The UK’s second largest tour operator took 250 agents to the Hard Rock Hotel in Tenerife, where it outlined a number of brand new ideas designed specifically for independent travel agents to help them attract customers, increase sales, and grow their businesses.
These new initiatives include a tailored training programme called ‘Earn Your Wings’ which is designed to help agents gain an in-depth understanding of Jet2holidays, so that they can sell more real package holidays and increase their sales. Agents will earn their ‘wings’ with branded badges and certificates awarded upon successful completion of the one-day course.
In addition, a brand new programme called ‘Service to Success’ was also revealed. This is aimed at business owners and is designed to help them win more customers and boost sales. The programme covers a number of areas including customer service, sales, branding, and data capture.
An innovative new in-store branding concept was also announced, giving agents the opportunity to integrate a fully-branded Jet2holidays booking centre into their own premises.
For the first time, the annual Jet2holidays VIP Travel Trade conference featured tailored knowledge sessions, designed to give agents more time interacting with Jet2holidays staff and experts, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to reach more customers and grow their businesses.
Sessions included using social media, community engagement and PR, understanding the Jet2holidays product, and a preview of a brand new travel trade website. All of the sessions were designed to give agents a detailed understanding about the various partnership opportunities on offer with the package holiday specialist.
Agents also heard from the CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, Steve Heapy, who pledged to continue putting independent travel agents at the heart of everything that the company does as it continues to grow. He spoke about the company’s continued investment into building relationships with independent travel agents, and showcased some of the company’s highlights from the last 12 months which include growing the trade team to 16, becoming the second largest UK Tour Operator, the launch of operations from two new UK bases, the introduction of package holidays in a villa through Jet2Villas, and achieving a 40 per cent increase in advance sales – demonstrating the continued growth and stability of the company.
Outlining some of the company’s key product differentiators such as a low £60 per person deposit and free resort flight check-in service, he pledged to continue working in partnership with independent travel agents and investing in them to help them attract customers. He also spoke about Jet2holidays’ commitment to continuing its award winning customer service which includes having over 500 customer helpers in resort and a 24/7 UK call centre.
As well as reaffirming this partnership approach, staff from Jet2holidays also gave agents detail on the company’s biggest ever flights and holidays programmes for Summer 18 and Winter 18/19, which includes new routes and hotels, as well as a brand new dedicated villa programme, Jet2Villas.
Pop icon Sinitta joined agents as the special conference guest, and as well as being interviewed on stage by Jet2holidays’ Head of Trade Alan Cross, she entertained delegates with a selection of her hits at an 80’s themed opening party.
Alan Cross, Head of Trade at Jet2holidays, said: “Our annual VIP Travel Trade conference in Tenerife has certainly been our biggest, best and most successful yet. Working in partnership with independent travel agents is critical to the growth and success of Jet2holidays and this conference really underlined that. We have revealed a number of new initiatives to help independent agents grow their businesses, and I am sure our agency partners came away with a clear understanding of how committed we are to working in partnership with them and how unique Jet2holidays is in that regard.”
You can view images from the VIP Conference in our GALLERY.
