“We’ve got to really use this period to strengthen our business, looking at the financials and the robustness of things,” Heapy told the Barrhead Travel Group conference in Majorca on Wednesday (4 October). “Don’t rely on peak season... get people to book a holiday while they can.”
During his appearance at the conference, Heapy reiterated his support for independent agents, promising the operator’s relationship with the trade will not change now Jet2holidays has become the UK’s largest tour operator.
“We’re not going to do like some companies have done in the past and become arrogant [and] stop using agents. Nothing will change and we will be in a relationship with our travel agent partners and our hotel partners and we will try to grow bigger, better and stronger.”
Heapy – who said Jet2’s relationship with Barrhead had improved to become the best it could be – also reassured audiences saying he has no intention of setting up shops on the high street.
“We’ve spent the last 14 to 15 years building relationships with travel agents and we’ve seen the fruits of their labour,” he said. “Why would we want to open a shop across the road?”
“Our motto is to work with them and have a win-win relationship,” he added. “We want the high street to flourish.”
Heapy told audiences independent agencies such as Barrhead are reinvigorating the high street, even though more state funding is needed.
He said the high street needs more investment to create a sense of community and bring customers back to it and help bricks and mortar businesses compete with online players.
Addressing other industry challenges and opportunities, Heapy described the climate crisis as an “existential threat”, as well as technology such as AI, which could be used at the industry’s advantage.
