Chris Watson Travel might be one of Travellers Choice’s newest recruits but the Tamworth agency is wasting no time in capitalising on the group’s unique arrangement with TripADeal.
In an exclusive sales incentive, TripADeal recently offered members the opportunity to earn marketing grants for each month they achieved minimum levels of new bookings. Chris Watson Travel was the only member to achieve the top tier target for the two consecutive months the promotion ran – in fact, the agency wrote in excess of $270,000 worth of new TripADeal business.
Owner Chris Watson says the TripADeal relationship is providing an important point-of difference from the agency’s rivals and a vital tool to growing its customer database.
“Our approach during the TripADeal incentive was to intensely focus on one particular destination for a week and promote it through all of our marketing channels, including social media, eDM, agency window displays, local print media and radio,” says Chris.
“We spent money but we saw a clear return on investment, with 32 passengers booked on TripADeal’s Canada and Alaska package and another 16 customers booking a Maldives package.
“We also generated some ridiculous social media stats. Our free Facebook post on the Canada and Alaska deal was viewed 21,000 times and shared 1,100 times. Our Maldives post generated 37,000 views, along with 1,480 comments and 261 likes. Our Facebook following grew by more than 30% in one month.”
Chris says the key to his agency’s success selling TripADeal has been “confidence”.
“You have to commit to the product and your team has to be confident that they know TripADeal and its products inside out so that you can answers questions as soon as the phones start ringing. With us the first question is often, ‘What’s the catch?’
“The real benefits to our business are going to be long term. We are building relationships with new clients who will become established clients. It’s about nurturing organic growth.”