health and agility of the business. In 2006 the Employee of the Month programme was introduced where staff members nominate and recognise their peers in a monthly poll. This culminates in staff voting for the 11 monthly winners to choose an Employee of the Year. The employee of the year wins a trip for 2 to any Tempo Holidays destination. Staff training and development is an important part of the company’s long term strategy to maintain its position as one of Australia’s most respected specialist wholesalers. Each year approximately ¼ of the workforce participates in educational familiarisation trips to Tempo destinations. This is augmented by a range of professional development courses run during the year so that every staff member benefits from some form of training and development each financial year. As a result of all these initiatives every Tempo destination which is sold has been visited by Tempo staff.
Corporate Profile
Tempo Holidays (Tempo) started life as Ya’lla Tours and was established in 1990. Tempo is a specialist travel wholesaler focused on the Mediterranean, Europe, Britain and Ireland, Middle East, India and Latin America. From humble beginnings, the company has grown to be one of Australia’s most respected travel wholesalers, offering travel arrangements in over forty two countries. Tempo’s product selection is aimed at providing the FIT leisure market with the broadest range of product available. Targeted specialist group travel is also an important part of the product mix.
Tempo’s mission is to be the specialist operator of first choice in all the markets in which we operate, and to ensure that such choice is based on the quality of our products, our service standards, the abilities of our staff and the business and ethical leadership of the Company. Tempo Holidays is part of the Cox & Kings group, which celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2008.
Tempo Holidays: The Milestones
Strategic Direction Tempo continues to grow, moving forward from a base in which the company began as a small ‘niche’ operator, to a position which sees the company as a major specialist wholesaler with a very large client base, and many iconic industry partners.
Tempo’s ongoing aim is to innovate its product offering, market presentation and service delivery to deliver benefits to the customer which differentiate it in a highly competitive and increasingly commoditised industry. The introduction of value and knowledge based loyalty schemes for customers and staff has cemented Tempo’s position as destination specialists and providers of quality products and service.
Tempo has recently launched a new website and continues to pursue an aggressive leading edge technology program which, together with an already enviable world-class product inventory, will maintain the company’s position as one of Australasia’s leading leisure travel businesses.
International Operations Tempo has developed its presence offshore with operations established Britain, New Zealand and the Middle East. Customers overseas have the same access to the full inventory of Tempo product in local currencies, as customers in Australia and already, the growth and turnover from these overseas operations have exceeded all expectations. Tempo is committed to continuing its strategic growth into international markets.
Technology Tempo’s commitment to innovation and customer service has been demonstrated by its significant investment in technology. The introduction of a state of the art browser based back-office business solution in 2002 with a fully integrated website has provided the means to distribute product, sales, documentation and reservation information to agents and suppliers 24/7 in real time, putting Tempo at the forefront of travel technology use.
Tempo was the first wholesaler to implement the Money Direct API and introduce a fully integrated payment gateway allowing multi currency transactions via Credit Card and Electronic Funds Transfer to be receipted against bookings in real time.
Our established relationship with our technology partner, coupled with our own internal resources, allows us to develop and deploy new features and respond quickly to an ever-changing distribution environment, ensuring the latest use of technology to enable security, stability, speed and reliability.
Tempo launched a brand new reservations booking system in February, 2009 which is fully integrated with Galileo, the airline GDS. This further enhances our online connectivity and real time product inventory, enabling our customers to book and instantly confirm land, cruise, car and air arrangements in the same transaction. Tempo’s active membership of the Open Travel Alliance steering committee has enabled us to ensure that our systems are developed to be fully compliant with the OTA .xml protocol enabling live connectivity with our customers and suppliers and delivering a fully automated and real time B2B, B2C and B2B2C distribution capability.
This development has been supplemented by the launch of a new content management system which is fully search engine optimised and indexed to ensure that Tempo is not only at the cutting edge of online travel product distribution but that the content delivered via the website supports our commitment to add value to our customers and provides ever changing content to encourage frequent repeat visits.
These developments clearly set Tempo aside from any of its competitors and provide significant efficiencies across the business, greatly improving the transaction to cost ratio as well as providing instant confirmation and improved efficiencies to our customers.
Partners and Affiliations Tempo is a full member of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents, the Travel Compensation Fund, the Eastern Mediterranean Tourism Association and the Council of Australian Tour Operators and an affiliate of IATA.
Tempo Holidays has strategic alliances with some of the Travel Industry’s leading organisations, including airlines: Singapore Airlines, Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airways and LAN Airlines; and is a partner of leading inbound destination management companies in the regions in which we work. Our sustainable growth and ability to offer outstanding product at highly competitive rates is due to the emphasis we place on nurturing these relationships and we view them as central to our success.
Distribution throughout Australia is via the main retail agency networks and this is reflected by our preferred partner agreements with leading retail agent groups including Flight Centre, Harvey World Travel, Jetset Travelworld, Travelscene American Express, Concorde Agency Network, Travellers Choice, Magellan Group and Travel Counsellors.
These preferred arrangements are supported and nurtured by our national field sales team. Our dedication to the selection of quality products from the best suppliers, and our focus on product distribution and customer service to over 4,500 retail outlets Australia-wide is a critical component of our company’s strategy.
Culture and Ideology Tempo boasts a vibrant and energetic working environment with a clear and demonstrable commitment to staff welfare, training and personal and professional development. With bright and spacious offices boasting panoramic sea views, our staff enjoy an enviable working environment.
During the 2006/07 financial year the management team developed and introduced a balanced score card to ensure that a broad based set of short, medium and long term variables were consistently monitored. These measurements have been built into the wider business’ KPIs to drive the financial, customer, process and learning and development areas of the business to ensure the short, medium and long term health and agility of the business.
In 2006 the Employee of the Month programme was introduced where staff members nominate and recognise their peers in a monthly poll. This culminates in staff voting for the 11 monthly winners to choose an Employee of the Year. The employee of the year wins a trip for 2 to any Tempo Holidays destination. Staff training and development is an important part of the company’s long term strategy to maintain its position as one of Australia’s most respected specialist wholesalers. Each year approximately ¼ of the workforce participates in educational familiarisation trips to Tempo destinations. This is augmented by a range of professional development courses run during the year so that every staff member benefits from some form of training and development each financial year. As a result of all these initiatives every Tempo destination which is sold has been visited by Tempo staff.