Why operators who Trust in Travel Agents are more likely to gain
IT WAS jolly kind of Prince William and Kate Middleton to give us all an extra day off in April 2011. But rather than simply thinking about putting their feet up in front of the telly next spring, the more enterprising travel agents out there have realised the royal wedding provides a great opportunity to boost their spring 2011 holiday sales. While four bank holidays in 11 days may smack of bad planning by the calendar gods, they also offer an unprecedented hook with which to grab customers riding on the crest of the feelgood wave we all hope will rise above next year’s cuts. The best agents will already be pointing out the potential to customers, packaging up and presenting tempting spring offers to them, and hoping to enjoy an uplift in sales early in the New Year. It is exactly this kind of fast-thinking and personal
service that sees so many agents provide such a good service to the operators whose products they sell. Which is why it was a surprise to hear Richard
Carrick’s comments from the Aito Specialist Operators conference in Brussels last weekend, where the former Hoseasons boss said he would be unlikely to work with agents if he was starting a small travel company again. While you can read Carrick’s stout defence of his words on our letters page this week, his comments undoubtedly jarred in a year when so many agents have proven their worth, both to operators and customers. There are plenty of operators who would take a
different view, as Carrick has acknowledged himself. Britaly Travel is such a strong supporter of agents that it credits them with its huge rise in sales over the past 12 months – and it has truly taken our Trust in Travel Agents campaign to heart, including the logo in all of its new brochures coming out in December. While it’s true that working with the trade tends to add another layer of cost to growing
travel businesses, it will also add sales. In most cases, the added value that agents offer gives small travel companies a better chance of success than the direct-only route.
Daniel Pearce Editor
dpearce@ttglive.com
02 26.11.2010
news Sun, sea and spa on Mauritian fam
Agents enjoyed spa treatments, beach time and fine food and wine during a fam trip to Mauritius with Gold Medal earlier this month. The group, including agents from Stewart Travel, Travel Angels and Harlequin Travel, visited several resorts during the trip, which was run in association with Air Mauritius and Naiade Resorts.
Ship launch.
On the Allure guest list p6 Royal Caribbean International explains why it targeted customer- facing agents rather than agency bosses for celebrations marking the launch of Allure of the Seas
Selling through agents. Carrick controversy p7 Former Hoseasons boss Richard Carrick has caused a storm by saying he would not use agents if he were to start a new company
Homeworking. No Future for Co-op brand p9 Co-operative Travel has dropped its Future Travel brand as it looks to make its Personal Travel Advisors division into the UK’s only “homeworking superbrand”
Aito Conference 2010. Brussels bouts p10
www.twitter.com/danielpearce
Aito members clashed in Brussels last weekend as they discussed whether they should fully cover customers’ costs during events such as the ash cloud
‘The big two’.
Plummeting profits p16 Tui Travel and Thomas Cook have said that the ash cloud, election and World Cup mean their full- year results will be “at the lower end” of the city’s expectations
CityJet. Trade expectations p24 CityJet is looking to improve awareness of its brand among UK trade and consumers as it plans more routes to the UK
Operators.
Doing the maths p26 Page & Moy Travel Group is hoping the multiples will distribute its product as it looks to grow trade sales
REGULARS.
City & finance p16 Comment p18 Cruise p20 Air p22 Operators p26 Letters p28
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