| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 29/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 57 |
| Copyright: Other |
Training update
AGENTs’ quotes“I didn’t realise how good it was for golf – it has more courses per square mile than anywhere else in the world. Now when a client asks for a Caribbean golf holiday in June or July, I explain it’s not the best time of year to go there and they should try Bermuda instead.
“It’s a huge bonus to say you’ve played the courses yourself as Bermuda’s a bit of an unknown quantity and people want good, solid advice. Our Bermuda bookings have gone up from virtually zero to 60 heads per year.”
Andrew Devine, director,
Beaver Travel, Hertfordshire.
Visited Bermuda in December 1998
“It was the best educational trip I’ve been on in 17 years as you’re not just sat on a bus going from one hotel to another. We bought travel passes and explored ourselves. You can’t sell Bermuda without having been there because there’s a lot of room for error. There’s a big difference between the personalised, smaller hotels known as cottage colonies and the resort hotels with all the facilities.”
Christopher Dewey, manager,
Davis World Travel, Hampshire.
Visited Bermuda in April 2000
“I was surprised at how suitable Bermuda is for families – you expect it to be all flash jetsetters and speedboats. Sonesta Beach particularly had excellent facilities for children from one-year-old to 17 years. The activities for them were amazing – horseriding and swimming with dolphins. Everyone felt completely safe. But it would have to be the right family, not someone who was counting the pennies.”
Katrina Ashley, assistant manager, Bath Travel, Hampshire.
Visited Bermuda in April 2000.
Getting to know you: agents are left to discover Bermuda independently
Courses boost islands’ sales
Know Bermuda modules are successful, writes Lois Jones
SINCE its launch in 1997, Know Bermuda, Bermuda Tourism’s training course, has been completed by 202 travel agents.The course helps agents get to grips with the destination and its attractions through a three-part, self-study training programme, which also includes a fam trip to the destination. It allows agents to experience Bermuda as if they were holidaying clients, which means being left to their own devices to explore – by moped, bus or ferry – and gather information on the destination.
To become a Bermuda Specialist Agent, participants have one month to complete the initial two-module programme. Each module comprises a series of questions about Bermuda, which agents must answer in detail. At the end of each module, agents have to complete a test paper.
Bermuda Tourism sales manager Jas Anand said: “The course makes the agents feel part of the Bermuda team and advises them how they can increase their business in a fun yet informative way.
“It also enables us to address local marketing opportunities, brainstorm ideas for local promotions and discuss the ways in which we, together with our specialist agents, can work more closely with tour operators to build long-term growth to Bermuda.”
how to ‘Know Bermuda’
Module One
Each agent receives an information pack with backgroundinformation on Bermuda. The first stage concentrates on travel to Bermuda, its climate, history and cultural appeal. The main types of breaks it highlights are two centre, short stays, diving and golf holidays. Agents are tested on the module.
Module Two
A more intensive test paper on the island and pricing. Oncesuccessfully completed, agents receive a Know Bermudacertificate and are added to Bermuda Tourism’s consumer referrals listing – meaning Bermuda Tourism will recommend the travel agent as a Bermuda expert.
Educational trip to Bermuda
Scenario training allows agents to experience the island as if they were holidaying clients. On the five-day trip, agents select a type of holiday (such as family, diving, golf) and then search for suitable hotels and activities first-hand. After a four-day tourist experience, they then present their findings to the other group members.
Module Three
Comprises two half-day workshops to reinforce product knowledge and bring them up to date with the latest news. Agents also share sales techniques with other group members. “Stages one and two have been a great success and are part of the reason why bookings are so buoyant. But just because the agents have done the written modules, we don’t want them to forget about Bermuda so we introduced a third module,” said Bermuda Tourism sales manager Jas Anand.