OPERATOR NEWS YOU CAN USE


Grandstand aims to drive more sales through trade


Samantha Mayling


samantha.mayling@ travelweekly.co.uk


Grandstand Motor Sports is revving up to gain more sales via travel agents this year, with an increase in training, marketing support and shop visits.


The operator specialises in


holidays to see motor sport events around the world, offering packages and tailor-made itineraries. Director Debbie Wolfe-Kinch said the company had always worked with agents but decided to increase investment as it had seen significant growth from trade sales. “We recognise the value in


working with agents and want to assist them in selling motor sport travel to their customers,” she said. “We want to be seen as the


first port of call for any motor sport travel enquiry, but we recognise that due to the niche nature, we won’t necessarily achieve this without putting investment into educating


Back-Roads Touring serves up new foodie options in brochure


Small-group touring specialist Back-Roads Touring has added foodie experiences to tours in its new Asia brochure. The - brochure features


four tours across Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, with improved itineraries and new foodie excursions. A -day Wonders of Thailand


tour now includes a visit to a tea plantation where guests


can pluck Assam tea leaves and learn about making tea by hand. Prices start at ,. A -day ietnam and Cambodia Discovery holiday has a


26travelweekly.co.uk24 January 2019


FORMULA 1: Grandstand is hosting its first fam for seven agents next month


agents about our products.” Last year Grandstand hosted


webinars and sent staff to talk to agents in stores and at events. Seven agents are to go on its


first fam trip, to see the ormula  winter testing in Barcelona in ebruary, in partnership with Circuit de Barcelona. Wolfe-Kinch said it would offer the agents a “great insight into our product”. Grandstand is offering 5% commission for standard packages and  commission for tailor- made. This year, it plans to host


webinars, podcasts, face-to-face sessions, more store visits and a trade portal on its website with downloadable marketing material. “One of our main goals will be to


identify and support agents who want to sell our product and who are passionate about selling it,” said Wolfe-Kinch. Established in , the


operator’s -strong team arranges trips, race tickets and hospitality packages from its office in roby, Leicestershire. Passenger numbers


rose  in  to ,. grandstandmotorsports.co.uk


new private cooking class at Luke Nguyen’s Grain cooking studio in Ho Chi Minh City. Prices lead in at ,. Ed Pettitt, global general manager at Back-Roads Touring, said: “The new brochure and revised itineraries have been designed with our new and loyal travellers in mind, with customer feedback playing a huge role in the tours’ innovation.” Back-Roads Touring is offering


a  discount on - Asia brochure prices to customers who book through an agent


by anuary . backroadstouring.com/asia


NEWS IN BRIEF


Acacia Africa offers 20% off departures until March


Acacia Africa’s new year safari sale includes discounts of up to 20% for departures up to March, and discounts of 5%-15% for selected tours departing between June 1 and October 31. The operator has a new 62-day South Africa to Kenya tour, from Pretoria to Nairobi via seven other countries, at £4,285 before discounts, excluding flights. acacia-africa.com


Corinthian Travel revives its Classic Lebanon tour


Corinthian Travel has reintroduced Lebanese Unesco World Heritage Site Baalbek following a change of travel advice by the Foreign Office. The operator’s seven-night Classic Lebanon calls at Baalbek as well as Beirut and Byblos, and is priced from £2,185 excluding international flights. corinthiantravel.co.uk


Luxury Gold guarantees half of 2019 departures


Escorted tours operator Luxury Gold has guaranteed departures on more than half of its 2019 holidays. Chief executive Hefel Böhler said: “We are so pleased to offer these definite departures on top destinations around the world. Clients need to act fast, since they will sell out quickly.” luxurygoldvacations.com


Esprit discounts two ski breaks in France by £360


Esprit Ski has cut prices by £360 per person on two ski holidays in France, both departing February 10. Seven nights at Chalet Dahlia in La Rosière, in the Tarentaise Valley near the French-Italian border, now costs £569, down from £929. A seven-night holiday at 12-bed property Chalet Belette in Les Arcs is down from £929 to £569. espritski.com


PICTURE: JAMES MOY PHOTOGRAPHY


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  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96