NEWS consortium’s annual conference in Cyprus last week. Samantha Mayling reports from Paphos
Members to get bookable, tailored websites by spring
E
lite Travel Group will launch a bookable consumer website next month with the aim of driving sales to members. Elite Collection will offer four and five-star
properties, package holidays, car hire and attractions from the consortium’s preferred suppliers. The website, which is designed to help consumers find
a local Elite member, will feature profile pages and links to each agency’s website. Over the following three months, each member will get
their own free, tailored version of the website. The site will also encourage calls to agents, as many cruise and luxury bookings are still expected to be made offline.
Elite chairman Wayne Darrock said very few members
had bookable websites. “No one is doing something like this for the luxury sector,” he added. “It will combat non- supportive operators and give Elite some protection.” Elite will also overbrand brochures and magazines
to reinforce the brand, as well as building a database of members’ clients in order to send out marketing material and drive sales. “We feel that we have a great brand that should be more
commonplace in the consumer market,” said Darrock. Furthermore, it will build its presence on social media
with the aim of distributing a wider range of offers to members more quickly.
About 80 agents and suppliers attended the Elite conference
John Escott, Elite general manager
Target sports clubs for Cyprus winter breaks
Mark Richardson, UK sales and marketing manager at Constantinou Bros Hotels, urged agents to book winter breaks at its Cyprus hotels for groups such as bowls and cycling clubs. Delegates were hosted at Constantinou Bros’s Asimina Suites Hotel in Paphos, with sessions and events held at sister properties Athena Beach Hotel and Athena Royal Beach Hotel.
travelweekly.co.uk
Clia: Exploit publicity for new cruise ships Adele Fitzpatrick-Foster, trade membership and events manager at Clia, advised agents to “jump on the bandwagon” of publicity about ships launching next year, including Virgin’s Scarlet Lady, Celebrity Apex, Enchanted Princess, P&O Cruises’ Iona and Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras.
Trade urged to wise up to new technology Funway’s regional sales manager, Stephen Craven, urged agents to embrace new technology and social media channels such as video app TikTok. However, he said a Funway survey had shown 80% of agents valued brochures, so printed material still had a role to play in marketing.
‘Interest in responsible tourism is growing’
Kuoni’s key account executive Amy Roullier told delegates that consumers are becoming more engaged with sustainability issues and are backing campaigns such as the operator’s Stay Beautiful responsible tourism initiative. The scheme has led to the introduction of reusable water bottles, donations to responsible tourism projects and the launch of voluntourism schemes.
5 DECEMBER 2019 17
PICTURES: Andy Huntley
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