p24 Letters Oct30 27/10/09 18:31 Page 2
Your letters
Praise for ITC Classics after
price war with customer
I was recently involved in a price war on a
Get behind Tourism Concern
quote for a honeymoon to Mauritius. I was
quoting the customer, who then took my quote
only to be bettered each time.
LET
The customer finally disclosed which company AS A supporter and member of
OF THE
TER
children about how their behaviour
we were up against – it was direct with the tour the charity Tourism Concern, I am
WEEK
can affect the people they are
operator, ITC Classics. After a conversation deeply saddened that it has come so visiting. Even at a young age, the
explaining the situation, ITC agreed they would close to the wire of having to fold. children are influential in the holiday
advise the customer to book through us. As an independent agent, it is my goal decision making.
The customer booked, and ITC honored our and strong desire to encourage clients to I would encourage any travel business to get
commission. Well done, ITC – there can’t be too think differently about their holiday choices. behind this charity – either individual donations
many companies out there that would do this. Their behaviour and buying choices from employees or a corporate donation.
can make a difference to the communities
Martin Flanagan, Travel Counsellors and people of the countries they are visiting. Karen Simmonds.
I have talked in a local school, to teach the director, Travel Matters
The Gambia Experience
show support for agents
One of our staff made a booking on Thursday Journeys a la Carte came My winning night with TTG
night online at 8pm for a customer travelling a close second in awards On the Road in Portsmouth
the next day, but inadvertently booked the I think that Margaret May, of Journeys a la What a wonderful evening I had in Portsmouth
wrong date. I received a call at 6.30am from a Carte, an Aito Specialist Travel Agent, merits at the TTG Roadshow – it was informative, fun,
frantic customer at the airport advising us of some praise from the Aito operators’ side of and the food and wine were great!
the error. The reps at the airport said they did the fence for her astounding success in the Although I didn’t win one of the prizes I got
not have out-of-hours contact details for The Guardian/Observer Travel Awards. talking to the Israel gentlemen and they offered
Gambia Experience. Some 19,000 consumers vote in these me a chance to go to Israel for five days on the
I called The Gambia Experience and spoke awards and Journeys a la Carte came second International Marketing Weekend!
to Angie, who within five minutes changed the only to Travel Counsellors, with a mere sliver of I was absolutely astounded when they
booking and informed the handling agents. 0.1% between them. offered me this opportunity. So thank you TTG
I highly recommend them as an agent- and Israel’s Ministry of Tourism.
friendly operator. Ted Wake
Aito Specialist Travel Agents’ panel member, Sharon Hard
Martyn Dean, director, JLM Travel Kirker Holidays personal travel consultant, Hays Travel
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24 30.10.2009
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