Agents need to brush up on their knowledge of domestic holidays and alternatives to flying, said WA Shearings sales and marketing director Karen Gee.
Speaking at the Travelmole Travel Industry Question Time yesterday, Gee said the coach operator saw sales grow by 22% in August following the August 10 terror alert and subsequent chaos at airports.
“We have definitely had customers and agents call us who clearly have not booked a coach holiday before,” she said.
“For agents this is a big opportunity to step in and take advantage of a switch in demand, but it’s clear that agents need to improve their knowledge.”
She said one of the company’s call centre staff had taken a call from an agent requesting a hotel with a sea view.
“We told her that this wasn’t possible, as the hotel was in Leeds, and she asked if it was because the sea view rooms were all fully booked!”
Andy Cooper, director general of the Federation of Tour Operators, said agents and operators also need to take advantage of the growing demand for smaller, regional airports.
By Bev Fearis
