Operator creates travel agency support role
Over-55s specialist Grand UK Holidays has created a new head office role dedicated exclusively to supporting travel agents.
Sales director Harold Burke said: "We have promoted Kate Smith to the newly created post of B2B sales and marketing executive as part of our drive to bolster the service we offer agents.
"She will also be supported by Jo Bilton, who works in the reservations team, who can help answer agents’ queries on a day-to-day basis.
"Sales via travel agents have always been vital for us, as our customers tend to prefer booking with traditional high-street agencies – they really value the face-to-face personal service and expertise that agents offer.
"Agents are important us because they’re so important to our customers.
"And we still value traditional brochures too – some operators are phasing them out but we still regard the brochure as a worthwhile sales tool, especially for mature holidaymakers."
Kate has worked for Grand UK’s parent company, The UK Holiday Group, since 1999.
In her new role, she will liaise with agents to help build their product knowledge, and send regular email newsletters with news and offers from Grand UK Holidays.
She will also be able to help agents with in-store activities by providing support materials and vouchers to offer clients during agency promotions.
News of the appointment came as the escorted tours operator released its 2017 brochure, featuring 50 new holidays in the UK and overseas.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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