Working together: in numbers
43%
of OTT users are home-based
47% TRAIN TO GAIN
Old-school face-to-face networking is almost always the best way to build a long-term relationship, but while you’re busy running a business, there are other online resources that can help maintain knowledge and contacts when it’s not practical to get out and about. OTT (Online Travel Training) has the
industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of travel agent training, focusing on destinations, products, skills and more. Forthcoming modules will feature need-to-know tips for home-based business owners. You can ‘follow’ key partner companies
via the online directory to be notified about course updates, prizes and incentives; access downloadable assets to help promote ancillary services such as airport parking, car hire, lounges, travel insurance and attraction tickets; and be part of the OTT community. “Training and maintaining product
knowledge are even more crucial for homeworkers due to the unique nature of their work environment,” says OTT’s head of global partnerships, Angelica Diaz-Arnett, who previously worked in a home-based role. “Unlike travel agents in traditional office or retail settings, homeworkers operate independently, and may not have the opportunity to learn from colleagues or participate in regular team meetings.” This is where technology comes to the fore.
“With more people now working from home, travel brands don’t have the frontline exposure
26 JULY 2024
that they used to have, so technology must be incorporated,” says Diaz-Arnett. “Many travel brands want to be able to communicate directly with frontline sellers, which is why OTT is so beneficial, as the message goes directly to the agent.” There are other incentive platforms that
can offer an additional touchpoint to stay connected with preferred suppliers. My Booking Rewards offers sales support tools for various supplier rewards programmes, along with direct access to sales teams and, of course, rewards on bookings logged via the platform. Almost one-third of its agents are home-based – a figure that is growing “exponentially month on month”, according to chief executive Darren Pearson. “By April 2024, we had seen a 45%
increase in homeworking agents joining compared with 2023,” he says. “April also saw the highest homeworker intake this year, so there appears to be an upward trend, which is great, as it is an important group and one that really benefits from our technology. “In the past 12 months, UK homeworkers
have reaped significant financial rewards worth up to £55,000 from almost 11,000 bookings logged. Suppliers have banked about £62 million in sales revenue from these.” But Pearson explains that the benefits
extend beyond financial gain. “Homeworking agents can access support
via our active MBR and Travel Professionals Facebook pages, which offer networking for
of agents attending Tipto events are homeworkers
10%-15%
of Riviera Travel’s trade business comes via homeworkers
£55,000
total annual rewards earned by UK homeworkers via My Booking Rewards in past year
5
Gold Medal fam trips specifically for homeworkers in 2024
those that need more flexibility from home,” he says. “Plus our suppliers regularly contact registered agents within the system with news, offers, incentives and selling tips.” As new agents join the homeworking
sector, it’s evident that they’ll be met with plenty of avenues to build and develop new relationships with suppliers – and this is set to continue growing in the future. Q
travelweekly.co.uk
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