NEWS YOU CAN USE — OPERATOR NEWS
OPERATOR NEWS YOU CAN USE
Contiki recategorises trips in effort to boost UK sales Juliet Dennis
Contiki has unveiled eight new trip ‘styles’ in Europe to encourage more trade sales under new global chief executive Casper Urhammer. Urhammer, who joined in
November, said the brand had yet to reach its potential in the UK and hoped the different categories would demonstrate the brand’s product range for 18 to 35-year-olds. “It was not so easy before to see what we offered, but by leveraging these categories, we can cater better for trade customers,” said Urhammer. The new categories allow
holidaymakers to choose itineraries based on what style of travel they want, rather than on accommodation. The categories are: ‘easy pace’, ‘discovery plus’, ‘in-depth explorer’, ‘high energy’, ‘camping’, ‘sailing and cruise’, ‘festivals and short stays’ and ‘winter and ski’. They are intended
to showcase the variety of trips, from
Contiki operates out of 55 countries
OPERATOR NEWS IN BRIEF
more-relaxed itineraries (‘easy pace’) to culture- filled days, sights and late nights (‘high energy’). Urhammer added:
Casper Urhammer
Cosmos overhauls role of reps following customer feedback
Cosmos Holidays is rebranding its holiday reps as ‘destination hosts’ and promoting the way it communicates with clients across all technology platforms. The operator will have almost 100 destination hosts across its key resorts this summer, some of whom will be based mainly at airports. The decision to focus more on
uniformed reps in key airports follows feedback from customers.
“There is an incredible amount we can still do in the UK. There are a lot of antipodeans in the UK who book Contiki when they come here, but we have more work to do to get the native population. We want to raise our profile in the UK and drive as much business through the trade as
Sales director Gary Anslow said:
“Two years ago, we looked at our overseas operations and asked our customers what they really wanted, rather than what we thought they wanted. “The feedback was clear: ‘be at the airport to help us’, ‘be available when we need you’ and ‘don’t tie us down to fixed times and welcome meetings’.” The operator is also rolling out changes to reps’ roles, following trials last year. Reps can now communicate with customers via Skype, Facetime, live chat, text
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travelweekly.co.uk — 12 March 2015
we can – it’s our biggest channel.” The operator said UK sales for
the year to date were 30% up on 2014. Urhammer said he wanted to maintain that level of growth for at least the next five years. The UK is in the top five of the 55 markets Contiki operates out of. Urhammer, who is also keen to
increase long-haul sales from the UK, said Contiki would continue to drive trade sales through fam trips, training and incentives. The operator has added Japan and Morocco for 2015. The 13-Day Japan Unrivalled tour leads in at £2,460.
contiki.com
messages, email and social media. The operator is extending its
pre-departure Cosmos Concierge service, launched last summer, to allow clients to get in touch with specific requests before they travel.
cosmos.co.uk
Belleair incentive offers five-night trip to Seattle Belleair Holidays is offering a five- night holiday for two in Seattle in its ‘Fifty Stays in May’ incentive. Agents must book a total of 50 nights on Mediterranean packages departing in March, April or May to be in with a chance of winning this and other prizes, including dinner and a £100 voucher. Only agents who have completed Belleair’s online training qualify. They should email their booking reference, name and Abta number to
sales@belleair.co.uk.
belleair.co.uk
Ski Solutions peddles new cycling and walking brand Ski Solutions has launched a cycling and walking brand. BSpoke Tours offers holidays in France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Croatia and Italy. Prices start at £695 for a cycling or walking holiday including accommodation.
bspoketours.com
Warner launches garden lodges at Welsh castle Warner Leisure Hotels is offering savings at its new garden lodges at Bodelwyddan Castle. A three- night weekend break starts at £279, based on two adults sharing. The savings are available until April 20.
bourneleisuresales.co.uk
Cosmos employs almost 100 destination hosts
Hayes & Jarvis exploits TV coverage of Costa Rica Hayes & Jarvis is promoting holidays to Costa Rica on the back of ITV series Bear Grylls: Mission Survive, which involves celebrities joining the adventurer on a trek through the central American country’s rainforest. The price of the nine-day Costa Rican Adventure tour, departing September 19, has been reduced by £168 to £1,599.
hayesandjarvis.co.uk
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