HOMEWORKERS

Recognising the significant growth of home-based travel advisors which makes up approximately 60% of travel retail, the Jamaica Tourist Board made the bold move to appoint a dedicated Business Development Officer for Homeworkers, a role that involved not only developing lasting relationships but one dedicated to helping homeworkers grow their Jamaica business. Where it is recognised that some Tour Operators have created positions for dedicated BDMs for homeworkers, the JTB is the first National Tourist Board to do so.

INTERACTIONS

One of the challenges faced by the trade is interacting with homebased travel professionals as the norm of visiting an office or store is not applicable in this instance. To overcome this challenge, the Jamaica Tourist Board has implemented enhanced activations:

VIRTUAL – Post pandemic has resulted in less agents participating in webinars but acknowledging the fact that many homeworkers chose this way of life to facilitate day to day living, the JTB offers virtual training webinars at times conducive to homeworkers. Homeworkers who request webinar training are accommodated usually between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm which allows individuals to have enough time to do school runs etc.

We have also had requests for webinars to be held at 8:00 pm which was the preferred time and requests of this nature is facilitated.

IN PERSON – As in the case of webinars, bespoke in person activities are planned to accommodate home based retail staff and held between the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00 pm the latest.

These events are usually held in venues which are conducive to in-depth training with the destination and usually enhanced with some of the destination’s iconic resorts making presentations.The feedback received from agents post training events have been positive and have resulted in bookings.These smaller events also make agents feel comfortable to ask questions.

CONFERENCES – Where we can’t physically attend every homeworker conference, we have identified some and always investigating attending others as we find attending these conferences a valuable tool in building relationships.

JOING THE JAMAICA HOMEWORKER REGISTER

Another challenge that has been surmounted is locating homeworkers across the UK.

To do this, the Jamaica Tourist Board has created a homeworking register which is shared virtually, at conferences, and on social media.

This register allows agents to input their contact information and where it does not request a physical address, it requests agents to input their closest city.

This tool has been useful in identifying pockets where there is a concentration of agents which helps in better planning training events.

Agents are invited to join the register by scanning the QR code

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SUPPORT FOR HOMEWORKERS

The Jamaica Tourist Board offers dedicated and personalised support for homeworkers.

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CONSUMER SHOW SUPPORT PACK - This pack has been designed to provide homeworkers who may be participating in various consumer shows and fayres in their respected areas.

The pack includes brochures, point of sale materials including pop-up banners and a financial contribution towards the cost to participate at the show.

SOCIAL MEDIA ASSIATANCE - Recognizing that many homeworkers utilize social media, the Jamaica Tourist Board gives support in providing Jamaica Branded images and videos for inclusion on various social media platforms.

HYBRID FAM TRIPS

A challenge faced by many homeworkers is getting the time to participate on educational trips as in many cases, trips of this nature disrupt their working day.

Recognising that these agents in most cases work for themselves the JTB has created bespoke hybrid Fam trips.

Agents who are lucky to secure a place on these coveted trips are accommodated in a resort that is conducive to working by having excellent Wi-Fi and ‘quiet’ areas outside of the rooms.

What makes these trips unique?Agents are free to work in the mornings as in the summer, Jamaica is 6 hours behind the UK and the itinerary does not begin until noon which would be 6:00 pm UK time, giving the agent ample time to carry out work commitments.

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On previous trips we have had agents on the beach at 5:00 am, a great way to start the day with sunrise and a steaming cup of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee.

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The Hybrid trips let agents truly experience what it means to be a digital nomad where they can work without interruption but enjoy and learn about the destination in the afternoon.

INCENTIVES

All travel agents love incentives, and where all the Jamaica Tourist Board’s incentives for travel agents are open to all, some have been created solely for homeworkers.

JAMAICA REWARDS – All agents are encouraged to register and log their Jamaica holiday bookings on our travel agent portal www.jamaicarewards.co.uk

Each year, agents begin to earn after the 5^th booking has been logged and this is not limited as there are additional incentives added.

Jamaica Tourist Board has just recognised its 70^th anniversary and as part of the year of celebrations planned, agents with most bookings logged monthly will be gifted £70.

Homeworkers are also encouraged to log their bookings as the annual incentive of the One Love Rewards is an incentive to work for.

Top booking agents are invited to Jamaica in December with a plus one, all expenses paid, and the top booking ‘homeworker’ will be included at this incentive trip, where he/she will be recognised as one of our top bookers.

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COMPETITION

Many of us had to work from home during the pandemic which highlighted the need for ‘assets’ to make the experience productive.

This has led to the Jamaica Tourist Board creating a competition for homeworkers where they can win items to enhance their home offices.

This competition is part of the 70^th anniversary celebration and agents who log 7 and more bookings by December will be put in a draw to win some home office must haves which include: