FRONTLINE


colin burns branch manager, Hays Travel, Gateshead


Rock Me Amadeus by Falco, Boys by


Sabrina, Life is Life by Opus. For those of you who can remember these massive hits, you might also know that they all have something in common. Any guesses? Yes, that’s right, they were


all featured on BBC Radio 2’s breakfast show last week as part of a feature on 1980s package holiday hits! Basically, they are all songs that were massive in Europe, being played constantly at hotels and the local discotheques, but had it not been for us Brits going away on package holidays, would never have made it big here in the UK. Looking back now, maybe these


were some of the less desirable items we imported after our annual week in the sun, but hearing these tunes again last week put me in the right mood for days in the shop, filled with enquiries for last-minute deals, as we enjoy a very busy start to August.


WHOLE GAMUT Although we are getting a number of those “I want all-inclusive, two weeks, day flights, family of four, with slides and kids’ clubs and a spa for the adults, for £1,000” enquiries, we’re also finding that not everyone wants a cheapie. We’re seeing August and September departure dates with some customers spending over £600 each for a week self-catering.


26 14 AUGUST 2025 AGENT


We’re in those lovely days of little, if any, time for a lunch break and not getting out of the shop on time


I even had one regular who was happy to pay £2k for a two-week break in Benidorm on their own. And talking of the last minute, we have identified a new group of customers that we like to call the 529ers. You know the ones – they pop their head in at 5.29pm and ask what time we close. Then when we tell them 5.30pm, they say, “Ah great, we’re just in time then”, before going on to ask what we have available for tomorrow. Just keep smiling, Col, and do your best. Social media is playing a vital


part in our business too. We are still getting enquiries and bookings from across the UK, including


bookings for destinations that we didn’t think were part of our market here in Gateshead. While posts about a four-night


break for a hot-tub lodge in the Lake District create loads of interest and make it difficult to keep up with the messages and comments, they are great for passenger numbers and we are starting to see some of these new customers coming back to us for their main holidays as well.


THE IMPORTANT BITS We push very last-minute customers to sort out travel insurance and ancillaries immediately, to ensure they have everything they need. Trying to get a customer who is booking for 2026 and 2027 to even think about such items can be difficult, but late bookers must sort them straight away. So, here we are in those lovely


days of little, if any, time for a lunch break and not getting out of the shop on time. Days when the atmosphere is buzzing even if we do get a bit frustrated with some impossible requests from customers, and with each other when we get tired. The solution when things get a bit strained? Stick on a bit of


Vengaboys or Europe’s The Final Countdown at full volume. That’s sure to get the team bouncing.


BIG SHOES FOR OUR NEW STARTER TO FILL


August has brought with it our latest intake of Hays Travel apprentices and we are


fortunate to have the lovely Katie joining us to begin her journey in this amazing industry. On a sad note, our Sophie, who has been the source of much amusement in the branch over the past two years, has moved on to our Newcastle branch to further her learning and development in a city-centre location. After joining us as a 16-year-old straight from school, Sophie has developed into a great travel consultant who our customers loved, and I know she will do well in her new role. Big shoes to fill then, Katie, but we all know you can do it!


Katie travelweekly.co.uk


SharonAndreaJenniferHelenClare diary diary


SharonAndreaJenniferHelenClare


Colin


Colin


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