FlightSiteAgent assists independent travel agent

Errol Matodes

Matodes operates as an independent travel agent through FlightSiteAgent, a registered B2B online travel provider.

"After I took a voluntary severance package in 2005, I decided to take the next step in my travel career and start my own small travel business, Sports Tours," Matodes explains. "FlightSiteAgent piqued my interest about two years ago after I read about the business model in a travel trade publication and I've been using the platform ever since. I've always been a sports enthusiast so I decided to specialise and focus on offering my clients local and international sport tour packages."

Sports Tours has been running for about ten years and his clients consist mainly of individuals and corporates who are interested in attending local and international sporting events. "Most of my business comes from my website, return customers as well as from referrals. My corporate clients, who travel with me on a regular basis, normally partake in various events and treat these as incentives for either their staff or customers."

Short trips

"The trips are fairly short and are normally to the UK and Europe. I'm also involved with local schools and clubs who are interested in participating in both local and international tournaments," he says.

"I've always had a love for all sport so decided to combine my hobby and career and offer my clients cost-effective supporter packages to popular sporting events, both locally and internationally. According to the enquiries that Sports Tours receives, the latter seems to be the most popular.

"South Africans have always been keen supporters of popular sporting events such as The Rugby World Cup and still are. However, according to our stats, the number of individuals travelling to the UK this year has declined compared to that of previous years, and could be a result of the rand being so weak at the moment. However, the corporate incentives have always been popular and I believe will remain so in the future," Matodes continues.

"Visiting Paris in 2007 with a group of corporate clients to watch the Springboks hold up the Webb Ellis trophy for the second time is a memory I'll cherish forever. Thailand was also one of my most memorable trips as I've always had a love for island holidays," he concludes.