will identify agents who really know their subject.
IAGTO chief executive Peter Walton said:”Unless the agent is a golfer, they may not know many of the finer points of selling a golf holiday. For instance, an agent may well not recognise the significance of a handicap or know not to book the first tee-off time too close to the client’s arrival time in resort.
“An agent acts between client and operator and it’s necessary to have an understanding of golf, its terminology and key destinations.”
Agents who complete IAGTO’s distance-learning course will receive a Golf Travel Counsellor certificate.
Specialist golf operator Longshot also educates retailers on the game’s finer points, supplying an agents’ pack that takes them through a golfing holiday sale.
Product manager Sean Noble said:”It’s for the agent who doesn’t play golf and who may not understand the terminology used by golfers. Our support service handles an agent with kid gloves, giving them time to book the holiday and then the confidence to sell another.”
But, British Airways Golf Holidays product manager Mike Wilson feels golf holidays are no more difficult to sell than any other type of holiday.
“I don’t see any mystery in booking a golf holiday,” he said. “Agents don’t need to know the technical terms as we have a team of golfers available on the phone who can talk to the customer if required.
“Agents sell many products and they’re often faced with a product they don’t know. In most cases expert advice is just a telephone call away.”
TRAVEL agents keen to maximise their golfing holiday commissions can become accredited golf experts through the latest initiative of the International Association of Golf Tour Operators.
The association’s Golf Travel Counsellor scheme, to be launched at the International Golf Travel Market in Vilamoura, Portugal, in December, will identify agents who really know their subject.
IAGTO chief executive Peter Walton said:”Unless the agent is a golfer, they may not know many of the finer points of selling a golf holiday. For instance, an agent may well not recognise the significance of a handicap or know not to book the first tee-off time too close to the client’s arrival time in resort.
“An agent acts between client and operator and it’s necessary to have an understanding of golf, its terminology and key destinations.”
Agents who complete IAGTO’s distance-learning course will receive a Golf Travel Counsellor certificate.
Specialist golf operator Longshot also educates retailers on the game’s finer points, supplying an agents’ pack that takes them through a golfing holiday sale.
Product manager Sean Noble said:”It’s for the agent who doesn’t play golf and who may not understand the terminology used by golfers. Our support service handles an agent with kid gloves, giving them time to book the holiday and then the confidence to sell another.”
But, British Airways Golf Holidays product manager Mike Wilson feels golf holidays are no more difficult to sell than any other type of holiday.
“I don’t see any mystery in booking a golf holiday,” he said. “Agents don’t need to know the technical terms as we have a team of golfers available on the phone who can talk to the customer if required.
“Agents sell many products and they’re often faced with a product they don’t know. In most cases expert advice is just a telephone call away.”