Discovery Agent of the Year rewards trade’s top achievers

Two agents share title award for outstanding customer service and commitment to the industry

Discovery Agent of the Year rewards trade’s top achievers

Report by JEREMY SKIDMORE

TWO PEOPLE will share the title of Discovery Agent of the Year 2000.

The competition, run by World Travel Market and Travel Weekly and sponsored by British Midland, aims to find the UKagent who gives outstanding customer service and commitment to the industry.

Six people were chosen out of hundreds of entries to attend a judging panel in London last week, where they were tested on industry attributes such as product knowledge and sales ability.

All six impressed the judges, but two stood out.

First, David Edwards, of Dykes Travel in Manchester impressed with his determination to do anything necessary to help his clients. Edwards even missed the vital Euro 2000 clash between England and Germany to pick up his clients from the airport.

He also prides himself on selling his clients the right holidays. “The key is listening and understanding before selling them a product which is in their best interest, not necessarily mine,” he said.

Clair Roberts, general manager of Lets Go Travel in Bude, Cornwall, also impressed the judges with her knowledge of the industry and commitment to her staff.

She runs a franchise shop in her home town and has set up a separate division at the office, called Lets Go Skiing.

Before becoming an agent, Clair worked as a Thomson rep and as a member of the cabin crew for Monarch Airlines.

She said:”Ibelieve in leading my team by example. I do not have one set of rules for the staff and another set for me. I have an open attitude towards managing people.

“People are real and not numbers.”

The other four finalists are pictured above with Clair and David.

Top achievers: this year’s finalists are, from left, Nicola Cox, Going Places, Birkenhead; Mark Willsher, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, London; Clair Roberts, Lets Go Travel, Bude, Cornwall; David Edwards, Dykes Travel, Manchester; Paul Dayson, Spa Travel Worldchoice, West Yorkshire; and Carolyn Kent, Thomas Cook, Worcester