OPERATOR NEWS YOU CAN USE
Vacations to America vows to increase indie support
Juliet Dennis
juliet.dennis@
travelweekly.co.uk
Vacations to America has pledged to further increase its focus on independent agents this year after a six-month ‘agent engagement’ campaign saw sales surge.
The US operator has already increased the print run for its 2018 brochure – out in late December – by 50% to 30,000 copies. The campaign last year included 1,000 visits to
selected independent agents,
who received product information, destination guides and sales messages. At the end of the six months, in November, sales through agents visited were up by 23% compared with the same period in 2016.
Managing
director Richard
Wimms said the campaign
NEW: The operator increased its print run to 30,000 brochures
results formed the basis of the operator’s decision to plan more agent visits and events this year, and to print extra brochures. He said: “This confirms what
we always thought – agents will respond positively once they are better equipped with destination knowledge and product confidence. What’s particularly pleasing is many of the agents we
“We will continue to engage agents with more visits, collateral and destination- themed events”
visited had never previously sold our product – and now they have. “With that in mind Vacations
to America will continue to engage agents with more visits, quality in-store collateral and increased product knowledge and destination-themed events.” Wimms said the operator
was now starting to get the “cut through” it had targeted. He added: “Agents need a ‘go to’ specialist for the US. Working closely with our US partners, Vacations to America will focus more on independent agents as the popularity of the USA returns. The US is an enormous country and every day agents face the daunting task of having to put together some very complex
itineraries for their customers.”
vacationstoamerica.com
Prestige unveils Canada website and three fam trips as sales increase by 21%
Prestige Holidays has introduced its first standalone website for Canada and announced three agent fams to the country. The moves come as the operator predicts
a bumper year for the destination, already enjoying a sales increase of 21% year on year, thanks to publicity surrounding its 150th anniversary celebrations and Prince Charles and Camilla’s visit last year. It follows the appointment of Jenni Wright to Prestige’s 10-strong Canada reservation team and
NEWS IN BRIEF
Luxury Gold and Insight Vacation extend discounts
Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold have extended early payment discounts until February 28. The discount, on full payment, offers 10% off all itineraries except Australia and New Zealand Luxury Gold trips, which offer 15% off until the end of January.
insightvacations.com luxurygoldvacations.com
On The Go offers two-for-one on a range of itineraries
On The Go Tours has two-for- one offers and a range of discounts across best-selling tours as part of its January sale. The sale covers Africa overland safaris, India, Vietnam, Egypt, China and Italy. The eight-day Taj Traveller is £348 per person.
onthegotours.com
Shearings unveils packages to see classical group Il Divo
Shearings Holidays is offering packages to see the classical male quartet II Divo live at Edinburgh Castle or Ragley Hall, Warwickshire, on selected dates in July. A two-day II Divo break at Edinburgh Castle costs from £164, including one night’s B&B, coach travel and a concert ticket.
shearingsagent.com
launch of the operator’s Canada brochure. The new website –
prestigecanada.co.uk – is
due to go live in the next fortnight with product information for agents and consumers. The first fam trip, to western Canada, is planned for May for eight agents with Air Canada flights and a Rocky Mountaineer trip from Banff to Vancouver. Other week-long itineraries are planned to Toronto and Niagara Falls and to the Maritimes. Canada manager Denise Hunn said: “Our new staff member and website are just two ways for agents to tap into our knowledge. “But of course, first-hand experience is also key, which is why we’re so excited to be
working on our first agent fam trip of 2018.”
prestigecanada.co.uk
25 January 2018
travelweekly.co.uk 23
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