p42 letters oct24 21/10/08 19:01 Page 43
ttglive.com
letters
Let’s get the UK regional Well done, Hoseasons, for Thomson Flights stops seat
tourist boards involved championing UK breaks requests for disabled client
Many families are turning to the UK for their I would like to applaud the call by Hoseasons We work in difficult times. Economic crises,
holidays, but the sad fact is that the retail boss Richard Carrick for a “joined-up” policy ridiculous fuel costs and a travel industry
travel agent does not have access to much of the to champion domestic tourism. desperate to hang on in there – but not, it
product. With the exception of Blakes, Haven Like him, I was at the Travel Convention and seems, Thomson Flights.
and Hoseasons, there is little to offer. was disappointed to see the lack of interest in We have had a repeat customer travelling to
Hoseasons is superb and the fact that the UK holidays. I was also dismayed to see the low Paphos – which we always book with Thomson
price on their website is the same as what the priority given by government to tourism in the Flights – whose partner is a wheelchair user.
agent can offer is a great bonus. I hope other reshuffle. For the past three years we have been able
UK operators take note of that. Having worked for domestic tour operators to request and get bulk head seats 2A and B,
It must be frustrating to plan a UK holiday since the 1970s, I have seen how the quality of supplying Thomson with the customer’s
trawling through websites for countless hours. the product has blossomed over the years. disabled badge number.
How nice it would be to call into your local The UK’s attractions saw 3% more visitors However, this did not happen on their last trip,
agent and walk away with some great UK last year, according to VisitBritain, thanks to which they made in September. We did not find
holidays with early booking offers, family deals world-beating sites such as the Tower of out until they came to book for the fifth time
and holidays in different areas to choose from. London and St Paul’s Cathedral. Great Yarmouth (April 2009) and the agent dealing with the
Right now it is easier to book a holiday Pleasure Beach drew 1.4 million visitors. booking let us know that the seats had not been
abroad. Why? A lack of investment and fore- So regardless of our weather, the UK has a given for this customer’s September trip.
sight from the English tourist board. No one is wealth of attractions on offer. Agents must We called Thomson Flights, to be told we
saying it is easy, but it could be done relatively take note of the green credentials of domestic must phone three months before departure to
quickly if delegated to regional tourist boards. tourism – and the fact that many holidaymakers request seats, which cannot be guaranteed.
In former days as an airport marketing manager, won’t want to fork out for a long-haul holiday Repeat clients are like gold dust and we do
the co-operation from tourist boards was next summer – and sell those UK breaks! our utmost to ensure they are looked after, but
immense when we launched new UK routes! when attention to detail fails on part of the
UK hoteliers and park operators must get Harold Burke booking we cannot control, it is distressing for
their act together with regional tourist boards sales director, Grand UK Holidays the customer, the agent who is making the
to put together a trade-friendly website with booking and indeed us, the tour operator.
built-in commission. Each region could have Fantastic Haven holiday
around 4,000 retail shops to market their had me eating humble pie Mathilde Robert
product – what a bonus! The opportunity for I initially turned my nose up at the idea of a Mini managing director, Planet Holiday
agents is immense. Break at Haven’s Reighton Sands Holiday Park,
Superbreak is a good product but one that thinking of dull days in a dank caravan. But I ■ TTG would welcome a reply from Thomson
could be dramatically improved with more decided to challenge my preconceptions.
independently owned hotels, parks and good- The Platinum caravan I shared with husband,
What do you think?
quality B&Bs, and perhaps a self-drive product three-year-old daughter and parents was
with sample itineraries. Grand UK Holidays has modern, spacious and well decorated. The deadline for letters is 10am on Tuesday.
a good self-drive programme that hopefully will We splashed about in the heated indoor pool We need your name, job title and company
expand, and it would be good to see Hoseasons or on the beach, while my daughter loved the address. These will be withheld on request.
perhaps break into the quality B&B sector? club house and Haven mascot Rory the Tiger. Priority is given to letters sent exclusively
If a UK retail travel agent could offer product October breaks start from £99 for the entire to TTG. Please limit letters to 250 words
in the UK that is as easy to book as worldwide, family, and I’ll now be recommending these. maximum. We reserve the right to edit.
we will all be on to a winner! Email:
ttgletters@ttglive.com
Rebecca Wright, regional sales manager, Fax: 020 7921 8033
Peter Buckell First Choice (franchise partner) Blog: Or why not have your say online?
managing director, Global Travel Lounge Write a blog at
yourspace-ttglive.com
marketing director, Elite Travel Group ■ Read letter in full at
yourspace-ttglive.com
24.10.2008 43
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