WANTED L


A solo female traveller wants an escorted touring holiday in Japan but is open to suggestions about alternatives. She’s flexible about dates and timings, and wants advice on the best time to travel and what she can expect for her budget. She hasn’t been on an


escorted tour before so would like to know what it would be like to travel with a tour guide and other holidaymakers.


BUDGET: £3,500-£4,000 THE VERDICT


All three agents recommended the same tours from Mercury Holidays, but the winning agent appeared most enthusiastic. She was eager but not pushy to make the sale, ringing operators for advice and suggesting ideal choices, along with information and tips about escorted tours. The Hays agents offered an interesting cruise alternative. The Holt Travel quotation lacked detail.


WINNING AGENT


MANAGER JASMINE PAYNE


We get lots of requests for escorted


tours because our customers, who tend to be older, like to be taken around. A solo female traveller booking for Japan isn’t a usual request, but we do have solo women travellers going elsewhere. I have one customer who goes to Japan each year.


SCORING SYSTEM


10% Appearance/first impressions 25% Customer service 25% Advice and product knowledge 25% Holiday details 15% Overall experience


WROXHAM TRAVEL 29 RED LION STREET, AYLSHAM


IMPRESSIONS: The agency had one large desk within a womenswear shop. Brochures were neatly displayed. The agent was smart, with a pink shirt that matched the desk.


SERVICE: I was acknowledged immediately and was shown different brochures to ascertain what was available. She spoke about Titan Travel, Travelsphere, Cox & Kings, Wendy Wu Tours, Riviera Travel and Mercury Holidays and about group sizes, single supplements and whether tours might be cancelled due to lack of numbers. She checked availability with operators and rang The Travel Visa Company about getting a visa. She ensured the flights did not include long stopovers and offered discounts of up to £85.


QUOTES: Both quotes were Mercury Holidays’ escorted tours. The first was the 11-day Treasures of Japan, in November, flying from Heathrow with Cathay Pacific, via Hong Kong, costing £3,499. The tour included visits to Tokyo, Matsumoto Castle,Hiroshima and Osaka. The second was China and Japan’s Rail Odyssey, departing October from Heathrow for £3,778. It was a 15-day tour visiting Kyoto, Tokyo, Xi’an and Beijing.


OVERALL: The agent was polite, knowledgeable and keen. The shopper would have booked if it had been a genuine enquiry.


94% 42 13 JUNE 2019 travelweekly.co.uk


THIS WEEK’S WINNER


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