Welcome Meetings

[DollyDayDream]

Kimbo,

just for the record, you dont come across as rude to me

I prefer direct, straight talking people, who have something useul to say... its the one's who rant, rave and whinge about trivialities ( cant put what i really wanna say or it will get edited AGAIN )...

travellers who do not take advantage of any local knowledge from any source are just fools to themselves.

I'd rather spend twenty minutes listening to a rep than getting into difficulty at a later date. (although its about 15yrs since i have holidayed where a rep's involved).

Ah well, live life, make love not war

[kimbo]

thank uou very much dollydaydream (u got to give respect to earn respect) i can be polite if ppl dont take me as they find me then i dont care

[kimbo]

oops spelling error then but i can spell you

[Andrea]

I ususally go to the reps meetings as most of the time there is something useful to be heard. Never book trips with them though prices tend to be overinflated. Although did last year in Algarve only cos the price was same as agents on the main street. Plus you can sometimes get quite good reps which again we had in the Algarve, no question to big small or stupid. But again you can have one who you never see anyway, had them too. So I basically go to be nosey.

Andrea

[Airtours]

Hi there ,

I think it depends sometimes on the Rep. Sometimes Reps are very helpful and informative, and are happy to sell excursions, but other times, the Reps are only really interested if you are booking or asking for information on an excursion.

Cheers, Ryan

Airtours :flag198:

[Sydney]

I feel that welcome meetings eat into my holiday I know it may only be an hour but that is precious time I have paid for. Instead a little booklet popped under my door would be better where to go what to see etc..
But of course that would never happen as the reps have too many excursions to sell. you get a sheet in you property with the excursions on so really if you were interested you would book there and then. If you were given a brochure on say Portinax-Ibiza then a list of excursions then if you are interested you can pop into the reps office leave a note etc of what you wanted to go on. instead of being made to go to a place you dont want to go to a a time that does not suit you and listen to someone droaning on about excursions that you could get cheaper locally anyway. :thumleft:

[Rooose]

i am currently at somerset college now studying travel services,& when i pass i would like to be a holiday rep..

i personally think you are very rude as holiday reps are there to look after there customers not just to sell excursions..

[pigtails]

You are at college?

[turkey babe]

Hi all

I worked for Thomson as a holiday rep a few years ago, I only worked one season as I was in a very quiet resort and it didnt suit me.

As a rep you are targeted on your sales more than anything else so unfortunately some reps can be a bit pushy. I think this is down to the training they receive and the fact that if you dont sell many excursions you a) dont receive any commission to bump up your paltry wage and b) will prob get called into a meeting to discuss your fututre with the company.

I had one weeks training in the uk and 2 weeks in resort and most of this was sales based. with a little bit of customer care thrown in!!
I agree that reps should be there to look after customers needs and provide information and be helpful, courteous and polite but they also need to hit targets their managers give them, work very long hours for little money or worry about not having their contract renewed for the next season.

Welcome meetings were the worst part of the job for me as you could tell when people weren't interested in what you're saying. Imagine standing up there in front of 50+ people trying to give background on the resort but knowing that you are really being marked on your sales skills, you dont want to come across as pushy but sometimes you cant help it, especially if the resort manager is sat there listening!!

Please try not to be too hard on the reps, they're only doing what they're told. If they;re rude and unhelpful I dont blame you for your comments but most will just be trying to do their job the way they were trained

[HW iaintwoeyes]

Rooose...there are good reps out there as well!!

However, when opinions are made public, they are usually due to bad experiences.

Personally, the rep that dealt with myself in Egypt two years ago was awful. He was only interested in himself and couldn't give a stuff about his guests. He was even a really bad salesman and so no one that I knew actually bought any trips from him.

On the other hand a caring rep that really goes that extra mile will not only make lots of money but chances are they may get tips as well!!