Trenitalia – ECTAA partnership

  • BEST PERFORMANCES: Spain and the UK have recorded the highest growth rates of Trenitalia sales (Spain +170% in 2013 versus 2012 and United Kingdom  +200%)
  • United States and Canada (35%), France (24%), Japan, Korea and Taiwan (21%) are ranking among the first markets for Trenitalia sales.

2013-03-20 — /travelprnews.com/ — Trenitalia’s sales and ticketing across Europe and the world are growing: the first two months of 2013 showed an increase of 60% compared to 2012.

The best sales performance was recorded in Spain (+170% compared to 2012) and the UK (+200%). The most common of Trenitalia products were generated through the U.S. and Canadian agency network (35% of the total), followed by France (24%), Japan, Korea and Taiwan (21%). United Kingdom and Spain accounted for 7% and 5% respectively.

These results are important. Sales are expected to grow further thanks to the strategic partnership signed by Trenitalia and ECTAA (European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations) to promote and distribute the tickets and the full range of Trenitalia services through travel agencies and tour operators across Europe.

Trenitalia’s objective of promoting tourism in Italy as well as the development of national and European passenger rail market were some of the issues discussed on the 15th of March 2013 with the national and international press in Rome by Michel de Blust, Secretary-General of ECTAA, Giancarlo Buontempo Sales Director – National and International Passenger Division of Trenitalia and Serafino Lo Piano, Head of International Sales and Charter Trains of Trenitalia.

Underlying the partnership agreement between Trenitalia and ECTAA is the shared belief that rail transport is gaining in strategic importance for both travel agencies and tour operators. In Europe, travel by train is becoming more and more a real alternative to air transport on many routes.

Trenitalia is the first railway company to work with ECTAA, the European association founded in 1961 which brings together 29 national associations of travel agencies and tour operators.

Trenitalia offers travel agents and tour operators simple booking and e-ticketing solutions: the agents will receive a confirmation of the booking by e-mail and can print it or send it immediately to the customer. After-sales operations, such as booking change can be done directly by the agents. All products can be purchased by travel agents and tour operators including tickets for the high-speed trains “Le Frecce” (‘The Arrows’, which include, Frecciarossa , Frecciargento and Frecciabianca) and the “Thello” train – the night connection between Paris and main Italian cities such as Milan, Venice, Florence and Rome.