NEWS agents learnt about the operator’s future plans at its biggest-ever event. Ben Ireland reports from Spain
Zoe Towers launched Vibe
We take the risks to let you ‘focus on selling holidays’
A
Steve Heapy
gents were warned of the danger of dynamic packaging by the chief executive of
Jet2holidays, who said the operator takes risks so agents don’t have to. Steve Heapy told delegates at
the company’s Partners2Success conference: “Tere may be times you want to dynamically package [but] you take some risks.” He outlined the costs to the tour
operator that could create “massive exposure” if agents dynamically packaged.
Tey included checking that
bed banks and hotels have safety management systems that comply with UK regulations; assessing the likelihood of airline or bed bank failures; and exposing your business to fraudulent gastric illness claims. “I’m not trying to scare you,” he
STEVE HEAPY ON...
O Sustainability: “We are going to take a number of big actions. It’s something a lot of people ask about. We have invested in biofuels and navigational equipment and pioneered lightweight seating [for aircraft] to drive efficiency. We are working on an accreditation scheme for hotels.”
O False sickness claims: “We have led the fight against claims companies but they will be looking for the next stream of income. They are parasites.”
O Brochures: “We will keep brochures as long as you want them.”
O Long-haul: “We have invested a lot of cash in aircraft to serve the Mediterranean and Canary Islands. Maybe one day we will [have a long-haul programme].”
O Ski: “It’s not that we don’t want to do it, but we don’t want to take our eye off the ball for a small number of new passengers.”
O Call centre: “A couple of years ago, we had an issue in our call centre – but we’ve listened. This January, we will have more staff than demand to answer calls quickly.”
TRIPLE WIN: Cumbria Travel’s Tricia Rickerby and the team receive one of the three Jet2holidays awards for independent agents that they won. The three-branch agency bagged the best newcomer award for its Carlisle branch, which opened in January, was top seller of group bookings, and was named best-performing chain for the northern region (up to 10 branches). Rickerby (centre), Katie Murray (left) and Gemma Wheatley collected the award from pop star Peter Andre (right) and his choreographer Ryan Jackson. Rickerby said: “The one we’re really happy with is for the best-performing chain. We’ve wanted that one for a while.”
travelweekly.co.uk 5 DECEMBER 2019 15
The past few months have shown that a financially stable company is important – and we have stability
said. “But as the tour operator, we take all the hard work away from you, so you can focus on what you do best – selling holidays.” Heapy said the company commits
£1.5 billion of risk before it sold any holidays, adding it would have 111 aircraſt operating next summer – compared with Tui’s 65. “Tat’s a massive risk,” he said.
“We need as many bookings as we can, to reduce that risk. “OTAs [online travel agents] are fighting very hard to take your
business, but they take no risks.” Jet2holidays paid agents
£100 million in commission in its last financial year, according to Heapy – £40 million of which was in peaks. He said agents could trust
Jet2holidays because of its “stable” balance sheet, noting that in parent company Dart Group’s latest results, in the year to March 31, the company recorded revenue of £3.15 billion. Heapy said the firm had
£1.25 billion “in the bank” and although some of that was customers’ cash, or “lots of £60 deposits”, £300 million was the company’s own money. “You all know, because you all
run your own businesses, that cash is king,” he added. “Te past few months have shown that a financially stable company is important – and we have stability.”
PICTURE: Thomas Reader
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 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
