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Tauck makes a big play in the UK

Tauck makes a big play in the UK
Connecticut-based tour operator Tauck recently hired a field sales force to serve the UK market, opened a reservations center in London and is launching a new UK website and brochures priced in pounds sterling.

This marks the first time in Tauck’s 90-year history that the company has embarked on any such initiatives outside the US.

Tauck takes travelers to more than 70 countries, so operationally it's already a global company, and last year it carried more than 80 nationalities on its tours and cruises.

'However, in order to provide the best possible service to UK-based travelers and travel agents, we knew we had to have more of a presence here. We’ve clearly made that commitment, and we’re looking forward to better serving our guests and travel agents in the UK market,' said Steve Spivak, vp global sales.

Leading Tauck’s new three-person sales team as UK and Ireland country manager is Ray Steward, a travel industry veteran of nearly 30 years. Steward has held sales, marketing and general management positions at firms including Western & Oriental Travel and Regent Holidays, and Mundicolor Holidays. Most recently he was sales and marketing director for The Cruise Portfolio. In addition to managing Tauck’s overall sales and marketing efforts in the UK, Steward will personally manage the company’s accounts in the southeast of England.

Emma Taylor brings more than 15 years of travel industry experience to her new role as Tauck sales manager, including past positions with Mundy Cruising and The Cruise Portfolio. With Tauck, she’ll oversee accounts in Northern Ireland, Ireland, southwestern England and southern Wales.

Tauck sales manager Kathryn Coles has been in the industry for over a decade, including a number of positions with Club Med. Coles will manage accounts in central and northern England, and northern Wales and Scotland.

Earlier this month Tauck launched a new UK reservations sales center, with company personnel assisting agents and travelers via a just-established toll-free number, 0800 810 8020, and through email at [email protected]. Tauck personnel are currently in the UK staffing the new call center, while the new UK reservations sales counselors are undergoing training at Tauck’s US headquarters.

Other efforts are a new website, www.tauck.co.uk, and the company will be producing British iterations of selected brochures. The first of those, now available, is a 116-page volume highlighting 45 land and cruise itineraries in Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, South America, the Middle East and Australia/New Zealand. Tauck’s journeys are priced in pounds, air-inclusive packages are available, and all itineraries are ATOL of ABTA-protected.

Tauck will also be hosting approximately 75 UK agents aboard its new Savor riverboat Nov. 1-5, for a Tauck Academy seminar. By successfully completing the Tauck Academy curriculum, attendees become Tauck Certified agents who qualify for special benefits and other exclusive opportunities. Tauck Academy includes nine hours of intensive classroom training followed by an exam.

Topics covered include Tauck’s history, product line, and what differentiates Tauck’s tours and cruises from those of its competitors.