The Travel Expert Portal will be continuously updated with information, videos, webinars, image libraries and brochures for the trade, as well as the option for interactive training sessions. 

Agents who complete the training modules for both Sani and Ikos before 31 December will be entered into a competition to win one five-night stay at Sani Resort and one five-night stay with Ikos Resorts.

Winners will be announced by 15 January, but any agent or operator who completes the training modules successfully receives a certificate to recognise them as a Sani or Ikos Travel Expert.

Sani/Ikos Group said it was “delighted to now be working more closely with the trade”, and that the new portal was “just the first step in a series of exciting plans to engage and collaborate more frequently with trade partners”. 

The move is part of the recent establishment of a new UK sales office headed up by Lee Barker as regional director of sales and marketing for the UK, Scandinavia and Americas, alongside Andrea Keeble as UK sales and marketing manager and Phil Shipman as business development manager. 

The new UK office will have a strategic focus on agents, while Claire Griffiths continues to manage tour operator relationships for both brands as UK sales manager.

“Despite the challenges the travel industry has faced this year, the Sani/Ikos Group has taken a big step and decided to further invest in the UK market,” said Barker. “Working alongside our tour operator partners, our vision is to enhance support for the travel agent ahead of the 2021 season. The new agent portal is just one of the initiatives we are implementing as part of our long-term strategy to strengthen our presence in the UK market.”

“We know there is strong awareness among operators – and agents – but we also feel there is a lot more potential and Sani and Ikos are growing so fast so we need to communicate that to agents,” added Keeble.

Sani Resort includes five hotels – Sani Beach, Sani Club, Porto Sani, Sani Asterias and Sani Dunes – on the Kassandra peninsula in Halkidiki, 80km southeast of Thessaloniki International Airport.

Ikos Resorts is a collection of luxury all-inclusive resorts, currently with four in Greece and a new opening in Andalusia coming in April 2021. Ikos highlights include the Local Discovery concept whereby guests get museum passes and use of a MINI Drive to ensure they get out and about in the community. 

Barker added promoting the new Ikos Andalusia resort would be a big priority among agents, with the high-end all-inclusive hoping for a full summer season next year.

“The resort was due this year of course, and was all ready – we even managed to get some agents to see it – but 2021 is now the focus,” added Barker. “It’s a huge investment for the brand and already has great support among the trade.”