Welsh coach holiday operator woos travel agents

A start-up coach tour operator based in south Wales is hoping to recruit more travel agents to sell its holidays as the firm looks to expand.

Yellowdays was set up in Blackwood, near Cardiff, in 2019 but suspended operations when the pandemic hit.

It operated domestic day trips in 2021 but is now promoting a 2022 range of Spanish holidays, along with other European trips and domestic breaks.

Pick-up points for its European holidays are in south Wales, plus southern and southeast England.

Founder Shane Needs said the family-run firm has a commercial agreement with Hays Travel and Hays’ Independence Group.

“We are looking for other agents to come on board who feel our product offering would suit their target market,” he said.

“We took the decision that we would prefer to work with agents opposed to working directly with the customer.

“Whilst we do take bookings directly, the pandemic has meant that customers’ behaviours are changing and most want to deal locally.

“All agents have price parity, so there is currently no price difference.”

He said that the rising cost of air fares means that coach trips to Spain are becoming “cost-effective and value for money again”.

Commission rates start from 10%, with flexibility to increase to 12.5%.

“We would be looking at a training programme [for agents] but can provide access to marketing and window posters,” he added.

“We are looking into developing an agents’ marketing portal in the future.

“We offer a dedicated agents telephone number, so we really do want agents to be part of our journey.”

The first departure to Spain leaves on May 27 for a week’s stay, with 40 passengers onboard.

The 2023 programme aims to have one departure for Whitsun followed by a programme of weekly departures with pick-up routes covering most of the UK. The firm is also hoping to operate a service to ski resorts from December to April.

The firm’s Gold Class coaches have individual seat-back entertainment systems, allowing the passenger to choose what they want to watch; or play music and games.

“We have a host/hostess on board offering a range of drinks and snacks and play a number of games and quizzes en route to get everyone in the holiday mode,” added Needs.