AUS 4-5 28/4/09 14:59 Page 56
knowledge australasia
ttglive.com
Case study Agents must get talking!
Agents who treat a
flight-only enquiry
for Australia or New
Zealand as just that
are really missing out
according to Gazelle Travel’s Newcastle
branch manager Gordon Lawrence.
“You can put at least £200 on just by adding
a few nights’ accommodation,” he says, “If
ealand
you add more things, the flight can end up
the cheapest part.”
T
ourism New Z
When gappers arrive, via word-of-mouth
Motorhomes and campervans should be pre-booked for New Zealand’s high season, Travel 2 advises or the agency’s adverts in university publica-
tions, the Gazelle team suggests stopovers,
“Western Australia, for instance, Internal travel accommodation, excursions, experiences,
particularly the route from Broome to Itinerary planning for Australasia can be bus tours and a baggage shipping service
Darwin, is almost impossible to do effectively daunting so push inside knowledge. For in- which pays commission for referrals.
and affordably by yourself,” says Hanson. stance, operators’ self-drive tours have been Gordon says perceived loss of flexibility
planned to give the best travel/sightseeing can be the main hurdle: “People do think ‘if we
Experiences and excursions balance. Availability is also an issue; Travel 2 book it, that’s it’ but you can book excursions
Experiences and excursions can help make recommends pre-booking motorhomes and then change the date when there, or get tour
your client’s trip special – and you more campervans for New Zealand’s high season. vouchers from the likes of APT, Travel 2 and
commission. Internal flight passes offer both value and Gold Medal which you buy in blocks.”
Stress advance booking avoids disappoint- flexibility and, if plans change, the end date Younger gappers’ parents can prove lucra-
ment; highlights like Sydney BridgeClimb fill can often be altered cheaply. Coach passes tive, he says. “Often it’s mummy or daddy
up early, while excursions may only depart such as Greyhound Australia’s, (priced in who rings up to pay for the trip by credit
on certain days. Pre-booking can also save kilometres or days) and New Zealand’s Inter- card and they might add, say, a bike tour
cash; Qantas Holidays’ Esther Ward points City Coachlines’ (priced by hours) are an- of Sydney or lounge passes, a balloon flight,
out that as Australasia’s small operators are other good sell. Julian Lawman, Travel 2 reef cruise or rail trip.
keen to secure UK forward bookings, the best Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific “You also get parents sometimes going
prices are often found at home pre-departure. product manager, says: “All passes allow a out to visit and they won’t want backpacker
Flexible options include APT’s Sightsee ‘n’ lot of flexibility, with as little as 12 hours accommodation; they might stay in the
Save. Premier Holidays’ Faraway reservations notice required for onward reservations.” Shangri La and take an organised tour.”
manager Clare Smith explains: “It gives you Iconic train routes such as Australia’s An Aussie and Kiwi Specialist, Gordon ad-
tokens you can redeem against any of their Ghan or New Zealand’s TranzAlpine are vises impressing clients with informed sug-
day tours. Each excursion has a value in tokens best pre-booked and Gold Medal brochures gestions: “They can read brochures and look
so you can use them however you choose.” flexible passes. at the internet but these don’t fully explain
Experiences, excursions and even learn-to- what you can and can’t do.
dive packages make good presents so con- Volunteering “Just talk to them rather than giving the
sider setting up gift lists for gappers. Voluntourism can give a great focus to a gap hard sell, and let your knowledge come out.”
year. Hands Up Holidays’ Australasia options
include helping Aboriginal rangers to con-
serve turtles in Queensland and protecting
penguins in New Zealand’s Catlins. Manag-
Loving the Sydney experience?
ing director Christopher Hill says: “It’s im-
Ideal for the first timer or student
portant to pre-book volunteering because, to
on a shoestring is the See Sydney
maximise its effectiveness, considerable plan-
Pass. Purchase either a 3, 5 or
ning and preparation has to be done, espe-
7-day pass to enjoy unlimited
cially in matching skills and interests, so that
travel on Sydney's transport
volunteers can truly make a positive impact.”
network. Plus admission to over 40
Qantas Holidays, which has just debuted
attractions including the Sydney Tower, half-day tours,
voluntourism in Asia with Buffalo Tours,
Sydney Aquarium, The Rocks Walking Tour and a trip to
alia
suggests agents also recommend such
ustr the Blue Mountains. The 3-Day pass sells for just £57.
packages for extended stopovers.
For further details and more options in Australia and
T
ourism A
New Zealand, please visit
Hands Up Holidays’ volunteer programmes include helping ■ For more great selling tips, take a look at:
attractionworld.com
Aboriginal rangers with turtle conservation projects
ttglive.com/knowledge/australasia
56 01.05.2009
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