L
SPECIAL EDITION
WANTED
A husband and wife would like to visit Borneo on an escorted tour to see wildlife next year. They watched the Judi Dench documentary, Wild Borneo Adventure, and would like to see the animals featured in the programme. They also want an emphasis on responsible tourism and environmental concerns such as carbon-offsetting.
BUDGET: £6,000 but flexible if the holiday has great eco-friendly credentials
THE VERDICT
All three agents offered quotes that featured the highlights of the Wild Borneo Adventure documentary, and the mystery shopper
would have been happy to book with Miles Morgan Travel or Hays Travel. However, Miles Morgan Travel scored higher across the board. The Dave Criddle agency only generated quotes from Titan Travel and the agent seemed less confident in their knowledge of Borneo.
WINNING AGENT
TRAVEL SPECIALIST katharine harrison
I have taken bookings for Borneo before and it has become more
popular since the Judi Dench programme. I have never been there but we have training in house and from operators. I have been a travel agent for 19 years and five years at Miles Morgan.
SCORING SYSTEM
10% Appearance/first impressions 25% Customer service 25% Advice and product knowledge 25% Holiday details 15% Overall experience
miles morgan travel 17 ORCHARD, TAUNTON
IMPRESSIONS: The shop was bright and welcoming, with cheerful staff in uniform, and lots of bright, interesting posters advertising worldwide offers.
SERVICE: I was immediately greeted by a cheery agent, who offered me coffee after I sat down. She listened to my requirements and the outline of the Judi Dench TV programme, then went through options matching my budget. I had her undivided attention and she rang two companies to confirm availability and prices.
QUOTES: The first was a 13-day Titan Travel Wild Borneo escorted group tour in October 2020, flying from Heathrow with Singapore Airlines. It cost £5,498 and included the chance to see orangutans and other animals. The second was a two-week Borneo Rainforest Adventure escorted group trip with Saga, flying from Heathrow with Malaysia Airlines in June 2020, for £5,998. Both holidays were interesting and reflected the highlights of the programme. I was assured that the tour operators were compliant with responsible tourism policies.
OVERALL: The agent was enthusiastic and knowledgeable, having seen the Judi Dench programme. She seemed genuinely interested in my request and the whole experience was excellent. I felt she was an agent that I would be very happy to use on a regular basis.
89% 40 12 SEPTEMBER 2019
travelweekly.co.uk
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THIS WEEK’S WINNER
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