Al-Futtaim Travel poised for makeover

Dubai-based travel agency Al-Futtaim Travel is poised to revamp its Mall of the Emirates branch to encourage more high-end clients to step inside.

The image overhaul plans have been put on the table after the branch received bad reviews by retail analyst firm Wanzl Middle East in ATN’s September 2008 feature entitled ‘Pimp my travel agency’.

“The plans have been submitted so we’re hopeful that approval will come through,” said Al-Futtaim Travel’s new general manager William Horsley.

“We believe there is a niche in the market that we can exploit for a boutique-type agency for clients looking at really luxury leisure packages; it’s not set in stone yet that it will happen, but we’re hopeful.”

Horsley conceded that he was aware of the outlet’s mauling at the hands of ATN’s style gurus and agreed that some of the comments Wanzl’s retail experts made when reviewing the Mall of the Emirates branch were “fair enough”.

He said the company had already planned to revamp the store before the Pimp my travel agency feature was written, but said the article was a catalyst to forge ahead with the re-styling drive.

“Let’s let other agencies focus on selling tickets,” he said. “We want to provide an enhanced service for a specially targeted clientele in a market place that supports such an initiative.”

Horsley said ATN would be welcome to come down to take a look as soon as the revamp took place. Watch this space for future developments.

READERS' COMMENTS

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM