The growth in dynamic packaging presents travel agents with a great opportunity to achieve increased commission and provide a more creative approach to putting together holidays.
To help agents get to grips with developments in the market, Travel Weekly will host a series of dynamic packaging roadshows. There are five events around the UK, with the first starting on March 20 in Chester.
This year’s shows continue to put the onus on education and fun, with opportunities to talk with key suppliers to find out about new developments and tools that can help increase sales through dynamically packaged product.
Travel Weekly head of events Penny Akam said: “The format of the roadshows enables agents to discuss any problems they may have in selling, and in turn suppliers can keep agents up to speed with new developments and products.”
The roadshows also feature a dinner, a prize draw, an interactive quiz and a panel debate. If you are looking to boost your sales through dynamic packaging, then these roadshows are not to be missed.
Go to our image galleries to see what went on at the 2006 Dynamic Packaging roadshows in Newcastle, Manchester and Brighton.
What you need to know
What time does it start and finish? The action begins at 6.25pm and should be all wrapped up by 10pm.
Who will be there? Representatives from companies supplying the dynamic packaging market, including the sponsors (see boxes below), as a well as Travel Weekly’s editorial and sales teams.
What will happen? Agents start by visiting sponsors’ workshop. This is followed by a dinner, panel debate and an interactive quiz.
Who can attend? Independent agents and homeworkers
How much does it cost? The event is free to agents.
Anything else? Yes. There will be several opportunities to win some great prizes every evening.
How do I sign up? Contact the roadshows team on 01484 345 014 or e-mail roadshows-mail@thenetwork-uk.com stating your ABTA number and full postal address, agency name, the names of guests attending, your telephone number and name of your branch manager, if applicable.
The dates
Chester – Tuesday March 20, The Queen Hotel
Leeds – Wednesday March 21, Hilton Leeds City Hotel
Nottingham – Thursday March 22, The Albert Hall
Northampton – Wednesday March 28, Hilton Northampton Hotel
Southampton – Thursday 29 March, Southampton Football Club
What the sponsors say
Lastminute.com: These roadshows offer a great opportunity to meet with agents to discuss all aspects of dynamic packaging – from training needs to new destinations or pricing innovations such as Holiday Autos margin management. This is one of the rare opportunities when we have a chance to discuss the issues of the day in a friendly setting. The question and answer session provides valuable insight into the market.
Teresa Walsh, head of sales, Lastminute.com
Traveltek: We believe there is now a greater opportunity for travel agents and operators throughout the UK to offer their consumers alternative flights, hotels and durations while maximising their profits by applying their own margins. We hope to make those attending more aware of the products that are available to them now and what they could add to their all important bottom line.
Frank Docherty, national sales manager, Traveltek
PortAventura: We will be going to the roadshows again to emphasise the advantages of selling attraction tickets as an add-on. PortAventura sells discounted tickets that offer customers a massive saving on passes bought in Spain. Over 70% of holidaymakers in Salou and on the Costa Dorada visit the theme park, so adding the tickets to the cost of the holiday is a great source of commission. The roadshows last year were great, so we are really looking forward to it again this year.
Sarah Johnson, UK managing director, PortAventura
Medlifehotels.com: The roadshows give us a great opportunity to meet with agents from different areas of the country, enabling us to profile Medlifehotels.com and demonstrate how easy the site is to use and how competitive the prices are. By attending the events agents are demonstrating that they are our target audience and already appreciate the benefits of dynamic packaging.
Kathryn Beadle, sales and marketing director, Medlifehotels.com
Excel Holidays: Since launching to retail travel agents in January 2006, Excel Holidays has proved to be a favourite with independent travel agents because of its flexibility, competitive prices, wide range of properties and its facility to dynamically package in one location with full ATOL and ABTA cover. By going to the roadshows again this year we aim to increase agents’ knowledge of our brands, products and services.
Daniela Milazzo, general manager, Excel Holidays
Hotels4U: Good communication with our key and prospective retail agents is of paramount importance to enable us to develop our distribution network. We benefited substantially last year from the roadshows and as the product and, as the market matures, we need to get even closer to those with serious intentions to be part of it. We have no doubt that Travel Weekly will press all the buttons to help us push the product forward.
Andy Baker, sales and marketing manager, Hotels4U
Transhotel: Travel Weekly has proved to us in the past to be the best way to reach our valued travel agents. Highly organised and informative, all Travel Weekly roadshows are a great marketing tool for us as we hit our target audience. Travel agents will be able to get a much greater understanding of what Transhotel is and what great features we can provide over and above our competitors.
Artemis Theodorou, UK sales manager, Transhotel