p40 Jenny feb27 24/2/09 09:47 Page 40
knowledge
ttglive.com
Jenny Ley-Meek “When it comes to
booking cruises I am convinced that
customers prefer to seek advice from
someone who has been and done it”
E
ighty percent of cruise bookings homeworkers but between us we have been
come through a travel agent, on more than 200 sailings, and on more
either face-to-face in-store or than 30 different ships.
over the phone, says Andy Harmer With this personal knowledge and
(TTG February 13). first-hand experience – and a little
These words from Harmer, business bit of reassurance – I am confi-
development director of cruise dent we can move full-steam
organisation ACE, could not have ahead with a dedicated
come at a better time for me. cruise website.
For years I have been against Customers may well
launching a cruise website, do their research
fearing I could never compete online but, when it
against the big boys such as comes to booking, I
1st4Cruising, Gills Cruise Club am convinced that they
and Ideal. I also worried about the prefer to seek advice from
cost of an all-singing, all-dancing, someone who has been and
fully bookable online site. done it.
But after reading Harmer’s encouraging And while we certainly won’t
words, and following my visit to the Travel be trying to match the prices of the
Technology show in London where these bigger boys, by introducing cruising to our
words were echoed, I have never been more database of clients, and hopefully drawing
convinced that as long as you have staff in new clients too, we will be tapping even
who are both knowledgeable and more sources of revenue in these tough
experienced in the sector you’re looking to times.
branch in to, you really do stand a chance. If I can’t beat the leaders in this field, I
This was demonstrated last month when can at least join them – and give it a jolly
one of our homeworkers took a call from a good try!
gentleman who had misdialled. Believing he
was calling a cruise company advertising on
Teletext, he started to ask about a holiday
he was interested in. Instead of telling him
he had the wrong number, our home-
worker began a lengthy conversation
about her trips onboard the Queen Mary.
The result: not one, but two transat-
lantic cruise bookings! Jenny Ley-Meek works for homeworking
We may be a very small team of company Superior Travel
40 27.02.2009
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