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Post by samsalt on Jul 12, 2009 9:06:39 GMT 1
Having read the various comments and as of a niche tour operator I would like to make the following observations:
High Street Travel Agents locked into vertical integration are quite focused, they have one purpose only and that is to feed its in house product.
In the Northwest and throughout the UK there are a considerable number of niche Travel Agents and Tour Operators who are a very professional and play an important role in the life of Liverpool Airport.
My own company has a very successful Tour Operating Business to Jersey, West of Ireland,Italy and Turkey and Independent Tailor-made Long Haul. We operate with low cost schedule airlines and traditional carriers. Our business to Jersey is significant and 90% of our clients travel easy Jet. West of Ireland and Italy is out of Manchester due to the intransigent position of Ryanair and third party relationships.Very sad to see the Rome Service dwindle to three flights per week? Turkey we operate with KTHY and easy Jet from Manchester, I lobbied for easy Jet to consider flying from Liverpool to Dalaman, the rest is history.
KLM flying from Liverpool has been a breath of fresh air and is our first choice for all long haul I/T passengers and we have had excellent feed back from clients who have used the service.
There are many good niche operators and agents who do support Liverpool Airport play an important role in assisting the airports growth.
As a regular user of the Airport I am amazed at the lack of awareness in the departure lounges of new routes from the airport. When a carrier introduces new services from Liverpool, the airport should promote these services and create public awayness in a major way. The airport has a massive audience passing through its doors daily and they don't seize the opportunity. How many people last week passing through the terminal were aware of three new routes started last week Aberdeen, Southampton and Prague?
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Post by eye2eye5 on Jul 12, 2009 12:32:10 GMT 1
SamSalt's response "High Street Travel Agents are quite focussed" is pertinent here. For any sales adviser to turn away a sales opportunity would suggest that the sale in question is contrary to company policy. Whilst this may sound odd, sales in large companies are subect to significant tracking and analysis and advisers making the "wrong" kind of sale may be subject to re training or even disciplinary action.
In this case, Thomas Cook policy may be to channel as much activity as possible through Manchester. Given that Manchester is one of its main bases, this should not be surprising, as it may have reciprocal agreements in place (ie reduced landing charges in exchange for directing as much business as possible through Manchester originating airlines).
That in turn means that airlines such as KLM and Eastern should not expect to receive significant business via local Travel Agents and they should target their market via other appropriate channels (local advertising and as Sam states, making the most of opportunities within the airport itself). Peel has a huge opportunity in the Trafford Centre............
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vinnym
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Post by vinnym on Jul 12, 2009 20:35:37 GMT 1
What you got to realise is that all these travel agents employ load of kids, on low wages, some of whom dont even know that Liverpool has an airport, we need to educate these people and agencies, as to what services are available from our local airport, to promote the services that are not well known like the lo-cos offer
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Post by ronturner on Jul 13, 2009 17:31:32 GMT 1
Quote from SAMSALT "As a regular user of the Airport I am amazed at the lack of awareness in the departure lounges of new routes from the airport. When a carrier introduces new services from Liverpool, the airport should promote these services and create public awayness in a major way. The airport has a massive audience passing through its doors daily and they don't seize the opportunity. How many people last week passing through the terminal were aware of three new routes started last week Aberdeen, Southampton and Prague?"
This is a surprise and could be corrected quite cheaply. For example, at my "local" La Rochelle, passengers arriving from other destinations are greeted by a huge banner advertising a new route to Brussels, and the same when arriving at the terminal from the car park. Its cheap and very effective. I know LRH is small, but the same principles apply.
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Post by LPL on Jul 13, 2009 23:09:51 GMT 1
One of the main selling points of the KLM Amsterdam route should be, as we keep getting told, is the ability for computers worldwide to book flights to/from Liverpool.
But as I said earlier in this thread within the Skyteam Alliance there are only two airlines (KLM and Air France) out of the ten airlines in the alliance that recognises the city when inputted.
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Post by viscount on Jul 13, 2009 23:10:12 GMT 1
I disagree with Maverick. By providing the information around the Airport, you are creating not only education (which can be passed onto others) but also implanting a desire (when I need to go to Aberdeen, I can fly - wow thats great). Surely your existing customers are those most likely to be repeat customers, so you need to inform of new products. They are certainly easy to find - they are in your own departure and arrivals areas, so advertising/informing them is low cost and potential (over time) high percentage return. The information has to be large, highly visible 'in-your-face', not the little KLM signs I've seen around LJLA. After all, the Airport is a visual sign rich environment.
Considering that "informing the public of services offered from the Airport" (or similar wording) is a stated primary aim of FoLA, and the major role it has undertaken for over 25 years. I find Maverik's comment somewhat perplexing, especially being aware of his role in that organisation. Apart from those regularly writing about the airport, I doubt many could list all the current destinations from LJLA - which surely makes the need for within the Airport advertising/information all the more important (especially as admited by Maverick) as you need certain information, such as the name of the Airline, to cut down the search parameters in order to get a Liverpool answer.
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Post by harbourcotter on Jul 14, 2009 1:48:09 GMT 1
Thanks for the input into Travel agents, as it has provided an insight into how they operate. However I have also been interested in the comments over route promotion. (Incidentally, I have found that worldwide connections are not just available via AMS, some very curious routings have been thrown up via EZE, one even involving LPL-ABZ-LHR!)
Perhaps the airport should look again at providing a holiday show. Whilst there is no space in the new airport, I believe that sufficient space is available at the hotel on the old airport site. This would bring about more public awareness of routes which is vital during the recession .
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2009 17:18:45 GMT 1
Perhaps the airport should look again at providing a holiday show. Whilst there is no space in the new airport, I believe that sufficient space is available at the hotel on the old airport site. This would bring about more public awareness of routes which is vital during the recession . Great idea only there is plenty of room at the airport if Peel were to organise it properly. Simply put a few marques up in what is now the drop off area or even adjacent to the airports offices and make the large car park by the fuel farm free to attendees. Another option would be to close the multi-story and set stalls up in that for the day. They would also be able to use the hotel's conference room etc. Plenty of toilets and food facilities would then be available in both the hotel and terminal building for attendees. Late September or early October would be a good time to hold it as its not too cold during daylight hours and the kids are back at school - so off peak so to speak. There, job done - so come on Peel bring it on ;D |
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Post by LPL on Jul 14, 2009 19:39:51 GMT 1
Perhaps the airport should look again at providing a holiday show. Whilst there is no space in the new airport, I believe that sufficient space is available at the hotel on the old airport site. This would bring about more public awareness of routes which is vital during the recession . Great idea only there is plenty of room at the airport if Peel were to organise it properly. Simply put a few marques up in what is now the drop off area or even adjacent to the airports offices and make the large car park by the fuel farm free to attendees. Another option would be to close the multi-story and set stalls up in that for the day. They would also be able to use the hotel's conference room etc. Plenty of toilets and food facilities would then be available in both the hotel and terminal building for attendees. Late September or early October would be a good time to hold it as its not too cold during daylight hours and the kids are back at school - so off peak so to speak. There, job done - so come on Peel bring it on ;D I thought the silly season only applied to the football transfer window. |
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Post by ronturner on Jul 14, 2009 22:04:52 GMT 1
My daughter works as a travel consultant for a wel known organisation specialising in long haul, backpack, and holidays aimed at younger people. When she was recruited, the selection criteria were based upon travel experience and travel knowledge. as well as the ability to sell the products.
She told me that the emphasis in recruitment is now solely based on sales ability. Travel knowledge is expected to be gained on the job and in training. maybe this tells us something about how the industry works these days.
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Post by lpltcx on Jul 17, 2009 10:11:35 GMT 1
New on Airports website - lets hope it helps!
North West agents get a taste of KLM’s worldwide links from JLA
To help promote the new worldwide links now available from Liverpool John Lennon Airport with KLM via Amsterdam Schiphol airport, JLA and airline staff hit the road recently visiting travel agents across the region, dressed in a variety of costumes to reflect just a selection of the 650 worldwide destinations available with KLM or their Skyteam partner networks.
Staff visited agents in Liverpool, Wirral and Warrington offering food native to India, America, Egypt and Japan also giving staff the chance to win 2 return flights to one of a number of worldwide destinations from Liverpool via Amsterdam with KLM.
Kate Waiton, Peel Airports Group Sales Manager commented,”We certainly caused a bit of a stir visiting the agents, but were all welcomed everywhere we went with our foreign food and prizes. Its been a great way to highlight just where agents can book their customers to, by flying via Amsterdam from JLA”
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