MAUREEN Hill is misguided in her views concerning Shearings’ sales strategies (Travel Weekly March 8).
We have been providing our extremely popular advance registration service for over ten years and it continues to be utilised far more via retail agents than by direct bookers.
The space on these cards allocated for the agents to complete their details is as big as the space on the card for all the other information that is required. We continue not to charge for this popular service and we continue not to motivate the transfer of business from retailers to direct.
Maureen’s comments concerning commission on holiday vouchers also requires explanation. When we make mistakes, one of our options is to provide vouchers to be used against future holidays to promote loyalty and customer retention. This is our cost and, once again, we enable redemption through the trade. In a market sector largely involving direct-sell operators, we believe the retail trade should support this.
Chris Barnes
Shearings Holidays
Wigan