p30-31 Letters may15 12/5/09 16:06 Page 30
Your letters
Well done, If Only, for sticking
with belief in fam trips
I spent a week on an educational to Mauritius
last month viewing 20 hotels and staying in four.
It is agents who
If Only hosted the week and planned it to
ensure we saw every hotel and sight worth see-
ing while considering our comfort and free time.
My business has increased by 50% since my
return because of the specialist knowledge I
have gained as a result of the visit.
show no loyalty
If Only is a small, luxury tour operator with a
loyal following of independent agents. It deserves
a mention for its commitment to training at a “WHY DO operators spurn our
LET
especially with the ever-increasing
time when many are cutting back on fams. loyalty?” was the headline of
OF THE
TER competition of online providers,
your Letter of the Week (TTG ruthlessness of the “big boys” and
Ann Anglesea May 8). More like, why do travel
WEEK
the demand for more commission
partner, Delmar World agents give us none! “to be preferred” from our travel
In my past experience from a industry friends.
Solving the riddle of small luxury specialist operator, it was Agents also fail to realise that operators
the European rivers blatantly apparent that agents follow the make considerably less than they do, yet seem
So Prague is one of the “must-see cities on the higher commission rather than support an to have the impression we are rolling in it.
Elbe” (TTG May 8)? operator which can provide a better service. My advice to agents is this: select a
Perhaps if you sail down the Saale, a As a rule we never discounted holidays to dedicated specialist that is willing to go that
tributary of that river, and buy some strong direct clients. The exception would be if a extra mile for you and your clients, as they
binoculars in Jena, you might be able to see client contacted us after having received a may be able to assist you in price-matching a
Prague, which lies on the Vltava (Moldau), price from a direct-sell operator. In these direct-sell/web operator.
another tributary of the Elbe. cases we might discount in order to secure a It is a two-way street, about give and take
booking. Surely this is perfectly acceptable? as well as loyalty.
Reinhard Wiersum After all, we all need the bookings. However, I also came into the industry to offer good
chief executive, Leisure Industry Consultancy if a client called us after having already been service and knowledge on destinations I love,
in contact with an agent, we would refer but some agent attitudes often make me
EDITOR SAYS: Good spot, Reinhard. The caption them back. wonder if it’s worth staying.
should of course have read “Prague is one of What travel agents tend to forget is that it
the must-see cities on Elbe itineraries”. is just as tough for us specialist operators, Name and address supplied.
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