Jet2holidays has unveiled a ‘specialist travel agent’ programme at its annual conference for independent agents in Turkey.
The new initiative is designed to give independent agents “more scope and opportunity to grow their business,” according to head of trade Alan Cross.
Addressing some 270 agents at the Gloria Golf Resort in Antalya, Cross said Specialist Jet2holidays travel agents would be able to access new ‘booking pods’ , joint marketing and branding activity and a bespoke new training programme.
“The booking pods are an innovative new in-store concept, which will give independent agents the ability to integrate eye-catching pods into their premises. The flexibility of the pods means that they can be adapted to fit the space available in the store and because they are not permanently fixed into place, the backdrop can be easily changed throughout the year to promote different products, brands and seasons,” he explained.
Cross added: “As well as giving independent travel agents an innovative new way to interact with customers, boost footfall, and increase sales – participating agents will also be able to brand their premises as a ‘Specialist Jet2holidays Travel Agent’, take advantage of a wide range of new joint marketing opportunities, and run bespoke promotional sales and offers for customers.”
Jet2holidays, the UK’s second largest tour operator, also revealed that participating agents will benefit from “tailored product awareness training, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to call themselves a Specialist Jet2holidays Travel Agent”. This will comprise of regular sessions with the Jet2holidays trade team.
Cross concluded: “This announcement is the latest example of Jet2holidays’ commitment to investing in its independent travel agency partners, and follows a range of other successful initiatives, such as its Jet2holidays mobile travel agencies, which have helped many agents enjoy record-breaking sales.
“We believe 100% in investing in our partnership approach to working with independent travel agents, which is why it continues to go from strength to strength. With the launch of Specialist Jet2holidays Travel Agents, we are making this partnership approach bigger and better, so that independent travel agents working with us have even more opportunities to grow their businesses.
“Those independent travel agents who understand the value of marketing and who want to embrace working with one of the UK’s biggest and most popular brands, can really take their business to the next level. With flexible in-store booking pods, a host of fantastic marketing opportunities, and a new training programme for staff, we are confident that our Specialist Jet2holidays Travel Agents will take our partnership approach to new heights.”
Welcoming agents to the conference, Jet2holidays CEO Steve Heapy added: “We want you to make more money. We only work with independent travel agents. There is no-one here from Thomas Cook, there us no-one here from Tui. The purpose is to talk about how we can grow our business with you and how you can make more money.”
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