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s
w
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agent of
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Jack Leaf
Travel Counsellor
WIN A WEEK OF LUXURY IN JORDAN
They say there is a credit crunch and it’s doom
and gloom everywhere. But not at Travel Agents can win a trip to Jordan in the first of a series Jdoudna, which is regarded as one of Jordan’s top
Counsellors, where the theme of “Believe” at of ttgluxury Experience educationals for 2010. restaurants.
our last conference demonstrated that we are in Six agents will be picked to join us on a seven-day The trip then moves on to Petra including a full
control of our own destiny. I really think a positive trip in February 2010 to see some of Jordan’s iconic day tour of the archaeological ruins before heading to
attitude can be your driving force to individual sights such as the city of Petra and the Dead Sea. the Red Sea port resort of Aqaba where the group
success in riding the storm. And as we approach It will be the third ttgluxury Experience trip after will stay at the new Kempinski Aqaba for two nights.
year-end and our next conference, last previous journeys to Anguilla in the Caribbean and While in Aqaba, the group will visit Wadi Rum, a
November’s theme remains my daily ethos. Tenerife. The trips are designed to showcase the desert area made famous by Lawrence of Arabia.
It’s about getting out there and making best a destination has to offer, enhance your product Here everybody will get the chance to try camel
people want to recommend you. That’s my knowledge and meet hosts who can help you sell riding as well as tucking into a Bedouin lunch and
business model, and the raison d’etre of Travel more holidays to the destination. enjoying a sunset over the dunes.
Counsellors. I have just returned from a Qantas The Jordan trip is being run in partnership with The following day, agents will head to the Dead
Holidays’ prize trip – the result of winning a the Jordan Tourism Board, airline BMI, Six Senses Sea for two nights at the Movenpick Resort & Spa,
Travel Counsellors sales incentive – to 17 new Evason Ma’in Hot Springs, Kempinski Hotel Aqaba where they will get the chance to check out the
enquiries. While many agents might be gazing and Movenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea. hotel’s award-winning spa.
Flights will be with BMI from Heathrow to the The final day of the trip will be free, allowing
‘Never underestimate
Jordanian capital of Amman. Before the flight, everybody to sample the unique experience of
agents can enjoy the airline’s new lounge, BMI floating in the Dead Sea and enjoy the area’s
the importance of
Number One Heathrow. other attractions.
The itinerary starts with a stay at the Six Senses
following up enquiries’ hotel, which will include an afternoon excursion to For more details and to enter, visit
Madaba and Mount Nebo with lunch at Haret ttgluxury.com/jordan
out the window dreaming of a new enquiry, I’m in
the comfort of my own home panicking about
how I can possibly handle all this business.
Bookings may have a shorter lead-in than we
NOTES
are used to but my clients are not compromising NEW BRANCHES Banyan Tree’s latest two
their standards. They book with me because of properties – Hangzhou in China and Al Wadi
my attention to detail and my willingness to go in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
that extra mile to obtain extra value that they or (pictured) – are due to open on December 1
competitor agents assume is not possible. It (banyantree.com). VINTAGE YEAR South
takes a number of years to nurture relationships American specialist Explora has teamed up
with hoteliers and tour operators, and now I am with CV Family Estates to offer guests the
reaping the benefits. chance to join wine excursions in Chile.
My prompt responses and availability beyond Explora has also launched a new website
conventional office hours appeals to my clients (explora.com). POLE POSITION Abu Dhabi’s
– plus the innovative thought process I apply. It’s Yas Hotel is opening in time for the emirate’s
also the follow up with highly personalised first Formula One Grand Prix race on
SIMPSON NAMED AS
confirmation documentation, calls to see if I can November 1. The property on Yas island GW TRAVEL SPEAKER
help further, calling to wish them a pleasant overlooks the race track (theyashotel.com). Veteran BBC news reporter John Simpson will
holiday, sending welcome home cards and TIVAT LAUNCH Montenegro is to benefit be one of the guest speakers during GW Travel’s
phoning to see how they enjoyed their holiday from its first direct flights from the UK to the private rail tours during 2010.
– which can inadvertently provide some informal resort of Tivat when Thomson Simpson (pictured), world affairs editor at the
product training! It’s all about retaining a close launches flights from Gatwick BBC, will be travelling on the Trans-Siberian
attachment with the client – 61% of my business next summer. The service Winter Wonderland trip in February next year.
is from repeat customers. runs from May to October Other speakers lined up include fellow
Another of my mantras is to never (thomson.co.uk). journalist John Sergeant, who is also known for
underestimate the importance of following up HOOLE SPA Premium French his appearances on TV’s Strictly Come Dancing,
enquiries. My clients know I want and need them beauty brand Anne Semonin and travel writer Paul Theroux, who is also father
to book with me; it’s a will be launching The Spa of documentary maker Louis Theroux.
mutual win-win – they at Hoole Hall in Chester on GW Travel’s Voyages of a Lifetime by Private
have me looking after November 1. The three-storey Train includes itineraries on six trains, which travel
them so attentively spa will feature a rooftop terrace, basement across destinations such as Russia, Kazakhstan,
and I have them pool, suite for couples and 13 treatment Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, China,
10
spending with me! rooms (annesemonin.com). Tibet, Canada, India and Africa (gwtravel.co.uk).
in the know
autumn 09 ttgluxury.com
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