Comprising about 60 suppliers and featuring holidays stretching up until December 2022, the list is free for any agent to access, regardless of which consortium they belong to.
Kelly Cookes, Advantage’s leisure director, told TTG the coronavirus crisis was “bigger than just any one industry organisation” with the consortium keen to collaborate to help the wider sector.
“We’re all in the same boat so we thought, ‘how can we make everyone’s life easier?’ Having it there at your fingertips could help an agent keep hold of a sale. If a customer says they want to cancel, the agent could just tell them what else is available in another destination, at another time, or with another operator.”
An Advantage-branded version of the list has been sent out to members, while agents who would like to receive a non-branded copy should email marketing@advantagetravelcentres.com
The list is regularly updated with new editions being sent out.
Cookes said the list would support agents adopting an “amend, don’t cancel” strategy, which has become an industry-wide call to consumers to support travel agencies and operators.
She said Advantage members had been having success with the policy.
“We’re definitely seeing a lot people choosing to amend and book for later this year and into next year. Some are even booked for 2022.”
The consortium is currently working on its latest member campaign, which Cookes said would focus on “making sure customers know you’re open for business, even though your shop is closed”.
“It’s about how to engage with customers without selling to them,” she added.
Advantage will also be continuing its daily 6pm update videos with senior team members via social media.
