Jamaica acquires Britain’s largest travel agency | News
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) brought the warmth, culture and energy of the island straight to the heart of Britain’s largest travel agency. During a large-scale Jamaica Takeover Day at Hays Travel headquarters, the JTB collaborated with a number of leading hotel brands to immerse the agency’s team in the spirit of Jamaica, from its cuisine and culture to its world-class resort offerings.
Hays Travel, the UK’s largest independent travel retailer with more than 500 stores across the country, welcomed the JTB and hotel partners through its sales, social media, accounts and support teams, allowing the entire office, including the more than 60 remote workers who joined online, to experience a first-hand taste of Jamaica.
In total, more than 160 employees were trained in Jamaica as a destination, of which more than 100 participated in person. Hotel partners participating in the acquisition included Iberostar, Sandals & Beaches Resorts, Grand Palladium and TUI, each of which provided training sessions to give Hays agents the knowledge and confidence to sell Jamaica with authority.
The day was rich with cultural experiences designed to bring Jamaica to life. Staff were invited to enjoy a Taste of Jamaica experience, sampling roasted chicken, rice and peas, pumpkin soup, Jamaican drinks, plantain chips and other island snacks. A lively games program kept the energy high all day, with prizes including rum giveaways, free hotel stays and live quiz and dance competitions. A spin-the-wheel activity was a particular success and the day ended with a knowledge quiz about Jamaica, which was described as a real highlight by those in attendance.
In addition, each staff member received a small token of appreciation, a Jamaican bracelet, as a lasting memory of the day.
“This has been an incredible opportunity to bring Jamaica into the heart of one of Britain’s leading travel retailers. Hays Travel is an important partner for us, and days like these allow us to ensure that their teams feel truly connected to what Jamaica has to offer: its world-class culture, warmth and hospitality. The response from staff has been overwhelmingly positive and we are confident that enthusiasm will translate into more Jamaican bookings for their customers,” said Torrance Lewis, District Sales Manager, Jamaica Tourist Board.
“Days like these are exactly what great trade partnerships are built on. The Jamaica Tourist Board has brought the island to life for our teams in a way that really resonates, and that kind of connection strengthens our relationship with Jamaica as a destination. The energy, culture and product knowledge our employees have walked away with gives us a solid foundation for future bookings, and we look forward to sending many more clients to experience Jamaica for themselves,” says Andrew Pickering, Partnerships Manager, Hays Travel.
Feedback after the event confirmed that the day was one of the best takeover events of the past year, with 87% saying it exceeded expectations and the event scoring an impressive 8 out of 10 overall.
Tricia Birmingham, Commercial Director of Hays Travel, said: “The Tourist Board has certainly brought the energy of Jamaica to its headquarters and all our people have enjoyed learning all about this vibrant destination.
“We are very grateful to our partners at the Jamaican Tourist Board who put a lot of thought and effort into ensuring the entire experience was inspiring and engaging. From the product workshops to the tastings, games and prizes, the positive feedback from our people speaks for itself!”
The Jamaica Takeover Day at Hays Travel is part of the JTB’s ongoing commitment to work closely with the UK trade to inspire agents and give them the tools to sell Jamaica with confidence. Visit www.visitjamaica.com for more information and to start planning your clients’ Jamaica experience.
