07/2015
THE HOW-TO MAGAZINE FOR TRAVEL TRADE PROFESSIONALS
4
EDITORIAL
5
THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT AND HOW TO SELL IT
18
GET THE ISSUE APP – READ ST ON YOUR TABLET
19
WHEN YOU NEED A HOTEL IN THE LAKE DISTRICT…
25
THE TROUT HOTEL AD
26
FOOD TO KNOW – TIPS FOR YOUR CLIENTS
30
PLACES TO GO – TIPS FOR YOUR CLIENTS
39
JULY 1st AND JULY 4th MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES
42
AMERICAN TRAVEL AGENTS CAN PURCHASE ST MANUALS AT TTI
43
TRAVEL INSTITUTE’S ALASKA PROGAM
44
LGBT NEW MARRIAGE LAWS – EVERYONE WINS
46
READ MORE ME HERE!
47
TALKING TRAVEL PROMOTION
49
CLASSIFIEDS
Featured in the AUGUST issue of selling travel… how to sell The COUNTY CLARE, IRELAND.
The DESIRE to travel starts early and continues throughout one’s life – are you marketing to Generation Z?
Share your money making ideas in SELLING TRAVEL. CONTACT Steve Crowhurst steve@sellingtravel.net 250-738-0064 www.sellingtravel.net Publisher: SMP Training Co. www.sellingtravel.net Contributors Steve Crowhurst
Attention Suppliers: Advertising in SELLING TRAVEL reaches the serious business-minded travel agent. Promote your products and services using Selling Travel’s unique promotional formula – you write the articles on how to sell your own products offering step-by-step selling tips, tools and techniques that you know have worked for your agency accounts. Full page rates range from $300 to $425 based on number of insertions. Remember, if you can’t sell it to them, they can’t sell it for you! Please note that Selling Travel, owned and published by SMP Training Co, is not connected in any way to Selling Travel magazine published by BMI Publishing Ltd., and based in the UK. The latter publication focuses entirely on destination and travel/tourism product training and is circulated solely to the UK and Ireland travel industries. To benefit from this resource visit www.sellingtravel.co.uk and be sure to subscribe.
SELLING TRAVEL is owned and published by Steve Crowhurst, SMP Training Co. All Rights Reserved. Protected by International Copyright Law. SELLING TRAVEL can be shared, forwarded, cut and pasted but not sold, resold or in any way monetized. Using any images or content from SELLING TRAVEL must be sourced as follows: “Copyright SMP Training Co. www.sellingtravel.net” SMP Training Co. 568 Country Club Drive, Qualicum Beach, BC, Canada, V9K-1G1 Note: Steve Crowhurst is not responsible for outcomes based on how you interpret or use the ideas in SELLING TRAVEL. T: 250-738-0064.
TRUE SUPPORT FOR TRUE PROFESSIONALS At Nexion Canada, we know that you are passionate about your travel business. So we provide you with the professional support and industry relationships you need to be more profitable and efficient, giving you the freedom to run your travel business the best way: your way. A full-service host agency combining decades of experience, Nexion Canada provides independent, Canadian-based travel professionals of all experience levels with: • • • • • • • • •
Your choice of up to 80% of commissions Top commissions with leading air, cruise and land suppliers Technology tools to better manage your business Access to our exclusive point-and-click booking engine or through the Amadeus, Sabre or Galileo GDS systems Training, coaching and networking opportunities Innovative marketing programs to grow your business Exclusive cruise block space and supplier offers Lead generation for qualified agents Vacation.com membership included at no additional charge!
It’s time to join a family of professionals that truly supports your independent business dreams. It’s time to join Nexion Canada.
Contact us today to learn more about our growing family of travel professionals. Visit www.Join.NexionCanada.com Email sales@nexioncanada.com Call 866-399-9989
MENTION THAT YOU SAW US IN IC AGENT MAGAZINE AND RECEIVE YOUR FIRST MONTH FREE! 10131503-Nexion_Ad.indd 1
10/29/13 2:18 PM
SALES & MARKETING TIPS, TOOLS & TECHNIQUES FOR ALL TRAVEL TRADE PROFESSIONALS
The WILL to
Steve Crowhurst, Publisher
Selling The English Lake District The focus for this month’s Selling Travel is all about one fabulous but not so well known or travelled destination by North Americans, the Lake District of Cumbria in northern England. Or if looking at a map, it’s located top left, just before Scotland and slightly below Hadrian’s Wall. Got it? Good. Now you can sell it. As you will read, this area of the UK happened to be my old stomping grounds when, as a teenager, I was hiking the area when our school outward bound program ventured north. Great times for sure and relived every time I return. It is the home of Wordsworth, Fletcher Christian, my Aunt Irene and my former outdoor leader, Brian Spencer who has hiked almost every inch of the area. Enjoy the trip herein and whenever you can, offer this scenic area of the world to your clients who are looking for something unique, picturesque and excellent value for money. So, to the Lakes and even more… Here’s to your continued success in SELLING TRAVEL. Best regards. Steve Crowhurst, CTC, CTM Hon. steve@sellingtravel.net www.sellingtravel.net
NOW IN FULL PRODUCTION! PUBLISHING LATE 2015 LOOK FOR IT IN THE SELLING TRAVEL STORE
Click on the store icon to opt-in.
If you are looking for a new destination to specialize in? Here’s one that is a treat to visit and to sell. Not only that, your clients will love you for suggesting it. The most natural attraction to ‘the Lakes ‘ is of course the scenery and the fact that you can pretty much amble and ramble along well-trodden pathways, along the roadways and into the national park. Unlike hiking in the North American forests you will never be worried about coming face to face with a wolf, griz’ or a cougar. Perhaps a wild and crazy rabbit, hare, goat or ram and you might even come across a rangy old person of the human kind… but other than that, the only challenge will be oneself and how well prepared you are for the change in weather and following the correct route/s. Let’s explore some more: More Than Just A Ramble As you do your research you will no doubt come across the most wonderful images of the villages that populate The Lakes and also, within those villages, the historic sites, buildings, stone circles and ancient paths. For your antique collectors it is a haven and the same for your art collecting clients, artists and photographers. The personal reasons for visiting this area never ending so it’s probably a matter of you deciding on your own passion and then packaging that passion once you get back home to North America. Since the Sixties My own connection to The Lake District goes back to the mid-sixties when I would join the school outward bound program and during the summer months go away for a week. The “Lakes” was always an option. Once we learned how to get there, we would venture north from London on our own taking the train.
In more recent years, an aunt and uncle moved to Cockermouth giving us a family connection and my former outward bound leader and teacher moved to a school in Keswick. Make Your Own Connections However you come by wanting to visit The Lakes it is important as it gives your marketing a little more oomph. Having a story to tell, or provenance to show will attract existing and new clients to seek you out. If you do not have any former connection to The Lakes then it’s time to turn on your creative talents and create one or many. Your “connection” might be through an activity that you are well-known for – start with hiking. A connection based on a novel you’ve read where The Lakes are the back drop to the story might work. A Wordsworth poem? Perhaps you had seen an old print or painting that drew you in - or could it just be the movie, The Trip?
This scene was shot just by Buttermere as we came closer to the lake. The colouring of the hillsides and beyond into the fells is an artist’s dream palette. The map shown opposite is from my collection and dates from 1933.
Maps are your key to understanding just how tightly packed The Lake District is with every mile offering something to see and do. Of course when you are driving over a pass or hiking in the hills, it is then that it seems as if you are a thousand miles from the next village. This close proximity to everything is one key to selling this area to your clients. Click here to view a selection of maps. A Picture... etc. A picture is not only worth a thousand words it’s also good for a thousand bookings. Well even one hundred bookings would be a fine place to start. Let’s assume you have an agency window that faces a side street or if you are lucky to have it, facing main street.
The layout above gives you some idea of how your window might look and with a focus on photography. You can exchange photography for a week long, even a month long, artist’s workshop. The keypoint here is to make better use of your agency window no matter the end product.
To make excellent use of your window real estate, you may want to have one of your own images of the Lakes or a poster, enlarged and hung in position to attract local clients.
For those who work from home, your “window” will be your website home page and it is important here to also use large and impressive images. A series of small snapshots will not do The Lake District much justice. A few large and glorious full screen images will do the job nicely.
For this idea to pull people to check you out, that image in the window must be large, not 16 inches x 20 inches large, but 4 feet x 6 feet large. Larger, if there’s room for it. You will have printing options too, and one option will allow your image a see through affect from within the agency out to the street.
Use wide screen images if your website will allow them, if not perhaps find a website template that does allow full screen images and more.
CLICK THE MAP TO DOWNLOAD FROM THE LAKE DISTRICT WEBSITE
www.lakedistrict.gov.uk
The footpath sign is one of the icons of The Lake District and serves the hiker and dayrambler well. The one shown here would be missed if you weren’t keeping your eyes downcast. In the photo below you can see how small it is as I make sure of the general direction it was sending us.
With any country, place, village etc., you know all too well that to actually “see” the location you’ll need a good six months or more. Most clients will be jamming everything they can do into their 2 to 3 weeks of vacation time. It is important then to identify the interests and “must dos” of your clients as they relate to this area of the world. They can’t do it all unless they intend to extend their stay. The Lake District offers over 3,100 kilometres of rights of way and your clients
can walk and cycle and ride around this wonderful area plus they can get out on the water too. That would be The Lakes on which a variety of boats can carry your clients across and around the water. Boating The Lakes Touring the lakes by boat is one very relaxing way to see the surrounding countryside. Your clients can use these boats as a “taxi” if you like, from one side of the lake to the various stopping off points, or stay aboard for the complete tour.
At the Coniston Boating Centre you can arrange to hire electric motor boats, rowing boats, sailing boats canoes and kayaks. Coniston Water by the way is 8km long and 55 meters deep, so this is serious business from a safety point of view. Keswick This is one of the most well-known towns in the Lake District as many a hiker knows.
It has an excellent reputation for outdoor clothing and also the famous Kendal Mint Cake we used to eat when hiking. This is a historic sweet for all climbers and you should tell your clients to purchase their own supply for their walk, here’s why: About Kendal Mint Cake: The Kendal Mint Cake was quite successful, but was given a tremendous boost when after advertising in a climbing magazine Mr. Clarke was approached by the 1953 expedition to Everest, to see whether he could supply mint cake to them within 7 days. This had to be packed in to high altitude packs for inclusion in the supplies to be sent on ahead, hence the need for hast. Fortunately he had sufficient stock to meet their needs, and his staff willingly gave up their sweet ration coupons to comply with the law. These coupons were later refunded by the ministry of food. Sir Edmund Hillary and Sirdar Tensing ate this mint cake on top of Everest as they gazed at the countryside down below. Tensing also left some to appease his 'gods'. This happening naturally increased sales of mint cake to hikers and climbers and visitors to the Lake District.
Keswick, pronounced "Kezzick" is one of the most popular resort towns in the Lake District. In fact it’s where my outdoor mentor now lives and runs a B&B. You can imagine that a place like Keswick does stay hidden for long. It transpired into tourism once the railway reached it in 1865 and now a motorway, the A66, has replaced the railway. For Your Artistic Clients Creating tours for your artistic clients is going to win you many referrals. Your artsy clientele might just be hikers and climbers and photographers, kayakers and so on. Point is, when they get wherever they go, they sketch and paint. It’s the interest in sketching that you can focus on and here’s why.
I am referring to the pencil factory which is open to the public and the maker, as your artistic clients will recognize, of the pencils your clients use. www.pencils.co.uk Here is my own set of Derwent pencils that I bought way back when. Be sure to visit the website above and start thinking about how you could factor in this set of 12 sketching pencils as a ‘gift’ for those who book on your Art Tour of The Lake District. A scene from Cockermouth painted by Frank Crowhurst
When it comes to art and photography tours it’s always a good idea to hire in a local artist / photographer so that you have access to the best local sites for views. Castlerigg Stone Circle As the Do Keswick website states: Castlerigg Stone Circle may be the most beautiful stone circle sites in Great Britain. The stones sit within a field perched above Keswick, surrounded by the majestic Lakeland fells of Blencathra and Skiddaw and the beautiful St.Johns Vale. This setting gives amazing sunsets and sun rises, a photographer’s paradise! Definitely one stop for your photographers and artists too.
Honiston Pass A quiet day on the road‌ but beware, weather patterns can change very quickly here.
Cockermouth The town of Cockermouth is famous for the fact that William Wordsworth was born on 7 April 1770 in Wordsworth House in Cockermouth. Also that Fletcher Christian the master's mate on board HMS Bounty who seized command of the ship from William Bligh on 28 April 1789, was born close by. Honouring these men is Wordsworth House is an attraction worth seeing…
and for Fletcher Christian stands a pub so named. Actually Wordsworth also has a pub named after him. It serves as a hotel, too. Almost stayed there, but stayed at the Trout Hotel instead – check out their ad and information online.
Percy House is a Must See Percy House Gallery shown above is something you can mention to all clients you send to the town of Cockermouth. It is hard to fathom that this building has stood where it stands since 1390! The downstairs gallery consists of four rooms each with its unique character. The oak beams have been dated to 1390 and the original flagstone floor still remains. The upstairs, with its Tudor ceiling dated 1598, was the home of the Percy bailiff. Your clients are welcome to tour the house and its rooms – mind you they will be maneuvering through some very nice artworks. Impossible not to view them and bring back a memory. We liked this one of Buttermere by Diane Gainey.
It’s important to let your clients know about the flood in 2009. The level I’m pointing to is way above my head. As you can imagine, much of the town was damaged when the rivers burst.
antiques have been sorted and sifted with the best pieces already in the hands of top paying collectors. What’s left in the shops are the bits and bobs, although hundreds of years old, and sold for a decent price. So it’s down to what interests your clients.
There’s a very friendly tourist information centre at Cockermouth and your clients will find it at The Old Kings Arms Lane, which has quite a history. A neat place to explore and also chat with the tourist centre staff for more ideas on where to go and what to do.
Antique tours of The Lake District would be a fabulous rummage through such wonderful countryside and villages and each with a hidden gem of an antique waiting just for your clients. This fella was behind glass and the shop was closed (!) otherwise he might have come home with me.
Antiques an Art Your clients are probably well tuned into shopping when away on vacation and they will also know that most of the junk and
Well, shipped to me more like it. The head looked to be marble and so beautifully carved. Next time you say, or see it, buy it!
Using The Facebook Events App Check the tabs on your Facebook page and you should find the Offer, Events tab… click on this tab and then select Event.
Socialize The Lakes If the data is correct then most of your clients have a Facebook account or their friends do. All you need is your own agency Facebook account where you can post your next tour and also link your clients to the various points of interest in the Lake District that are also on Facebook. Don’t worry about losing your clients to a direct booking. The small percentage that will use you only as an information desk aren’t clients anyway. Where you can then, pepper your social media with all things focused on visiting the Lake District and on a tour you’ve booked for them or a personal journey of their own making, also arranged by you.
Here’s an oldie! Rummaging through my old albums found a couple more of my days in The Lake District plus postacrds home. I remember this moment as we were on the way down from the peak when the weather just fogged in – we were lost for a while, chose to sit on this rock until it past versus walking off a cliff. The things you learn along the way – when in doubt, relax, find a rock and check your compass. No cell phones at that time. All “real” gear. The insert shows me cooking up breakfast on the famous Primus stove of the time. Memories of The Lakes do last a long time.
The next window will be where you create the event information which will be all about your local and up-coming consumer night on and about The Lake District.
HERE’S THE CAMERA KIT I TOOK ON THIS TRIP. DECIDED NOT TO CARRY THE HEAVY DSLR AND LENSES
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
IPhone 4 in Survivor case iPad mini Fujifilm Point & Shoot 16 MP Lenses for iPhone & iPad Battery Booster for devices Clamp for iPhone / Selfie Stick Battery Charger for Fujifilm
8. Adapter for iPad 9. iStick memory for downloading images 10. Shuttr remote for iPhone & iPad 11. Transfer SD card images to iPad 12. Pen for iPad 13. Gorilla Mini Clamp / Tripod 14. Selfie stick
All of this kit fit into a small shoulder bag.
THE FOLLOWING IMAGES WERE ALL TAKEN ON AN IPHONE 5 AND A SMALL POINT AND SHOOT FUJIFILM 16 MP CAMERA – SOME IMAGES “DOCTORED” USING THE TANGLED FX APP. PURCHASED A 64GB SD CARD – GOOD FOR 7,000 IMAGES!
Love the stone walls. Great for photographers, your artists and as backdrops to your marketing too.
If you are using MS Word – copy and paste one of your images to a page, click on it and explore the Picture Tools ribbon. Look for Format and you’ll find these borders for your images.
Show and share the fun. Here’s photographer Eddy Jackson snapping his wife who is snapping him and my wife who’s caught in the middle! But then what a backdrop.
A lovely and accidental view of Cockermouth. Went for a stroll, up here, round there, uphill slightly, turned around and looked - and there it was. This view.
What else can you do but pose when the photographer is suddenly flat on his back and lying in the road!
Download the ISSUU app and read Selling Travel on your tablet.
When you need a hotel in
THE LAKE DISTRICT BOOK THIS ONE
If you’re fishing for a hotel in The Lake District and specifically in Cockermouth, famous for Wordsworth House and birthplace of Fletcher Christian, then cast your net aside and store your rod and reel. Take my word for it… The Trout Hotel is the best catch around. Let me tell you more and how to sell this fantastic property.
The Lake District may not be a hot destination for your current clients, but let me tell you that once found and experienced this is a destination to return to. More about that in the Featured Destination Insert. For now let’s concentrate on The Trout Hotel. As you enter the lobby from the car park, you’ll notice a slate sign with a line on it. This represents the level of water that the River Derwent crested at in The Trout Hotel when the river overflowed its banks in 2009. You can imagine what the hotel owners and staff went through in order to refurbish and refit. The end result of all their hard work is a fabulously welcoming hotel. From the moment you walk in to the lobby and stroll the hallways to when you first enter the Derwent Dining room for breakfast or dinner… the level of service is excellent without pretense. Good humoured and politely inviting to have a natter and banter as you see fit. In a word, refreshing. Just an overall feeling of being a guest - welcomed and wanted. There’s more….
The Trout Hotel has retained some of its old world charm in the dark wood stairs, railings and mirror and then along each hallway a surprising and well-chosen collection of contemporary artwork. I especially enjoyed the works by Alison Critchlow a contemporary British landscape painter. I had my eye on a particular work but couldn’t pry it off the wall!
This work was titled, “Great Gable” and refers to a local Lakeland mountain and the very one I fell off back in my teenage years. I was scree running and ran out of scree! The various dining options will thrill your clients as the Trout offers quite a selection and we enjoyed each one except for the Al Fresco and Private Dining. The Derwent Restaurant is used for breakfast and dinner and if your rate includes breakfast you will not be disappointed. Check this out. Now where else do you see bacon like that? Then came the toast and there’s plenty more you could add to your plate.
As your clients enter the Derwent Restaurant they will be warmly greeted and shown to an appropriate table. Their room number will be asked for, checked off the list and then it’s all about deciding whether to start with juice and cereals etc., followed by a full breakfast or going straight for the B&E. Whatever your clients decide, they will leave satisfied. Tell them to order the mixed bread toast basket!
The Terrace Bar and Bistro is an all-day affair and great for whatever your taste buds fancy. Start in the morning with a coffee and croissant… mid-day go for the pizza, or salad… in the evening the main courses are excellent and I can vouch for the fish and chips. Yes I know, boring, but then it was what I fancied and superb and huge.
The arrow shows where my wife and I were sitting in the Bistro and here on the right, that glorious fish and chips dish. Did I mention the size of that fish? Now this was interesting and speaks to the ambience of this Bistro. My wife Kimiko asked me if I had noticed… notice what I said… that everyone in the room, and it was packed, was in a conversation… no one staring into their mobile phone screen. I looked around and it was true. What a delight! Every table lively with discussion. It really set the mood for our own evening meal. No annoying beeps and jingles. Here’s one thing we missed and what a shame. Next time for sure. The Afternoon Tea looked wonderful and I recall passing by tables with the three tiers beckoning us. But then we had some hiking to do.
The Al Fresco Dining would be an exquisite way to enjoy not only the Trout’s wonderful cuisine but also the riverside. If you wish to build up an appetite you can stroll from The Trout Hotel, across the bridge in the distance, walk the opposite river bank, cross back via the bridge I stood on to take this shot, and then back to the hotel for your Al Fresco meal.
To view the Terrace Bar & Bistro Menu click this tab…
Our room was located on the second floor and getting there was a short walk up those old world stairs, through a couple of doors and then into this amazing brick worked hallway… So now your guests would be wondering about what will greet them on the other side of that white door and once again The Trout does not disappoint. Let me show you what greeted us as we made our way in… see below… now wouldn’t you feel good knowing this is what your own clients would be walking into. Of course you would.
For those clients who want the best The Trout can WOW them with a suite like this River View Junior Suite. Happy clients for sure. Be sure to review each accommodation offered.
The Trout Hotel is going to help you win the ongoing business of the clients you book there. It is well used by the Brits, and Europeans – some Americans but not a lot of Canadians I was informed. So here’s a chance for you to stand out from the local travel agency crowd and offer your North American clients something unique. Now of course you’ll need a reason to promote The Trout Hotel to your clients and that reason is the surrounding countryside, the town of Cockermouth and the entire Lake District itself. This is rambling country and I will tell you more about how to sell The Lake District in the Featured Destination guide in the July issue of Selling Travel. Visit the website for The Trout Hotel here and read it thoroughly. Be sure to take note of their awards that can be found in the entrance to the lobby as seen here. Impressive.
To close out this segment I have to promote a member of the Trout team and that is Paul who was always upbeat, full of joy, and easily to natter with. He was also wonderfully attentive to my Aunt Irene who lives across the road from The Trout Hotel and celebrated her 83rd birthday dinner at the Derwent Restaurant.
Here’s a few tips on places to eat and places to see when traveling the route we travelled. As you know it’s always good to have one or two recommendations to pass on to your clients who are in this case booking to the UK & Ireland. If they are going anywhere near the places mentioned then you can suggest the following with confidence. If you have not yet done so, open a folder and title it Filing Cabinet. After that, open additional folders titled to whatever information you wish to store there. So, just like pulling out the draw of an actual filing cabinet, you can sort through the digital version to locate the information you’re seeking. Tony Lorenzo, Rochester, Kent, England - Click here
If your client’s are travelling to or anywhere near Rochester to view the castle ruins and cathedral then it’s a must-do to have lunch or a snack at Tony Lorenzo’s. Great staff. Great service. Great food. Now, what we had was this: Gypsy tarts and cappuccino. Sweet! Check it out:
The Creed Lane Kitchen – St. Paul’s, London, England. When you are walking around London the place is teaming with cafes and bistros and so making a choice is difficult unless you have a personal recommendation to go on. After that you can get the lay of the land and sample along the way, knowing you always have one place that’s known to be good. We stumbled across this small café, off the main road, tucked away. For about £12 we had two delightful sandwiches and coffee. I went for the bacon and sausage sarnie with the mustard. It’s a gotta try!
The French Lieutenants Bistro – Lyme Regis, Dorset, England No images to show however, take my word for it, the food was wonderful, the location the same as you can enjoy sitting inside or outback on the verandah overlooking the Lyme Bay and looking to your left you will notice the dark hillsides where all those fossils that made Lyme Regis and area quite famous was once hid. See below.
Gujarati Rasoi – East London, England. This unique restaurant is tucked away where locals go, but for tourists and those on DIY foodie tours, not easy to find. The tube station you are aiming for is: Dalston Kingsland. When you exit the tube station, turn left and take the first road on your left: Bradbury Street. Halfway up the block on your right is Gujarati Rasoi. Fantastic vegetarian food which means the place fills fast. Reserve a table to be sure of getting in.
The owners, Lalita and Urvesh, mother and son of Gujarati Rasoi also sell their Samosa, Bhujia, Samosa Chaat and Thali at the Broadway Market, Hackney, London every Saturday. They also have a stall at London's famous Borough Market where Londoners and tourists alike enjoy their food Monday to Saturday.
http://www.gujaratirasoi.com/
Noodle Time, Greenwich, London, England. Same comments as before, tourist spots like Greenwich are overrun with eateries. If you are partial to Chinese food and not after gourmet, then this restaurant will certainly fill you up. It’s right in the heart of all the action. Most people we saw there enjoyed their meal and agreed the plates where very full. Might not suite all clients – but when you are tired, hungry and walking in circles, then here’s one place that should deliver.
Lal Qilla, Lyme Regis, Dorset, England. Yes we’re back in Lyme Regis. We needed a place to celebrate a birthday. We all like Indian food and there were a couple of choices… we threw the dart and went to Lal Quilla. No liqueur license but you can BYOB as many did. What to order. We decided on a set meal for four… and that was a great decision. Of course if the set meal doesn’t deliver enough, you can always order more dishes. But this menu delivered. Very tasty. Very happy and very full.
We move on from places of nourishment to places of interest. Treat the following as places to suggest to your clients as and when and if they are heading in the general direction of where we travelled: Chatham, Cockermouth (see the Lake District pages), Eltham, Greenwich, London, Lyme Regis, Rochester plus a few more over in Ireland, but those I’ll save for another issue of ST. Right then, in A-Z fashion here we go: Chatham Docks, London, England. This may be a place for the “boys” who like to scramble around inside submarines and over the decks of tall ships, but there is one element that might appeal to your female clients and that is this: Chatham Docks is where the TV show Call The Midwife is filmed. And yes, you too can become an instant mid wife by sticking your head through any of three holes in the life-sized poster board shown below. Posing at the wheel is a must for all men in your tour group.
Touring the submarine sounds like fun, and it is, as long as you bend down and contort your body and swing it through the small round “doorways” between each compartment of the sub. This tour may not work for any claustrophobic clients either. It was a tough tour of duty, that’s for sure. Chatham is very close to Rochester and so the two places can be enjoyed in the same day. There’s so much to see however, the best advice for your clients is to take 2 days and do both well.
Eltham Palace, Kent, England. Eltham Palace can be dated from 1066 which was then Manor of Eltham held by Hamo, sheriff of Kent, on behalf of Bishop Odo of Bayeux and its had quite a life since then as you can imagine. It is now a large house in Eltham, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich, South East London, England. It is an unoccupied royal residence and owned by the Crown Estate and all tourists are welcome. One of the main features is the art deco interiors that the most recent owners installed.
Greenwich, London, England. Easy to get to and once there, spend the day. Just behind the two domes is the Thames and on the other side, London, or part of it. Your clients can enjoy a full day here learning all about time and how the world works according to Greenwich Mean Time. The Cutty Sark is here. Plenty of shops and antique markets where you can indeed find a bargain.
Westminster Abbey, London, England. This is not a ten minute in and out. This is for the day and perhaps the next day too. For your history loving clients who are also photographers, they might stay the week. As you can see in the image above, there are always new findings to be put on display! Now here’s something we learned along the way and you can pass it onto your clients and especially if they have kids travelling with them, and tend to tire, get bored easily. Have them look for mason’s marks. The issue of masons marks came to me after reading Rutherford’s book Sarum. The men building the cathedrals etc., always left their sign, their mark, their signature. I asked one of the guides and he woke up… very interested and showed is where mason’s apprentices had scribed circles on the stone blocks to practice. After that, have everyone look for ancient graffiti.
Exploring Westminster Abbey means getting inside first. Many a long que puts people off, and also the price to enter. Advise your clients, if you have not visited here yourself, that it is worth the wait and the cost to get in. Could be a once in a lifetime event for some people.
St. Paul’s Cathredral, London, England You know it well. Your client’s might know it well too. However that said, there is always that opportunity to look much deeper than tourists normally do. I’m talking about looking for the small things, looking closer at the big things. You’d be surprised at what can be found. A gem. For instance one of the metal “studs” on this huge door. Is it a rose? Explore behind the door is the advice.
Lyme Regis, Dorset, England This is a gorgeous area of the UK and it might just the right suggestion for clients who like to fish, take photographs, sketch, enjoy seafood, want to just relax, travelling with children and would like a beach and play areas, surfing, hiking and of course, fossil hunting. Lyme Regis has quite the history and you can check that out online. Plent of B&B’s and fine hotels here too. Now to the important bit‌ fossils. If find any you can keep them. Mind you, if you were to stumble across a complete touristasauros then you might have to hand it in!
On the left, a professional find. On the right, a fragment we found, and left there. Purchased a small polished version at the museum found by a local collector. The looking is what attracts you and the local shops sell all the gear from the hammers to the bags and tags etc. You can be out there on that stretch of beach for days. The cliffs still move and slide so you have to be much aware of your surroundings. Before you or your clients head off to Lyme Regis, read this book which is based on the life of Mary Anning, a poor local woman who became one of the worlds best fossil hunters in the 1800s.
Rochester Cathedral from the ruins of Rochester Castle
Rochester Castle and Cathedral are both wonderful locations for your historian clients and as you can see photographers too. Check out the grafitti on the stone block. Could be a mason’s mark or the initials of a tourist way back in 1699. Perhaps even a travel agent of old on a FAM! Nah, a travel agent wouldn’t carve their initials into anything - would they? Say it isn’t true.
Time to close out this section. Hope you liked the off the cuff tips as experienced by yours truly on a recent sojourn to the UK and Ireland. The Irish segment will appear in another issue of ST.
If you haven’t tied into the Canada Day festivities as yet, you can always carry the message forward throughout the year.
What’s the plan? How are you going to tie into this celebration and promote your travel services?
You’ve seen and witnessed the TV advertising related to national pride on both sides of the 49th as advertisers format their products and offers around the time that both Canada and America celebrate their historical coming of age dates. Of course the entire thrust has not too much to do with national pride, more so national sales of the brands doing the advertising. The key learning point here is that you will also notice that this advertising campaign does not end on July 2nd and July 5th. No, it keeps on rolling.
Both Americans and Canadians are well known for travelling outside their country with Americans more likely to travel internally then Canadians. Lower gas prices in the US are prompting the press to say that this year Independence Day will see greater numbers of Americans hit the road, travelling 50 miles from home. That is great news for American Travel Agents. You know ahead of time that many of your American clients will be spending that time in their car. They will have their smart phones and tablets with them. So easy now to direct a message (email, text etc.,) to their gadget of choice.
flag. You can import the image of the flag into Word for instance and add text on and under the flag image. Flag That Window and Website Got a window? Good. Hang your flag and in front of that flag state your travel offers. If you have a flagpole outside your agency, now is the time to use it. Proud To Be… Keep the ball rolling each month by using flag based backdrops and be sure to use the Proud to be… phrase. “Proud to be Canadian / American and free to travel…” after that you can showcase your latest travel offers.
Canadians like to party as many reconfirm their Canadian identity at local events and more so for new immigrants. Yes I too have ventured out on previous July 1st events and eaten the cake.
The Celebration Photo Contest Use the national day to initiate a photo contest based on the BEST travel photo taken in 2015. To enter, you must have travelled with us between the dates: July 1st / July 4th and December 31st.
Gotta Use The Flag Whichever flag you live under make sure you use an image of it in your ad layouts. You may want to buy your own flag and use it as a backdrop – in other words you can photograph cruise brochures laid out on the
Start Now! If you are reading this now and you are a Canadian travel agent you are underway. American agents have 3 days left to put a plan together.
When you need cutting edge, no fluff, how-to-do-it information, ideas, tips, tools & techniques‌ you can shop directly at The Travel Institute store
Learn to Create a Unique and Customized Alaska Experience For Your Clients Expand your sales skills and knowledge of Alaska by enrolling in The Travel Institute’s newlyrevised Destination Specialist Alaska course. The course, available in both online and print format, is overflowing with destination information and marketing tips. The course will help you:
Identify and qualify your Alaska clients. Create customized itineraries. Suggest the best shore excursions and activities. Describe unique and popular sights and attractions. Market your expertise.
Maps, images, and videos throughout the course enhance your learning experience.
Learn more!
What a great day in the US of A. Not only for the LGBT community but also for straight and gay travel agents who service this segment of the travelling public. So with the law now standing and in power what’s going to be your reaction to it? How will you capitalize on this new law?
Get Gay Friendly Just like attracting any other customer segment you must let it be known that you have a service for them.
program. So this is where you need to get online and start searching for those LGBT suppliers who have been in the business of gay travel for many years.
Depending upon the location of your travel agency you might be a little reticent to show the rainbow flag in your agency window. I get that. You don’t want and need the local thugs on your doorstep. On the other hand, there’s always that phrase “doing the right thing” that comes to mind.
Will LGBT Book With A Straight Agency? Why not? If you have the products and the service and the pricing that attracts AND you can show you are gay-friendly then you will attract your share of the LGBT community.
If you can show that you are a business that’s gay-friendly then now is the time to make your move. The law is on your side.
Privacy is very important to members of the LGBT community and this is one area where you’ll need to demonstrate and show proof that do not share information and that your client data is well and truly safe.
Sourcing Gay Tour Operators Your usual list of preferred suppliers would of course have many gay clients but chances are they do not offer a dedicated LGBT
Next Ad? Goes without saying doesn’t it. Weddings & honeymoons on land and sea. Better get busy. Be first.
Find out why more than 160 agents have joined us in just one year. We’d like to make a difference in your life. Call us... no strings attached. Find out more... JoiN A webiNAr ToDAy!
Visit: TheTravelAgentNextDoor.com • Call Tollfree: 1-844-245-8263
Work in the comfort of your own home!
BB123 22-6-15
Here’s where you find even more ideas on how to sell travel and boost your revenues. Ct is the trade magazine and every article I write is always geared to new business generation for YOU and your suppliers. The content ranges from a step by step how-to article to a comment about a current topic. Many of the articles are worth reviewing with your suppliers should you be able to work together to generate that new dollar for all. Click here to read.
The full Canadian Traveller logo represents the consumer magazine that now reaches millions of readers. Even if you have your own in-house magazine it is always a good idea to tell your clients about the consumer CT and the main reason for that is some supplements are shared between the trade and consumer magazine. Now you know what your client is reading, you can, from the trade issue, learn how to sell various destinations and then make the call. Everything CT does targets new business generation and hopes to put more money in your jeans. Click here to read.
www.talkingtravel.ca Steve Gillick, Active Ingredient, Speaker, Writer Destinations, Travel Trends, Niche Markets, Travel Unplugged, Travel Specialization, Fam Trips, Customer Service, The Higher Ground of Travel
“I really enjoyed your seminar. It is always inspiring to hear a speaker who "walks the walk and talks the talk".
“Your strategies for traveling unplugged resonated with me... especially ‘Sonic Landscapes’, ‘Visual Serendipity’ and ‘Human Interaction’. It was a pleasure to hear you again”!
-K. Moyle, Humber College, Toronto
-J. Walker CTA, Washington IL.
Steve Gillick loves to travel and loves to talk to people who love to talk about travel. He’s been at it since 1967 when he visited nine European destinations on a school trip and kept a detailed diary of all his experiences. After many years as President and C.O.O. of a national industry association, Steve founded his own consultancy in 2012--Talking Travel-- with the goal of training travel professionals to enhance their destination and niche market knowledge, marketing skills and revenue generation. Steve is a regular travel columnist with Travel Industry Today and his unique insights into destinations and travel trends have appeared in Travel Market Report, Selling Travel, Canadian Traveller Magazine, Open Jaw, and others. As a popular conference speaker, Steve’s style has been described as energetic, electric, interactive and effective, and his use of highly creative visuals is both educational and entertaining. To date he has visited and explored 620+ destinations in 72 countries.
Contact: steve@talkingtravel.ca
THE HOW-TO MAGAZINE FOR TRAVEL TRADE PROFESSIONALS
CLASSIFIEDS Wanted: readers to click on this link and make money selling more travel.
Looking for more fantastic graphics then click here for Presenter Media.
Get what you need to start using video in your travel marketing & promotions with this guide. Animoto is the BEST and easiest DIY video creator. Try it today.
When you need to write something and can’t – hire in a ghost writer like Steve Gillick. Steve produces scripts for your keynotes, webinars and brochures.
Had enough of working for someone else? Would you like to explore how you can sell travel from home? If so then click on this link and explore.
Your education station is right here.
DIY Websites. This IS the Best of the Best.
Contact Steve here.
NEED GREAT GRAPHICS? Click here for GRAPHICSTOCK and save 83% on an annual subscription. Many graphics in Selling Travel are from GraphicStock.
WANTED! DREAM MERCHANTS to complete a survey. Tell us about your passion for being a travel agent. Click here for information.
OPT IN TO THE SELLING TRAVEL LIST HERE
SIGN ME UP!
Where travel trade professionals shop for new ideas.
Say
to
30%
introduces
Commission
Increase your Wedding Revenues Simply send your Brides to our
store and let them design their own.
Save the Dates | Travel Document Holders | Invitations | Bag Tags | RSVPs
And much more!
Introductory Offer
$150.00
plus annual fee of $100.00
Until October 31st
After October 31st initial dealer fee is $250
What You Get Ordering Binder - Complete binder with designs, fonts, product and much more including samples of products and order forms. Custom cover on binder with your logo. 5 Cover options to choose from! Agent Cards - 250 Agent I.D. cards with your Agent Code. 30% off Marketing Products - If our logo is on your marketing you get 30% off. 30% Commission - On everything your brides order online with your Agent Code.
Say
and call or email for your Dealer Agent Code today.
CALL 905.857.6333 | EMAIL dealer@idoweddingprint.com
THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM PRINTER FOR OVER 30 YEARS
A HUB FOR THE TRAVEL AGENTS
Big Bark has all your print-marketing needs covered!
TOP 6 WAYS WE ARE DEDICATED TO THE TRAVEL AGENT: 1. Easy to use, do-it-yourself, 24/7 online print-ordering store.
2. No design/setup fees – if you choose
from our selection of pre-designed templates, or you can Design Your Own.
3. Full use of our image gallery at no
extra charge. Over 1000 images to choose from!
. erhill Ave
Thank you for choosing to travel with MyEscapades We take pride .com. in providing one-of-a-kind travel experienc in Africa, Asia, es Europe and South America. The majority of our clients require a trip customize d to their likes , interests and budget. Whe ther you wish to travel in the lap of luxury to indulge in or choose an authentic adventure (we call it ‘roughing will create a -it’) we trip to suit yo ur preferred tastes. In oth we will give e r words, you a travel experience that goes beyond expectations. your Rest assured, MyEscapades .com is your traveling comp perfect anion.
Bon VO
BonVOYAGE
1 Und 201 – 301 BC Burnaby, V5A 3C2
BonVOYAGE
ON GROUP
3100 Ridgewa y Dr., Suite 17, Mississauga, 1.888.887.97 ON Canada 10 | info@myesc L5L 5M5 apades.ca | www . myescapade s.ca
•
Ensu that re you are to-date passports carrying your upand have obta any required/ ined nece for entering the ssary tourist visas country(s) you visiting. are
trip You involves canc ellation penalties in the unforeseen even that you canc t el/postpone your travel arrangements. Ensure that you aware of these are penalties. • Carr your y Out-of-Count ry Hospital/Medic al/Travel Insur Policy with you. ance • awar Be e of luggage restrictions as weight, size and type of suitc such allowed on the ases inter national and domestic fligh ts on your itine rary. Excess bagg age charges are steep and can caus e great incon venience • Ensu you re have obtained recommended or required inoculations. Cert are mandatory ain inoculations for areas. Your trave travel to endemic l agent will have provided full details. • Chec outkthe availabili ty of local ATMs in your destination and/ or purchase some local currency travellers cheq or ues. • Give family/friend s the contact information at hotels/lodges you will be staying during your trave Information on l. your accommo datio is provided withi n your documen ns ts. • reco We mmend that you put your newspaper subs cription on hold the duration for of your trip and have your mail colle cted held at your local by a neighbour or post office. • is alwa It ys recomme nded that you secure your hom e with a secu rity alarm before you leave.
options for groups, weddings, and niches.
THE HUNTINGT
HUNTINGTON
as calendars and magnets, plus all of your standard business products business cards, envelopes, letterhead, flyers, and more.
BEFORE YOU TRA VEL:
•
5. Wide selection of ticket packaging
YAG E
The agents choice since 1973
4. Travel related marketing products such
THE HUNTING
HUNTINGTON
The agents choice since 1973
TON GROUP
6. All products available in small quantities (most as low as 25).
SALES & MARKETING TIPS, TOOLS & TECHNIQUES FOR ALL TRAVEL TRADE PROFESSIONALS
SELLING TRAVEL www.sellingtravel.net If you could refer us to your travel trade colleagues, we’d really appreciate it. Many thanks.