New-look tour operator Etihad Holidays will launch to the trade next week, initially offering packages to the United Arab Emirates, Thailand and the Indian Ocean.
Although the name existed before, Etihad Holidays was previously run by Etihad Airways but has now been taken over by a different company, Capital Holidays.
Under its new owner, Etihad Holidays will officially launch to the trade and consumers next Monday (3 July), promising price parity.
At first, Etihad Holidays’ UK team will consist of General Manager Ranj Kundi, Head of Commercial Gemma Lazenby (pictured) and Key Account Manager Alison Bull, who is working with around 10 agencies in the north and Scotland.
Gemma and Alison report into Ranj.
The team plans to hire a second Key Account Manager in the next few weeks to support agents in the south of the country.
Agents will be able to sign up to the new operator’s trade portal – etihadholidayspro.co.uk – from 3 July, when Etihad Holidays launches.
Travel agencies Dawson & Sanderson and Althams Travel have been helping Etihad Holidays, which is owned by Capital Holidays, develop the trade portal ahead of the launch.
Gemma, who joined Etihad Holidays in May, said she aims to have get every agent in the UK to sign up to the portal, where bookings can be made, amended and cancelled.
Training videos and product news are also available to view via the portal.
“We’ve already got a few agents signed up,” she said. “We want all agents to sign up.
“Since I joined, most of the time has been spent with the different consortia, discussing commercial terms, training and everything else.
“This week, we will sign up more agents. We’re in the final stages of discussions [with many consortia].”
The UK’s largest independent agency, Hays Travel, has agreed commercial terms with Etihad Holidays.
Gemma urged agents to sign up to the portal next week, saying: “It’s a really easy to use agent system, we have great prices, and they are competitive.”
Etihad Holidays has a head office in Hammersmith, London, as well as a contact centre.
The UK and Germany are the first two markets to open to the trade for Etihad Holidays but there are plans to launch offices in France and Spain soon.
Next year, Capital Holidays will launch in the UK and will offer package holidays to destinations that are not currently available on Etihad Airways’ network such as Mediterranean beach breaks.
The UK-based Etihad Holidays team will oversee sales operations on behalf of Capital Holidays.
Gemma previously spent 19 years at Classic Collection, including working as Sales Manager. She left the company in February 2022.
She said she wasn’t looking for a new role in travel but, when Ranj got in touch with her earlier this year, she thought it sounded like an incredible opportunity.
Alison Bull has joined Etihad Holidays as Key Account Manager
Alison said she was ‘super excited’ to be bringing Etihad Holidays to the UK trade and working with Gemma, who she worked alongside at Classic Collection for eight years.
“It’s such a fantastic opportunity to be with a start-up from the very beginning. The trade is really excited because we’re offering price parity.
“If they go on the agent website and the direct website, the prices are the same.”
The post Etihad Holidays launches to agents next week appeared first on Travel Gossip.
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Although the name existed before, Etihad Holidays was previously run by Etihad Airways but has now been taken over by a different company, Capital Holidays.
Under its new owner, Etihad Holidays will officially launch to the trade and consumers next Monday (3 July), promising price parity.
At first, Etihad Holidays’ UK team will consist of General Manager Ranj Kundi, Head of Commercial Gemma Lazenby (pictured) and Key Account Manager Alison Bull, who is working with around 10 agencies in the north and Scotland.
Gemma and Alison report into Ranj.
The team plans to hire a second Key Account Manager in the next few weeks to support agents in the south of the country.
Agents will be able to sign up to the new operator’s trade portal – etihadholidayspro.co.uk – from 3 July, when Etihad Holidays launches.
Travel agencies Dawson & Sanderson and Althams Travel have been helping Etihad Holidays, which is owned by Capital Holidays, develop the trade portal ahead of the launch.
Gemma, who joined Etihad Holidays in May, said she aims to have get every agent in the UK to sign up to the portal, where bookings can be made, amended and cancelled.
Training videos and product news are also available to view via the portal.
“We’ve already got a few agents signed up,” she said. “We want all agents to sign up.
“Since I joined, most of the time has been spent with the different consortia, discussing commercial terms, training and everything else.
“This week, we will sign up more agents. We’re in the final stages of discussions [with many consortia].”
The UK’s largest independent agency, Hays Travel, has agreed commercial terms with Etihad Holidays.
Gemma urged agents to sign up to the portal next week, saying: “It’s a really easy to use agent system, we have great prices, and they are competitive.”
Etihad Holidays has a head office in Hammersmith, London, as well as a contact centre.
The UK and Germany are the first two markets to open to the trade for Etihad Holidays but there are plans to launch offices in France and Spain soon.
Next year, Capital Holidays will launch in the UK and will offer package holidays to destinations that are not currently available on Etihad Airways’ network such as Mediterranean beach breaks.
The UK-based Etihad Holidays team will oversee sales operations on behalf of Capital Holidays.
Gemma previously spent 19 years at Classic Collection, including working as Sales Manager. She left the company in February 2022.
She said she wasn’t looking for a new role in travel but, when Ranj got in touch with her earlier this year, she thought it sounded like an incredible opportunity.
Alison Bull has joined Etihad Holidays as Key Account Manager
Alison said she was ‘super excited’ to be bringing Etihad Holidays to the UK trade and working with Gemma, who she worked alongside at Classic Collection for eight years.
“It’s such a fantastic opportunity to be with a start-up from the very beginning. The trade is really excited because we’re offering price parity.
“If they go on the agent website and the direct website, the prices are the same.”
The post Etihad Holidays launches to agents next week appeared first on Travel Gossip.
Continue reading...
