The Asia specialist has also revamped its incentive scheme and launched a Covid VIP concierge service, chief executive Glen Mintrim revealed to TTG.

The marketing promotion, Wendy Wu Den, will be introduced by the end of January, mainly to promote its new European tours. Mintrim said Wendy Wu’s three business development managers would choose the winners of the £1,000 prize from agents’ submissions.

“Those that come up with the best campaign proposal will get it,” he said. “The message is Europe, Europe, Europe; we really need the trade to help us and we want to help the trade.”

Wendy Wu will launch tours to Russia and the Baltics next week, completing its range of European destinations introduced in August to offset the drop in travel to its core destinations.

In addition, the operator’s Bamboo incentive scheme is to be discontinued due to being “too complicated” and replaced by Wu Breakaways.

Points will be given for sales of 10 selected land-only tours, with rewards per agency branch. Points can be exchanged for a personal trip, with partner, on a Wendy Wu itinerary.

“Generally, two bookings will get you something,” said Mintrim. Wu Breakaways will be launched next week on the operator’s website.

Another innovation, a Covid VIP service, will also be confirmed. Mintrim said this was being introduced to remove the hassle related to testing and filling in the Passenger Locator Form.

A fee likely to be around £199 will cover two lateral flow tests and completion of the PLF, in full if the client wishes. “It takes away the worry,” said Mintrim. “I think 25% of our clients will take this, my team thinks higher – 50%.”

He added UK sales “had done very, very well” compared to its other markets of Australia and New Zealand, with half of UK sales coming through agents.