A NEW ‘Holiday to Help Out’ scheme has been launched to offer people cut price holidays and to help independent travel agents who have been struggling during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Barnt Green Travel Lounge is one of the firms signed up to the scheme aimed at injecting vital support to those businesses which feel their trade has been put on pause during the crisis through no fault of their own.
A raft of special discounts have been introduced during the week running from November 2 to 8.
Consumers need only quote the holiday company name and that it is a Holiday To Help Out offer when booking with their agent.
Agents will be promoting these offers across all their platforms – whether it be shop window, social media profiles, newsletters, or whatever their preferred channel.
Michael Allsop who owns Barnt Green Travel Lounge said this was the worst period in his career as a travel agent, adding he hoped many people would take up the offers as there were some great deals out there for those willing to head out for a break.
Suppliers taking part in the scheme range from Celebrity Cruises and easyJet Holidays to Intrepid and Riviera Travel.
The idea is to drive as many bookings as possible during that week through travel agents.
Sophie Griffiths, editor of TTG, said: “This industry has consistently been let down by the powers that be in Westminster so we decided to take matters into our own hands to shine some positivity on travel and try and kick-start the market by driving customers through agents’ doors.
“Inspired by the chancellor’s Eat Out To Help Out scheme, we hope the Holiday To Help Out initiative will create similar excitement about travel and prompt customers to go and talk to their local travel agent about booking the holiday of their dreams.”
During the crisis, many agents have turned to offering Zoom consultations, and have always been there for clients to make phone bookings, or deal purely on email if the client wishes, ensuring this is a viable way of travel consulting during these times.
“Where their shops are still open, the proper measures have been followed, meaning their agencies are still a welcome place – many even offering appointments to monitor the number of people in-store.
“We hope this campaign will really create business opportunities for thousands of travel agents – professionals who know exactly where customers can travel to under varying restrictions – for example, there is no reason people cannot enjoy some winter sun in Cyprus, provided they can get a private Covid-19 test.
“Agents will be there every step of the way for clients – as they always have been.
“Holiday To Help Out will give everyone something to look forward to.”
Holiday To Help Out is part of the wider industry #SaveTravel campaign undertaken by TTG but supported across the industry, including a letter signed by more than 11,000 people and taken to parliament.
For more on Barnt Green Travel Lounge, which has won the Best Travel Agent in the West Midlands awards in 2018 and 2019, visit barntgreentl.co.uk or call 0121 445 5777.
Visit holidaytohelpout.com to find out more on the scheme.
