Home » News » The best way to sell boutique travel is to try it yourself: Travel Corporation

16 February, 2018

The best way to sell boutique travel is to try it yourself: Travel Corporation

By Hannah Edensor

Ah yes, the old ‘try before you buy’ adage, except in this scenario it’s ‘try before you sell’. Not as catchy, but a much more exciting notion if you ask us.

Travel Weekly recently scooped an exclusive chat with Managing Director of Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, Fiona Dalton, who said the best way to sell boutique travel well is to give it a crack yourself.

“Agents who work with luxury clients know that their clients are looking for the highest standards in hospitality and service, delivered in a refined and personalised way and this is the hallmark of a true boutique brand – one that invests in the quality of their product and doesn’t cut corners to save a dollar.

“The best way to showcase this style is to experience the product for yourself! Take advantage of those great agent discounts available in the market so you can fully immerse yourself in the product.

“It’s so easy to speak passionately about something once you’ve experienced the brand and its boutique experiences.

“Ultimately the benefit for the agent is wrapped up in the repeat and referral business that results from their very satisfied client.”

Asked about her own take on boutique travel, Dalton echoed some sentiments another TW interviewee, Luxury Gold MD Alexandra O’Connor, had about the experience.

Related: Agents who tailor holidays will see clients return: Luxury Gold MD

“Boutique travel is all about those personalised touches that take the entire travel experience to the next level – like choosing your meticulously appointed suite based on your favourite colour or having our authentic butlers who are trained to the same standards as Buckingham Palace look after you,” Dalton said.

“It’s about travelling on our one a kind award winning boutique ships, where original artwork from Picasso, Matisse and Chagall adorn the walls and delight the senses.

“It’s about the waiter remembering your favourite cocktail order, and the housekeeping team leaving the recipe to your favourite dessert on the pillow.”

But how do agents know boutique is right for their client?

“Boutique travel isn’t about trends, it’s about continuously refining the opportunity to provide the very best and finest experience a guest can expect,” Dalton told TW.

“Great agents qualify their clients well by asking the right questions to determine their priorities, and if their client is looking for a highly personalised travel experience, they will factor a boutique operator into their recommendations.

“Guests who travel boutique have an opportunity to truly immerse themselves in the heart and soul of a destination, which allows them to really get to know the local people and their history and culture,” Dalton added.

“Figuratively speaking – we want our guest to ‘colour their own canvas’, so we provide an exceptional amount of choice in the activities and shore excursions we offer our guests.

“A great example is our partnership with EatWith where small groups of our guests can even accept an invitation to dine with locals in their homes.”

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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