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Meet the Rep: Jet2holidays' Lloyd Cross

The operator’s trade sales executive talks Scottish tipples, cheesy singalongs and sat nav debacles

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Jet2holidays' Lloyd Cross talks Scottish tipples, cheesy singalongs and sat nav debacles

Describe your typical week?

I usually spend four days on the road visiting travel agency partners in the north-east, Cumbria and Yorkshire and another day back in the office. I clock up anything between 200 and 1,000 miles in an average week.

 

How big is your sales team?

With the addition of our two new bases at Stansted and Birmingham, we now work with independent travel agents right across the UK. We are growing the trade team and soon there will be 16 people dedicated solely to working with independent travel agents. This is a hugely important area of the business, accounting for a third of all sales.

 

What do you keep in the glove compartment?

I cannot live without my TomTom, although it can sometimes lead me up the wrong path – literally.

 

And what’s on the radio?

Radio X is the station I listen to most. Other than that, I’m a self-confessed fan of cheese, which has led to a few embarrassing singalong moments at traffic lights.

 

What fast-food outlet keeps you going while you’re on the road?

I love my food, so I won’t rule anything out when hunger comes knocking. I’m lucky in that many travel agents are located close to great food outlets, such as Zapatista Burrito Bar next to Dawson & Sanderson in Newcastle.

 

What’s the silliest thing you’ve ever done as part of a sales visit?

I had some agents playing a Jet2holidays version of “heads up”, where they had to act out our key selling points without using any words – which the agents were surprisingly good at. Imagine having to act out a £60pp deposit? These guys nailed it.

 

Who would be your ideal driving companion on a long journey?

Tony Mann from Idle Travel. For anyone who has met him, he is a bit of a natural comedian and he’d be great for my singalongs as he used to do a bit of singing in bars and clubs.

 

What’s your favourite alcoholic drink?

I am from Scotland originally, so it will have to be whisky. Anyone who has sat with the Jet2holidays team at an event will know we’re all fans of sambuca too.

 

What’s the most lost you’ve ever got?

I got a new satnav recently, but forgot to change the settings, so it was still picking up every dirt track in the UK. When visiting agents in the Lake District, it took me on to the tiniest track, so I ended up in the middle of nowhere. For a while it was just me, my car and some confused-looking sheep.

 

Which is your favourite destination that your company sells?

It’s hard to choose as there is so much variety across our 67 destinations. However, Jet2holidays sells fabulous Croatian cruise packages. The cruise takes you around so many beautiful locations, such as Split and Dubrovnik, along the stunning Dalmatian Coast.

 

What key messages do you try to convey in an agent visit?

The first thing is usually tea, milk and one sugar! Everyone knows about our low £60pp deposit and 22kg of baggage, so I am always looking to reinforce other unique points such as Resort Flight Check In, a free and exclusive service allowing customers to check their bag in at selected hotels on their last day. I also find agents respond well to our flexible durations and family-friendly messages, such as infants go free.

 

What’s your advice for agents who don’t currently sell your product but are keen?

Contact your trade sales executive and we will come and explain how we can help you grow your business, as well as all the great reasons to book your customers on our fantastic package holidays that you can trust.

 

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Read all our Meet the Rep profiles at ttgmedia.com/ontheroad

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