SUNDERLAND TRIBUTE:


Landmarks in Sunderland lit up in the colours of Hays Travel in memory of founder John Hays (inset) this week as the city continued to mourn his death. Hays, who died at the company’s head office on November 13, was awarded the Freedom of the City in 2016 in recognition of his services to the community. A fundraising page set up in his name had raised more than £23,000 by Tuesday. His funeral was due to take place on Wednesday (November 25).


Agent takes window dressing to a new level


Ben Ireland


An agent in Liverpool is continuing to bag bookings using traditional high street methods during lockdown by advertising deals in the front window – of his house. Michael Blackburn, of Perfect


Getaways, has had many knocks on his front door since he used the agency’s window posters to promote the offers, which range from a five-star all-inclusive week in Turkey to three weeks at a beachfront Riu hotel in Mexico. He made one booking worth


more than £3,000 to the Maldives for a week’s all-inclusive stay in a water villa property he’d advertised on the window cards. Blackburn’s approach has helped


him hit his target every month since he joined Perfect Getaways from Tui in July, four months into the pandemic. “I just thought it would be funny,”


said Blackburn. “I had the window cards with me and thought ‘why


8 26 NOVEMBER 2020


People stop all the time and laugh, and it plants the seed in their mind that they want a holiday


Blackburn shows off the window posters in his front window


not?’. People stop all the time and laugh, and it plants the seed in their mind that they want a holiday. “There are loads of good deals at


the moment. It’s what we would have done in the shop.” Despite England having been in a


second lockdown since November 5, Blackburn said he had had his “best month for a long time” in terms of bookings, with the window cards helping to boost sales. Blackburn, who describes himself


as “never serious”, was furloughed by Tui from March to July before joining Perfect Getaways, adding that manager Louise Shelbourne had “heard about me”. He’s also taken to dressing in drag


for work during lockdown. “I put it on all the time and then


book loads of holidays,” he said. “We can wear what we like


working from home, and I like dressing up, it makes people laugh.”


Wexas founder Ian


Wilson dies aged 77 Dr Ian Wilson, founder and chairman of Wexas, died on Friday, aged 77, following a recent cancer diagnosis and complications after surgery. His son Mark takes on the role of chairman of the company, which operates Wexas Travel, Best Served Scandinavia and The Luxury Holiday Company.


Destinology appoints Ryan Johnston as MD


Former World Travel Holdings sales and operations chief Ryan Johnston has been named managing director of Destinology. The appointment follows the online luxury operator being acquired from Saga by Stewart Travel owner Brooklyn Travel Holdings in October.


Wendy Wu promotes


Mintrim to chief exec Wendy Wu Tours has promoted Glen Mintrim from UK managing director to chief executive. Mintrim will take the role from December 1. Global sales director John Warr will take responsibility for sales teams and business development managers in Australia and New Zealand.


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: Raoul Dixon/North News


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