In persuit of the elusive One..

This article is specificlly for the southern African travel trade, hello ! I have a question for you: Name the definative property marketing and sales person. Now, why would I want to know this ? Quite simply our industry has a plethora of these animals who trample the ground in their persuit to " get their message " across to us. Some use discounts as their tool, others offer friendship and comp nights, others swan about in perect inexactitudes as effective as an empty bottle of Grug !

No easy task I'll grant you, how on earth do you learn the traits of agents/operators in all of our key overseas markets ? How do you relate to each consultant with meaningful dialogue and repartie ? How do you steer them away from their traditional property sellection and onto yours ? How do you consistently travel to their offices with new, refreshing and interesting product news ? Yup, no easy ask. This elusive One has to understand pressure, think on his feet, have the ability to " get into " the descision makers at these agencies. He has to posess inter personal skills, be able to overcome objections and really so much more. On top of this he is charged with providing a mix of passion, love for his product, knowledge of other product and destination knowledge to his clients. No short term wonder this One !

So do you know this One ? You may well do and if so, tell me who he is please. It may well be one of the doyens of the Private Game Reserves who promalgate the diviness of their offerings, possibly the broad shouldered providers of boutique hotels and their ability to host royality but take the level up, yes, up to a place where in the presence of the One, attention is rivited, all consuming and REAL ! Ah the word rings true, real, not " maybe so " or " if " but true and real.

What mere mortal soul could bring this off consistantly with a number of properties and to so many followers ? What person so filled with commitment, ability, passion for our industry remain burning bright in our misted sky of marketing & sales folks ? You may well know him personally, I do, well and for the last eight years have witnessed the growth & development of a new age perveyor of quality properties take on a beach property where there occupancies are in the thirties and move on when they hit eighty three percent.

So, who is this marvel, I hear you scream at me. Contact me on info@cstravel.co.za and I will share the answer with you, real and true.

Ciao

Colin J. FRYER.
Centre Stage Travel, Cape town, South Africa.
Email: info@cstravel.co.za