talking shop WISE COUNSEL Sri Lanka? I'm an expert now! So, it looks like Flight Plus is definitely
going ahead and I think it’s a good thing. Those who don’t follow the rules will be taken to court and it seems individual agents will be in the firing line. It's a real relief that Travel Counsellors
was the first to be an accredited body and I can issue Flight Plus certificates as soon as new rules commence, knowing we are fully compliant. Personally, I don’t think the '24-hour rule' goes far enough – to my mind whether the client books their accommodation and flight at the same time or not, they have still booked those elements for the one trip.
Winning Ways My Most Helpful Tour Operator this month is, without a doubt, TransIndus which was superb on a complicated booking to Sri Lanka. My clients chopped and changed so
much, and wanted everything bespoke and chauffeur guided. The wonderful Joe Parkes has answered a million emails from me and my client and his knowledge absolutely sold this holiday for me. I had another nomination for
TransIndus as well this month, from Mike Frank, a Travel Counsellor who could not praise Sejal enough for her help with a tricky booking and never- ending client questions. Mike says her knowledge of India was unsurpassed. Dave Emmerson of Holiday Getaway nominated Melanie Butcher from Page and Moy saying: “Melanie made such an impression on me that I feel compelled to rave about her!” After booking a party of eight on a
West Coast plus Hawaii tour for this September, Melanie contacted him as
CONGRATS!
Well done to Joe Parkes of Transindus whose knowledge and patience shone through to make him Most Helpful Tour Operator of the month. Don’t forget to make a note of who your Most Helpful Tour Operator is during May and send me an email with your nomi- nations by June 8. Let's give credit where credit is due.
the flights were not available but did a lot of chasing around to sort the whole issue professionally and with empathy, and waiving flight supplements which would have resulted in a loss to the shop! But it’s not always about the service,
it’s also about the human side of business. Jakki Hatton sent me this story: "I have just been on the phone to The Gambia Experience, booking for clients who are involved with a new charity which has just been registered. The client's business is children’s nurseries in Lancashire and they are supporting a nursery in The Gambia. "I asked the operator about taking
extra luggage for the charity, and they offered an extra 10kgs free and took 10% off the price of their holiday as well which saved my clients £250! "I am indebted to Stephanie at The Gambian Experience; she couldn't have been more helpful." I would love to be able to award this month’s prize to all of the nominees, but that's outside of the rules! So, on the basis that it received two nominations this month, the award goes to Transindus for combining absolutely amazing product knowledge with a great dose of patience.
Above: Barbara's Sri Lanka knowledge is now much improved; Opposite: Daniel Bloyce of Emirates Tours, a Most Helpful Tour Operator
66 May 2012 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
“Thailand is still going strong with repeat business to the Country of
Smiles healthy” — BARBARA
SALES SUCCESS I have had When we have experts of this calibre
we can only learn more ourselves. Of course, no one can be an expert
on absolutely every place on the planet, and as specialist tour operators only generally cover a limited number of places, it is left to the agents to know about everywhere! That is not always possible, and certainly the general public cannot know everything either, but we are all more than capable of knowing exactly who DOES have all that missing knowledge. But never sell yourself short if you don’t have all the answers, just be proud that you are aware where to go and retain all that knowledge you learn with each enquiry. Certificates for the monthly winners
of The Most Helpful Tour Operator have now been sent to me and I have mailed these out to the winners in February, March and April (see picture). The recipients were delighted to be recognised in this way and now agents know where to turn for specialist advice and a little extra attention!
a number of new enquiries thanks to recommendations from existing clients, and a few top-quality inter- net searches lately as well. South Africa is featuring strongly with honeymooners and existing clients and my personal experience of some areas in SA really helps. Thailand is also going strong and
the repeat business is amazing with clients going to many different areas year after year. They all say the same thing about the people and the warm welcome. It really is the 'Country of Smiles'.
MY MOTTO A great motto that I strive for is ‘Learn Something New Every Day’ and I certainly did this month putting through that holiday for Sri Lanka! I now know everything about the Indian Ocean island, from luxury camping, to mud house stays and private villas. Find a tour operator that's really on the ball and you can learn things fast!
BARBARA CHARLTON
Regular columnist Barbara was voted Most Helpful Travel Counsellor of the Year for two consecutive years.
Contact Details
BARBARA CHARLTON Travel Counsellors UK 0845 0587 290
Barbara.charlton@
travelcounsellors.com www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/ barbara.charlton
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