The co-founder of tour operator Bridge & Wickers has set up a holiday match finding and advice service for travel agents and holidaymakers.
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Bridge & Wickers co-founder starts holiday match service
The co-founder of tour operator Bridge & Wickers has set up a holiday match finding and advice service for travel agents and holidaymakers.
Two years ago Jerry Bridge and David Wickers sold Bridge & Wickers to the Ultimate Travel Company, of which Bridge is now a non-executive director.
In that time, Bridge has been working on a new venture, World Travel With Bridge.
As well as helping consumers, the service aims to help agents on bookings they are working on for clients, from giving them recommended suppliers, places to visit and accommodation to destination travel advice.
Agents can email Bridge, who lives in New Zealand, direct via worldtravelwithbridge.com, for a guaranteed response within 12 hours.
The company is offering a case of wine to any agent who books based on his recommendations. Agents must email the booking reference to qualify.
The site covers long-haul destinations, from Australasia to South America, Africa and Asia, as well as Europe.
Bridge is confident his 35 years’ experience and knowledge, particularly of the luxury and backpacker long-haul market, will offer information agents would not otherwise be aware of.
“I don’t think anyone offers this; these are very bespoke, personal recommendations, whether it’s for suppliers or places to stay.
“I want to help agents who don’t necessarily have the the same contacts and experience. I genuinely believe that with my experience and list of contacts I am one step ahead of most retail agents in terms of being able to offer them impartial advice.”
Bridge is working with preferred operators and agencies, which pay to market their holidays and services on his site in return for recommendations, blog posts, social media coverage and click-throughs.
He will not earn commission on travel agency bookings but hopes agents who like the service will sign up for 12 months, at a cost of £100, to use the service as much as they like during that time.
