Divisional sales teams are responsible for the selling of tours for groups following company procedures and deadlines. Sales are achieved through:

• the maximising of marketing opportunities to generate leads from both new and existing clients
• Pursuing all incoming enquiries to a successful conclusion
• Securing repeat bookings from existing clients
• Winning the business of previous failed enquiries

It is through an efficient and effective sales process and subsequent bookings that we seek to maintain and grow our database of regular satisfied clients and generate recommendations to potential new clients.

Divisional operations teams are responsible for the smooth administration of tours using standardised company procedures. Each operator is also responsible for:

• Ensuring clients receive the best possible standard of customer care and attention leading up to their tour start
• Follow up of the tour upon its return to ensure client satisfaction
• Assessing future re-booking potential with a view to maintaining and growing our database of regular satisfied clients

Finance

The Finance department provides the accounting function for all the trading divisions of NST Travel Group. It is responsible for the recording of all incoming and outgoing funds in line with statutory requirements. The department also provided tour costings for some of the divisions.

IT

The Information Technology department provides IT development and support services for all NST Travel Group divisions. This is provided by a mixed team of in-house and external systems development and support staff.

The environment consists of:

• Over 150 PC workstations distributed across three main sites, plus remote users.
• Microsoft Office2000 software, plus custom applications built in FoxPro and Visual Basic.
• A central server farm based at the Group Head Office in Blackpool, supporting users on all Group sites across a wide area network using thin client technology.

Human Resources

The Human Resources department acts as a support function for all divisions and support departments that make up the NST Travel Group. Direct responsibility for people management lies with line managers. The Human Resources department provides information, guidance and training to managers across all sites concerning recruitment, appraisal, training, development and performance issues.

Training is a key element of overall company strategy to achieve long-term competitive advantage and business success. To this end, a primary function for the department is the development of and co-ordination of a comprehensive internal training programme for all new and established staff - an approach that underpins the company’s commitment to the ongoing development of all employees.

Marketing

The Marketing department provides training, support and co-ordination for divisional managers in the areas of market research, brochure production and all aspects of marketing to ensure that each division has a structured and co-ordinated approach. It is responsible for the co-ordination of the Group’s brochures, other promotional literature, print and media buying and the measurement of marketing activity to ensure cost-effective marketing.

Supplier Relations

The NST Supplier Relations department provides support for the various divisions that make up the NST Travel Group plus the associate company NST Limited, in Dublin. There are two distinct areas of responsibility within the department. These are the Placements team who are responsible for securing ground services or transport services, and the Contracts team whom source and negotiate contracts for transport, accommodation and ancillary services