Royal unveils £100k prizes giveaway Josie Klein


Royal Caribbean International has launched one of its “biggest- ever” competitions, giving away £100,000 worth of prizes including an electric car. The Big Royal Thank You will


run for eight weeks until the end of October and is open to all travel agents, marketing and training staff. Each week, prizes will be based


on a theme, such as a wellbeing week where spa vouchers are up for grabs, or a family week where entrants can win a set of mountain bikes. Stuart Byron, the line’s EMEA


vice-president, said: “This is the biggest competition we’ve ever run in


the Travel Weekly Facebook page. For every person who participates


my six years with Royal and I reckon it’s one of the biggest incentives the company has ever done. “We recognise it’s been a tough


few years so this is our opportunity to say thank you to all the amazing travel agents who have put blood, sweat and tears into it for a number of years. “The things people have sacrificed


the most are some of the personal treats, so we want to be able to give back to all our travel agent partners and give them the opportunity to treat themselves.”


Family-run agency Glen Travel marks 50th anniversary


Andrew McQuarrie


Scottish business Glen Travel is celebrating its 50th anniversary after overcoming “some pretty hard times” and successfully prioritising customer service. The company, based in Blantyre,


South Lanarkshire, was set up by David Glen and his business partner Margaret Donnelly in 1973. Now run by David’s sons, Alan,


David and Douglas, the company clocks up half a century of trading this week, on September 10. Alan Glen said: “It’s something to


be proud of, having a family business that’s lasted the test of time.”


6 7 SEPTEMBER 2023 To mark the milestone, Glen


Travel has organised events with clients and suppliers. “I might have a little tear in my


eye,” said Alan. “There are not a lot of independents left and you’ve really got to know your stuff to be here now.” The business, which employs 19


staff, functions as both an agency and a tour operator. The office boasts a range of


features aimed at boosting levels of customer service, including its Schooner Bar, Emirates Lounge and Silversea Suite. “You have to pay attention


to the customers and make sure they’re looked after,” said Alan.


He added that even in the internet


age, customers appreciate visiting the store because they place value on the human interaction and the depth of staff members’ experience. “People like dealing with people,”


said Alan, adding that footfall is as high as ever. When the business started, it had


to grapple with the miners’ strike and the three-day week, said Alan, which meant it quickly became accustomed to trading in difficult circumstances. Other challenges encountered


over the years include the emergence of the internet, the coronavirus pandemic and, more recently, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).


To enter, visit Club Royal to


register for the competition and start collecting virtual keys. These can be earned by participating in a weekly quiz, completing training modules and making bookings. The keys can be used to unlock


‘bounty boxes’ that contain coins. The number of coins each entrant has will determine their position on a leaderboard, and those in the top places at the end of the week will be awarded the prizes. The winners will be announced each week on


in the competition, Royal Caribbean will donate money to Abta LifeLine, a charity providing assistance to those in the industry who are facing financial challenges. The cruise line will present the charity with a donation during Abta’s Travel Convention in October. “The more agents who get


involved, the more it will help generate a donation from Royal Caribbean to Abta LifeLine,” said Byron. “It’s a fun, rewarding competition


for agents, but there’s also a feelgood factor as everyone who takes part knows they’re doing their bit to help us raise money as well.”


Douglas, Alan and David Glen


The pandemic was the most


difficult to deal with, said Alan, adding: “That’s a one-off event that we’ll hopefully never see again in my lifetime.” As for AI, such as ChatGPT,


Glen Travel’s mindset has always been a positive one. “We embrace technology rather than seeing it as a threat,” added Alan. Even during this year’s anniversary


celebrations, Alan said he would continue to look ahead and plan ways to drive the business forward. “I hope I’ve got a few years left in the business – I’ve still got the enthusiasm and I want to see it grow,” he said.


travelweekly.co.uk

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