NEWS event in the Romanian capital. Samantha Mayling reports from Bucharest
Car wash and football kits: how agents build their name
A
Agent panellists share their experiences
gents from across the consortium’s brands are immersing themselves in their communities to build networks and boost sales.
Jo Greenwood Richards, director of Global Travel
Group’s Tivoli Travel – which has four shops in West Yorkshire – attends wedding fairs to tap into the honeymoons market. The agency advertises with local charities, sports teams and a car wash – and she travels in a Tivoli Travel-branded car. Tricia Beattie, Off Broadway Travel founder, said her
agency has won the ‘Welwyn Oscar’ four years in a row, having been voted for by locals and other businesses. “We’ve immersed ourselves in the village,” she said,
highlighting how co-owner Natalie Bennett is on the festival committee and they attend fairs and a classic car show. The Global agency also collected scores of football kits
to donate to a youth team in Mauritius. Swords Travel co-founder Mark Swords said the
agency’s decision to start printing a customer magazine had had a “huge” impact on sales. The move followed the Travel Trust Association agency’s relocation last year to a bigger shop in Wimbledon to tap into a wealthier clientele, with many clients in the area not on social media. Jonny Fielding, founder of JF Travel in Northern
Ireland, has stores in Coleraine, Magherafelt and Ballymena which cater largely to the family market. The
y allocations of cabins Ocean cruise currently accounts for
20% of the consortium’s sales, up from 18% in 2024, with river cruise accounting for 4%, up from 3% last year. He described The Cruise Club as an
in-house operator which is becoming a one-stop shop for cruises – and is a free part of the membership offering. Its website can quickly produce
“stunning and personalised” quotes, with deck plans, immersive videos and details of hotels and flights. Wilson also aims to host a cruise conference in early 2026.
Global Travel member is encouraging clients to book earlier by offering the chance to pay in instalments. Mickleover-based Clare Stege is a homeworker whose
CLS Travel business is an Independent Travel Experts member. She supports her local NHS trust with donations from each booking and by sponsoring a local football team. “As a homeworker, it is tricky coming up against big
businesses, but I have built emotional connections and trust; I am known locally as the ‘holiday lady’,” she said. Rob Kenton, managing director of Worldchoice
agency Triangle Travel, told the conference he plans to recruit apprentices. “We need youth, and young blood, coming through,” he said. He highlighted the importance of retaining staff, so invites partners of staff to Christmas and summer parties
and gives time off over Christmas and Easter. O The Travel Network Group has launched men’s mental health and wellbeing training modules for members to help support staff. The consortium also has a menopause workplace policy as part of its drive to support “the person behind the professional”.
Wow your customers with our new tailored AI tool – Lewis
The Travel Network Group’s new AI tool, TTNG Digital Assistant, can help agents to “wow” clients, said chief executive Gary Lewis. He urged agents to have AI
tool ChatGPT on their phones to help with tasks but highlighted how the Digital Assistant was built exclusively for them and “understands” their needs. “It has all the knowledge of our
business – we and the team have the ability to ask questions in an AI environment to get the right answers immediately,” he said.
travelweekly.co.uk
Gary Lewis
Agents can ask the tool about
business partners and destinations. “It creates itineraries with
‘wow’,” he said, citing the ability of the tool to highlight events that would take place during a client’s visit, for example. It could also help agents to
draft a letter to a supplier about a complaint; defend themselves against a chargeback; and build a business development action plan. “AI enhances your ability. The
TTNG Digital Assistant is AI in a safe environment,” said Lewis.
26 JUNE 2025 11
It is tricky coming up against big businesses, but I have built trust; I am known locally as the ‘holiday lady’
PICTURES: Alex Maguire
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