Yudu has launched Sentinel Hotline, allowing agents to set up to 10 automated phone lines that can be deployed in a crisis.

All agents have to do is type the message they want to give customers and it will be automatically turned into a voice message. Agents can also choose whether to allow customers to leave a message.

The service, which costs from £50 per month for up to 500 inbound calls, can be used to give information and advice to clients whose travel may be affected by extreme weather, airline technical delays or travel firms going into administration.

Francesca Taylor, Yudu marketing and communications executive, told TTG the crisis management tool allowed agents to update passengers quickly with reliable information rather than depending on social media channels.

“Social media is often the first place people go, but it can be full of misinformation with people posting misleading things,” she said. “This service allows agents to provide a reliable source of information quickly.”

Taylor added the system allowed any crisis management message to be automatically displayed and updated on the travel firm’s website, so the most recent message always appears online.

“You can have one source of information so people don’t have to phone the insurance company or airline,” Taylor added. “It’s a bespoke service agents can offer travellers.”