Don't just want to go on vacation, but to experience a once-in-a-lifetime trip with your family or company? Where all the hassle is taken out of your hands by an expert who comes to you to record all your wishes? One and the same contact person, who takes care of a complete customized trip, from departure to return. No hassle, just enjoy. That's what TUI at Home stands for.
Don't just want to go on vacation, but to experience a once-in-a-lifetime trip with your family or company? Where all the hassle is taken out of your hands by an expert who comes to you to record all your wishes? One and the same contact person, who takes care of a complete customized trip, from departure to return. No hassle, just enjoy. That's what TUI at Home stands for.
You have a huge appetite for vacation, just getting away for a while. But you're dreading the hassle of sorting out and booking everything. Ideally, you want to tell us what you want and get a number of proposals from an expert for trips just as you envision them. And you're absolutely right, because your time is precious. So it's good that there is such a thing as TUI at Home, an organization consisting of 130 experienced travel experts spread throughout the Netherlands. The difference with a travel agency is that these independent travel agents work from home and can visit you in your office or home if you wish.
Flexibility and expertise are only two of the advantages of the TUI at Home travel experts. They not only have advice for your vacation, business trip or weekend getaway, but also for your corporate incentive. They have knowledge of destinations and travel, from Maldives to Lapland to Formula One trips. From the first moment of contact until after returning from the trip, you deal exclusively with one and the same contact person. Each trip is customized, completely tailored to the traveler's needs. In this story, some travel experts, "At Homers," take you through an example of a special trip they took care of. Just for inspiration, for great travel ideas. Let them work on your vacation so you can enjoy it carefree.
Mirjam den Broeder | Wedding with 75 people in Ibiza
"A nice couple, not even close to me, was getting married in Ibiza in September. The venue was already set and a wedding planner had been hired for the festivities. All that remained was to arrange everything for the seventy-five guests: flight, transfer and accommodation near the venue. To this end, they approached me about eight months in advance. They had placed this search request with other travel agencies as well. I was given a date and a budget of 70,000 euros. Can you please help us with this? Because we can't figure it out ourselves. I first drove to Tilburg to meet the couple. That short line is what is so nice about us being self-employed. I worked at a travel agency for twenty years; one day one person works on an application, the next day the other. When you partner with me, all contact runs solely with me. By sending a daily app about what you're working on and the progress you're making, you keep people close to you.
To begin with, I started looking for flight options. It was only for a few days, so it would be nice to make the most of it: so an early flight out and a late flight back. I listed the options and, after consulting with clients, decided to fly from Eindhoven. For suitable accommodation with many rooms, I consulted several tour operators: what can you offer? The offers I received were all above budget. So I started calling hotels and resorts in the area myself. Eventually I found a hotel in a perfect location and with sufficient availability. One supplier was willing to purchase and offer the hotel especially for me, out of range. Finally, I arranged the transfer from the airport in Ibiza to the hotel. In consultation with the client, I booked a transfer bus for part of the group and had rental cars ready for the other part. The evening before the flight, I had booked a hotel in Eindhoven, so that in the morning I could guide the people myself with the boarding passes and any questions they had. I had even arranged a private check-in desk for the group. It's a wedding, isn't it! Then everything has to be arranged really top-top.
Besides, I do enjoy meeting people in person. I even joined the group app so that the guests could contact me with all kinds of questions. For example, someone had a leaky faucet in the bathroom. Could I mediate? Normally you go to the reception, but now it was over the group app: 'Mirjam, can you fix it? It was all very approachable and personal. I gave all the guests a flyer explaining how I work as TUI at Homer. For 80 percent of this group, I still book their own vacations today. By delivering a fantastic product, I have put myself on the map with that group. The wedding couple also still books with me. And they also send all their friends and acquaintances who were not along for the Ibiza trip to me. You can't get a nicer compliment!"
Ibiza Town
Joyce van der Stap | Group trip of 150 to Valencia
"The management of a large office furniture rental company offers an anniversary trip to its staff every five years, because they want to give a bonus not only in salary increase, but also precisely in experience and togetherness. The management is already clients of mine privately and trusted me with the organization because they had good experiences with me in terms of service, the way of working and being keen on the details. The assignment was: 'An unforgettable weekend with 150 people in a warm country, with good food and good feasting, beautiful drinks and exciting activities.' And the trip had to be suitable for everyone. Because such a company naturally has a very diverse workforce, from sales managers to warehouse workers. With that assignment, for which I had a budget of 120,000 euros at my disposal, I was sent on the road.
As the process progressed, we ended up at Valencia. I immediately went there for three days because I wanted to see the possible locations with my own eyes to rule out the possibility that anything would be wrong. With a local agent I went to all the venues. I felt I already knew which venues would catch on. That is my strength: I can read between the lines what my client wants. I booked Marina Beach Club Valencia as the party location for the Saturday night: on the beach, with a view of the sea and a disco and swimming pool. The place to see and be seen. I booked restaurants, organized a catamaran sailing tour and bike and walking tour... And the hotel I had my eye on, I tried it out myself first. Then you know how the beds are, the service is, the breakfast. Nothing I wanted to leave to chance. They were all A-locations, no concessions were made there. And it was all within budget - I had really shopped well.
Together with the client, I then discussed the details, from menu to table arrangements, to make sure that it would indeed be an unforgettable weekend. To that end, the tour operator you work with is also important; they are responsible for executing the script. And I want maximum security and expertise for my client. Is there supervision at check-in, is someone waiting for the group at the destination, are the transfers arranged, the guides during the excursions? In this case, the management wanted me to go along myself, as a link between the client and the local agent. Then I lead the way everywhere and make sure that the menus are on the table on time, the right champagne is poured when entering a location, that dietary requirements are met, that electric bicycles are also available for the bike tour... You name it all. People could choose which activities they wanted to participate in. For example, the executive women opted for a paella cooking course, for which we first went shopping at the indoor market.
Throughout the weekend, I supervised the group in every possible way and thus took care of them. What compliments I received? 'This was by far the best thing we ever did together, it contributed so much to the collegiality.' And someone else said: 'I thought after every drink, activity or dinner: it can't get any better than this. But it did, every time.' I had deliberately built it up that way, working towards the climax: the party on Saturday evening. If that is how people experience it, I take that as a great compliment. You can place a group trip like this with a thousand parties, but I am on top of things and think three steps ahead. On the return trip the seats were wrongly allocated. Then I start a conversation and make sure things are put right. At times like that you really add value, you just sort it out. Actually, I'm a personal assistant 3.0."
Plaza de la Virgen, the lively heart of Valencia
MASTERS MAGAZINE
Curious about the rest of this article? In the fall edition of MASTERS, an interview with LVMH boss Bernard Arnault ("being the richest man in the world didn't do anything for me"), a driving review of the electric Audi RS e-tron GT, on reportage with the 'tree matchmakers' of The Green Contractors, an interview with celebrity chef Dick Middelweerd and a visit in Barcelona with Ronald Koeman. The war, the climate crisis, the energy problem... More than ever, leadership and entrepreneurship are being called upon. With MASTERS EXPO | The Colourful Edition (December 8 to 12, RAI Amsterdam), we want to contribute in our own way and give the world a push in the right direction. In this edition of MASTERS, a colorful preview of the most exclusive business fair. Time to think ahead, innovate, connect!
