Kolkata-based Travels & Rentals has been selected as ‘Hub Agency’ for LCC in India Lufthansa City Centre (LCC), a travel agency franchise network which is part of the German Lufthansa Group, has signed first travel agency partner in the world under its newly launched LCC Concept Diversification Program in India by upgrading Kolkata-based Travels and Rentals as ‘Premium LCC Member’. As per the new partnership, Travels & Rentals will act as the ‘hub agency’ to run the global program and expand LCC member agency network in India. The signing of the new partnership was held on the sidelines of the 65th Annual TAAI Convention & Exhibition in Kunming, China.
LCC Concept Diversification Program is a new scheme offering new categories of membership participation into LCC network for aspiring travelagencies which comprise LCC Affiliates and LCC Travel Consultants.
Speaking to Travel Span after signing the partnership, Devendra Parekh, Director, Travels & Rentals, which has been a network member of LCC for the last eight years, said that he was delighted for choosing Travels & Rentals as Premium Partner. “We have greatly benefited from LCC,” he said. He said that LCC is looking for expansion of its agency network in a big way in India from current 6 to at least 50 agency points in near future.
Talking about the benefits of becoming a LCC franchisee, Parekh said that members receive benefits of consolidation, in training, marketing, supplier deals, etc. “Franchisees also get a lot of opportunities to be part of national and international networking events.”There are different criteria available to join different programs by LCC for travel agencies. For full-fledged franchisee programmes, IATA accreditation, market reputation, financial strength, etc. are important, he said. “There is a piece of technology that connects LCC agents with Lufthansa airline directly which enables them special rates, special packages, etc.,” Parekh said when asked about the benefits of being part of the world’s leading airline company.
With more than 570 offices in over 90 countries and a total turnover of approximately 5.3 billion Euros, LCC claims itself as the the biggest independent travel agency franchise system worldwide.
