JA Resorts & Hotels recently completed the first phase of its online training programme, which was targeted towards UK tour and travel professionals operating in the UAE leisure market. More than 250 UK-based tour operators and travel agents completed the programme. This initiative by the hotel was a step ahead targeting the UK’s outbound leisure market ahead of the European winter season. “We decided now was the right time to target the United Kingdom, which is one of our top European markets. According to the Dubai Government’s Department of Trade and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), British visitor numbers in the second quarter of 2013 were up eight percent year-on-year to 185,000. Finally, the training also empowers agents to become JA ambassadors.,” said Anabela Radosevic, director of sales & marketing, JA Resorts & Hotels. Travel agents can also complete the programme module by module, with each segment covering a different property. Travel trade professionals in Saudi Arabia will be the focus of the next phase of training programme, followed closely by the rest of the GCC over the coming weeks. Source: Travel Daily