BRIDGE Travel has produced its first training and development pack in a move to provide agents with a better understanding of the product.
It will be sent to 2,000 agents and initially concentrate on city breaks, featuring six of the operator’s products – Paris Travel Service, Belgium Travel Service, London Travel Service, Amsterdam Travel Service, City breaks and Eurostar.
Sales manager Helen Slater said the aim is to drive sales forward by providing agents with ammunition to sell the product with greater confidence.
“We want to increase agents’ understanding of the depth of specialist knowledge at Bridge,” said Slater.
“This in turn assists agents in advising their customers on choosing the best available package for their holiday.”
The pack includes facts and incentivised questionnaires to encourage agents to browse through the brochures. It also highlights Bridge’s specialist services and selling points.
Bridge’s entry into training came as the operator launched its self-drive brochure, one of the five remaining products which will form part of the pack later this year.
It has raised prices by 9% in the programme amid claims the market has been artificially low for too long. The scrapping of duty-free has also forced up rates.
Self-drive general manager Jackie Willcocks said the increases were forced upon the operator, which had to endure heavy price increases itself from the ferry operators and Channel Tunnel.
“Unfortunately we got to the stage where ferry companies were offering crossings for £5,” she said. “Prices have been artificially low for too long and we need to get back to reality.”
Willcocks added however that the price increases will have to be tempered.
“I am a bit fearful there will be an optimum level above which customers will not be prepared to pay,” she said.
“We are hopeful it will not have a detrimental effect on the market.”
Ireland has been added to the programme with hotel and self-catering properties available. Prices starting from £332 per house for a week’s holiday including ferry crossing.
Also new for 2000 is Alsace, while 35 hotels are new in France, 10 in Belgium and six in Holland.