Star agent: Asif Hussain
Position: Outbound tours manager
Age: 43
Nationality: Indian
Time in travel industry: 22 years
Time at Al Tayer Travel: 15 years
Ambition: “To always try to keep things as simple as possible.”
Nominated by: The Travel Collection owner Jacqueline Campbell
Campbell says: “Hussain is very professional, especially in his manner of meeting with visiting hoteliers. He is always keen to learn more and shares his knowledge with his colleagues.”
ATN: How important is it for travel agents to meet with hoteliers in your opinion?
Hoteliers are the ambassadors of hotels and cities and their knowledge can help you distinguish exactly who your clients should be. Networking with hoteliers and developing these relationships plays a very important role in getting your client the added value they expect. When you deliver that added value, you create that wow factor and clients will remain loyal to you for a long time to come.
ATN: What would you say is your favourite destination to sell and why?
My favourite destination is the US. It has everything a client could ask for; it is by far one of the most complex and challenging destinations to sell, but it is long haul, so people visit this place for longer periods, resulting in higher spend and, in the end, good revenues. It isn’t a run-of-the-mill destination.
ATN: What is your ambition?
To design a modern curriculum with an emphasis on selling rather than order taking. It would be payback to an industry that has given me more than I could have dreamed of.
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About ATN’s Travel Agent of the Month
The initiative aims to give agents a big pat on the back in recognition of their achievements. It awards agents who that go that extra mile, not just for their organisations, but for their own personal achievements. It could be that you’ve shown initiative and made a big sale; completed a training programme; got promoted; or gone out of your way to achieve excellence in your field. ATN takes nominations from both suppliers and agents. Email gemma.greenwood@itp.com
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