Educational ban the last straw for agents

Comment by Jeremy Skidmore (www.jeremyskidmore.com)

The attraction of working in a travel agency has dwindled over the years and, at the press of a button, TUI has turned it into the kind of occupation that any job seeker is likely to avoid at all costs.

I’m referring of course, to the memo sent out from the company, which stated it was imposing a six-month ban on educational trips.

There were good reasons for this move. The company is working in an “extraordinarily tough market” (corporate-speak for nobody is paying full price for their holidays).

A spokeswoman revealed: “Staff who have had trips cancelled are obviously disappointed, but they know how the market is and have been amazingly understanding” (corporate speak for they’ve been told: ‘you’re lucky to have a job so shut up and get on with it’.)

Oh, how the life of an agent has changed. Many years ago, they could use their discretion to sell people the most suitable holiday for them. The shops were never the epitome of cutting-edge retail design, but were often full of eager shoppers and enormous satisfaction could be gained from giving the customer exactly what they wanted.

Now, many shops are deserted and staff are under instruction to sell company products to the few people who come through the door.

Then there’s the pay. Nobody works in a travel agency purely for the money, but average shop wages are now under £11,000 – far less than many people, who have families to support, can claim from signing on to the dole.

But there was always the educational to keep you going; up to a week of free eating and drinking in a hot climate to help you forget the hard slog of working behind the counter.

Of course, hotel or cruise ship cabin visits were thrown in to help agents learn more about the product but, frankly, many educationals have been thinly-disguised jollies, like holidays but with people you wouldn’t choose to go away with.

This is no slight on agents. I’ve been with them on trips and noted how they have benefited from seeing at first hand the products they are selling. But go on a cruise and it’s hard not to have a good time.

Now this bonus has been taken away, with trips to the Canary Islands and Universal Studios in Orlando, along with cruises, among those cancelled.

So, what exactly is the attraction of working in a travel agency now? Do write and tell me because I’d love to know whether it’s worth me making a late career switch.

As I contemplate this, I’m reminded of the words of wisdom from so-called experts in the industry, who continually tell us that agents can only survive in this market by offering exceptional customer service.

I suspect that is even more difficult for those who are not familiar with the products they are selling and don’t feel excited themselves by the prospect of going to work.

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