Running a one-stop shop in an imperfect world

In response to the letters from Ms Lee of Halifax and Mr Maud of Lea Manor Hotel & Restaurant, (Caterer, 22 June, page 20), our business is just that, a business.

We serve clients by providing a one-stop shop for hotel accommodation at cost-effective prices and we supply the hotels with guests to occupy their rooms.

In a perfect world, this service would be free to all. However, this is not a perfect world and we are not a charity. In reality, our clients want a professional service and the hotels want guests.

We run our business as a business, and we have to make commercial arrangements that will allow us to continue servicing our clients and still make a profit. For hotels it comes down to the old equation on commission: is it better to have 100% of £x or 85% of £2x?

On balance, the hotel sector lives in the real world and we work constructively in partnership with them, helping them to generate significant business.

Maurice Segal, Group Chairman, Expotel, London NW6.