TRAVEL agents lost business to call centres and online
companies after snow blizzards brought the UK’s airports to a standstill this
week.
Bricks and mortar agencies were the biggest losers
while call centres, online agencies and homeworkers reaped the benefits.
Travelcare general manager Amanda Williams said trade
was 15%-20% down on Wednesday because of the poor weather.
“Agents were doing more business on the phone and the
call centres went mad. If people are looking to book a holiday they’ll call
whatever number is on the brochure.”
Thomas Cook director of trade relations Ian Derbyshire
added: “The bad weather should see increases, but if people are snowed in and
can’t get to the agent, that affects sales, which will need to be made up.”
Suffolk-based Johnson Stevens Travel general manager
Peter Cansick was optimistic holidaymakers would return to the high street.
“Sales will be hit but we’ll make it up in the following weeks,” he said.