A new travel agency in times of increasing digitalisation - does that go together? Absolutely, because both are very popular with guests, according to the experience of our colleagues at DER Travel and Tourism. They have just opened a Meiers Weltreisen concept store in southern Germany. Head of Sales Andreas Heimann explains what it's all about.
Since 18 November, the Breuningerland shopping centre in Sindelfingen has been one attraction richer. The new Meiers Weltreisen concept store focuses on long-distance travel - and with good reason: with this opening, DER Travel and Tourism is positioning its Meiers Weltreisen brand, which has been the specialist for everything far away in the market for more than 40 years, more strongly and offers a high level of expertise for trips to distant countries in the region.
"We see a great need to catch up and a very high demand for long-haul holidays. However, long-distance travel, especially round trips, requires highly individualised and qualified advice. The team at Meiers Weltreisen travel agency has many years of experience in selling long-haul travel products and is very familiar with the tour operator's portfolio. The know-how is further expanded through targeted long-distance travel training and information trips, so that the employees are always up to date with the latest knowledge and know as many destinations as possible from their own experience. The tour operator is also backed by a team of experts with a global wealth of knowledge, so that with this office we are bundling the long-haul expertise of DER Travel and Tourism and making it even more visible," says Dr Ingo Burmester, CEO of DER Travel and Tourism Central Europe.
In addition to the long-haul programme of Meiers Weltreisen, the new office will also be able to book short and medium-haul offers, the entire portfolio of a DERTOUR travel agency and products from other tour operators.
When equipping and furnishing the Meiers Weltreisen travel agency, particular emphasis was placed on making customers feel comfortable and inspiring them for their next trip. Consultancy is based on the co-creation approach, in which customers are involved in the consultation via a tablet.
At the comfort counter, customers sit more comfortably than at conventional counselling desks and have more storage space for jackets, bags and purchases.
The Breuningerland shopping centre is only 20 minutes away from Stuttgart and attracts around 50,000 customers a day with its numerous national and international brands. "The high-quality Breuningerland is the ideal environment for a Meiers Weltreisen store," says Andreas Heimann, Chief Sales Officer DER Travel and Tourism Central Europe and overall responsible for the DER Travel and Tourism sales department. "With this location, we are addressing a clientele that fits the Meiers Weltreisen brand very well. They are travel-savvy and experienced travellers who are looking for a special experience and are demanding when it comes to travel planning. We can cater for both very well with our new concept," Heimann is certain.
Advice from the travel experts at the new Meiers Weltreisen office can be provided either on site, by telephone or video. This means that supra-regional advice is also possible.
Andreas Heimann, Chief Sales Officer DER Travel and Tourism Central Europe
one: A stationary travel agency, mainly tailored to the portfolio of a single tour operator: does that still make sense in these times of increasing digitalisation, including travel bookings?
Andreas Heimann: We are firmly convinced that it does! The topic of digitalisation is neither foreign nor distant to us. We want to be present throughout the entire customer journey. And in our industry too, this is now a symbiosis of online and offline. Many customers want more flexible consultation times and models and plan their travel online. However, they still greatly appreciate the advice they receive from our travel experts. So it's about intelligently combining online and offline by offering our expertise wherever the customer is looking for it. We are very active in this area.
one: Does that mean you offer your customers both digital and stationary travel planning and booking - depending on their tastes and perhaps also the product?
Andreas Heimann: Exactly. We have noticed from our customers' booking behaviour that their demands for quality, comfort and individuality on holiday are growing - and this also applies to the coming year. And travellers are increasingly turning to travel agencies for personal advice. In fact, over 60 per cent of all summer holidays for 2024 are currently being booked at travel agencies.
It is also very important that, with Meiers Weltreisen, we have an absolute specialist for high-quality long-haul holidays that fits very well into this advisory concept. In addition to Meiers, we also offer all other DER Travel and Tourism tour operators as well as tour operator products from selected other quality partners in this store.
one: What is special and unusual about the Meiers Weltreisen store concept? What sets it apart from other travel agencies and makes it competitive?
Andreas Heimann: The special thing about the shop concept is that it has a clear focus on long-haul and personalised travel. These segments in particular have experienced disproportionate growth in recent years. And from our experience, we see great potential for a store like this. Especially here in Sindelfingen: We have excellent footfall there and the clientele fits in perfectly with the focus of the new concept.