UK-based Aussie Specialist Agents meet TravelMole

TravelMole joined Gabriella from Peterborough, Natalie from Sheffield, and Jackie from Cornwall, all UK-based Aussie Specialist Agents for a chat at ATE 2006.

Gabriella and Natalie work for Thomas Cook and Jackie specialises in Campervans with all located in very different parts of Britain, yet the message is the same about Australia.

Gabriella and Natalie (right – Hi Mum!) said that 10% to 15% of their clients have an interest in Australia and the key thing for them to be able to sell is that they are on the Tourism Australia website, because people come to them as a result and some people who come to them having seen the window sticker.

Brits coming to Australia want to fit in as much as they can in two weeks, with a small section wanting to do the large tours, but more wanting to be more independent, with the minimum being that they want the hotels organised.

They are clearly seeking an experience and they want to see as much as they can in Aus, but Cairns and Sydney are the clear leaders.

Fares are more like £1,000 than the often quoted £500 fares, which are very hard to get.

Australia is also more likely to be the trip of a lifetime and is not a not a cheap destination at the outset.  They save up and plan and the larger part is paid up front upfront and income for the agent is on commission, not fee for service.

Australia is a relatively easy sell and clients know what they want to do, which is not the normal trip to Spain and they have also spoken with friends, so word of word of mouth is important.

The other thing about Brits is that they may stay with family for part of the time and then do their own thing or go on a pre-arranged tour or programme. 

Repeat visitors will have family in Australia, will have been Down Under several times and are keen to see other parts of the country.

There is no question that to be serious in doing business in the UK that products have to be with the major tour operators and Qantas is the big one.

Tourism Australia is great and when we can’t find something we can ask TA and the response is immediate.

TravelMole also spoke with Jackie Rook, an Aussie Specialist Agent with Campervans in Cornwall, specialises in campervans in New Zealand and Australia, with New Zealand their largest destination and Australia the second.

Jackie says that Australia is such a hot destination from the UK and while renting a campervan can be pretty expensive, she recommends that Brits allocate £100 a day, but of course the cost is shared over four or six people, making it very inexpensive.

Brits are looking for adventure, wildlife and of course weather and it is without question, the best destination for Brits with 250 of her clients travelling to Australia every year.

Jackie looks at the Tourism Australia and Aussie Specialists web site on a daily basis for information and updates and Oztalk in the UK it really great.  It is also really good that there is always somebody in London to answer any questions Aussie Specialists have.  Also, the Aussie Specialist Training Programme is excellent.

Brits think they know about Australia, but they don’t one and Jackie remembers one client arguing that the Australian summer is the same as the British summer!

They also don’t realise the driving distances in Australia!

Jackie said that she was amazed by how much more she had learnt at ATE 2006, but unfortunately some appointments are not relevant product for her, but at least she now knows them better.

Report by John Alwyn-Jones from ATE 2006