talking shop WISE COUNSEL
Lend a listening ear and make a client 'for life' I
have often wondered how Travel Counsellors got its unusual name, and did so again recently when I had a call
from someone who took the name a little too literally! A gentleman who found my web page
contacted me for some travel ‘counselling’. During a lengthy conversation he
revealed that he and his wife had been having some marital counselling, and that during these sessions it had come out that his wife of 35 years had never actually enjoyed the many hiking holidays they had taken together over the years. She had never got round to mentioning
this to him, until that is he started talking about spending the first year of his retirement travelling the world doing – you’ve guessed it – more hiking! It transpired that the wife would rather
not spend a year trekking up mountains, but would in fact rather like to visit Vienna, or see flamenco dancing in Andalucía! Well, this was news to the gentleman, and he started to think he needed some help – enter a Travel Counsellor! Hubby said he would go along with anything, just so long as it made her happy. So, armed with my laptop and a few selected niche brochures, I travelled the 20 miles to meet her. The lady was impressed to meet a travel
agent that was willing to travel to meet her, and after an hour chatting over a coffee I discovered she is a ballet teacher, loves museums as well as dance, and cherishes a comfy bed when she’s away! It’s titbits of information like this that will be of use to me in the future, and I’m pretty sure I now have two new clients for life. My holiday in Egypt was wonderful, but
I felt sadness over the demonstrations that started just after I got back. Sitting in a Bedouin tent in a canyon just days before, we had discussed many of the issues
involved. Many Egyptians rely on the tourist industry for a living, so I am glad that they seem likely to get the democracy they want and hope tour operators soon get people back to see the ancient sites. February brought an abundance of
training events. The first was the BRIGHT training evening – just a handful of small, specialist suppliers and tourist boards. Although I had worn my ‘lucky knickers’ I
was filled with horror when, in the loo at the hotel, I discovered that I had them on inside out! I assume that is why I didn’t win a place on a fabulous New Zealand Fam given by 1st Class Holidays! However, the next evening I was at a Caribtours dinner, with presentations by some great suppliers and hoteliers that included The Four Seasons from its Private Travel Company programme. And this time my name was drawn out
and I won an amazing prize on beautiful Saint Lucia, with four nights at The BodyHoliday, Le Sport and three nights at Rendezvous. So I now have a new pair of lucky knickers! Some might consider me lucky, but you have to be in it to win it! Valentine’s Day was pretty quiet, so I
took the time to complete some Travel Uni courses – and my choice of programmes had nothing to do with the fact that they both offer the chance to attend a wonderful fam trips! I’m glad I completed the Samoa programme because previously I would have suggested the Cook Islands or Fiji as South Pacific stopovers but now I’m well equipped to add Samoa to the list. The second programme took several
hours to complete but it was a must for me as Thailand is on my ‘bucket list’. You may have seen the competition in
Selling Long Haul to win a place on the Bangkok and Beyond 2011 trip – you have a final chance this issue – which requires completing the course and sending in your Thailand marketing ideas. Speaking of bucket lists, I recently
came across one I compiled back in February 2006. There were nine long haul destinations on the list, and since writing it I have managed to get to three of them – Australia, New England and South Africa. That leaves New Zealand, Thailand, Mauritius, Seychelles, Malaysia and Borneo. I’ve just had my 48th birthday, so I’d better get a move on! My annual Aussie Specialist exams are
60 March 2011 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
Barbara Charlton
Regular columnist Barbara was voted Most Helpful Travel Counsellor of the Year for two consecutive years.
Comment...
"Armed with my laptop and a few selected niche brochures, I travelled 20 miles to visit a new client. She was impressed to meet a travel agent who was prepared to travel and I'm sure I now have a client for life."
up for renewal too. It takes a while, but it’s worth the effort as I always learn something new. It’s a good accomplishment to have been an Aussie Specialist for so many years (about 10, I think). Clients always like the validation of specialist status. It won’t be long before the clocks go
forward and we’ll start to see more sunlight and wake to the sound of birdsong instead of chattering teeth! Spring is wonderful, and I look forward to starting work in the garden. And then there are the Easter Eggs…!!
Happy Selling!
Left: Hiking isn't for everyone!; Above top: Thank you Caribtours! Right: Flamenco dancing in Andalucia
Barbara Charlton Travel Counsellors UK T 0845 0587 290 E
Barbara.charlton@
travelcounsellors.com W
www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/barbara.charlton
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