The Travel Café’s laidback vibe invites many walk-ins, but the travel agency could do more to make its services visible
PRESENCE A few blocks from the beach in the Sydney suburb of Bondi, the freshly minted Travel Café by Whitestar travel agency offers a light, bright and friendly setting. There’s a big communal table plus bar-style window side seating where customers can enjoy coffee, breakfast and cakes while planning their next trip.
In fact, walking past one would be forgiven for thinking that the store is just a café – only when one steps in does the wall lined with colourful brochures and a support desk become visible. There’s also a table with iPads that customers can use to research their travel plans.
APPEARANCE After a minute or so of browsing brochures I’m welcomed by the storeowner, who is dressed in jeans and a Whitestar t-shirt. It’s casual, but it works in this informal setting.
The store has a very relaxed vibe and is very conducive to sitting and spending an hour or so leafing through pamphlets or using the iPads to gain inspiration over coffee.
EASE The staff member that I spoke with was very friendly and dealt well with my questions on booking an inter-generational cruise around the Pacific. She gave me a couple of brochures to take away, and also took my details telling me that she would do some extra research herself and get back to me later in the week with further ideas.
I didn’t stay for a coffee but there were a number of people making the most of the resources, with staff on hand if they had any questions.
SUGGESTIONS From the outside, it’s hard to know that the store is actually a travel agency – which is both a blessing and a curse. Blessing because the store gets a lot of walk-in guests who come for the coffee and then stay for the travel information, but it may mean that potential customers miss the fact that it actually offers travel support.
Some additional overhead signage or a sandwich board advertising this would improve the visibility of the store’s travel offerings.
By Natasha Dragun
