p9 news Jan15 13/1/10 14:14 Page 9
ttglive.com
teletext round-up news
iPhone app for
Teletext to open
daily top deals
TELETEXT Holidays claims it is the first travel
second retail shop
company to launch a “top deals” application for
the iPhone this month.
“Travel Tip-off” will be updated daily with the
Rupert Murray.
top 20 deals, with a range of destinations to TELETEXT Holidays’ foray into the
choose from. world of retail shops takes another
It is the company’s first move into the mobile step forward at the end of this month
world but marketing manager Mark Bloxham with the opening of its second agency.
said there will be more to come. The shop in Chesterfield (right) will
“We have other ideas in the pipeline and want join a small agency in Pitsea, Essex,
to make sure which opened after Teletext
people who announced its partnership with Tesco
use other at the Travel Convention last October,
phones also to open 20 in-store shops and employ
have access more than 100 agents within two years. according to Sanders, but with her call centres
to Travel Tip- The 850sq ft Chesterfield shop, situated along- selling 85% dynamic packages she expects the
off and our side its Tesco Extra partner, will be the shop to move more in that direction.
future apps. flagship store and feature banks of window She sees the two branches as pilot stores:
“Travel screens, a projector and 70in plasma screen to “We will monitor how both are working, look
Tip-off is sim- “reflect the digital side of Teletext,” according to at footfall figures and how sales are going.
ple and easy to managing director Victoria Sanders (pictured). “We are also researching the areas where
use, which is what people want.” Sanders is in the process of recruiting seven other Tesco Extra stores are located and will
The user will be able to click on a deal to find staff for the Chesterfield branch, which like the work with their team to choose the best locations
out more about it, then have the option to call a Pitsea branch will open from 9am to 10pm. to open the other 18 agencies.”
member of the sales team or save it for later. Sanders said the Pitsea shop was doing well There are about 70 Tesco Extras across the
The tool will also have a holiday search facility. because staying open until 10pm meant it country to consider, and Sanders believes
The app is an extension of the web-based captured evening shoppers, which most the retail park concept in which these
weekly Travel Tip-off alert, which Bloxham says high street agencies could not do. stores are based is replacing high streets
has a “great pick up.” “The shop is right next to the milk and as the premium travel agent real estate.
Today also sees the launch of an online ski everyone needs milk, so the “The hard work in terms of meeting
price index designed to demonstrate the number of people coming in has Tesco’s design and health and safety
affordability of skiing which has historically been been great. It is already meet- standards has been done, so once
deemed an expensive holiday. ing our budget expectations.” we know where the ideal locations are
It looks at various resorts and breaks down The majority of customers we can open up more stores quickly,”
what holidaymakers can expect to pay for are opting to buy packages she said.
various elements from from accommodation to
ski passes and equipment hire.
Social media strategy to ‘ease pain’
Uniform decision: Teletext Holidays has yet to
decide on a permanent uniform for its retail NEW MARKETING manager Mark Bloxham is “Searching for a holiday has become a painful
staff and is asking TTG readers to help them putting together a social media strategy for experience online because of the volume of
create something stylish for its agents. Teletext Holidays. choice. So I want to make sure the way we
The company aims to employ more than 100 Bloxham, who joined the company late last integrate socially eases that pain and gives
agents over the next two years and finding a year, admits that although Teletext has dabbled people access to what they want.”
suitable uniform for them is top of managing with tools such as Facebook and Twitter, a more One Facebook tool Bloxham highlighted allows
director Victoria Sanders’ list. coherent approach is needed. members to find out which of their friends has
TTG readers who fancy themselves as He explained: “The tools are all-powerful if been to a particular destination so they can chat
a designer should email ideas to used correctly but there is no point setting up a to them about it. “People don’t want us to tell
rmurray@ttglive.com or post it to Travel Trade Twitter account and bombarding people with them how great somewhere is, they want to ask
Gazette, 245 Blackfriars Road, London SE19UY. offers – they won’t follow you for long. their friends,” he said.
The creator of the winning design will get the “Social media is about engaging in conversa- Bloxham also revealed the company will
chance to model the finished outfit. tion with customers and if possible giving them be doing more radio marketing this year and
tools to talk to one another. focusing on regional and local coverage.
15.01.2010 09
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