HOW CAN HOMEWORKERS BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH SUPPLIERS?
KIRSTEN HUGHES Travel Counsellors “To build strong and lasting relationships, it’s all about staying connected, informed, updated and experiencing the product first hand – and ultimately being part of a community that gives you the tools and opportunities to do this.”
Kings-Hodkin says: “We offer different ways
for homeworkers to communicate with us, whether that’s online, in person, or even on board our ships during our homeworker events.” Last summer, Royal held its first dedicated
homeworkers ship visit, on Anthem of the Seas. The line also hosts coffee mornings so homeworkers have “one-to-one” time with its sales team.
TRADE-FACING PLATFORMS Some suppliers have platforms that homeworking agents can access whenever they wish, from Facebook pages to dedicated websites. Intrepid Travel’s head of business development
and partnerships Joanna Reeve says the adventure travel operator posts campaign updates, offers and updates via its Intrepid Loves Agents Facebook group. “We talk to homeworkers through our agent-
facing Facebook group,” she says, adding that contact with homeworkers can be made through head office or trade media. “Homeworkers are such an important part of the industry. We want to keep them updated with information about our products and provide support.” Handley-Hughes says some of InteleTravel’s
preferred partners have dual-branded Facebook pages dedicated to the company’s homeworkers.
travelweekly.co.uk Within Royal Caribbean’s Club Royal platform,
there is a Homeworkers Hub where updates, campaigns and offers are shared. Homeworkers can also book a support session in the hub. Homeworkers can arrange one-to-one
sessions with P&O Cruises via its Shine Rewards Club. The line also released on-demand monthly webinars through the Shine Rewards Club in March this year. Of course, homeworking companies can help
facilitate this information-sharing themselves. Travel Village Group managing director John Warr says operators can post their offers on its social media page, which the company’s homeworking division The Holiday Village set up.
TAKE A TRIP Generally, agencies’ events calendars are designed to incentivise their homeworkers and drive engagements with preferred operators. Harrison says while Not Just Travel works with “hundreds” of trade partners, those in its Key Trade Partner programme commit to activities throughout the year. He says the firm also pays to host overseas
events, ranging from 25 to 250 travel consultants. “We work closely with operators to make the trips very special,” he explains. “We have a long list of operators who want to help with these.”
TANYA COOPER Hays Travel “We share all supplier contact details with homeworkers. We communicate any roadshows, supplier events, travel awards and dinners where they have opportunities to meet. We also offer our atrium at head office to do agent roadshows, where we invite suppliers to present for the day.”
JOHN WARR The Travel Village Group “Supplier contact lists are made available to all homeworkers. In addition, they reach out to us if they are looking to set up specific groups. One of our newer homeworkers wanted to set up a number of groups so we arranged meetings with the relevant tour operators.”
PAUL HARRISON Not Just Travel “Our travel consultants are free to engage directly with operators. We provide training to our suppliers to help them get the best out of the relationships and we encourage interaction and engagement. We will work with suppliers to help close more enquiries and get feedback as to how we can work better together, but we actively encourage open relationships.”
27 OCTOBER 2022 15
PICTURES: Shutterstock/
Rawpixel.com, fizkes
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