Travel guide from 1975 reveals a few surprises

Travel guide from 1975 reveals a few surprises

ONE OF our former colleagues has sent us this fascinating book, Retail Travel Practice, after finding it in a dusty corner of her office.

The book was written in 1975 by London agent Allan Beaver and is edited by Gordon Wharton, the former editor of Travelnews, which is the name Travel Weekly used to go by.

We couldn’t resist a delve inside to find out how much things have changed in 25 years.

The first surprising thing is that the book was sponsored by Thomson Holidays, with a glowing account from its then managing director FrancisHiggins.

We wondered if we were about to find ultimatums on targets and threats to boot out independents who didn’t make the grade.

Not so. Instead the book provided a handy guide for anyone who wanted to start running a travel agency and plenty of the advice still holds good tothis day.

Forward-thinking Beaver knew the value of service. “A counter sets up a psychological as well as a physical barrier between client and travel clerk,” says the book. “The customer likes to be treated as though he is a millionaire. Even if he is only making a theatre booking, he prefers to sit at a desk with a travelconsultant!”

But how some things have changed. These were the days when ABTA had teeth as membership was vital – without it you simply couldn’t earn commission. And the multiples – which were only Thomas Cook and Lunn Poly – has just 35% of the market – yes, it was a while ago.

And some of today’s travel agents wouldn’t recognise the job of 1975.

“The hours of travel clerks are 9am to 5.30pm, including a one-hour lunch break,” he said.

Then again, employees didn’t have as many rights as they do now.

“When staff are off sick for short periods, it is good policy to pay them – but at the boss’s sole discretion,” said the book.

If you’ve been in the travel business for a while, what are the biggest changes you’ve noticed in the industry?E-mail jeremy.skidmore@rbi.co.uk or fax on 020-8652 3956.

Back to the ’70s: along with flares and terribly large ties, an agent’s day was from 9am-5.30pm