by Aidan Poole

Payment orchestration specialist BR-DGE has entered into an agreement with Kenwood Travel, a British luxury tour operator, to meet the growing demand for international travel.

The agreement provides Kenwood Travel with payment orchestration technology for seamless online payment and the BR-DGE platform of more than 300 payment and technology providers through one point of integration.

OTAs and airlines continue to struggle, including failed payments and cart abandonment rates, with BR-DGE research suggesting that more than 13.4% of online transactions in the travel, of tourism and recreation are failing.

The company has worked with Kenwood Travel to improve the checkout process, ensuring customers have a frictionless experience with a wide range of payment options.

BR-DGE’s platform reduces payment failures and meets the needs of the travel industry by connecting the fragmented payment ecosystem.

As part of the combination, Kenwood Travel will benefit from a dual acquisition, which spreads payment risk and ensures business resilience.

Overloading corporate cards with workflows will further increase authorization and optimize operational costs for the UK tour operator.

Emily Whalley, Senior Travel Specialist at BR-DGE, said, “Kenwood Travel has a proven track record of delivering a first-class vacation experience and the best the industry has to offer in luxury travel.

“After the pandemic, holidaymakers and passengers are increasingly looking for more flexibility, choice and personalization in the customer journey and at checkout.

“We are excited to bring our payments orchestration technology to Kenwood Travel so they can meet this demand and deliver a first-class, end-to-end payment experience that caters to their luxury vacation customers. .”

Niranjan Manivasagam, IT and Operations Director at Kenwood Travel, said, “Kenwood Travel is delighted to announce that we have now partnered with BR-DGE, a premium technology, providing our customers with a better payment experience.

Integrating BR-DGE is a simple process that enables travel providers to innovate at scale, the brand said.

On Remembrance Sunday tomorrow, the Echo looks back on World War I and Armistice Day in the region.

The destruction had been on a colossal scale – a generation decimated as the human race teetered and then retreated from the brink of total annihilation.

Then, on November 11, 1918, after more than four years of horrific fighting and the loss of millions of lives, the guns of the Western Front fell silent.

Despite continued fighting elsewhere, the armistice between Germany and the Allies marked the beginning of the end of the First World War.

Peace had returned and Hampshire and Dorset celebrated and gave thanks for the victory.

The counties and their people have played a valiant role throughout these terrible times. The local population had reacted magnificently. They have contributed to social welfare funds, volunteered to help injured soldiers and hosted young people in their homes.

Bournemouth Echo: Armistice Day at Bournemouth in 1918. The Mayor and members of council gathered on short notice and attended a short service of thanksgiving in the square led by the Bishop of Winchester. Taken from Bournemouth Graphic (Peter Kazmierczak” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ZPoAejK6Pqb85g9dXS7unw–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTUzMg–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/bournemouth_echo_uk_922/5c626d9f071aa0bd69c9ef0075bd52f7″/>

Everyone did their “part” for the war effort and no one shirked their responsibility. Not a hamlet, village, town or city in Hampshire or Dorset had escaped paying a terrible price as local families mourned their husbands, sons and brothers who had made the ultimate sacrifice in the trenches of the Great War.

A crowd gathered outside the Daily Echo’s Bournemouth offices to hear news of the armistice read by General Manager HJ Cheverton.

The Bishop of Winchester led a hastily assembled civic procession into the square for a service of thanksgiving.

In 1914 Bournemouth had celebrated the centenary of its founding by Lewis Tregonwell, but on the August Bank Holiday the crowds on the seafront began to dwindle as the threat of war grew stronger.

On August 14, 1914, no one with German nationality was allowed to stay without a permit from the police, resulting in the exclusion of around 1,300 residents who had made a life for themselves in the coastal town.

The Home Office has asked resorts like Bournemouth to provide accommodation for wounded or sick soldiers. A quick response was given by the city, with beds provided at Royal Victoria and West Hants hospitals in Boscombe.

The story continues

By winter, hospitals would prepare to care for at least 10,000 more Territorial soldiers.

Boscombe Beach was equipped with deckchairs for picking up soldiers and Bournemouth Pier had a canteen which served 2,000 teas in its first 10 days of operation.

When 1915 came, the blackout did the same.

All lights running along the coast from Littlehampton to Portland Bill had to be completely extinguished during hours of darkness.

In April, Undercliff Drive and the cliffs had no light. A shaded top was even installed on the trams, to prevent zeppelins from bombarding the city – although no zeppelins ever approached the city.

By 1916, between 2,000 and 3,000 soldiers had been stationed in areas such as Southbourne, Westbourne and Pokesdown.

They were trained for trenching, shooting, stable and drilling.

Poole High Street in 1918. from Bournemouth Graphic (Peter Kazmierczak Bournemouth Central Library)” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/BeapDzyRBZj9GUo2V2sD9g–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTQ1Ng–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/bournemouth_echo_uk_922/51277cd4ee6b5a5c2d3e1281372e1089″/>

It was during this time that Bournemouth was declared one of the most desirable places to live in Britain. Bournemouth’s first Chamber of Commerce meeting saw the mayor stress that the town had just one main industry – tourism.

A shortage of food in the region and throughout the country hit in 1917.

The December 20 Bournemouth Echo included an announcement from the Butchers’ Association, which stated that ‘it will be impossible for them to guarantee anything like the usual supply to their customers after Christmas’.

But the end of the war in 1918 left Bournemouth with a sense of well-being and things for the town were up.

The long-awaited Bournemouth Girls’ School was opened and the Town College began courses to help disabled ex-soldiers.

The December edition of the Bournemouth Guardian concluded with the words: ‘To all appearances this is a more old-fashioned Christmas than for many years…the national spirit seems to be reviving’.

And this “buoyancy” can be seen in these images from the time.

Georgina Bartlett is the new chairman of the Poole Business Improvement District (BID).

She fills a vacant position since the resignation of the previous president in January this year.

Georgina will be supported in this role by Sara St George who was elected Vice-Chair by the Poole BID Board at the same time.

Georgina lives and works in the Poole BID area.

She is the founder and managing director of Saltwater Stone, an international marketing and maritime communications agency based in Strand Street.

Georgina has lived in central Poole for over 30 years and said she recognizes both the problems and the opportunities in the area.

She said: “I am excited about the challenges ahead and am committed to doing everything possible to deliver the 2021-2026 business plan as voted on by taxpayers in May 2021.

“I am fortunate to be supported by an equally enthusiastic Vice President, Sara St George, and we, along with the entire Board and management team, plan to work together to bring changes to High Street and the wider BID area.”

Sara, pictured, is Deputy Managing Director of Lighthouse, Poole.

With a background in strategy, governance, marketing, fundraising, downtown regeneration, culture and tourism, she is considered ideally placed to support the execution of the business plan.

Sara said: “I have lived in Poole for over 20 years and am delighted to be able to play a role in promoting the ambitions of the IDB on behalf of taxpayers.

“BID’s Board of Directors is new, as most directors were elected this year.

“Together we have a common goal of making a difference in the Poole BID area and supporting the businesses that trade there, and creating a welcoming environment for visitors and residents alike.”

Welcoming Georgina and Sara as Chair and Vice-Chair respectively, Jacqui Rock, Head of Poole BID, pictured left, said: “2022 has seen a positive turnaround at Poole BID with the appointment of a new Board of Directors. administration made up of enthusiastic and talented directors representing a range of taxpayers.

“The addition of a committed President and Vice President to lead the BID Board and Management Team completes the picture and I believe will make a real difference in improving the area. Poole IDB.”

Poole BID said further updates and initiative announcements will come in the coming months, starting with the formal process to apply for accreditation with UK BIDs, with the membership organization focusing entirely on BIDs. .

Established in 2016, the current Poole BID area comprises nearly 500 businesses.

It covers the central areas of Poole Quay, Poole High Street, Dolphin Shopping Centre, Bus Station and Poole Lighthouse.

The Chairman, Vice Chairman and Directors of Poole BID are independent and volunteer their time.

]]> https://welcometopoole.co.uk/thegoodstuff-trying-new-ideas-opinion/ Tue, 25 Oct 2022 21:24:00 +0000 https://welcometopoole.co.uk/thegoodstuff-trying-new-ideas-opinion/

At a recent out of town meeting, I was speaking with someone from the State Department of Commerce. He lives in the Pauls Valley area and travels throughout southwestern Oklahoma to meet with economic developers. I asked if long trips were difficult for him and he told me he loved it because he spent a lot of time listening to podcasts. The more I inquired with associates and friends, the more I learned that podcasts are in fact very popular. I listen to a few, but from my non-scientific research I found that podcasts are much more popular than I thought.

Cassie Poole is the Chamber’s Marketing Director and launched the Chamber Podcast in 2021. She handles all of the behind-the-scenes planning as well as production to ensure sound quality. Over the past year and a half, the number of subscribers to Chamber podcasts has steadily increased. Just last week, Chickasha Chambers’ podcast won a State Chamber Award. She believed in something, tried it despite some skepticism and is now known for it.

Whitney Palesano joined the Chamber staff in 2021 as Director of the Festival of Light and Tourism. After a hugely successful holiday season last year, she transitioned to Membership Director to start this year. Under Whitney’s guidance, she implemented several new ideas that were very successful this year. One of them was to collaborate with Oh18 on the production of the Chamber guide. This House Guide was also recognized last week at the State House Conference, again rewarding a new way of doing things.

Sometimes new ideas work, sometimes they don’t, but if you want to grow your community, you have to be willing to try. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting something different doesn’t work. Sitting around and talking about trying something, but never acting on the ideas doesn’t create positive change either. Trying new ideas can be rewarding, even when faced with criticism.

The Chickasha EDC and the Chamber try new ideas and many of them work. As we build our plans for 2023, we’re going back to each idea to assess which ones work, which ones don’t work, and which ones just need a little tweaking. Josh and Zach tried a new idea several years ago and thanks to their efforts, Chickasha is now home to the Oklahoma Food Truck Championship. Change can be painful for some, but we shouldn’t let fear of criticism stop us from trying to improve our Community. I think it was Abe Lincoln who said “If you want to avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing and be nothing”. Kudos to Cassie and Whitney for their fresh ideas and for showing all of Oklahoma all the #TheGoodStuff we have here in Chickasha.