p6 News Sept1 16/9/09 21:40 Page 6
news
ttglive.com
Worldchoice plans to
pick partner operators
Rob Gill.
for some sectors such as cruise and city breaks. value is vital to keep customers wanting to use
WORLDCHOICE is planning to help members “We would obviously be looking for agents to agents,” she said. “The operators would put
sell more long-haul and complex holidays by directionally sell to our partner operator in each together menus and packages of
picking one preferred tour operator in different region as much as possible,” she said. products that agents can sell.”
destinations and sectors. “The aim is to help agents focus on areas of Worldchoice is currently
The plan is the brainchild of commercial direc- travel where consumers are likely to want the serv- looking for a sales manager
tor Helen Talbot (pictured) who said the idea was ices and knowledge offered by travel agencies.” to lead the project and bring
to help agents to sell more complicated types of Talbot said Worldchoice hoped to work with operators onboard.
holiday including tailor-made itineraries. operators to offer a range of add-ons such as Talbot hopes the service
Talbot said the plan was to have a single room upgrades, stopover packages and excur- will be launched by the time
partner operator in different global regions, such sions for its 450 members to sell to clients. of the TTA-Worldchoice confer-
as Australasia or the Middle East, as well as “Pricing is not everything: the ability to add ence in November.
FUTURE’S BRIGHT: Future Travel’s
Consumers slate
Andrew Mackie became the first agent
to receive a special commendation no-frills online
award from Holland America Line for
his success in selling the brand. He is EASYJET and Ryanair have the worst reputations
pictured receiving his award from HAL’s of all airlines among consumers, according to a
Wendy Lahmich. The line introduced study of comments made online.
the commendation to recognise A report by independent consultants Kaizo –
individuals as well as agencies. The which aggregated online comments made by
line also gave away other awards at airline customers on Google and Twitter – found
a dinner for its top agents onboard growing concern about “underhand charges”
Prinsendam in Greenwich. Winners undermining cheap tickets.
included Bath Travel (top agent south), Ryanair and easyJet were found to be most
Cruise Club UK (top agent north-west), guilty in the public’s eyes. Their popularity,
Advantage Travel (top consortium) and according to the twice-yearly index, fell to minus
Thomas Cook (top overall retail agent). 62% and minus 23% respectively. That repre-
HAL is introducing its first programme sented drops of of -46 and -32 percentage points,
of ex-UK cruises next year. compared with Kaizo’s last report in March.
The scores are based on the proportion of pos-
itive and negative comments about the airlines.
Allen said about a million people flew every Virgin Atlantic was the
Allen starts cruise
year to join a cruise and many spent a few days only airline to come out
exploring the city before or after their voyage, with a positive score, of
add-ons venture
and were often booked in a hotel by an agent. 33%, in the study.
“We will offer packages that will allow the The report was issued
customer to make the most of their time in the as easyJet organised a
FORMER Cadogan Holidays managing director city,” he said. demonstration of staff
Tom Allen has returned to the trade with a new The company will not sell direct and Allen said in Luton (pictured) to
venture targeting agents’ cruise customers. its main targets would be cruise lines and cruise protest against charges
Allen has teamed up with Cadogan’s former agents with high-end consumers. at the airport, which
product director, Doug Mathieson, to launch A commission structure is being planned. easyJet says are forcing
Shorex Travel. Allen added that the company was contracting it to cut 20% of flights.
They aim to sell short-stay upmarket city “local experts” in New York, Miami and Fort
breaks in destinations with major cruise ports. Lauderdale. ■Letters, p34
06 18.09.2009
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