….. and then there was even more snow!! When I wrote my blog a couple of weeks ago it never occurred to me that we would have a double whammy. I am so sorry to all those clients that have not been able to get away for their Christmas holiday. We know how hugely disappointing it is. My thanks and admiration goes out to Belinda Keay, our Customer Services Manager, Lynne Raw, our Operations Manager and our fantastic Operations team. They worked relentlessly, including over the weekend, to look at alternative ways to get our travelling customers home safely. Their use of initiative was unfailing – and by re-routing trips and being resourceful, they got everyone home. We brought 32 of our customers back to Paris, hiring a coach to Dover, booking ferry seats and then another coach to bring everyone back to London Heathrow. It is no wonder I am so proud of the team – always putting our customers first. I know it was a long journey for those that endured it but I hope, with reflection, you can see we were determined to exhaust every possibility until we had a solution.
Two runways open at Heathrow again – hooray!
Hopefully lessons will be learnt, there will be an acceptance that adverse weather is now a common occurrence in the UK and we will all be better prepared and equipped.
What a difference – when we were children we welcomed snow and loved to have a white Christmas – how life changes as you get older and it becomes such a nuisance.
We are ramping up our team spirit at Bales – not that we don’t have lots of enthusiasm and motivation but there is always room for improvement. We’re focusing on how we can provide an even better experience for our customers. We have split the company into regional teams – reflecting the world destinations we travel to – which is pretty much everywhere bar Europe. The teams are a mix of people from all departments and each team has a target for their region. We’ll be measured on financial achievement and of course high standards of customer service – judged by you! If you haven’t experienced our top notch service – then call us now and find out for yourself.
Ok on a personal front – I still haven’t been back to the gym!! I could say snow prevented me, I could say work prevented me and yes they did but the reality is – I haven’t had the inclination. It is now 23 December and I have yet to do Christmas shopping. Thank goodness my family have recognised that I’ve run out of time and have at least got the food shopping. I did try to convince my family that I had done my gift buying on line and nothing had been delivered. They sussed me pretty quickly, knowing I have never bought anything on line before. It wasn’t helped by the fact that, on the hoof, when questioned under pressure, I told them the name of the website I had used – unfortunately it doesn’t exist. We need shops to be open all night – or at least I do. I guess that’s because at Bales we provide a 24 hour service for our clients.
Incidentally for those that want to book a holiday we are closed on Christmas and Boxing Day but open again for the Bank Holidays 27th, 28th December and through the week. We are closed on Saturday 1st January but open again on Sunday 2nd and Bank Holiday 3rd January – so we are at your service should you make your holiday decision over the Christmas and New Year Period.
I wish you all a very happy festive season and look forward to speaking to you again in the New Year.
Mandy
About Mandy Nickerson
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Mandy endeavours to share her travel experiences (where she will 'tell it like it is') and also detail the latest exciting projects that she is involved in.
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