Exclusive: Not Just Travel reveals new AI training plan for agents
Not Just Travel has announced plans to roll out a two-phased artificial intelligence (AI) training and support programme for its network of homeworkers
Speaking to Cruise Trade News, co-founder of the homeworking agency Steve Witt says the firm will look to streamline its AI strategy to help agents get to grips with the evolving technology, boost bookings and improve customer relationships.
“Up until now, we’ve had 700 strategies on how to use AI,” he continues. “But we’re now implementing a new programme which will be the most comprehensive AI training scheme in the industry.
“It’s designed to help bring our consultants up to date with the technology and help them utilise it to improve efficiency, communication, prospects and closing the sale.”
Witt explains that the majority of NJT’s consultants and corporate team are already using AI, “but to only 5-10 per cent of its capabilities”.
“We’ve not launched a dedicated NJT tool, because there’s so many great tools out there already, but instead we’re teaching our agents how to make better use of what’s out there and how to use the right tools for the right thing. As soon as you start doing that, it’s a gamechanger,” Witt adds.
The company has been testing new AI initiatives over the past month and has already seen efficiency gains and lead acquisition “skyrocket”.
Witt says the company has so far utilised AI to improve its social media output, which led to a 450 per cent uptick in engagement in the first week.
Phase two of the agency’s AI programme will see the launch of a series of tools to help agents improve product knowledge and speed.
The new development will pull together information from NJT’s cruise, aviation and destination partners, allowing agents to ask the programme questions to find out what’s trending and gain recommendations for customers.
“I think everyone’s got to embrace AI, because it’s here to stay,” Witt says. “A lot of people coming into selling cruise for the first time are scared of cruise, and part of our job is to demystify and help people realise that selling cruise is even simpler than selling a land based holiday.
“So the questions are, how can we use AI tools to help with that, and how can we empower a travel consultant to speak more confidently?
“There’s also applications, especially for homeworkers, when it comes to efficiency and time management. AI can help with prioritising your day and analysing your workload, offering effective ways of managing yourself. It’s never going to replace humans – it’s here to make us better at what we already do.”
It comes after Not Just Travel reported robust cruise bookings last week, despite an overall industry “lull”. Following the success of its Cruise Division training programme, the company announced earlier this year that it will expand the initiative to all 720+ consultants.
