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Holiday Representatives 1
Copyright 2007 – Biz/ed
Overview
• A great way to make friends and have
fun?
• Or, an exhausting, low-paid, homesick
experience?
• Being a holiday representative (or a ‘rep’)
can be all of these and more.
• This presentation sets the scene
for budding reps.
Copyright 2007 – Biz/ed
Industry background
• Before considering what ‘repping’ really
involves, it’s good to find out a little more
about the holiday travel industry.
• Dominated by the big four tour operators:
TUI, First Choice, Thomas Cook and
MyTravel, things look likely to change.
• In February and March 2007,
plans for mergers in the industry
changed the scene.
Copyright 2007 – Biz/ed
Tour operators’ mergers
• In February, plans to merge Thomas Cook
and MyTravel were announced.
• Next month, a similar merger between TUI
and First Choice, creating TUI Travel was
revealed.
• The Thomas Cook-MyTravel group
will cover a total of 50 travel brands.
• TUI Travel will encompass around 200
holiday brands.
Copyright 2007 – Biz/ed
What this means for reps
• Before the mergers were announced, a
rep could find work for one of the big four,
or an independent operator.
• Now, there will be only the big two
and the indie sector.
• If you get work as a rep, it’s likely to be
with one of the big two.
Copyright 2007 – Biz/ed
Will the mergers go ahead?
• Only EU approval of the mergers remains
to be won.
• But this is already in progress, with initial
clearance given for the first deal.
• Thomas Cook-MyTravel could be
completed by July 2007.
• If this occurs, then the EU is likely
to approve the TUI Travel deal too.
Copyright 2007 – Biz/ed
What kind of rep jobs are there?
• Holiday rep work involves many different
types of duty.
• It can be broken down
into different themes.
• Job titles vary between operators.
• The main themes/titles are listed
on the next slide.
Copyright 2007 – Biz/ed
Types of Holiday Rep
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Resort rep/Overseas
rep/Family rep looks after
all types of people
on holiday.
Club rep caters
for the 18-30 customer.
Children’s rep looks after
kids aged 2 -12.
Transfer rep
accompanies customers
between airport and
hotel.
•
•
•
Administrator works in
operator’s resort office.
Entertainment rep
provides daytime
and evening/night
entertainment
for customers.
Camp couriers on
camping-style holidays,
with similar duties
to resort or family reps.
Copyright 2007 – Biz/ed
Recruiting for reps
• The main tour operators begin recruitment
many months before the Summer
and Winter seasons.
• Budding reps can apply direct
to tour operators.
• Much information exists online
about the process.
• See the Activity for more details.
Copyright 2007 – Biz/ed
Once application is successful
• It is normal for tour operators to require
trainee reps to attend an induction course.
• Potential reps are ‘screened’ to ensure
they can be effective
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–
–
–
Professional
Courteous
Able to handle difficult situations
Able to present to large audiences
Copyright 2007 – Biz/ed
What about starting work?
•
•
•
•
•
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Tour operators generally provide:
Transport to the resort.
Uniforms, but not usually footwear (formal).
A basic wage (£100-150 per week), often boosted
by commission on excursion sales.
Free accommodation, maybe food vouchers.
One to one and a half days off per week.
Transport back home at end of season
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Any other benefits?
• Free use of facility attractions (boat trips,
water skiing etc).
• Free or discounted bike, scooter
or (occasionally) car hire.
• Better conditions of work for reps returning
for a second season.
• Career opportunities beyond repping.
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What dangers are there?
Responsibility for customers on holiday
may mean handling a number
of problems:
• Customer illness or death.
• Customers becoming victims of crime.
• Travel problems such as flight delays,
cancellations or loss of luggage.
Copyright 2007 – Biz/ed
Anything else we should know?
• As a representative of the tour operator,
the rep is responsible for the health,
security and safety of the customers.
• See the Activity for more on this.
• Homesickness often affects new reps,
especially during their first few weeks
in resort.
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What next?
• Go to the Activity to find out more about
this area of travel and tourism work.
Copyright 2007 – Biz/ed