Journal: TWUK | Section: |
Title: | Issue Date: 23/04/01 |
Author: | Page Number: 17 |
Copyright: Other |
this week: Twickenham
Edwin Doran’s Travel World
54 King Street **
This was a smart agency that was newly decorated judging from the strong smell of paint.
Four consultants were on duty but I wasn’t acknowledged as they continued chatting. Eventually I asked if they had anything on Tobago.
A consultant told me they and gave me a Hayes and Jarvis brochure without opening it. I asked if flights were direct and she said “depends who you fly with” without elaborating. She gave me her business card.
* Agency appearance
* Brochure racking
Lunn Poly
41 King Street Parade
***
This was a large agency with well-stocked racks. Two consultants were on duty and there were no customers in the shop.
I looked through the brochures on the rack for a few moments before asking for help from the consultant.
I was given Unijet Caribbean and Kuoni Worldwide brochures and she went into the back office to get Kuoni Tropical Sun. I asked if they featured direct flights and the consultant checked the brochure and said British Airways did. She did not suggest I return.
* Agency appearance
* Brochure racking
* Staff attitude
World Choice
All Aboard Travel162 Heath Road ***
Two consultants were on duty in this neat agency that had well-stocked brochure racks.
On hearing my enquiry the consultant offered me Kuoni Worldwide from the racks and then went to the back office for British Airways Holidays and Hayes and Jarvis brochures.
I asked about flights and the consultant checked the brochure for me. She could not find the information she wanted so referred to the OAG and confirmed there were direct flights with BA. She did not suggest I return.
* Agency appearance
* Brochure racking
* Staff attitude
Thomas Cook
16 Heath Road
****
* winnerH
There was a bustling feel to this agency with a few customers queuing for the bureau de change and a radio playing in the background. The brochure racks were well stocked.
On hearing my enquiry the consultant picked out Tradewinds, Hayes and Jarvis, Thomas Cook Holidays and British Airways Holidays brochures. She went through each brochure and read out the relevant prices. She then compared room-only, self-catering and all-inclusive and talked about the advantages and disadvantages of going all-inclusive. The unlimited free booze was particularly highlighted! She said she’d recently booked a flight to Tobago for a couple who were staying in a friend’s apartment there and it was getting tight on capacity so she urged me to book soon.
She told me to call her to check availability.
She did not appear to have any specific knowledge of the destination but was very thorough and friendly.
* Agency appearance
* Brochure racking
* Staff attitude
* Sales technique