talkingshop THE SECTION FOR AGENTS ABOUT AGENTS


Portugal pg 46 Read all about our Destination


Dialogue Portugal event


Iceland pg 48 Face the challenges and


capitalise on selling Iceland


Travel Uni pg 50 Agents on location are surprised by


stunning South Iceland Guest columnist


Gemma Antrobus Haslemere Travel Surrey "I think Selling Short Breaks


& Holidays’ new look is great and the We’re Backing Agents campaign is a fabulous idea! Anything to give agents, especially independent agents, more encouragement and tools to tap into this lucrative market is wonderful.


"Short breaks have traditionally been the second or third holiday but since the ‘recession’ we have found that some clients are either dropping additional ‘luxury’ trips or taking a couple of short breaks rather than one main holiday. "It is essential to understand what makes your client happy and what they perceive as ‘value’ and then to work with this. If they have fi ve-star standards but a four-star budget I think its better to encourage a short fi ve-star break than a four-star week that they will fi nd disappointing. "The special occasions market is the perfect match for short breaks, especially anniversaries or landmark birthdays. Hold this kind of information in your back offi ce system and use it to your advantage. Contact clients six to nine months in advance with suggestions on how to celebrate. "Make existing and prospective clients aware that you do sell short breaks, and that they should turn to you rather than the internet. There is still a misconception that travel agents sell only week- or fortnight-long sun-and-sand holidays."


We're Backing Agents Premier's night out


Following the fi rst two successful


Destination Dialogues, our events calendar for 2011 is taking shape! Held in London, the Destination


Dialogues showcased Iceland and Portugal (see p46-50 for full details), and brought together tourist boards, airlines, tour operators, ground suppliers and a select group of our travel agent readers. Editor Steve Hartridge said: “Our


We’re Backing Agents campaign is off to a fl ying start and has clearly hit the spot. We encourage agents to keep looking at the dedicated campaign microsite (www.wearebackingagents. ning.com). "We want agents to add their own


news and attend our dedicated events. Together we can grow the lucrative short breaks/short haul sector.”


Join in To join the We’re Backing Agents Campaign, register as a user at www. wearebackingagents.ning.com. You can add comments, news or product


through the FORUM by clicking on the START A DISCUSSION button of the site.


Coming Soon Visit the website for details of future Destination Dialogues. Next up: Estonia (March) Italy (April) and Slovenia (June).


New Backers


The ABTOI (Association of British Travel Organisers to Italy) – a consortium of more than 60 Italian specialist UK tour operators – the Estonia Tourist Board and the Slovenia Tourist Board


Premier Holidays treated top agent sellers to a night out in London, including dinner and the popular show Jersey Boys. The evening was jointly hosted by Dubai Tourism. www.premierholidays.co.uk


Dreams of Tenerife Congratulations to Future Travel's Carol Smith, who won a dream holiday to Tenerife in our autumn issue competition.


Agents rock on... Make more of Spain with Travel Uni


The Spanish Tourist Board has upped its trade focus with the launch of an online training programme with Travel Uni. The programme is designed to help


agents capitalise on the long-running British love affair with Spain by wising up to its attractions beyond the obvious fl y-and-fl op portfolio. The seven modules – www.


spainspecialistprogramme.co.uk – cover the whole country, from the Costa Brava and Barcelona to Madrid and Bilbao in the north.


It provides


a general overview from its sun and beach options, the nature and sport


on offer, art and culture, food and fun, city breaks and meetings/incentives offerings.


Commenting on the launch, Travel Uni director, Sally Oakey, said: “Spain might be the UK’s long-term favourite holiday destination but for so many knowledge of the country doesn’t extend too much beyond its


famous Costas. But Spain offers so much more than the popular coastal resorts."


Husband-and-wife team Graeme and Joan Brett, of Westoe Travel, in South Shields, are among Superbreak's top-selling agents. Pictured here with Leonie Martin (right) from Superbreak, they have seen We Will Rock You a staggering 40 times! Superbreak has revamped its six-page ‘Agents Guide To London’. It features the latest shows and attractions, making it easier for agents to book London breaks. www.superbreak.com/agents


www.shortbreaksholidays.com • Spring 2011 45


VISIT SOUTH ICELAND


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