CONFERENCE Jet2holidays VIP Conference 2023: An attendance of 350 delegates made


In-demand retail agents ‘are now barrier to OTAs’


T


he success enjoyed by retail travel agencies suggests the sector has a competitive edge


over online rivals, according to Barrhead Travel’s product and commercial director. Caroline Donaldson told


delegates at the Jet2holidays VIP Conference that the retail sector is acting as a “barrier” to the growth of online travel agencies (OTAs). She said: “I think, from a retail


travel agents’ point of view, we’re the biggest barrier now to online travel agencies and aggregators. “Customers are coming back


and business is good. People are looking for expertise and advice.” The comments were voiced


after Jet2holidays’ general manager for trade sales, Lloyd Cross, asked a panel of agency representatives about barriers to success, noting the rise of OTAs.


Customers are


coming back and business is good. People are looking for expertise and advice


The other panellists were Dawson


& Sanderson managing director Annelene Hutton and Idle Travel owner and director Tony Mann. During the session, Hutton


said the travel industry was lagging behind others on technology. Hutton, who joined the


industry about two years ago after working as a finance director for manufacturing companies, described the technology in the travel industry as “absolutely shocking”. “One of the first decisions I made


after stepping up to the managing director role was to invest about


£1.5 million over a number of years to improve our technology,” she said. “The whole process I’ve been


looking at is a one-stop shop where the agent can search for the holiday, book the holiday and it’s all fully integrated, and loads into our back-office system. “We’re rolling that out and if we


can do that, it reduces the time the agent spends on admin so they can spend more time with their customers and, ultimately, book more holidays.” All of the panellists said business


had been good and they were expecting a strong peak period, which they forecast would last longer than has traditionally been the case. Donaldson said: “We expect it to


go beyond January and maybe into the second quarter.” Mann said he believes there


are now “10 months of peaks”, but marketing remains vital and the sector cannot afford to be complacent.


Operator adds Symi, Porto and Pula holidays


Jet2holidays has added Symi and the Athens coast in Greece, Porto in Portugal and Pula in Croatia to its programme. Holidays to the island of Symi, which is north


of Rhodes, and the Athens coast will start next summer. Pula was dropped during the pandemic, but will return in summer 2025, alongside the introduction of Porto. Jet2 chief executive Steve


Heapy said the additional destinations represent a “significant expansion” of the operator’s portfolio, adding: “This growth is possible only thanks to the loyalty of customers and independent travel agents.”


10 7 DECEMBER 2023 Flights and packages to the Athens coast will be


available from Birmingham, Manchester and Stansted, while Symi will be served from 11 UK airports. Porto packages, sold through Jet2CityBreaks, will be offered from Birmingham and Manchester, while flights to Pula will operate from Birmingham, Manchester and Stansted. Hailing the additional summer


Heapy: Lobby your MP about Caption for the pic


destinations, Heapy said: “We know they will be extremely popular based on what we have heard from customers and independent agents.” Jet2holidays now has more


Steve Heapy (left) and director of travel agent relationships Alan Cross


than 100 routes on sale to 14 Greek airports, with 19 holiday regions available.


Jet2 chief executive Steve Heapy urged agents to speak to their local MPs about the “unfair” taxes faced by the airline industry. He warned that rising aviation taxes


would soon lead to increasing numbers of people being priced out of flying. “Flying will become something for


the rich and privileged – that’s the policy that the government is pursuing,” said Heapy. “If you’re speaking to your local MP,


I would urge you to ask them what their view is on the policy for aviation.”


Guest sp


champion, with, f Hutton, Dawson Jade Ever


travelweekly.co.uk


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