Agent earns Tui award within year of joining thanks to social media success

An award-winning Tui travel agent has shared the secrets of her success after earning a nationwide accolade – just one year after joining the company.

Ellie Allen, now 22, joined the Tui Telford Superstore in March 2024 as a travel advisor. It was her first role in travel, having switched from a jewellery shop.

In her first full year, she booked more than 500 holidays, boosted sales and footfall across the region, and stepped into leadership roles.

In view of her performance, her manager submitted an entry for the Top Retail Agent of the Year award for the Tui UK and Ireland retail network, and she scooped the title late last year.

She has also been promoted to the role of travel advisor and insurance expert for the region.

Allen said social media has been a “game-changer” and key to her success.

“Travel trends and customer shopping habits are evolving faster than ever, so adaptability is key,” she said.

“In such a competitive market, you need to think creatively about how to stand out using fresh ways to engage both new and existing customers.  

“By creating content on our store social pages that resonates with our customers, I’ve been able to inspire people and bring them into the store.

“We’ve been able to turn followers into customers and build lasting relationships that go beyond a single booking. 

“It’s been a huge driver in footfall. We’ve been able to showcase our breadth of products to so many more people, really helping customers picture themselves on that dream holiday.

“From showing destinations in a fresh way to sharing the latest deals, using a social platform has really helped to position us as the travel experts in Telford.”

She also explained that social media helps her keep up to date with customers’ tastes, such as Mexico, which is a perennial favourite, while Croatia is an up-and-coming hotspot.

Over the past year, the Tui Telford Superstore has recruited more agents to deal with increasing customer numbers, both in person and on social media.

Andrew Daniels, Tui Telford retail manager, added: “We are so proud of Ellie for achieving a career-defining award in her first year with us.

“She’s driven, ambitious and her results speak volumes. She’s made a lasting impact both in-store and across the wider region and we are so pleased to have her in the team with us.”