How Clyde Travel Management have grown from Covid 19

The award, sponsored by this paper, is part of the Glasgow Business Awards organised by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce with Royal Bank of Scotland as the main sponsor.

It's been a trying 18 months for the travel sector as the pandemic forced companies to adapt to ever-changing rules and restrictions to ensure the safety of their clients.

However, Melanie Quinn, head of sales and customer relations for Clyde Travel Management, says that navigating this has helped their business grown even stronger.

She said: “In layman’s terms we’re a travel agent, but we’re a travel agent for businesses.

“Our responsibility to our customers is not just booking a ticket, it’s all about the after-sales duty of care.

“So for example identifying where people are in the world in the case of a major event, like covid.

“That’s probably been at the forefront of our focus throughout the pandemic, navigating around the restrictions to get people moving.”

The increased pressure to provide the same level of customer service they’ve offered since their incorporation in 1989 was a task that Clyde Travel Management’s staff met with vigour.

Pictured: Melanie Quinn Head of sales at Clyde Travel Management

Melanie said: “We’ve had to advise people on PCR test requirements, consider restriction requirements and rules for quarantining.

“Generally when it comes to sourcing a ticket for travel from start to finish is a two-hour process but you can just imagine how much longer that was taking because of all the extra factors to be checked.

“We realised pretty early on in the pandemic that this was something we would have to get used to quickly.

“As a company, we’re about so much more than just booking your ticket so for us it was all about finding those innovative solutions. That’s where our people have really shown their talent.”

A new direction for the company, shifting focus from corporate travel to marine and offshore, has allowed them to flourish even during their most difficult year to date.

Melanie said: “We were acquired by the Northern Marine group in 2016  and they continue to invest in the company, technology and our people.

“Our soul is really in marine and offshore industries which means that most of our work throughout the pandemic was facilitating their travel.

“That’s been the greatest challenge for us, searching all over the world to see which countries could facilitate crew changes or having people come onshore for rest.

“It’s been a mixed bag but I’d say we’ve really survived and thrived this year thanks to the nature of our core customers being in the offshore world. That’s been a real benefit for us.

Going far beyond the role of your average travel agent, the business takes the needs and values of their customers seriously, especially when it comes to pressing issues like the fight against climate change.

Melanie said: “For the organisations that employ our services, there’s the extra added benefit of seeing where they’re spending their money and how to spend it better.

“So say for example that their company has sustainability objectives, we’ll advance them on greener projects, like more environmentally friendly airlines or hotels.

“Sustainability is something that’s hugely important to us as a company.

“In all honesty, we’re only just starting on our journey and don’t claim to be anywhere near net-zero emissions yet, but we’re certainly making progress.”

The ambition and drive behind the business is clear to see and has been rewarded by winning Scottish Passenger & Airline Association’s (SPAA) Best large business for 5 years in a row.

However, Melanie makes it clear that Clyde Travel Management’s success can be linked back to its strong connection to Glasgow and local customer base.

She said: “Our business is Glasgow born and bred.

“We have operations all over the world from Sweden to Houston Texas but the foundations of our business have been built in Glasgow and our bread and butter has been the Scottish market.

“Now that our core sectors are marine and offshore we have all these international entities, but it’s our Glaswegian customers who have been with us the longest and are at the heart of what we do.

It’s been a difficult year for travel, but we’re looking forward to brighter times ahead.”

The Glasgow Business Awards are hosted by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland. Winners will be announced at the award ceremony at DoubleTree by Hilton on October 7 2021, with voting for Glasgow’s Favourite Business opening on Monday 23rd August 2021.