Luxury operator Exsus has seen trade bookings rise from zero in 2018 when it was a purely direct-sell business to 95% of its total this year.
Speaking at its annual Travel Agent Awards, Head of Trade Sales Mark Harris said the trade’s share of its total bookings had risen a further 10 percentage points in the past year alone.
Addressing some 70 of its top-selling agents attending the lunch at the Shard in London, he added: “We will continue to strive and we will continue to work for your business.”
“That is our focus now,” said Director of Sales Sinzi Rencuic. “When we are recruiting for our sales team, we are recruiting people with experience of trade sales.
“Selling through the trade is competitive and you need to be fast; direct bookings will wait three or four days for a quote, but not agents, they will go to other operators.”
Sinzi said trade sales had been boosted with the launch last year of a dedicated admin and concierge service, headed by Kate Cooper, with many agents now dealing directly with that department.
To further boost sales, the operator has launched a dedicated cruise brochure, featuring 25 cruise lines covering ocean, river and expedition cruises, and a dedicated European Luxury Beach brochure for the first time. It also launched its first Worldwide brochure in January. “Clients like brochures,” added Mark, “they like to browse.”
For the rest of July, Exsus is offering agents a top up incentive of an additional £100 voucher per booking.
The Exsus Travel Agent Award winners were:
Top Overall Agency for UK: Designer Travel
Top Agency for Northern Ireland: Oasis Travel
Top Agency for the south of England: Meon Valley Travel
Top Agency for Scotland: Murray Travel
Top Newcomer: See The World
Top Homeworker: Reshma Aggarwal of Not Just Travel
Top Retail Consultant: Sally Wallis of Beaver Travel
Top Office-based Consultant: Catherine Murphy-Birchall of The Ultimate Travel Company
Biggest Growth in Business: Abbotts Travel.
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Speaking at its annual Travel Agent Awards, Head of Trade Sales Mark Harris said the trade’s share of its total bookings had risen a further 10 percentage points in the past year alone.
Addressing some 70 of its top-selling agents attending the lunch at the Shard in London, he added: “We will continue to strive and we will continue to work for your business.”
“That is our focus now,” said Director of Sales Sinzi Rencuic. “When we are recruiting for our sales team, we are recruiting people with experience of trade sales.
“Selling through the trade is competitive and you need to be fast; direct bookings will wait three or four days for a quote, but not agents, they will go to other operators.”
Sinzi said trade sales had been boosted with the launch last year of a dedicated admin and concierge service, headed by Kate Cooper, with many agents now dealing directly with that department.
To further boost sales, the operator has launched a dedicated cruise brochure, featuring 25 cruise lines covering ocean, river and expedition cruises, and a dedicated European Luxury Beach brochure for the first time. It also launched its first Worldwide brochure in January. “Clients like brochures,” added Mark, “they like to browse.”
For the rest of July, Exsus is offering agents a top up incentive of an additional £100 voucher per booking.
The Exsus Travel Agent Award winners were:
Top Overall Agency for UK: Designer Travel
Top Agency for Northern Ireland: Oasis Travel
Top Agency for the south of England: Meon Valley Travel
Top Agency for Scotland: Murray Travel
Top Newcomer: See The World
Top Homeworker: Reshma Aggarwal of Not Just Travel
Top Retail Consultant: Sally Wallis of Beaver Travel
Top Office-based Consultant: Catherine Murphy-Birchall of The Ultimate Travel Company
Biggest Growth in Business: Abbotts Travel.
The post Exsus celebrates with agents as it announces trade sales now account for 95% of its business appeared first on Travel Gossip.
Continue reading...
