A trade body dedicated to escorted touring has launched a training academy and is offering incentives as it targets 700 graduates by the end of 2010.
Better Escorted Tours (Best) was set up by seven operators to highlight the commercial and repeat business benefits of selling the sector.
The online training scheme, at Bestacademy.co.uk, went live yesterday.
The first 200 members will be given a £5 Starbucks voucher. In addition, a weekly prize draw for the next two months will see one new member win a prize: this week it is an iPod touch.
Best chairman Paul Melinis, sales director at Insight Vacations and Trafalgar Tours, said: “Touring is a huge sector in the travel industry and I am sure with this new site agents who were not selling will realise the earning potential of our clients. Over the last year we have seen more and more agents specialising in touring, and others incorporating it with their cruise websites as the clients go hand in hand.”
Best, which includes Insight Vacations/Trafalgar Tours, Wendy Wu Tours, Collette Worldwide Holidays, Cosmos Tourama, Shearings, Leger and Page & Moy/Just You, will be represented at conferences and trade events throughout the year.
Keep an eye on Travel Weekly’s All For You page over the coming weeks for more on what you could win by joining Best.
To get a Starbucks voucher and to enter the prize draw, register at bestacademy.co.uk, complete the Best module and email best@thenetwork-uk.com