Human capital, tech behind Finchglow Travels IATA rating – MD

The Managing Director of Finchglow Travels, Ezekiel Ikotun, says the secret behind the company’s upward movement from its N30m monthly target to the top three on the ratings of the International Air Transport Association is human capital and the company’s edge in the usage of technology.

Ikotun said that many believed that the jobs of a travel agent are done by illiterates and semi-literates, describing this as erroneous.

The travel agency’s MD stated this while speaking with The PUNCH on how the company has fared in the last 18 years of its existence.

He said, “The three critical elements that are essential in running a successful travel agency are human capital, technology and business development management process. One of the things that has helped us in this journey is the quality of our people in giving exceptional and impeccable services through highly effective people.

“So, when we have a blend of people and cutting-edge technology, we can have proper automation processes. We are using effective and knowledgeable people to achieve impeccable services.”

Ikotun stated that the company’s biggest challenge during its growing stage was the rate at which staff members of the company travelled abroad in search of greener pastures or how they were poached by other competitors after such staff must have been trained by Finchglow.

“The journey has not been easy especially in this era of Japa because as we were training them, they are leaving. Our company has been like a training ground because of our drive for success. Most times when we train personnel, other travel agencies come to poach or you see them relocate.

“However, the spate of technological advancement has caused us to find a way to meet up with the advancement by investing more in technology. We are always ahead of the game. We see challenges as opportunities; even during the COVID period, we were still working,” Ikotun said.

Meanwhile, Delta Airlines named Finchglow Travel as its outstanding customer for 2023.

The airline awarded the travel agency as its top sales agency recently in Lagos with top executives from both Delta Airlines and Finchglow Travels.

General Manager of Sales, Middle East, Africa and India for Delta Airlines, Manoj Kuriakose, hailed Finchglow Travels for its performance and the value it had added to the airline.