The head of Hays Independence Group has urged members to focus more on foreign exchange sales to improve their service to customers and increase their income.
Natasha Marson told the group at its annual overseas conference (March 4-5) in the Algarve that forex can “maximise customer service excellence”, which is a key pillar of IG’s strategy.
Hays Travel has a dedicated forex team to support agents and offers clinics to boost selling skills.
Jonathon Woodall-Johnston, Hays Travel chief commercial officer, said the new forex system for Hays’ retail and IG outlets was launched in September last year and it is seeing “lots of customer demand”.
“It is a good opportunity to boost margins and profits,” he told members.
The agency group sells the Hays Travel Prepaid Travel Money Card, thanks to a partnership with Mastercard, which is “going from strength to strength”, added Woodall-Johnston.
It can offer 16 currencies and enables clients to top up the card while they are abroad, and have more than one currency loaded at a time.
Woodall-Johnston highlighted how the card helped clients to buy Egyptian pounds digitally at a time when notes were in short supply.
Dame Irene Hays, chair of Hays Travel, said: “It makes it safer for customer to load money on before they leave for their holiday.”
She added: “We are proud of our partnership with Mastercard.”
A home delivery service for foreign notes was launched at the end of February, in addition to other ways to collect cash, such as visiting a branch or click-and-collect.
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