Former Holidaze owner joins Typically Holidays as sales representative

Former Holidaze owner Jo Watts is joining Typically Holidays as a full-time sales representative covering the south of England as the operator expands its on-the-road presence.

Watts, who has sold her travel agency based at Bournemouth Airport to Fred Olsen Travel, starts with the trade-only tour operator in the newly-created role on Monday, April 13.

She will be responsible for visiting agents on the road across the south of England, training travel consultants on Typically’s product range, improving trade relationships and boosting sales.

Watts had already been working on a part-time basis for the operator for 15 months after deciding she wanted a career change.

“I have been in retail for over 30 years and I wanted a bit of a change and to take away the pressures of being a business owner,” she said, adding: “I love the Typically brand, Daniele’s passion and their dedication to service and clients. And I think I can add some real value, especially being an agent I understand the struggle agents go through.”

The move follows Typically Holidays’ appointment of an Ireland sales representative on a freelance basis at the start of the year. Don Clarke works two days a week for the operator visiting agents in Ireland.

Typically Holidays owner Daniele Broccoli said Watts was the perfect person for the new role, having run her own family business and worked as a travel agent.

He said: “She knows what it’s like on the frontline, she knows about agents, about the advice they need and exactly what they are going through.

“I thought this was a brilliant opportunity for us. We are trade-only and so having reps visiting agents, telling them about our product and raising awareness is how we can grow the business.”

The agency already has an on-the-road sales presence in the north, with the new appointment bringing the number of sales reps on the road to three under head of trade partnerships Mariam Sajjad.

But Broccoli said the team could expand further in future. “It could grow in future; Scotland would be the next area to look at. We invest all our advertising budget in agents and awareness of our product,” he added.

Watts’ former agency Holidaze, which was a licensee within the Fred Olsen Travel Group, will now close and be integrated into Fred Olsen Travel’s nearby Christchurch shop with its remaining member of staff.

Watts admitted selling her agency had been a tricky decision. “I thought about it a lot and it certainly wasn’t an easy decision but I knew Fred Olsen Travel has the same ethos as me and would take on my staff member. I trusted them and I think it will thrive. I am proud to have been able to pass the business on,” she added.