| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 15/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 55 |
| Copyright: Other |
in brief
We asked four high-street travel agents for their views of current operator programmes and services. For this week’s review, we called agents in and around St Albansto get their views onUK holiday programmes. Agents reported that many of their UK holiday clients are of the older generation who particularly like fully inclusive deals. See how Superbreak Mini-Holidays, Crystal Holidays, Wallace Arnold and Embassy Leisure Breaks performed under the spotlight.Compiled by Julie Baxter
HHHHH
Agents award stars for:
H Brochure design and ease of use
H Operator service and
support
H Product range and
quality
H Client feedback
H Product popularity
All agents remainanonymous and noadditional information will be given out.
Crystal Holidays
Brochure: Premier Britain.
Agents’ verdict: “A really good looking brochure but not one we tend to use a great deal.”
“We can book through the system but it is not the best system around.”
“Staff are friendly and helpful when you ring.”
“Clients don’t often ask for this operator by name but feedback is good from those who go.”
“Plenty of choice, mostly middle market.”
“We use Crystal a lot for skiing and find them a good company to deal with but they tend not to be top of our list.”
Rating: HHH
Jarvis Hotels
Brochure: Embassy Leisure Breaks.
Agents’ verdict: “This is an easy brochure with a choice of affordable product.”
“A useful selection for the budget and top end of the market. Clients ask for these by name and the feedback is good.”
“Clients like the name, the service and the facilities of the hotels and this generates a lot of repeat bookings.”
“Staff in our agency use Embassy a lot for their own short breaks and find them excellent so we have no hesitation recommending them.”
Rating: HHHH
Superbreak
Brochure: Superbreak.
Express and Northern Belle rail packages.
Agents’ verdict: “A very good brochure which is bright and eye catching and easy to use.”
“Straightforward to book with no hidden supplements.”
“Booking through the system is very quick and easy. Clients don’t know the company that well but those that go seem to feel they get good service.”
“Administration is efficient and we have a helpful rep who gives us updates on offers.”
“Good for independent travellers who don’t want everything packaged completely.”
Rating: HHHH
Top operator:
Wallace Arnold
Brochure: Britain, Jersey and Ireland.
Agents’ verdict: “A very good brochure. The front cover says all it needs to say and inside it is informative and very clear.” “Booking is fairly easy through the system although it is not 100% reliable. Staff are very friendly and helpful when you phone up.”
“Our older clients just love this programme and we regularly get people coming in to book three or four of the packages in one go.”
“We get a lot of repeat bookings and many clients arerecommended the product by friends.”
“The product is all based on coaching so there is not a lot of variety but there are plenty of destinations covered and clients like the price and the service they get. These holidays just seem to be entirely hassle free for the people who take them.”
“Administration is good, we get plenty of brochures and they are easy to sell – quite honestly we can’t fault them.”
Rating: HHHHH