'The more you offer, the more they spend'
TO ENTICE
clients to
stay longer
and do more on
a Valentine’s
getaway, agents
need to combine
their extensive
product knowledge
with a good
understanding of
what makes their
clients tick.
“The more you
get to know your
clients, the more
you can offer them – the more
you offer them the longer
they will have to stay to fit it
all in,” says Mandy McEvoy,
travel manager at Club Travel.
She recommends first
doing an extensive search on
Google to locate trips with
a difference. “TripAdvisor
has some very interesting
suggestions from past
travellers. Get an idea of
the clients’ interests.” She
says if they are adventurous,
for example, then they may
want to go caving. “Do some
research and find an option
to advise on. Tell
them how to get
there and that a
hike pack can be
arranged by the
resort.”
Selling activities
in the area and
including them in
the package is
another good idea,
says Karen Lewis
of Club Travel
Ontdekkers.
She suggests
canopy tours or
balloon safaris.
Agents should make use
of the extras offered by
tour operators, says md
of Trafalgar SA, Theresa
Szejwallo. “Holidays for
couples should be effortless,
authentic and fun.”
Agents can also offer
additional extras at the hotel
itself, like a romantic boat
trip or dinner on the beach,
says Club Travel ITC, Genine
de Witt. “Some hotels
include special discounts on
spa treatments or à la carte
restaurants, which can also
add value to their holiday.”
“Always try to upgrade the
room type and meal plan,”
says Mandy, pointing out that
usually the cost is not much
more than the standard rate
but the value-add is huge.
She says if the client
doesn’t have enough leave
but would like to experience
a little more than just their
end destination, agents
should suggest a day in the
transit city.
“Some airlines offer free
day trips or hop-on, hop-off
buses from their hub.”
Agents can also persuade
clients with the promise
of saving them money.
“Valentine’s Day getaways
don’t have to break the
bank,” says Genine. She says
Valentine’s Day normally falls
outside the school holidays
so agents should be able to
get good deals.
Karen adds that Valentine’s
Day falls on a Tuesday this
year, so looking for a midweek
special could also help
the client’s pocket and make
the booking go further.
Photocap:Love Mauritius
Air Mauritius is offering a special to woo your clients.
Selected return flights ex-JNB to Mauritius are priced
at R1 470 (excluding taxes) for departure dates
January 13-March 23 with a minimum and maximum
stay of three days and one month respectively. Last
return date has to be booked for March 30. Pictured
is Wouter Nel, head: Sales and Marketing, Southern
Africa, Air Mauritius.
Five great romantic offers
1. With Thompsons Travel,
travellers can spend two
nights at the five-star
Oyster Box in Umhlanga
Rocks from R6 038pps.
The package includes
return flights from
Johannesburg to Durban
(including taxes), two
days’ car hire, breakfast
daily and one high tea.
The offer is valid until
April 30.
2. Travellers can spend
seven nights cruising the
Middle East on Vision of
the Seas with Cruises
International. Fares
are from R10 120pps
including compulsory
charges. Highlights
include Dubai, Muscat,
Khasab and Abu Dhabi.
Valid for February 13
departure.
3. World Leisure Holidays
is offering seven nights
in the Seychelles at the
Paradise Sun Hotel from
R24 700pps. The package
includes accommodation
in a superior beach
bungalow on a half-board
basis, return flights
from Johannesburg to
Seychelles (including
taxes), return coach
transfers, a sunset
cruise and use of paddle
boats and snorkelling
equipment. The offer is
valid until March 26.
4.Beachcomber Tours has
five-night packages in
Mauritius from
R14 670pps. The package
includes accommodation
at the four-star Le
Canonnier Beachcomber
Golf Resort & Spa,
return airfares departing
Johannesburg (including
taxes), return transfers
and breakfast and dinner
daily. Free land and
motorised water sports
are available as per the
brochure. The offer is valid
for travel until March 23.
5. Trafalgar is offering special
‘his and hers’ toiletry
bags packed with goodies
with any booking made
in February on any of its
Rome Explorer, Italian
Holiday, Rome and Tuscan
Highlights, Great Italian
Cities and Italy Bellissimo
tours. Valid for travel on
any date in 2017.
