FACE-TO-FACE
This week, Travel Daily talks to Amanda Lucas, Business Development Manager, Sandals Resorts
Congratulations on your new role, what are you most looking forward to in your new position?
I am looking forward to a new challenge more than anything. Joining Sandals’ fantastic sales team has always been a career aspiration for me, and I am hugely excited that I have been able to achieve this goal. I can’t wait to start developing new relationships within the retail travel trade, and helping to drive sales and increase brand awareness for Sandals, Beaches and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts.
How will you use your experience with Sandals in Jamaica and the UK to help travel agents understand the product?
I think that my previous experience at Sandals will be invaluable to my new role, as I will be able to share personal experiences with travel agents – something that I feel is far more worthwhile than just repeating information straight from the brochure. It also means that my product knowledge is already extensive, and so I am able to get stuck into the role straightaway, rather than having to spend time swotting up on the brands. As I have held various different roles within the travel industry, I will hopefully be able to relate to the spectrum of contacts that I will build in my new position. For example, my experience in retail travel means that I understand just how competitive it is and what tools are needed get the sale, whilst my experience in weddings will help me to assist agents who specialise in that market, and answer any queries that they may have.
You have a large and important area to look after, how will you ensure that you can look after all the retail partners?
During the first month of being on the road I am prioritising sales calls to my top 30 accounts in order to give me a chance to build solid relationships with them. After this, I will put a sales call plan into place to ensure that I will get to see all of the agencies on my database. Currently our key focus is spreading the word that I am the new point of contact for agents in the South East.
Are there any particular products that you want agents to currently get behind?
We are currently celebrating the first anniversary of our stunning resort, Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas, which has just undergone a million-dollar revocation project to its renowned Greg Norman-designed golf course; upgrades to the resort’s gourmet dining options; and the addition of 66 luxurious rooms.Sandals Grande Riviera Beach & Villa Golf Resort, Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa and Beaches Boscobel Resort & Golf Club have also recently undergone multimillion dollar refurbishments, and are looking fantastic so should sell well.
Our gorgeous Martha Stewart weddings are always a key focus, and we currently have a great ‘complimentary wedding’ offer, meaning that for a limited time, couples who book their WeddingMoon in a Premium room category at any Sandals Resort will receive a free Beautiful Beginnings wedding by Martha Stewart
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