Special Report: EasyJet holidays hosts 93 homeworkers at peaks event

EasyJet holidays hosted more than 90 homeworkers at its Luton office last week to highlight recent improvements to its trade support functions and share product tips for peaks success. 

Through a series of presentations, the tour operator covered its Big Orange Sale, booking incentives, live  chat function, self-service tool for managing bookings and the new option to add up to 16 travellers to a single booking.

Agents were also given the  opportunity to put questions to head of trade distribution Natasha Marson, who said she welcomed the engagement.

“It’s great for the agents to ask questions and suggest improvements and ways of working,” she said, adding that the trade is “so important” and “underpins everything we stand for”.

During the full-day event, the operator also encouraged agents to book packages in its newly unveiled luxury range. Members of the commercial product team highlighted a number of properties.

EasyJet holidays chief commercial officer Paul Bixby said there was significant room for the operator to grow further, noting that easyJet holidays customers account for only 7% of airline seats sold.

Marson told Travel Weekly that this year’s Big Orange Sale, which offers up to £500 off bookings made by March 3, was proving to be well received.

“The feedback is that no other supplier is near our prices, so we’re thrilled with that,” she said.

The trade distribution team has been travelling across the UK on “blitz” visits, Marson added, but the Luton event was viewed as vital to the operator’s ambitions in the homeworking sector.

“The only way we can get to the masses of homeworkers is by doing what we’re doing today,” she said. “We had more than 150 people who wanted to come; we set the limit at  100, and 93 came.”

Represented groups included Experience It Now Travel, Protected Trust Services, Your Coop Travel, Janine Loves Travel, Not Just Travel, Designer Travel and Independent Travel Experts.

Marson revealed a trade distribution manager for Scotland and Ireland had been appointed, with the name to be announced soon.

What the agents said

Jane Jones, SB Luxury Travel
“I love meeting suppliers. There are hotels here that I didn’t know about and I already have customers in mind for them. The more you learn, the more you can showcase to your customers.”

Nick Alexander, Alexander Barbour Travel
“I found it really enjoyable and I liked how they were able to explain their differences. EasyJet holidays are youngish in the market and I would like to grow alongside them. I find them to be fantastic value for money and I love their tech.”

Ciara Tynan, Travel Counsellors
“I made my first two easyJet holidays bookings today – family bookings for week-long stays in August at the five-star Akra Didim Resort in Turkey. I started my business with Travel Counsellors in May, so this is my first peaks. This event has been well run and it’s been helpful meeting suppliers I hadn’t encountered before.”