Carrier to offer agents 'more flexibility' on product range
Luxury tour operator Carrier has pledged to be more flexible with its product range as it looks to better support the needs of agents.
In addition to being less restrictive with its programme, Carrier has also expanded its sales team, added a new team dedicated to beach holidays, a product manager for cultural breaks, as well as improved concierge and after sales services.
Speaking at an event for preferred agent partners in London, head of product and commercial Simon Jeffries said: “We’re being more fluid and more flexible in our approach to product.
“That doesn’t mean we’ll sell everything, but we are listening to what customers want. We have a benchmark and if a hotel outside of our core range meets that and we can get a commercial rate we will sell it.
“Previously we would have been reluctant to sell something not on our website or in our brochure, but we’ll be more open moving forward.”
Jeffries said the brand was also shifting its focus to experiences rather than purely on hotel product. As a result, Carrier’s turn of year campaign ‘Discover You’, is centred around showcasing journeys that embrace mindsets and personalities of travellers such as pioneers, adventurers, conservationists and gourmet fans.
To support agents selling Carrier, the sales team will grow from four to six with an extra person on the road and the addition of an agency sales coordinator.
Rick Milne, head of sales at Carrier, added: “With a bigger sales team, a team dedicated to beach, enhanced concierge services and a new after sales team we’re far more efficient and agents will benefit from that.”