Hosting 35 operators at our first travel showcase since 2019 got 2024 off to a flying start, says Thompson Travel’s Sharon Thompson.
So, 2024 is a leap year. That gives us 366 opportunities do something special! Since 2020 was essentially wiped out by the pandemic, we sure are going to use this year’s extra day as best we can.
Cruise always performs well for us, but escorted touring, adventure holidays and the Far East have really taken off
I feel like the aforementioned year off re-energised us and really got consumers ready to travel again. In terms of trends, from what we’ve seen so far there are no real hotspots and I think that’s because everyone is instead booking those dream destinations they’ve always longed to visit. Cruise always performs well for us, but escorted touring, adventure holidays and the Far East have really taken off. Multigenerational holidays seem to be the way to go for a lot of families and we are definitely seeing the 50+ market starting to SKI (spend their kids’ inheritance).
Successful showcase
We took a leap of faith at the start of the year by hosting our own travel showcase – our first since 2019 – in a local hotel, and it paid off. Thirty-five operators travelled from across the UK and Ireland to support us, while more than 600 clients perused the information available and listened to our short destination presentations. We added a bit of a cheesy aspect to the evening with a dancing ‘bear’ to entertain visitors. Staff cringed at the idea, but he proved to be a hit!
Within a few days of the show, numerous operators had more than 100 passengers booked with us and the bookings are still coming in
The feedback from our suppliers was fantastic, saying it was one of the best consumer events they had ever attended, and sure enough January proved to be one of our top sales months on record. Within a few days of the show, numerous operators had more than 100 passengers booked with us and the bookings are still coming in. We have seen growth of about 5% in new customers, mostly through word of mouth instead of social media.
This reminds me of the words of Walt Disney: “Whatever you do, do it well. Do it so well that when people see you do it, they will want to come back and see you do it again, and they will want to bring others and show them how well you do what you do.” Talking of taking a leap, Walt Disney failed so many times when he was starting out and on occasions he couldn’t even pay this staff, but look what he achieved.
Charity drive
We are always committed to raising funds for local projects and the community. It’s good to give back, especially to charities that have close links with our customers. I’m not sure what’s in the air this year, but I have once again signed up for the Travel Trade Crusade! My co‑driver and I will be representing the girls of Northern Ireland, this time to raise money for our local charities. We will be driving across six European countries in three days. I would encourage you to take your own leap of faith and sign up if you haven’t yet.
Our group offerings have doubled this year and we are well ahead of sales for 2025, giving us an un-be-leap-able beginning to 2024
This year is bringing us positive vibes already. Recruiting good staff is difficult, but we are more than happy with our team. Additions to our groups department and a shift in roles have given us scope to develop trips and opportunities. Our group offerings have doubled this year and we are well ahead of sales for 2025, giving us an un-be-leap-able beginning to 2024.
Show staff your appreciation
The leap year brings only one extra day, so why not use it to do something you don’t normally do? One of the best things we do at our shop is enjoy evenings or days out with our staff. It’s not always possible to close early, but there are times when it is, such as midweek in winter.
Rewarding staff isn’t all about salaries, it’s about appreciation and team building. There is a clear difference in the office when your employees feel part of your business. We have visited new restaurants, enjoyed a spa day and opened the office a little later – not huge things, but they do make a difference.