Global launches buddy scheme for new members


Global Travel Group has launched a mentoring scheme to ‘buddy up’ its newer members with established retailers to help them take the next step towards growth. Global Buddies has been trialled by a select few agents. Commercial director Cherie


Erin Brockovich praised agents


Katy Hill: ‘Sell the sizzle not the sausage’


Erin Brockovich tells agents it’s ‘good to be different’


Delegates were urged to believe in themselves by a series of motivational speakers at this year’s Global Travel Group Conference in Orlando.


American legal clerk Erin


Brockovich, whose legal battle in Hinkley, California, was depicted in a film starring ulia oberts in 2000, spoe about how she oerame obstales suh as dyslexia to take on corporate giants to win what was the largest ourt settlement in American history. She told agents to stand out


from the crowd. “Be different,” she said. “Different is good. My work was really about me being human, and not being afraid to be human. Brockovich praised agents and


recalled how a friend who recently travelled to Venice made her own booking arrangements. “She ended up with an hours layoer in ranfurt.  told her she should use a travel agent – she will next time.” TV presenter Katy Hill, now a


life coach, said her determination to appear on Blue Peter saw her tackle challenges that in the early


90s – “before the Spice Girls and girl power” – were seen as unattainable to women. Hill, who now writes a travel blog, said the best part of a recent holiday to Kissimmee was a ayaing trip that  would neer hae found on my omputer, adding ts the little bits of knowledge that set agents apart.”


She hampioned nstagram as a


“It’s the little bits of knowledge that set agents apart”


sales tool and said it was important to sell the sile, not the sausage, meaning experiences and activities an get ustomers eited more than destination details. The conference also heard from


0s fitness instrutor r otiator, who said his rise to TV stardom came from tenacity to achieve his goals and not giing up, despite hallenges, inluding barriers he faed due to being bla. e also urged delegates to


alue health oer wealth and to stay atie despite busy shedules.


Bank transfer payments rise for members


Global Travel Group has seen a “significant” rise in the number of payments members have taken via bank transfer since the ban on credit card fees was introduced in January. Managing director Andy Stark said the introduction of the second


Payment Services Directive this year had been met with concern over “staggering” costs. But he said commercial director Cherie Richards had renegotiated better rates with Barclays Merchant Services. Richards added: “More people are paying by credit cards, and


we’ve made that cheaper for members to process, but we’ve also given them an alternative too.”


Richards said the initiative was intended to help new agency owners learn from those with more industry experience and also benefit established independents who could pick up new ideas from those joining the trade. She also called on suppliers to take part in group mentoring sessions. “Very often we see this sort


of collaboration when our members come together – they are always keen to help each other out and share best practice,” said Richards. Tivoli Travel director Jo


Richards has taken a few new Global members under her wing to help them transition from homeworking to the high street. She said: “We’re a big family at Global. The buddy system is formalising something that was happening naturally. We have different strengths, and sharing ideas can only help everyone.” To launch the scheme, Global’s executive team will be assigned their own new member ‘buddy’ to help during their first year of membership.


Cherie Richards: ‘Members are keen to help each other’


6 December 2018travelweekly.co.uk15


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