Thomson and First Choice Pioneer NVQ Qualification for Overseas Holiday Advisors

By Tui Uk Ltd, PRNE
Monday, May 16, 2011

LUTON, England, May 17, 2011 - TUI UK & Ireland, parent company of Thomson and First Choice Holidays,
becomes the first tour operator to introduce NVQ Level 2 Diploma in Tour
Operations to its 800 overseas holiday advisor roles.

The ground-breaking programme has been tailored to the needs of the tour
operator, and has been certificated by City & Guilds, so both managers and
holiday advisors will gain professional qualifications whilst driving even
higher standards in holiday experience. Based on UK National Occupational
Standards, this pioneering work-based qualification will differentiate the
tour operator's people and service from its competitors and will ensure that
its customers continue to receive industry leading standards of service.

Resort team managers are being trained to become professional assessors
and will be awarded the Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement.

Overseas holiday advisors will have ownership and responsibility for
their own targets and objectives, and will be assessed against national
standards, with topics including customer service and presentation,
effectiveness at work, health & safety, planning and delivering welcome
events, sales and transfers. The initiative will enable the tour operator to
roll out further additional qualifications tailored to meet the personal
development needs of overseas teams.

Ian Chapman, director of holiday experience commented: "This pioneering
NVQ scheme demonstrates our commitment to offering the highest standards of
customer service. It's an exciting way for our team members to gain a
credible qualification in the workplace, and not only ensures that they are
trained to the highest level, but also means that we can continue to attract,
develop and retain the highest calibre of overseas holiday advisors in the
industry."

In addition TUI UK will continue to offer its childcare team the
"Certificate for the Children & Young People's Workforce" apprenticeship
which was successfully introduced in 2010.

About TUI UK:

TUI Travel PLC is the UK's leading leisure travel company. Under the
names Thomson and First Choice, TUI specialises in sunshine holidays
(www.firstchoice.co.uk/sun-holidays/), package holidays
(www.thomson.co.uk/package-holidays.html), family holidays
(www.thomson.co.uk/family-holidays.html) and beach holidays
(www.firstchoice.co.uk/sun-holidays/adult-holidays/beach-escapes/).

Customers expect the travel companies they deal with to have the highest
standards of business practice and accountability. First Choice is registered
with the Association of British Travel Agent (ABTA), fully bonded by the
Civil Aviation Authority under Air Travel Organisers' Licence (ATOL) and part
of the Federation of Tour Operators.

    PR contact:
    Grace Jones
    TUI UK Ltd,
    Wigmore House
    Wigmore Lane
    Luton
    LU2 9TN
    +44(0)1582-648725
    www.thomson.co.uk

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