The operator’s next meeting in February will feature a mix of retail agents, homeworkers and OTAs.

The committee meets in-person twice a year, for travel agents to share their feedback and ideas on how Riviera can better serve their needs. It first convened in 2023. 

Based on feedback to date, Riviera has evolved its ways of working with the trade. Previous updates include:

– The launch of "Riviera Explorer", a new e-learning platform which aims to help agents improve their brand knowledge - and represents the operator’s most significant investment to date in digital trade support.

– Lengthening the time between product launches to three to four weeks.

– Encouraging guests to speak to their travel agent when travelling to book their next holiday and receive a welcome home discount.

Vicky Billing, head of trade and partnerships UK & Ireland at Riviera Travel, said: “The trade engagement committee is a vital part of our overall strategy. We always strive to do the right thing for our trade partners, and by listening to their views and ideas, it helps us shape our plans and ensure we are on the right foot moving forward.”

Margaret McCorriston, a trade engagement committee member from Hays Travel, said: “The Riviera trade engagement committee is a superb vehicle for exchanging knowledge and experiences.

"Our opinions are taken into consideration and learnings from previous committee meetings are shared, validating the contribution we make.”