APT boosts staff benefits to ‘entice good talent’
Cruise and tours specialist APT has enhanced benefits for its employees, as rising sales mean it is continuing to recruit new staff.
Paul Melinis, UK and Europe managing director, told a Travel Weekly webcast that the company has taken on five extra staff recently and is still seeking more for its reservations and documentations team, as bookings bounce back.
“It is time to start thinking positively, acting positively,” he said.
“We are coming out of the survival mode.
“Monthly sales are nearly at 2019 levels – and 2019 was a record year.
“It’s also come with some challenges, and especially in staffing, because we were planning to really bounce back at the end of 2022.
“We’ve obviously bounced back a lot earlier, which is great. But that means that we’ve had to go on a recruitment drive.”
He said many people who left travel roles amid the pandemic are now looking to return to the sector as they see “the feelgood factor coming back”.
Furthermore, the working-from-home trend means the Buckinghamshire-based firm has been able to recruit staff from as far afield as Scotland and Cornwall.
“We’ve also shaken things up internally by enhancing our staff benefits, which I believe now are some of the best in the business,” he added.
“We’ve got some great loyal staff that have been with us for many, many years and we also want to entice good talent as well, whether that’s young or experienced talent.”
As well as increasing the amount of annual leave, the company has guaranteed a place for all staff on a fam trip this year for its new river cruise vessel Travelmarvel Vega.
The operator will also welcome Brad Bennetts, who moves from easyJet Holidays’ next month to become APT’s head of sales and business development.
“Everybody knows Brad, he’s a likeable chap. He’s very experienced, and he understands the luxury sector,” said Melinis.
“In Brad, we found a great leader, and someone who’s going to take our retail space to the next level.”
Furthermore, APT has unveiled a three-part incentive programme for travel agents called ‘Book today and sail away’.
More: APT unveils new incentive programme for travel agents
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