Co-op Travel Update
This article will take approximately 3 minutes to read
Published 2 Jul 2020 in Trading Groups
In the travel group, the last few months have been an unprecedented time for us as a travel agent, a tour operator- our Co-op Holidays business, for our colleagues and for the travel industry.
Like the rest of the world, tourism and holidays came to a halt for everyone in March when the Covid-19 crisis hit.
For the last few months our teams have been working hard to safely return passengers from overseas, reschedule customers holidays to another time and issue refunds where requested.
Like many of our family of businesses, we’ve found new ways of working and adapted to meet the changes implemented. We’re pleased to say that 38 of our branches have now reopened and we’re working as quickly as we can to get our remaining branches open as soon as possible- watch this space!
On behalf of the travel senior management team, we would like to thank all our travel colleagues from the Waterfront to branch for the fantastic energy they have put into the business over a very difficult 4 months. True Co-operation!
What some of the travel branches look like now:
What’s been happening behind the scenes?
We have been working hard behind the scenes to ensure that our colleagues, customers and members will be as safe as possible when visiting us in branch. We have now launched our online appointment system, allowing our customers to book either a face to face appointment with a colleague, have a telephone appointment or have a video appointment at a time that suits them.
We are pleased that travel will be the first trading group to receive and use Microsoft Teams software for video conferencing appointments to our customers.
We’re really looking forward to welcoming back our customers and colleagues and you can book an appointment to see us here.
Within branch, we have complied with government guidelines to protect both our colleagues, customers and members to ensure it is safe for you to visit us and carried out a full Risk Assessment. In branches, we have now implemented:
⚠️ Sanitiser Points, this is available before entering, on each counter and also on exit from the branch, we would like all our customers and colleagues to use these when visiting.
✅ A strict daily cleaning programme including a thorough clean of the store at the end of every working day. After every customer visits the desks, chairs and any items in contact will be cleaned with Antibacterial Cleaner.
🚫We're limiting the number of customers in branch to a maximum of 4. We have installed floor markings to help with Social distancing to ensure you enter branch safely.
Natalie Turner, Head of Branches for Co-op Travel, said: “We are all dreaming of the day that we can step off a plane, jump into a pool and spend time away with loved ones. By carefully following government advice, we have found new ways of working that mean our customers can, once again, enjoy face to face time with our expert travel agents, as they plan their holidays and getaways.
“The reopening of the 38 branches is our first step in a phased return to the high street. Safety is our primary concern for both customers and our branch colleagues, and we have been busily and successfully trialling new policies and procedures to ensure we reopen in the safest way possible. We look forward to seeing and welcoming customers into the branch once again and to making their holiday dreams a reality.”
Our blog page is a great resource for video content and updates on the latest developments in travel during this pandemic, for example what to expect at the airport when you holiday post-lockdown and what the new normal for travel will look like.”
Travel Advice
Travel advice is changing constantly and by booking with an independent travel agent who is a member of ABTA, customers and colleagues get the latest travel advice as well as being informed of any changes in the advice after they have booked. People are now searching most for overseas package holidays for this summer, particularly in Spain and the Canaries as well as UK breaks.
While no one can predict the future, travel is starting to resume, and we would advise anyone who is planning to travel this summer to book sooner rather than later.
With the confirmation this weekend of the quashing of the blanket ban for UK 14 day quarantine being replaced by a traffic light system to enable us to return and not have to quarantine for some popular European destinations, we've seen 26% increase in visitors to the cooptravel.co.uk website and 32% in new users compared to the previous week alone.
What is Co-op Holidays?
Did you know that we have our very own in-house tour operator, Co-op Holidays?
Co-op Holidays as a tour operator controls, books and devises the whole trip. They create a package holiday by combining all elements such as hotel, airport transfers, activities, restaurants, tours and such like. In essence, the different roles do what they say on the label -
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A tour operator (Co-op Holidays) – operates the tour
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A travel agent (Co-op Travel) – is purely an agent for holidays selling tours that are provided by tour operators.
Co-op Holidays are in control of how their operations are run, unlike when we make bookings with other tour operators such as TUI and Jet2, therefore making it easier if holiday plans get changed or cancelled, we can respond quicker in most cases than going through a third party tour operator.
It will take some time before the impact of Covid-19 becomes a distant memory. We want to help our customers and colleagues look forward to that hard-earned holiday and enjoy the magic of travel once again, so here is your Co-op Holidays promise. Find out what it all means here.
Other blogs you may be interested in:
What to expect at the airport when travelling from June - see here.
How Covid-19 will change your journey - see here.
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