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agent of
luxury
Sophie Leyton
director, Exosphere, London
SIGN UP FOR PERU TRAINING EVENT
“Oh you are so lucky, we wish we had your job!”
That’s what my friends say when I tell them
Cox & Kings, in association with ttgluxury, is to host two to Peru. There will also be a Molton Brown gift about my various travels. And yes, I know I am
a training evening in January for agents looking to for all agents who attend. lucky to experience so many beautiful places
boost their knowledge and sales to Peru. Speaking ahead of the event, which will be open and luxury hotels. However, they seem to think
The event aims to give agents an expert to just 75 agents, Paul Hopkinson, Cox & King’s my job consists solely of staying in nice hotels,
overview of the Latin American country – one of senior marketing manager, said: “We want people lying by the pool and enjoying leisurely lunches
Cox & Kings’ best-selling destinations – and to to see the up-and-coming destinations available in on the terrace as if I were on holiday – I wish!
provide insight into the newest luxury properties and Peru while also changing the perception of some Exosphere is a small travel consultancy
itineraries in Peru. agents that Cox & Kings is a single-destination organising completely bespoke holidays. Our
These include Aranwa Hotel Spa Sacred Valley, a operator. We don’t just operate in India; 35% of our philosophy is “the world, on your terms”, so
beautifully restored 18th-century colonial hacienda product is Latin America. The other thing we’re trying everything we do is aimed at making our clients’
in the Urubamba Valley, and Orient-Express’s to get across is that we offer affordable luxury.” holiday planning as easy, flexible and as suited
famous Hiram Bingham train, which travels in style The training evening will be held at Stanza to them as possible. We organise many different
between Cusco and Machu Picchu (pictured). Restaurant in London on January 28 from 6.30pm types of holidays around the world and never
Cox & Kings will hold a competition at the event, and includes dinner. If you would like to attend, know what sort of enquiry is coming next. One
giving agents the chance to win a luxury holiday for email your details to agency.sales@coxandkings.co.uk
‘It is imperative we
NOTES
REVVING UP REVPAR The first hotel in the world to span a grand prix circuit
experience as many
has opened in Abu Dhabi. The 499 rooms of The Yas Hotel (pictured) overlook Yas Marina
Circuit – setting for Formula 1’s Abu Dhabi grand prix (theyashotel.com). destinations as we can’
PROMOTING VIETNAM Hue, the former capital of Vietnam, is to gain
a major marketing boost thanks to one of the city’s premier properties, of the most challenging aspects of our job is
La Residence Hotel & Spa. Its Heart of Vietnam campaign, which starts therefore expanding our product knowledge and
on January 1, aims to raise awareness of Hue, which was designated maintaining supplier relationships in order to be
a Unesco world heritage site in 1992 (la-residence-hue.com). prepared for the next enquiry.
MAKEOVER MAGIC Cotswolds-based Barnsley House is undergoing My team and I each have specialist product
extensive renovations ahead of a relaunch in spring 2010. The 18-room knowledge and a good world overview, but of
17th-century property and spa is being refurbished by interior design course we can’t know everywhere. However,
firm Fox Linton (barnsleyhouse.com). REACHING NEW HEIGHTS Luxury hotel chain to ensure our clients have confidence in our
Morgans Hotel Group – the name behind the Sanderson in London – has opened its first opinions it is imperative they trust us and that
hotel in Boston. The Ames is housed in the city’s first-ever skyscraper (ameshotel.com). we have experienced as many destinations as
possible. The satisfaction I get when a client
confirms a holiday as a result of my
W&O PLEDGES SUPPORT
trips, joint-marketing ventures and access to recommendation makes all the meetings and
Agents can expect a “whole basket” of promotional images and more. days away from the office worth it.
support from W&O Travel in future, according He added W&O had also set aside a trade Therefore, to stay fresh and up to date, I meet
to the operator’s new trade sales manager, marketing budget for the first time. as many suppliers as I can, constantly read the
Steve O’Loughlin, reports Philippa Jacks. Agent sales currently made up about a industry press and try to travel as often as I can.
W&O Travel has united eight of its largest third of W&O Travel’s business, a proportion However, in case any of my friends get a copy of
brands, including Tropical Locations, South it aimed to increase, said group managing this, holidays these are not!
American Experience, Harlequin Holidays and director Ian Neale (pictured with Baldwins There is also the small task of running the
Ski Dream, under the parent company’s name. Travel’s Gemma Smith, left, and Kim Lacey). office and keeping Exosphere moving forward.
Newly-branded brochures, such as W&O My days are exceptionally busy and on any one
Travel: Ski Dream, have been sent to agencies day I am director, administrator, tea-maker,
over the past two weeks and a new central receptionist, marketing director, PR executive
website (wandotravel.com) with an agents’ and travel consultant. My clients, though, and
section has been launched. the service I provide to them are my first priority
The operator hopes the unification will and the favourite part of my job. Getting to know
boost brand recognition and help agents to them, their style and travel habits inside out is so
sell across the different brands, as well as important because, as long as I keep organising
easing back-office procedures. fabulous holidays totally suited to them, they will
Speaking at a launch event for 60 keep coming back and recommending us to
luxury agents at London’s Browns Hotel, others. This ensures I can keep doing what I love
O’Loughlin said agents could expect fam – oh, and going on all those “holidays”!
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