Independent Travel Agent of the Year-election 2018-2019

HOST COUNTRY

Annual election Independent Travel Agent of the Year 2018-2019 This election is organized by TravMagazine with the purpose of improving the quality and the image of the growing group of Dutch independent travel agents.

www.zraverkiezing.nl The online platform for independent travel agents.

The election The election Travel Agency of the Year is an initiative from TravMagazine. Its main purpose is to realize a constructive contribution to the continuous process of quality improvement in the growing group of Dutch independent travel agents.

By means of a balanced program from September until January the business operations of all participants will be judged on various aspects. After several case rounds, personal interviews, mystery buyer survey, and after consultation of professional jury and in the end a final judgment, the winners of this prestigious contest will be chosen.

For sponsors/partners a unique opportunity to highlight yourself to this unique and high professional target group. Make them your ambassador!

Sponsors 2018-2019: Sponsors: Curaรงao Tourist Board, KLM, RIU, Riksja Travel, ANVR, Sunny Cars, CROP Accountants, Solution Trainingen, Store Support

Previous years The election Independent Travel Agent of the Year 2018-2019 will be the 11th edition of this popular competition.

Since the beginning the election developed into the leading competition within the target group of Dutch high levelled independent travel consultants.

Goal The election Independent Travel Agent of the Year is the only example of benchmarking within this increasing and very important group of travel agents in the Dutch travel industry. The achievements of the participants will be compared with their competitors. The benchmark is a great advantage for participants of the election. The results show on which aspects they can improve and on which aspects they score above average. The election already has shown the importance of networking, cross- and upselling, and the need for an understanding of rules and regulations for these starting entrepreneurs.

Besides benchmarking, publicity is an important contributing factor for the travel agents to join the election. Throughout the entire project, news about the election is published in various print- and online publications in TravMagazine. And when the winners are known they sent press releases about the election to local media and their personal networks in the working area of the agents.

Also during the election there are some instructional trainings which are another reason to join. A lot of entrepreneurs like to receive tips and tricks about how to keep their product knowledge up to date, time management and rules and regulations for entrepreneurs.

Participants in General The target group of the election consists of more then 1.050 independent travel agents. These can both operate independently as well as connected to a chain of independent travel agents, travel agency or tour operator. The playing field is representative for the whole population of Dutch Independent Travel Agents.

The election is divided into several rounds. The title they can win is ‘Best Independent Travel Agent’ of their own province. They will be chosen from a selection of contenders who made it to the final round.

Achieving the last rounds will result in a lot of publicity, especially in the local media.

Winning the title of Independent Travel Agent of the Year will result in local and nationwide publicity, both in travel trade media like TravMagazine as well in other media. The effect of this publicity is enormous and will result in a significant increase of clients and leads to a higher turnover.

Program • • • • • • • • • •

Kick-off Symposium (September) 1st round: Sending in recent proposal (September) 2nd round: Questionaire (September) 3rd round: Marketing Case (October) Announcement top 3 Agents per province & Talent of the Year (October) 4th round: Battle on an inspiring location (November) Announcement top 2 Agents per province (Novenber) 5th round: Presentation in front of jury (December) Final event, announcing the winners per province (January) Mega fam trip (March)

Judging The judging of the entire process is handled by several parties which have joined the election, amongst them is TRAVel Media and Solution Trainingen.

The secretary tasks of the election are provided by a coaching and consulting firm specialized in the travel industry. This company is responsible for the content of the pieces of the jury, judging and is at certain points assisted by a company specialized in the field of mystery visits (Mystery Shopper Surveys).

The decision who is going to be the final winner of the election is made by a professional jury, who exist of sponsor representatives and other experts of the Dutch travel industry.

Solution Trainingen Soluton Trainingen is the official training company guiding the election. Further on they play an important role in the judging.

During the master classes and the events they will give training sessions.

Theme’s -

“ Service or Discount” Consumers are more and more asking for discount. How to avoid this?

“Sales calls to well known relatives. This is sometimes difficult especially when you know they book somewhere else… How to deal with this.

Exposure for the sponsors The communication around the election Independent Travel Agent of the Year is a cross-media plan. And sponsors are important for the quality and continuation of the election.

Specials

Events

The sponsor will be involved in all activities surrounding the election.

ZRAverkiezing. nl

News letters

Magazine

Trav Magazine.nl

Events Various events will be organised during the election.

The sponsor will be involved in the organisation of the events.

The events to which this relates are the following; • • • • • •

Kick-off symposium Meet & Greets Jury days Battle Mega fam trip with the 12 best agencies Final symposium

Specials

ZRAverkiezing. nl

News letters

Events

Magazine

Trav Magazine.nl

Magazine Regular and substantial publicity (including logo in TravMagazine) in the ZRA specials in Travmagazine, including; • • • • •

• •

Announcements and regular election update Prominent presence of your quotes Interview with director or country manager Involvement of notification of provincial winners Interviews provincial winners and statements from your company about the election, role and importance of the travel agents etc.

Extended report provincial winners mega fam trip Interview winners

Specials

ZRAverkiezing. nl

News letters

Events

Magazine

Trav Magazine.nl

TravMagazine.nl Besides the coverage in TravMagazine in print there will be extensive attention for the election online at www.TravMagazine.nl during the election. This includes; • • • • • •

Online placement of interviews and reports from various events Regular column with Independent Travel Agent of the Year theme Possibility to make your own column Social media channel of the election on Facebook Regular updates Possible postings on your product/destination

Specials

ZRAverkiezing. nl

News letters

Events

Magazine

Trav Magazine.nl

News letters There are Travel Agency of the Year news letters on a regular base to inform the branch by mail. These news letters give information about the process of the election or function, as an invitation for participation at events.

Besides these special news letters there will be attention for the election in the weekly regular TravMagazine news letter. This can be done by means of a column, editorial reporting or expressed through commercial banners.

The sponsor logos are always part of the newsletter.

1.050 Independent travel agents receive the newsletter

Specials

ZRAverkiezing. nl

News letters

Events

Magazine

Trav Magazine.nl

www.ZRAverkiezing.nl Besides the special in Travmagazine and several news letters by mail there is also a dedicated website: zraverkiezing.nl.

This website is integrated in our online e-learning website Travecademy.

A comprehensive description of the election including explanation about the different rounds and judging can be found at the site.

It also gives widespread details about the sponsors of the election.

On this website there is also a Q&A possibility with the organization or with the sponsors. Besides this, there is a special Facebook page about the election.

Each main sponsor has its own communication page within Travecademy!

Specials

ZRAverkiezing. nl

News letters

Events

Magazine

Trav Magazine.nl

Facts and Figures -

Database of 1.050 independent travel agents belonging to a various list of organizations.

Bi-weekly newsletter with an opening rate of 45% Online platform with 750 unique visits per month Events are visited by 100-150 agents.

Smaller events by 40

Contact

Dennis Ebbers t +31 356728852 e dennis.ebbers@travmedia.nl

T.J. van Apeldoorn t +31 356728852 e tj@travmedia.nl

Djordy Giesbers t +31 356728855 e djordy.giesbers@travmedia.nl

Websites: www.travmedia.nl -www.reisbureauvanhetjaar.nl - www.travmagazine.nl www.travecademy.nl - www.micetravel.nl - www.businesstraveller.nl www.reismanagementclub.nl