NEWS YOU CAN USE — OPERATOR NEWS
OPERATOR NEWS YOU CAN USE
Le Boat targets ‘everyday’ agents with commission rates of up to 15% Lucy Huxley
Tui Travel-owned self-drive boating holiday company Le Boat is embarking on a drive to engage more UK agents to sell its breaks. Currently, only 13% of the
operator’s bookings come from the UK and, of those, the majority come direct from the public. But managing director Cheryl
Brown (née Powell), former managing director of First Choice Retail and then managing director of Tui’s marine division, believes UK agents are missing out. “The agents we work with tend to be specialists. Our challenge is to
get the ‘everyday’ agent to think about a boating holiday,” she said. “This could be massive for some cruise agents, and those selling a lot of domestic travel. They really are missing out at the moment.” Brown said Le Boat commission
started at 8% and rose to 15% depending on volume. The
aaverage selling price for Le Boat’s Vision-class boats is £3,000. Agents who sell Le Boat
holidays will receive brochures, training packs and incentives. “We need agents to make
clients realise our boats are spacious and luxurious – and that no experience is necessary.
Everyone gets a full briefing and practice run,” said Brown. In recent years, boating
holidays had attracted more multi- generational family groups, as well as couples and families, she added. Le Boat’s most popular destinations are the Canal du Midi in France, the Scottish Highlands and the Thames. The company has 886 boats
operating from 45 bases across Europe, including the UK, Ireland, France and, from this year, Poland. Agents interested in selling Le Boat holidays should email
colin.salt@
leboat.com. ❯ All For You, page 42
24 •
travelweekly.co.uk — 9 October 2014
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 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92