Tour operating giant Tui has hosted its first dedicated agency training day, hosting more than 80 Not Just Travel consultants, as part of the operator’s new drive to woo agents.
Held at Tui’s HQ in Luton, the training day helped NJT agents learn about Tui’s latest offerings and products, including its brands such as Tui Blue, Magic Life, Marella Cruises and Crystal Ski Holidays.
Andrew Isherwood, Tui’s head of trade relations, said: “We are proud to be working closely with Not Just Travel and we hope this training will go a long way in ensuring consultants are up to speed with all the latest Tui products and services.
“From all-inclusive beach holidays to hotel only offerings, city breaks and a variety of cruises, we know that Tui have holiday options for everyone, and we want to ensure they are available to all customers, including through our trade partners.
“It was great to see so many of the Tui team in face-to-face conversation with the consultants today at Wigmore House, discussing how we can better work together to deliver for customers and really engaging with the Tui product.”
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Last week, Tui hosted an educational trip with Not Just Travel consultants and other independent agents to Lake Garda to showcase its Lakes & Mountains product.
“We’ve had such good feedback from those who attended, and we are already seeing additional sales come through,” said Isherwood.
“We will continue to build new, and nurture, our existing relationships with our trade partners to better understand how we can continue to support them.
“This will include more engagement through webinars and awareness days, in response to the real appetite we are seeing from our trade partners.”
Chris Harrison, NJT chief commercial officer, said: “This is a pioneering project which is a culmination of our increasingly valuable relationship with Tui.
“Our customers love their products and we’re excited to be working more closely with them as they develop their trade engagement plans.”
Annette Russell, an NJT agent, said: “It’s been excellent, I loved hearing about Magic Life and the different types of customers we might want to send there.
“I feel a bit more confident now to say to customers ‘do you like all of these things included? “It’s been really great for us to differentiate between all the products Tui have on offer.
“One key new thing I learnt today was about day passes for agents…to actually go and experience a hotel and see what a customer will like about it.
“I think the value is brilliant as well: the fact they’ve got their own airline, and you can fly direct with them. Pricing-wise it will be great for a lot of customers.”
Main picture, from left: Chris Harrison, NJT, with Tui trade relations manager Hayley Vaughan
