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Our
History
The IARE
was founded in 1985 by a group of hotel reservation center managers
for the exchange of ideas and opportunities that were relevant to their
profession. In 1993, IARE's members voted to expand their reach
and change their name to include representatives from call centers
throughout the travel industry -- including airlines, car rentals,
cruise lines, riverboats, individual hotels and city convention and
visitor bureaus -- throughout the world.
The group
known as the IARE has grown to include more than 100 member
companies whose reservation activities span across the entire spectrum
of the travel industry and whose reservation employees number in the
many thousands. Within its membership lies a vast knowledge and
experience with the travel reservations industry. IARE's ability
to tap and share that knowledge and experiences accounts for a large
measure of its value to its members.
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It is the mission of the IARE to be . . .
"An
international support group of travel industry executives which, through
networking and education, enhances the awareness of operating
techniques, products, and services, enabling members to continually
improve their expertise in the professional management of reservation
centers."
IARE Vision
As adopted by the
IARE Board of Directors, October 20, 2006
The
International Association of Reservation Executives is the networking
place for benchmarking current challenges and real solutions in our
industry.
IARE ...
- Is a
catalyst and a conduit for creating networking and peer
relationships among its members.
- Fosters
and facilitates knowledge sharing on past, present and anticipated
operating techniques.
- Capitalizes on the diversity of knowledge, skills and abilities of
its members.
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What is a reservation executive?
A reservation executive (within IARE) is a man or a woman
responsible for the management of a telephone contact center for some
aspect of the travel industry. It began with hotel reservation centers,
but now includes airline, cruise line, train and main other dimensions
of the travel industry. Our systems link the most remote corners of the
world, thus creating jobs and economic opportunities where they may have
never existed before. Our systems make things happen . . . at some point
in the future . . . which accounts in part for our uniqueness.
Our centers generally operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year. Some are very large, with hundreds of employees, and are a part of
a larger global network. Some are very small, stand-alone centers. Our
systems allow capital to flow and services to be delivered.
Here are a few of the dimensions of our work that
contribute to our being "a different breed of cat" (according to a
recent poll of IARE leaders):
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We manage some of the largest work forces
out there -- all entry level positions
-
It is expected that we will exemplify
customer service.
-
It is a unique environment -- high tech
and very basic, very fast moving, answers have to be almost
immediate.
-
Have to deal with large swings in call
volumes, high peaks and offsetting valleys or slow times.
-
Have to be prepared with additional
people, back up systems, time delays.
-
We sell our products as we process
transactions by our personal service and effectiveness in meeting
customer wishes.
-
We are expected to do what we do in a
very cost effective way. Other types of call centers have deeper
pockets. Not so with travel industry.
-
We are among the few businesses that
manage labor resources practically to the minute. At a minimum labor
is managed to the half hour.
-
We are almost like a factory with
production, but dealing with people.
- You
have two customers, the company and the customer. You
have to satisfy both.
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What does the IARE do?
Printable
Member Benefits Description
Here are just a few of the member benefits IARE members
value the most!
The IARE ...
-
Provides networking opportunities through
its annual international conference, its e-mail list server program
and periodic regional meetings.
-
Collects and compiles statistical data on
key subjects of interest to those involved in managing travel
reservation call centers.
-
Sponsors a stimulating annual convention
and products exposition with a full range of educational,
informational and social activities.
-
Publishes a quarterly newsletter and
periodic bulletins that provide timely, action-oriented
information, designed to stimulate creativity, effectiveness and
improved business performance.
-
Serves as a central source for
reservation center information.
-
Supports allied organizations and the
trade press in the collection and assessment of trends in global
reservation management.
-
Provides opportunities for personal
contact with top leaders of the reservation center industry and to
top experts in the field.
-
Informs the general public and other
audiences about the benefits of effective reservation center
industry through its media relations programs.
-
Recognizes persons who have contributed
to the reservation center industry.
-
Offers opportunities for member companies
and their staff to influence the industry through involvement in
IARE committees, project teams and board of directors.
-
Maintains a professional staff and
headquarters office to assist the association in meeting its
goals.
And that’s not
all!
In our
business, there is so much to know
and so little
time to learn it.
IARE provides a
network for sharing ideas, for learning from each other as well as
through the organization itself, and for helping to
stay ahead of the curve.
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