Agent Diary: ‘It’s reassuring to see so many customers keen to book quickly’

Holding the fort at the shop was a nice change of scenery and walk-in bookings are encouraging, says Carla Hutchings, Luxury Travel Associate at Swords Travel in Bournemouth.

It’s been a busy time for me as I have been holding the fort in the Wimbledon shop while Mark and Stuart Swords have been away for a couple of weeks – cruising from Miami and visiting New York and Boston.

I’ve recently been promoted to senior associate, and usually work from home in Bournemouth, so it has been a lovely change of scenery and I’ve really enjoyed supporting the other associates at Swords Travel with their own businesses.

It’s been very reassuring to see how many people are just walking in from the street, and many are encouraged by the fact that more countries are dropping their Covid PCR test requirements.

I’ve been converting enquiries from walk-in customers more quickly than before – one person who was asking about a cruise was booked with Celebrity Cruises the same day

I’m very passionate about the Indian Ocean, so seeing the Maldives and Sri Lanka dropping those requirements is great news and hopefully this means lots more bookings to these destinations.

I’ve been converting enquiries from walk-in customers more quickly than before – one person who was asking about a cruise was booked with Celebrity Cruises the same day. People just seem extremely keen to get away to the sunshine.

My colleagues and I do have some customers who are concerned about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and they feel guilty about booking a holiday when the war is going on. My thoughts are with everyone in Ukraine.

Out and about

It has been fantastic to see the return of in-person travel industry events.

I attended a fantastic showcase with Azure recently that focused on luxury hotels in Europe, and Italy in particular. It was held at an underground cookery school in central London and the highlight was preparing our own dinner. I can now successfully fillet a seabass and make my own pasta. Luckily the chefs cooked it all for us while we sipped fine wines!

You can’t sit and wait for people to come to you – my business has been running for a year and it’s been incredible, but you do have to reach out and be creative

Then the following evening, I was hosted by the tourist board of the Seychelles – another destination I have been fortunate to visit and love to sell. It was perfect timing as the previous day I had just confirmed a luxury family holiday to Constance Ephelia in Mahé, which is a hotel in the Seychelles that I can personally recommend. The event has really boosted my knowledge of the Seychelles.

I’ve also seen great success following my own event in early February.

You can’t sit and wait for people to come to you – my business has been running for a year and it’s been incredible, but you do have to reach out and be creative. Differentiating your business from others is important. I hope to replicate the event early next year.

Ocean waves

What I have noticed is that the cruise market has really come back.

I am selling many more cruises than before – the number of cruise enquiries has soared over the past month or so. I am so fortunate to be invited by Azamara to join a five-night cruise from Lisbon next week, and in April I have been invited on Celebrity Beyond. Then roll on May when I will be getting on board Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady and cruising around the Mediterranean.

I am so fortunate to be invited by Azamara to join a five-night cruise from Lisbon next week, and in April I have been invited on Celebrity Beyond

I’m getting into selling more cruises – they are such good value for money.

Event was a roaring success

Last month, I held my first luxury travel event, with 10 upmarket suppliers such as Audley Travel, InsideAsia, Scenic/Emerald and Tradewind Voyages. It was at Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa in Hampshire and there were bubbles on arrival for clients.They had one-hour time slots for one-to-one chats with suppliers, which meant they could really talk in detail with a specialist.

Greg Thurston, trade sales manager at Audley Travel, made a booking for a Canada holiday, including the Rocky Mountaineer and a cruise, after chatting to a client for an hour. Danny Joel, sales manager for Scenic Luxury Tours and Cruises, said it was the best he’d ever attended. I got seven bookings from it, with seven new clients, generating £70,000 in sales.