Senior business development manager Joe Lavers headed out to see agents at a number of shops around West Sussex on Friday (3 July).
Lavers delivered sweet treats, the latest Wendy Wu product news and friendly chat to staff working at Lancing Travel, Fusion Holidays and a number of Hays Travel branches.
“It was brilliant to get back out seeing agents and the response was so positive,” said Lavers.
“Hearing how everyone has been getting on, seeing how they’re operating and how their high streets are doing was really important, as we want to help our agents in the best ways we can.”
Lavers said Wendy Wu’s no single supplement campaign on bookings made during July for 2021 departures, reduced deposits and airline seat upgrades were all on the agenda with agents to help them secure sales.
John Warr, Wendy Wu’s global sales director, added: "During lockdown we have adapted a high-profile, high-impact strategy through social media and a series of webinars across our destination portfolio.
"The visits are a critical part of the jigsaw in maintaining a high level of profile with the intention of supporting agents and working with them to create value.
"After all why would you not want to do that when the average commission on most of our tours is over £1,000?"
Warr added that since the visits on Friday the operator had had several requests for visits and will now look at bringing more of the team back.
Wendy Wu has also brought back the trade support role to enable agents to request collateral for their current business class and solos campaign.
"We’re really putting a lot into attracting people to book ahead," he said. "People are booking Asia and they’re booking China too. Demand for Japan is definitely growing fast and Vietnam is also doing well."
Lavers will go out for agency visits around once a week during July, with Wendy Wu hoping to ramp up its sales team’s activity further soon.
"During the past three or four weeks things have really started to pick up and it does feel like a corner has been turned. Hopefully sales are able to snowball now those green shoots are appearing," said Lavers.
