WHEN a couple walked into a Thomson travel agency in Kent in September 2004 and asked about a group booking to mark a retirement association’s silver jubilee the branch manager could barely contain her excitement.
Marie Carpenter, who has worked at the agency in the Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre for the last eight years, instantly realised Gerald Benham, chairman of the Kent Active Retirement Association, and his wife were no ordinary customers.
Two years later their group has filled the 1,250-passenger Thomson Celebration ship for a 10-day cruise to Spain and Portugal, which, valued at more than £840,000, has smashed Thomson’s previous record for a single booking – a trip to Egypt for 200 bridge players.
“It was a gamble, but it paid off. At first when something as big as this comes along, you have to tell yourself not to get too excited,” said Carpenter.
That first visit from the Benhams was just the start of the hard work for the agency, which had to market the cruise to the association’s 75 member groups.
Bookings opened in April last year and the final cabin was filled just four weeks ago. It was the first full ship charter for Thomson Cruises.
Carpenter said Benham chose the branch because he was impressed by the service on a previous visit.
“Good service pays off every time,” she said.
Thomson refused to reveal how much the branch made, but it is not believed to have been the usual 10% Thomson Cruises pays.
Managing director of Thomson Cruises David Selby said the booking was an example for other Thomson shops. “We have always felt there are incentives and group bookings out there for the taking.”
Having waved the ship off from Southampton on Sunday, Carpenter admitted to feeling a little flat this week. “It was a fantastic moment to see the cruise sailing off but it feels quite strange because it’s all over now.”