The Bales Story
Bales Worldwide (formerly known as Bales Tours) is a tour operator established by George Bales in 1947.
George Bales had been working for an air broker for just three days in 1947 when he decided he could do better on his own and made his first deal from a telephone box. From there he worked from a friend’s flat until he found an office in London’s Piccadilly and launched British Air Brokers on September 1, 1947. Molly Hammond, later to become Mrs Bales, joined the company as George’s secretary in May 1948. Mrs Bales is now the Chairman of the company and our present MD Mandy Nickerson is the daughter of George and Molly Bales. Bales took its first step into the leisure market in 1960, when it began organising escorted tours to the Middle East. Within a few years, the pioneering spirit of the Bales family had covered the globe and the company’s tours now range from Borneo to Tanzania, from Canada to the Galapagos, and Tibet to Morocco, offering a mix of the popular and the unusual.
Recently (December 2009) Bales Worldwide made the important decision to joing the Virging Holidays team. Although joining Virgin, may seem like a big change, the company is still running in the same, reliable way it always has, still under the direction of Mandy Nickerson. Joing Virgin has meant that Bales can move forward as part of a strong established holiday group.
Company registration number:441920 England.
The Organisation
Bales Worldwide is divided into the following departments:
Accounts Department
Handling all the financial aspects of the company, this involves producing detailed management accounts for the Directors; accounting for each client’s booking, i.e. incoming receipts and payments to airlines and ground handlers; managing all in-house accounting.
Administration
Administration deals with all incoming and out-going post and manages stock control for all stationery and office supplies.
Customer Services Department
Responds to all client correspondence, both complimentary and complaint. Follows up on customer complaints, including welcome home calls, to try to improve the service we offer and avoid any re-occurrence of a problem.
HR and Health and Safety
Responsible for monitoring the health and safety provision for each component of every holiday i.e. accommodation, overland travel and excursions. Also ensures the office health and safety provision meets with statutory regulations. Manages the human resource function within the company i.e. staff development, training, recruitment.
Marketing Department
This department ensures Bales Worldwide enjoys a high profile in the consumer and media world as well as with the travel trade. Also responsible for researching the demand for the Bales product and supporting the research and development of new products.
Operations Department
Responsible for operational procedures and client administration for all product types including the production of final travel documents and tickets. Liaises with ground handlers, airlines and Tour Managers to ensure a smooth tour operation. Liaises closely with clients to ensure a high level of personal service.
Planning Department
Responsible for the research and development of new products and destinations; prospecting new itineraries; the planning of the brochures; preparing the costings for all brochures; liaising with ground handlers, hotels and airlines.
Sales Department
Receives all enquiries and reservation calls from travel agents and direct clients for all product types. Designs itineraries and produces costings for FIT enquiries and for independent pre and post tour extensions. Monitors sales figures and consolidates tour departures when necessary. Liaises closely with clients to ensure a high level of personal service.
