talking shop THE SECTION JUST FOR AGENTS Kuoni rewards independent agents
Be a secret agent for the BVIs
BY LAURA GELDER The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board will re-launch its Nature's Little Secret Agents (NLSA) online training programme this January, with a cocktail party exclusively for the trade on January 31. Once agents register their interest for the programme they are first assigned their ‘Agent in Training’ title and must complete five compulsory and three optional modules. These include: About the BVIs, How to Get There, Accommodation, Sailing, Weddings and Honeymoons, Entry Requirements, and Events and Festivals. Agents have a set amount of time to
BYLAURA GELDER Luxury tour operator Kuoni recently announced the winners of its new Travel Agents of the Year Awards 2012, launched by Kuoni’s Head of Trade Sales, Amanda Darrington this year. The Kuoni Partner Agent of the Year was awarded to Peter Goord Travel in Plymouth. The award was based on a number of criteria, in particular the agency’s dedication to customer service, in-depth knowledge of the Kuoni product range and the rate of repeat business levels and customer advocacy for both Kuoni and its own agency. Kuoni Elite Agent of the Year went to the Clapham-based Travel Designers in London – commended for its passionate staff and customer service. Escape
IN BRIEF TIPTO takes the high road. Members of
TIPTO including Tailor Made Travel and Travel Indochina have reported an increase in bookings after TIPTO’s 2012 roadshows. TIPTO attributes the success to acting on agent feedback. This included using more unusual venues to benefit those in rural areas.
www.tipto.co.uk
A Royal sale. Agents who book and
confirm a cruise from Royal Caribbean’s 2013 ‘Unbeatable Sale’ (until February 28) are entered into a daily prize draw to win one of five £100 Love to Shop vouchers. The sale offers $1,000 to spend on board for EX UK cruises; reduced airfares and free upgrades.
www.cruisingpower.co.uk
Extra for agents. Agents working with Holiday Extras can save up to 20% on their own bookings with its new concessions programme. Agents can claim 20% off Airparks parking products and 15% off airport hotels, parking and lounges by clicking on the concession links on the website.
holidayextras.com
Titan gives trade preview. Titan’s 2nd
Worldwide brochure for agents is out, ahead of its consumer counterpart. The brochure has 15 new tours and savings of up to £300pp on selected departures booked before January 31. Other offers include either half price or no single supplements.
titanagents.co.uk
www.sellinglonghaul.com • January 2013 53
Worldwide from Wanstead, London took the award for Kuoni Specialist Agent of the Year, for its continuing dedication to destination knowledge. Amanda Darrington commented: “Our winners all work closely with the Kuoni team on shared aspirations. This spirit of collaboration and creativity is the way ahead and we look forward to doing even more with our valuable independent agents in 2013.” Each category winner received £5,000
to spend on marketing for their business from Kuoni and all 13 travel agents who entered enjoyed a black tie dinner and dance in London hosted by Kuoni and Taj Hotels. Anthony Goord, son of agency founder Peter Goord commented: “We are
delighted to win. My team worked hard to woo new customers for Kuoni and reward our existing customers, including hosting events such as our inspirational talk by TV star Simon Reeve at the Plymouth Aquarium.” Nick Harding-McKay from Travel Designers commented on the award, saying: "It has been a joy working with a tour operator that has listened and assisted us in growing our business." While Mark Haughton from Escape Worldwide said: “This is a superb way to finish an excellent year. We are very proud of our relationship with Kuoni, which has led to significant growth in our business. We look forward to working more closely with Amanda in 2013.
www.kuoni.co.uk
complete each module, but if they fail, they get another chance with more questions. On successful completion the agents can register bookings and after two they become an official ‘Secret Agent’. Each booking is a chance to experience the BVIs first-hand with a place on the NLSA group fam trip, the first of which is currently planned for April 2013. Other new features of the programme include a private forum for agents to share BVI news and stories, log their bookings and find out about fam trips. The tourist board is planning road
shows for 2013. The shows will be a chance for the BVI’s top-selling agents to shine, with various awards throughout the year. The top agent with most bookings registered through the Secret Agent programme will win the star prize of an all-expenses-paid trip to the BVIs.
www.bvitourism.co.uk
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