In recent weeks, we here at roomsXML have chatted to a number of Travel Agents about various topics. Here’s the gossip.
There’s four of us who get out on the road and regularly touch base with Agents across Australia and New Zealand. It regularly shocks people that as company MD/owner/guru/head honcho/chief moron I still play road warrior from time to time. I run a business that sells to Travel Agents. I care enough about them and my business that about 50 to 100 times a year, I meet with them. It’s a LOT more fun than finance, legal, accounting, banking, strategy and anything involving spreadsheets.
Each week we gather at roomsXML HQ (or with Lisa from NZ and have a gnatter on the phone) and catch up. Mostly it’s on sales figures, strategies, destinations and agent groups. But it’s also interesting to hear what else pops up. Even more so when there’s similarity across our chats.
So here, in no particular order, is what you have been chatting about…
Brexit
Brexit, on the radar May onwards, was a sales disruptor. I found this surprising as real, world politics seldom makes it into our 30 minute chats. It really did seem to be getting in the way of a European vacation for many. Once we started raising it, it was confirmed by a tonne of Agents as a factor. Finished factoring with us yet? Who knows…
Election
The perennial favourite of getting in the way of everything productive, especially running a country. Not only do government departments go into caretaker mode which means a cut in spending, but it closes down the purse strings of the average punter.
EOFY
This was the icing on the cake on ‘Brexecution’. The point being Agents were reporting sporadic sales and felt these factors were really getting in the way, especially when combined.
So now they have all passed, with holidays over, will it change?
Will they stay or will they go
No secret that Helloworld/AOT have swept the broom through the management team. At the same time, many store contracts are coming up for renewal, renegotiation and reconsideration. If/what/when/who/how many is impossible to tell but chances are the changes will continue to move through the company at the retail level.
Interesting times ahead for the team in the light blue corner.
Safer Destinations
Whilst there has been nasty incidents before, the Istanbul airport terrorist attack seemed to quite scare people. Sadly, it may take a generation for travel back to the region to reach its previous lofty heights. It’s tragic in so many ways.
As a result, Agents are tentatively mentioning ‘safer’ destinations. What denotes safe is hard to tell; but there’s a common theme that travelers are becoming a tad more conservative with their expectations. Sadly, people are feeling a bit scared.
In Summary?
Like all gossip, take it with a grain of salt, but don’t let that get in the way of a good story.
