The Focus Travel Partnership is pleased to have agreed a formal relationship with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) as we move into a period of recovery and bounce-back for corporate travel, including UK Rail.
Focus is the leading business travel consortium for the independent TMC sector in the UK, with 50 TMC Partners, each with a strong customer-base. Pre-pandemic, the group’s total rail spend was in excess of £125M. This consolidated portfolio represents a significant portion of UK business rail and therefore the relationship with RDG will be mutually beneficial and will add value and early insight to future retailing opportunities. In addition, understanding the transition of the rail landscape into GB Railways, the relationship between RDG and Focus will allow an engaged, informed and insightful opportunity to influence change at policy making level, specifically for the corporate market.
Many of the Focus TMC Partners have seen domestic travel return strongly month on month, with rail out-performing other modes of transport in terms of growth. As rail continues to grow its market share across Europe, strategic relationships that bring agency Partners and the industry bodies closer together will prove beneficial to all parties.
Mutual sharing of market trends, access to deeper data plus insights and early involvement with industry investment plans will strengthen under this relationship with the mid-market SME TMC and its corporate customers being represented via Focus. This has already been seen during the recent Rail Retail Review where Focus brought their TMC’s voice to dedicated consultation sessions with RDG.
Hazel Dawson, Commercial Manager of Focus said, “Focus will continue to invest in its rail programme, which features highly across all of our TMCs’ product portfolios. Our relationship with RDG will strengthen this programme and allow us to provide early insights into the growth and recovery of the business travel sector in the UK, as well as influence change for the future needs of the corporate market.”
Paul Bowden, Director of Commercial and Third Party Retailing at the Rail Delivery Group said: “We’re pleased to start a new partnership with Focus and have a better connection with Focus Partners. We hope this partnership will help to further promote rail, attract new customers from both domestic and international markets and stimulate recovery. Taking the train is more than a journey, it connects travellers to the people and places they love which supports local businesses and makes our air cleaner.”