XL SANDOWN Travel has unveiled
its new concept store – which it
has dubbed the “next generation
travel agency” – with a touch-screen
monitor, specialist consultants
and unique packaging and pricing
options for leisure travellers. No
longer your typical bricks-and-mortar
storefront, XL Sandown Travel aims
to attract more foot traffic, bringing
customers into the store and
keeping them there.
Situated in Sandton City’s Banking
Hall, the store greets customers
with a wide entrance and a digital
touch screen, from which they are
able to browse different products
that the agency has put together
– similar to how they would online.
The packages are grouped under
different subject tabs,
such as ‘interests’ and
‘destinations’.
What makes these
packages unique, says md
of XL Sandown Travel, Marco
Ciocchetti, is that they offer
clients rates that they would
not be able to get online
or direct with the supplier.
He says suppliers are often
hesitant to drop their rates
because they fear it will
set a standard they cannot
afford to maintain. However
if those rates are hidden in
the security of a package,
they are able to grant special
deals. “Clients won’t easily
be able to reconstruct the
same all-inclusive deal online,
which will include flights,
transfers, hotels, meals and
sightseeing options.”
Also significant is the
type of packages that are
available, which Marco says
will introduce clients to new
and exciting experiences
they may not have thought of
themselves.
Once clients have selected
packages they are interested
in, they are then engaged by
the ‘hostess’, who profiles
the client to determine what
holiday would suit them
best. From there, she directs
the customer to the most
relevant specialist consultant.
In addition, clearly marked
specialist stations have also
been set up in four separate
booths, under the headings
of ‘Sun and Ski’, ‘Southern
Africa’, ‘Guided Tours’ and
‘Bucket List’, so that clients
can feel assured that they are
sitting and consulting with an
expert, Marco says.
Each consultant is equipped
with a large screen so that
clients can view their holiday
bookings as they come to life.
“We want the excitement of
a holiday to begin right there
and then, not just when the
client gets on a plane.”
Marco believes that this
new brand of concept store
is the way forward for travel
agents in SA. He says many
clients step into travel
agencies for information
and then go home and book
directly on the Internet. But
with this new model, which
provides clients with better
deals, highly specialised
advice and a more exciting
and interactive experience,
he believes clients will be
inspired to do their travel
shopping in store.
While the agency’s leisure
offering will continue to
operate from Sandton City’s
Banking Hall, its corporate
business will be moving
to a separate location in
Johannesburg.
