THANKS to Tony Bradley of telesales travel agent Direct Line Holidays for highlighting the problem of unwanted brochure deliveries (Travel Weekly January 13).
For many years we have encouraged and helped our tour operator clients to target expensive brochure supplies to travel retailers who will use them productively. One of the criteria used is past productivity, for which I’m sure Direct Line scores well, which leads to it being included in brochure distribution plans.
To overcome this anomaly we have identified around 700 ABTA retailers who have contacted us to advise that they do not want bulk brochure supplies.
DirectLine Holidays is not amongst the outlets which have asked to be placed on our ‘no bulk supplies’ panel – we have now spoken to Mr Bradley and suggested his company which should help solve the problem he had raised, at least in relation to BP’s client operators.
We encourage the tour operators who use us for brochure distribution to apply our ‘no brochure’ list to their distribution plans.
This is an all or nothing situation – where agents want only selected brochures they need to be in close contact with the relevant operators.
Ihope this helps Direct Line Holidays and demonstrates our responsible attitude to this very important topic.
Paul Markland
Managing director
BPTravel Trade Services Ltd
Ashford
Kent