FRONTLINE
ANDREA SMITH Holiday Village agent based in the Peak District
How are you all doing after the
chaos of March? Around here it feels like the calm after the storm, though it’s a little calmer than I would like, given the phones are so quiet. We are now left with the task of paying back commissions, wondering how long it will take for long-haul bookings to recover, and hoping our crystal ball can answer clients’ questions about potential fuel problems this summer. At The Travel Village Group, HQ has put on wellbeing sessions for any business owner or staff member who needs help and support to de-stress from the current situation. Times like these are not great for your mental health. Watching your income dwindle while you spend your time redoing work you have already done is disheartening, so it’s important to take care of yourself.
POSITIVE OUTLOOK My de-stress methods include sitting with my sheep up on the hillside. Watching lambs play in this glorious landscape of the Peak District reminds me that life goes on and there is still much to be grateful for. So, I’ve decided to keep things positive and try some online training, starting with a course on Guatemala, a destination I knew almost nothing about. It opened my eyes to the country, and the certificate says I am now a Guatemala Insider.
22 30 APRIL 2026 Delegates are required to sit AGENT
I’ve de-stressed from the fallout of the war by sitting with my sheep and boosting my product knowledge
Of course, we all know it takes a lot more than an hour of online training to make you adept at selling any destination, but while there is no substitute for experiencing a location first-hand, it’s certainly a good place to start. Our head office team has developed academies for our staff and business owners. It started a couple of years ago with a River Cruise Academy designed by Richard Cross (commercial and partnerships manager) and Amanda Taylor (business development manager), involving several operator partners within the sector.
two training sessions with each operator and attend a launch and graduation event. The whole course takes six months and each graduating agent is offered a fam trip place by one of the operators, giving them a chance to experience the sector for themselves.
NEW COURSES The River Cruise Academy has been so successful that they are now expanding into touring and adventure. This academy will focus on mid to long-haul destinations, with operators which can cover solo and group tours, plus alternative travel methods highlighting the sustainability potential of the sector. This course is aimed at colleagues who are new to selling adventure and touring, with the potential for more-advanced sessions in the future, so agents who are already selling the sector can delve deeper into various products. So, perhaps there is a chance yet for this old dog to learn some new tricks! Graduation for the new Touring Academy is to be at the Association of Touring & Adventure Suppliers Conference later this year, so I look forward to meeting the graduating class of 2026 at Silverstone in October.
I HOPE MY TALES CAN INSPIRE
They say everyone has at least one book they could write.
Well, I don’t know about that, but with nearly 40 years of adventure travel under my belt I certainly have some stories, so I’ve decided to write them down in a blog on the Holiday Village website. It’s more
travel guide than novel, but this month has seen me launch a series of stories about my adventures, beginning with tales of off-grid camping, a near-death hippo chase in the Okavango Delta and a steam train journey over the magnificent Victoria Falls, with lots of other destinations to follow. The hope is to inspire my clients to push their boundaries and try something new and exciting.
Andrea at Victoria Falls with husband Chris
travelweekly.co.uk
Sharon
Sharon MatMattt diary diary
& Ashley HelenlenJennifer Ashley He
Jennife ClarerClare
Andreandr
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