The criteria via which agents can gain points for the Aito Specialist Travel Agents new excellence accreditation scheme have been outlined.
Agents will be rewarded for their engagement within the association as a whole – from using the Aito logo on their website to attending events and developing partnerships with Aito operators they have never previously worked with.
Agencies will be monitored on the various elements highlighted throughout the year and scored accordingly.
The results and high achievers will be announced at the Aito Agents’ awards ceremony at the association’s domestic conference in January 2018.
The new scheme will run alongside the existing Aito All Stars programme and is designed to demonstrate that agents are committed to engage with the partnership and that they recognise the benefits of a high level of engagement.
Aito Agents chairman, Gemma Antrobus (Haslemere Travel), said: “We recognise that those agents who use the association and its facilities to the fullest are also the highest performing – and most successful – agents.
“We want to ensure that all Aito Agents are aware of the vast array of services that can be utilised and which will help them to grow and to improve their businesses.
“The points-scoring matrix has been designed to accommodate all agents, regardless of their size, where they are located, or whether or not they have a shop front.
“We appreciate that some agents are able to attend events easily, helping them to score points in this arena, whilst others may have dedicated, perhaps part-time, members of their team looking after marketing, PR and social media, so may find this element of the scheme harder to achieve.
“As an association, we are really trying to help future-proof our agencies and help everyone evolve as times change and the market develops.
“The scheme will run alongside our already-successful All Stars programme, so there are a great many opportunities for all Aito Agents’ members to excel.”
Antrobus added: ”The panel and I are really looking forward to celebrating the successes of our agents in January 2018, but what I shall be most excited to see is the increase in agents’ performance via this scheme in year two.”
There are 17 activities in total which agents are able to tackle, including:
• Uploading Aito Agents’ logo on the website
• Informing customers about membership of Aito Agents on their website
• Sending one representative from each brand to the Aito domestic conference
• Sending one representative from each brand to the regional training events in the spring
• Partaking in at least one HQ training event per membership year
• Increasing the percentage of business booked via Aito tour operators
• Working closely with at least four Aito tour operators on a specific marketing partnership – which can be an event, direct marketing piece or bespoke offer