Artificial intelligence is becoming part of almost every aspect of our lives. From the news and social media feeds we see to the way we shop, travel and communicate, AI is increasingly involved in the background.
But while technology can be incredibly useful, there are some things that are still better done by a person.
A World of Automated Customer Service
A recent BBC comedy, ‘Ann Droid’, starring Diane Morgan and Sue Johnston, got us thinking about the way we interact with technology. Morgan plays a second-hand robot carer – ‘Ann Droid ’- for Johnston’s character, Sue.
If you haven’t seen it, we highly recommend it. We won’t spoil the plot, but alongside being very funny, it offers a glimpse into a slightly scary future where people are increasingly replaced by AI. It got us thinking about customer service too.
Have you ever called a company only to be greeted by an automated system asking you a series of questions before eventually putting you through to someone? Or typed into a website chat window next to a picture of a smiling person wearing a headset, only to discover that there isn’t actually a person there at all?
For many businesses, automation is a way of making things more efficient. And there are certainly situations where technology can make life easier.
But when you’re booking a holiday, we think there’s something particularly valuable about being able to talk to someone who understands what you’re booking, can answer your questions and is happy to spend time helping you make the right decision.
We Believe People Should Still Come First
Yes, of course we use technology, but only to automate the repetitive, boring stuff. This frees up our time to help you.
If you need to contact us during normal office hours, you will ALWAYS get through to a person. We don’t use automated telephone systems, chatbots or put any barriers in the way to stop you getting through, and we never will.
When you call, a real person answers the phone – imagine that! If we are busy on calls with other customers, you may have to leave us a message, but we will always call you back. If you email us or contact us through the website, another real person reads and responds to your email.
The Same Faces from Booking to Holiday
We are a small team, there are only nine of us full-time, plus our amazing team of volunteers and other crew who you see at the festivals. When you get in touch with us to book a festival holiday, you will get to know us by our first names.
More than that, when you arrive at your destination airport or hotel, we will be there too. Yes, the same people providing end-to-end service. And if there’s ever a problem during your travels, we provide you with a telephone number, which we will always answer and be able to help.
Experience Fairport Convention Up Close and Personal
One of the things that makes a Harmony Voyages music cruise so different is the intimacy of the experience.
At a traditional concert, you arrive at the venue, watch the performance and head home afterwards. On a music cruise, the performances become part of the holiday itself.
With a maximum of just 158 passengers aboard AMADEUS Mira, the setting is a world away from a large concert hall or festival field.
Days can be spent exploring historic European destinations or simply relaxing and watching the scenery pass by. Then, in the evening, guests come together to enjoy live performances from Fairport Convention on board.
It creates a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere and the chance to experience the band up close and personal, alongside a relatively small group of fellow Fairport fans and music lovers.
Introducing Our New Team Members
As our business continues to grow, we’ve recently welcomed two new members to the team: Jamie-Lee and Ellie.
They’re both very much real humans – none of the ‘Ann Droids’ made it through the interview process! – and they’ll be among the friendly faces you’ll get to know when you contact us about your next holiday.
Jamie-Lee
Jamie-Lee brings her passion for travel, sport and creating memorable experiences to the Harmony Voyages team. Having travelled to 26 countries and lived in five, including South Korea and New Zealand, she has plenty of stories and experiences to draw on.
Her time working in the ski industry in Japan and New Zealand has fuelled her love of adventure and the outdoors, while her keen interest in Formula 1 means she’s always looking for her next adventure. Outside of work, you’ll usually find Jamie-Lee watching F1, skiing, exploring somewhere new or planning her next holiday.
Ellie
With a First-Class Honours degree in International Tourism Management, Ellie has always had a passion for travel and discovering new places. She loves experiencing different destinations and cultures, with discovering local cuisine being one of her favourite parts of travelling. Her love of travel and helping others fuelled her excitement to begin her career in the travel industry with Harmony Voyages.
Outside of work, Ellie loves spending time with her family and making memories with them. She’s also a huge animal lover, with a particular soft spot for cats!
So, if you’ve had enough of chatbots, automated telephone systems and AI and want real people to look after your travel, whether that’s to one of our festivals or anywhere else in the world, you know who to call!