Jet2holidays has postponed its annual conference for independent travel agents.
The 2020 event would have been the sixth time the operator put on an overseas conference for travel agent partners.
Head of trade Alan Cross wrote to trade partners to say: “This is unprecedented times and as you are aware every business must focus on both retaining existing customers while generating new business for the future. As such Jet2holidays is no exception and I feel that our conference would be an unnecessary and unwelcome distraction for both of us.
“When we exit lockdown the subsequent months will be critical, so we must stay focused on rebuilding our customers confidence in taking ‘a package holiday you can trust’ and therefore we will be working closely with you to generate as much Jet2holidays business as possible.
“The only thing of certainty is the travel industry and our trade partners will look very different after lockdown and therefore we must learn how to best support, market and communicate with you after this terrible period. Rest assured our focus will be to work with you and grow business through innovation and creativity, ensuring you have the tools, awareness and confidence to promote and sell Jet2holidays without any distraction.
“Together we will get through this pandemic and there are positive signs already for the package holiday market… 20% of all our current holidays sold via the trade are not rebooks, clients who rebook are upgrading hotels, board basis, room types, customers are still booking the most popular destinations and hotels, but most of all there is still future demand and after being locked up with partners, spouses, kids, pets and friends for weeks on end I am optimistic that there will be a last minute surge for holidays, regardless of when last minute will be.
“So be positive and look forward to us announcing the 2021 Jet2holidays VIP Conference at a suitable time, when we can actually enjoy it. There’s a lot of hard work to be done between now and then, so stay focused and be prepared to come “back with a bang!”