This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
talking shop WISE COUNSEL Thumbs up to great service Well, I don’t know what to say! My


faith in good supplier service has been restored. I have been overwhelmed with agent praise for some great individuals in our industry. Gill Peach (Travel Counsellors) nominated Chris Edwards of Complete Caribbean, who helped with a missed connection to Palm Island via Barbados by arranging a private charter at no extra cost to the client! And Suranna Murphy (Travel Counsellors) insists Peter Vasiliou at W&O Travel should definitely be nominated for calling her on a Saturday evening from the hospital to reconfirm accommodation. His mum had been taken in that day but he was picking up messages. Now that’s definitely above and beyond the call of duty. Marc Fitchett (Travel Counsellors)


saved his praise for our newly-formed Weddings Department where Julie and Rebecca have worked through their lunch breaks for him on a wedding in Mauritius. He said: "They have really worked hard and I’m sure it would have been a disaster without them." There were more nominations than I


have space for this month. Others include Karen from African Pride and Cecile from Kirker Holidays (nominated by Clare Bevan), and Donna Puffett nominated Lucy Chandler from Premier for being exceptional in rectifying a major complaint while clients were in resort in Koh Samui. But this month’s winner was nominated by Katie Chamberlain (Travel Counsellors) and is Daniel at Emirates Tours. Katie said: “He is a real ambassador for the company, thinks outside of the box and goes the extra mile. He displays extensive knowledge of all his products and is always keen to insure clients are more than happy. Just one example of this is


the hour he spent on his day off, talking to the young daughter of a client of mine who was terrified of flying following an emergency landing in Korea she experienced. Daniel worked hard to reassure her and explain about flying and even gave her his mobile number to call him if she had any more worries or questions. It’s very rare to find someone with such a passion for what they do and he is a pleasure to deal with.” So congratulations to Daniel for being someone who cares about Katie’s client as much as she does.


Getting in Training I attended a most unusual evening recently hosted by Classic Collection and Aldemar Hotels at L’atelier des Chefs, in London, at which agents donned a chef’s hat and pinny to make some fabulous Greek delights before eating the results! What an original way to spend a 'work’ evening. Another original training


evening was the Dubai 'Treasure Chest' family evening, to which agents’ children were invited, with a soft play area to enjoy, whilst the parents learnt about Dubai from Dubai


Top: Central Park, New York. Left: Barbara at the Classic Collection cookery night and with Dubai Tourism's Catherine Lamri


66 March 2012 • www.sellinglonghaul.com


“If you change the way you look at things the things


you look at change” — WAYNE DYER, AUTHOR


Tourism, The Jebel Ali Hotel Group and Atlantis. The focus was on the immense array of options for families in Dubai and highlighted the many things to keep kids busy in the destination. I was lucky enough to win a £50 M&S


voucher and am definitely now more knowledgeable on Dubai.


Look Ahead It seems to be all about the Far East this year for my clients, with Thailand featuring strongly and clients already coming back for repeat bookings. Vietnam has also raised a few enquiries for clients that have ‘done’ Thailand and are looking for pastures new. Short haul,has brought a number of


Italy bookings so far, Sardinia and Tuscany in particular, with Rome and Paris for city breaks. Strange how things go in spates; one year I might not make a single booking to Paris, but already this year I have done half a dozen! Last year it was all Venice and New York.


Happy Selling! CONGRATS!


Well done Daniel at Emirates Tours whose passion for customer service won him my Most Helpful Tour Op- erator award this month. Don’t forget to make a note of who your Most Helpful Tour Op- erator is during March and send me an email with your nomination by April 8 so we can give credit where credit is due.


SALES SUCCESS I’m book-


ing a wedding in Central Park, New York, this year with the groom departing from the UK and the bride setting out from Moscow. Our Wedding Department is helping and, I’m learning a lot. Life will be easier for me once they are married because until now I have been booking them nice places to meet as they progress their romance. Now at least they’ll be leaving from the same address!


YOU WON’T BELIEVE


IT BUT... I went to the Post Offi ce for a stamp and came away with an enquiry for 22 men on a stag party to Cancun, all-inclusive for a week! It’s never easy with a group to round up payments, passport details etc, but within a week the booking was made and delivering the tickets will be easy! I also got a random enquiry from my estate agent, who I had emailed from my offi ce. He clicked my signature link and rang with a Goa enquiry. You just never know where your next booking is going to come from do you?


Contact Details


BARBARA CHARLTON Travel Counsellors UK 0845 0587 290


Barbara.charlton@travelcounsellors.com www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/ barbara.charlton


BARBARA CHARLTON


Regular columnist Barbara was voted Most Helpful Travel Counsellor of the Year for two consecutive years.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68