News today that TUI Travel is to close 100 shops in the UK following a refiew of the business formed from the merger of TUI and First Choice Holidays. The company says it is hoping that any job losses would be through 'natural wastage'. How does this make you feel? Are you worried about your job?
im not working looking for work but natural wasteage is a very strong word to use and i would be worried. I think both big mergers (TUI/FCA = MYT/TCX) have seen great to merge but havent looked at the longterm job effects it would have on its loyal staff.
If there are any companies that have vacancies in the Essex/London area please let me know.
Hi Dave,
I work for Virgin Holidays and at the moment they are opening up retail concessions all over. There is a position in Chelmsford or London that i know of.
What is it you wanted to do?
Would this be something you'd be interested in? If so let me know and i'll let you know more information
Laura
I would be interested in the Chelmsford position, please could you send me some more info. Thanks. :)
We at Virgin Holidays love selling holidays! Not only are we already the UK�s number one scheduled tour operator to the USA and Caribbean, we are expanding throughout the world!
A brand new opportunity has arisen in an exciting new area of our business and we are now recruiting a new team to be part of our Retail Sales Department.
Fancy being part of a new venture promoting and selling our fab holidays? Passionate about travel? Well, if that sounds like you then read on.
We are looking for outgoing, enthusiastic, persuasive sales people to become part of our retail sales teams in various locations in the South East.
To be the external face of Virgin Holidays retail offering advice face to face and also on the phones. To communicate professionally with customers and provide exceptional service in every situation (we have a reputation to keep)! To have a keen eye for keeping customer facing merchandise up to date and sales focussed to encourage customer enquiries and sales. To promote your store through leafleting and traffic stoppping to generate sales To be presentable and ready to sell the Virgin brand through your appearance and the appearance of your work area. To work as a supportive member of a small team to ensure overall shop targets are achieved To learn our products (by heart) and be able to describe features and benefits to customers depending on their needs To maximise sales and the customers holiday experience by suggesting excursions, upgrades, insurance etc. To want to strive towards meeting your personal sales targets. To always be looking for innovative ways to generate customer enquiries.
A sales driven person with a passion for selling our great holidays. Retail sales experience is essential (travel or non-travel related) You must have proven experience in a targetted sales role It is essential you have experience working in a customer facing role You have either visited a long haul destination or worked with the long haul product Good numerical skills with ability to manually calculate holiday costs without error. An ability to take ownership and to work with little or no Supervision at times. We will need you to �roll your sleeves� up and get stuck into what ever challenges we may face in this this new venture (and there may be a few)! To have excellent communication skills (written and spoken) Additional info This is a uniformed position This role requires you to work shifts (including late nights and weekends) There is a great 3 week full time training induction course you will need to commit to in Crawley, West Sussex We believe our staff are our best asset and are vital to the continuing success of the company. So, on top of an attractive salary and we offer fantastic industry renowned benefits (including flights on the VAA network) This is the information off the virgin holidays website. If you'd like to apply then you can go on to the Virgin Holidays website and there is a career bit at the bottom. if you leave the sections empty and just press search it will come up with all the different retail jobs. The Chelmsford staff are all really friendly and the concession is located within debenhams. Hope this helps Laura Foster
Additional info
We believe our staff are our best asset and are vital to the continuing success of the company. So, on top of an attractive salary and we offer fantastic industry renowned benefits (including flights on the VAA network)
This is the information off the virgin holidays website. If you'd like to apply then you can go on to the Virgin Holidays website and there is a career bit at the bottom. if you leave the sections empty and just press search it will come up with all the different retail jobs. The Chelmsford staff are all really friendly and the concession is located within debenhams.
Hope this helps
Laura Foster
would be great if theres any travel work in glasgow area (possibly manchester) or even orking overseas, after 18 months out of work I got a job with barrhead travel in november unfortunately they decided to pay me off (not sacked) in janruary and now im back to square one unemployed. I couldnt go through 18 months again well i have 2 years experience working in groundhandling for airlines at manchester, nearly 5 years working overseas for my travel, first choice (Mallorca x 2, lanzarote, zante x 2, sorrento italy x 2, costa del sol, Rhodes), 2months at barrhead travel (systems viewdata, amadeus)
passionate about travel just want to be given chance instead of been told theres something there you''l find it.
Don't think there is anything near Glasgow, if you look online it might say. just keep checking as they expanding and keep opening concessions all over
Applied yesterday, got an email today, didn't get it, usual story.
@ paisleypaul - sorry to hear you couldn't stay on at Barrhead and you are back to square one - that is so tough.
thanks, i have to say it wasnt the most enjoyable experience and thankfully I was nt sacked though got no job again just need someone kind enough to give me a chance as well a little helping hand. Jobcentre were useless just told me to go back to college learn a new subject, but if you see my cv you can understand why i dont want to go to college again. also be good someone to help me with cv help present it better maybe help a little this time
@paisleypaul
One of our writers did an article about putting together a good CV for the travel industry, asking recruitment agencies what they look for. http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2008/02/22/26758/how-to-write-a-good-travel-industry-cv.html
Hey
Have you thought about homeworking? Just an idea i have done it on and off for years now, not sure if you would have the qualifications but might be an idea to look at barr head do homeworking why not approach them as you have experience with them??
I went to see my dear old mum yesterday and walked through Gosport High Street to be pleasantly surprised to see Davis World Travel still operating. When in my teens (30 years ago) when Gosport had a cinema (closed) every film had an ad for “Davis World Travel Gosport & Fareham.” It was engraved in everyone brain!
On the down side (returning to the present), virtually next door was a large First Choice shop and opposite was a glittering Thomson shop. Now I don’t like what TUI is doing however could there be many more Davis World Travels out there that may survive as a result of the closures?
I have created many websites, including for cheap cruises, cruise deals and a new one attacking cruise holidays.
A quick update; yesterday I again visited my Mum and before you ask I see her every week or two and have not left her since February!
Anyway I walked through the town centre only to find that Davis World Travel have now closed their shop in Gosport and have moved it to their branch in Lee on Solent a very small town a couple of miles away.
Thomson/First Choice now dominate Gosport!
I had missed this a day earlier Davis World Travel ceases trading; a real shame and I guess now one of the two shops will now close.
Feel sympathy for the people who are on the list to loose job..
I always remember the old saying.
"Thomson agent of the month award, a nice certificate, a bottle of wine and a Lunn Polly next door"
More things change more they stay the same.