To celebrate the value travel advisors bring to consumers and the travel industry, the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) has spearheaded “National Travel Advisor Day” on May 1. For “National Travel Advisor Day” on May 1, and “National Travel Advisor Month” throughout the month of May, travel companies are dishing out incentives.
Three to Win in Third-Annual Drawing for National Travel Advisor Day
Travelex Insurance Services is having its the third annual drawing. It only takes one minute to enter. Each winner gets two new pieces of luggage. Three travel advisors will win.
All travel advisors who enter the drawing from May 1-31 will have a chance to win a new set of Away brand luggage, valued at $420. Three winners will receive both prizes in their choice of color.
- The Carry-On smart suitcase features an ejectable battery to charge electronic devices, a TSA-compliant combination lock and exterior measurements that meet carry-on requirements.
- The Everywhere Bag slides over the Carry-On suitcase handle for a smooth ride, matches airlines’ personal item requirements, and features multiple interior pockets, including a waterproof compartment and space for a laptop.
Travel advisors can get up to 10 extra entries by sharing the drawing with colleagues. Travelex is accepting entries May 1-31. Winners will be announced June 4.
For more information, visit https://www.travelexinsurance.com, and to enter the drawing, visit http://bitly.com/2PsZ7PT.
AIC Hotel Group Celebrates Travel Advisor Day With Five Weeks of Appreciation
AIC Hotel Group will be jumpstarting a social media campaign consisting of five weeks of appreciation for its travel advisor partners. The company has developed several promotions and incentives designed to give back to travel advisors and empower their business. Some of the promotions include more opportunities to earn commission, credits, rewards and more.
For more information, visit http://aichotelgroup.com/
CIE Tours Offers Up to Half Off Select Tours for Travel Advisors
CIE Tours International is celebrating by expanding travel advisor discounts. Travel advisors can get up to half off a CIE Tours guided vacation with companion discounts available as well.
Sample tours for fam travel include:
- Irish Foodie Tour: Eight days starting from $1,998 per person (before discount): Foodies can experience the Emerald Isle’s culinary heritage and culture, meet artisan and traditional producers, and visit epicurean favorites. They will experience a tea tour of Dublin on a vintage double-decker bus, forage for seaweed along the shore and taste cheese on a goat farm.
- The Irish Pub Tour: Eight days starting from $1,999 per person (before discount): Learn about Ireland’s folk traditions and tales while exploring pubs around the country, including story-telling at Dublin’s oldest watering hole, the Brazen Head. Teeling Whiskey Distillery and the Guinness Storehouse are also included stops on the tour.
- Scottish Dream: Eight days, starting at $1,979 per person (before discount): Travelers will go on castle tours, a trip to picturesque Isle of Skye and the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow.
- Best of Britain: 10 days, starting at $2,834 per person (before discount): A tour of England, Wales and Scotland, spanning Britain’s cities and old towns of the British countryside.
Visit www.cietours.com/agentfam for the most currently available tour departures and associated discounts.
Cunard Offers Friends and Family Rates on Selected Voyages
Cunard to offer valued advisors the Friends and Family rates on select voyages with starting fares as low at $399 per person, based on double occupancy. This offer is valid from May 1 to May 7, based on availability. The following voyages are included in the offer:
Transatlantic Crossings, starting fares at $399 pp including:
- The fourth annual Transatlantic Fashion Week Crossing (M922) on Queen Mary 2, July 28 - August 4, 2019. Featuring a line-up of industry professionals including Stuart Weitzman and Stephen Jones.
- Dance the Atlantic (M924) from August 11 - 18, 2019, when the English National Ballet will join a Transatlantic Crossing on Queen Mary 2.
- Additional Transatlantic Crossings in 2019 depart on May 24 (M914), May 31 (M915), June 7 (M916), August 18 (M925), November 1 (M935) and November 19 (M938).
Canada/New England, starting fares at $399 pp, including Queen Mary 2’s five seven-night voyages to the ports of Halifax, Quebec and Saguenay. The five voyages include:
- Voyage M919, departing on June 30, 2019 from New York City.
- Voyage M927, departing on September 1, 2019 from New York City.
- Voyage M928, departing on September 8, 2019 from Quebec City.
- Voyage M931, departing on October 4, 2019 from New York City.
- Voyage M932, departing on October 11, 2019 from Quebec City.
Select cruises such as Iceland, Greenland and North Cape. Starting fares at $798 pp
- Iceland/Greenland, voyage M921, departing on July 14, 2019 from Southampton.
- Iceland, voyage V919, departing on July 28, 2019 from Southampton.
- Iceland, voyage Q925, departing on September 6, 2019 from Southampton.
- North Cape, voyage 927, departing on November 16, 2019 from Southampton.
For more information, visit https://www.cunard.com/en-us
Intrepid Group Extends Its Purpose-Driven Agent Incentive Program Until May 31
Intrepid Group is extending its Purpose-Driven Agent Incentive program in the Americas until the end of May and it has added an “Agent Appreciation Spot” for one randomly selected registered travel agent on the company’s Nepal fam trip in November.
To finish up the now-four-month incentive campaign, the top 10 agents who have accrued the most Purpose Points by May 31, and one additional registered agent, will win a free trip to Nepal led by Intrepid Group’s co-founder, Geoff Manchester. Agents can earn points by booking clients on one of Intrepid Group’s 2,700 tours through its brands Intrepid Travel, Peregrine Adventures and Urban Adventures. In addition, Intrepid Group will also be offering a two percent bonus commission to all agent partners for the full month of April. Terms and conditions may apply.
Intrepid’s 10-day Nepal fam trip is slated to depart on November 3, 2019, and it will take agents on a several experiences, including hiking and participating in a cooking class with Seven Women, a program that helps disadvantaged women in Nepal, supported by Intrepid Group’s not-for-profit, The Intrepid Foundation.
Additionally, any new registration will receive Purpose Points for all Intrepid Group trips sold and social media posts within the incentive period. For more information on the terms and conditions of the incentive, agents can visit: http://incentive.intrepidgroup.travel/Purpose
ID Travel Group Increases Advisor Commission
The ID Travel Group is increasing advisor commission to 17.5 percent across all destinations. The increased commission is valid for new bookings made Wednesday, May 1, that are deposited by Friday, May 3 for client travel anytime, excluding festive period.
Additionally, zero point five percent of proceeds from every booking made will go directly towards the ID Travel Group Foundation for Better Living’s ongoing mission to raise funds for education and the enrichment of lives in island nations where the ID Travel Group operates.
For more information about the ID Travel Group Foundation for Better Living visit: www.idtravelfoundation.org
Central Holidays Provides Gift Cards for New Bookings Through May 7
Central Holidays is offering a $100 gift card for every new booking from May 1 - May 7, 2019.
Travel advisors that work with Central Holidays can receive:
- Travel advisor only offers
- Training and development activities
- Tiered compensation program
- Wide range of travel options
- Educational FAM trips
- Guaranteed departures
- Small group tours
- 5 comprehensive destination brochures
- National sales team
- In-house destination experts
- Dedicated group department
*$100 Gift Card awarded for new land or land/cruise bookings of $5000 or more deposited from May 1 through May 7, 2019. Not applicable to Group Travel (10 passengers or more) and may not be combined with other offers, discounts or promotions. Applicable to Central Holidays bookings only. Must mention code TA2019 at time of booking.
For more information, visit centralholidays.com
Pleasant Holidays and Journese Offer Bonus Trip Points Per Booking & Amazon Gift Card Incentives
Pleasant Holidays and its luxury brand, Journese, are offering travel advisors 500 Bonus TRIP Points per booking for all bookings confirmed on Wednesday, May 1, 2019. In addition, the travel advisor with the single largest confirmed booking that day will receive a $150 Amazon gift card. The offers are valid on new confirmed bookings made May 1, 2019 for travel any time. Bookings may be made online or via the call center and must be under deposit or paid in full by 11:59 p.m. PDT on May 1, 2019 to qualify.
TRIP is the two companies' Travel Rewards Incentive Program that rewards travel advisors with points redeemable for personal travel. Trip Points are earned on every Pleasant Holidays or Journese booking. Travel advisors who earn 25,000 or more TRIP points in a year are automatically elevated to Premier Tier status for the following year, which includes added perks and greater flexibility.
The incentives apply to bookings of all destinations in their portfolios. Pleasant Holidays and Journese offer complete vacation packages including flights, resort and cruise accommodations, car rentals and airport transfers including VIP airport lounge access, commissionable activities, travel protection coverage and more. Travel advisors will save on vacations to many hotel brands.
For more information or to make a booking, travel advisors can visit PleasantAgent.com or Journese.com.
TravelCar.com Unveils New Incentive
TravelCar.com has launched a new global incentive program. Current and prospective travel advisors who use TravelCar’s Travel Agent Platform to make parking reservations for clients will earn an additional 5 percent commission for the month of May, bringing the total to 15 percent. Travel advisors have access to book commissionable parking for clients at airports, seaports, train stations and city centers in more than 60 countries.
In the U.S. alone, TravelCar’s off-airport parking network covers more than 50 cities, including 18 of the top 20 major airports. TravelCar, for example, has 17 options for agents to choose from for travelers out of LAX (Los Angeles International Airport). TravelCar says it is the only airport parking platform to list many official on-airport parking options as well. In addition to booking parking, travel agents can also purchase amenities for their clients such as valet service, car wash, gas filling, lounge passes and more.
TravelCar offers a commission rate with a platform that is available in 30 languages and 40 currency options. Agents receive monthly reporting and have complete transparency to see completed and cancelled reservations. Multilingual partner support is available for agents 24/7. Travel agents around the world can sign up for access for free at join.travelcar.com and begin making reservations for clients.
For more information, visit https://www.travelcar.com/.
Avanti Celebrates Offers $25 Gift Card for Each Online Booking Over $3,000 Made in May
Independent travel specialist Avanti Destinations is offering a $25 gift card and reduced delivery and documentation fees for each online booking over $3,000 made between May 1 and May 31, 2019 and paid with at least a deposit by the end of the May.
To qualify for the gift card and reduced delivery and documentation fees, the booking must be made on Avanti’s travel agent portal, https://book.avantidestinations.com. This offer applies to each online booking over the minimum qualifying value.
For more details on the National Travel Advisor Day offer, log onto the travel agent portal https://book.avantidestinations.com.
GOGO Vacations Gives Away Over 30 Trips and Cash Prizes to Eligible Agents
Throughout the entire month of May, GOGO Vacations is giving away a total of 31 trips and cash prizes to eligible agents. Here’s how it works:
- All bookings made and paid in full in May are eligible to win
- Each booking qualifies as an automatic entry; the more bookings, the more chances there are to win
- Each winner will receive a three or four-night, all-inclusive hotel stay for two and a $500 gift card
- Hotel stays from the following hotels are being awarded; winners will be selected on June 7, 2019: The Excellence Collection; Iberostar Hotels & Resorts; Palace Resorts; Playa Hotels & Resorts
GOGO Rewards offers prizes and incentives throughout the year. Visit www.gogowwv.com for more information.
Windstar Cruises Launches Rewards Program for Travel Advisor Appreciation Month
Windstar Cruises, to commemorate Travel Advisor Appreciation Day, has extended the celebrations to all of May. Windstar Cruises has designated May Travel Advisor Appreciation Month and created a new rewards program to thank travel advisors for their ongoing support. There are several opportunities to earn gift cards valued from $100 up to $750. And the top five advisors can win the Grand Prize: a suite for two for five days on one of the first sailings on the newly enhanced Star Breeze, from Miami on a Key West & Bahamas Getaway. Star Breeze is the first ship to be unveiled during Windstar’s new $250 Million Star Plus Initiative, which is transforming all three of the line’s all-suite Star Class ships — Star Breeze, Star Legend, and Star Pride.
During Windstar’s Travel Advisor Appreciation Month, advisors can earn points by completing the below actions:
Education:
- Graduate Star Specialist Academy (180 pts)
- Attend a Windstar Webinar (180 pts)
Social:
- Make a Windstar Social Media Post on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter (180 pts)
- Send out a Windstar Cruises promotional email (180 pts)
Sales:
- Make a Windstar booking* (90 pts)
- Register to use bookWINDSTAR ONLINE*, Windstar’s 24/7 online reservation system with real time pricing and inventory (180 pts)
- Make a first booking Windstar booking through bookWINDSTAR ONLINE (360 pts)
- Make additional Windstar bookings through bookWINDSTAR ONLINE (180 pts)
*Actions qualify if done within the last 12 months
Windstar’s Travel Advisor Appreciation rewards program is designed to show appreciation for travel advisors and the work they do to help promote Windstar Cruises and book Windstar sailing vacations; promoting Windstar travel advisors can qualify for the below prizes:
- $100 Gift Card: 1000 points
- $150 Gift Card: 1500 points
- $200 Gift Card: 2000 points
- $300 Gift Card: 3000 points
- $400 Gift Card: 4000 points
- $500 Gift Card: 5000 points
- Grand Prize: an elegant suite for two guests on Star Breeze, sailing out of Miami in 2019
Gift cards will be awarded for the total cumulative points earned at the end of the month. The grand prize will be awarded to the top five advisors. The top five advisors will be determined by the highest number of cumulative points earned by the conclusion of the contest.
Travel advisors have until the end of June to complete these actions and until the end of July to register completed actions. Windstar will count the points advisors have earned to see what they’ve won. Gift cards will be sent when all the advisor’s bookings have sailed. Grand prize winners will be chosen and notified on December 2, 2019.
Exodus Travel Collaborates With The Freedom Kit Bag Project to Donate to Underserved Communities
Exodus Travels is working with women’s health organization The Freedom Kit Bag Project to bring eco-friendly sanitary wear to underserved communities across Nepal – and donating a Freedom Kit Bag for every booking made in the US and Canada throughout May 2019.
In rural Nepal, a lack of education regarding reproduction cycles and standing cultural practices such as chhaupadi (which labels menstruating females as “untouchable”) means that many Nepalese women are prevented from going to school or work and interacting with their communities during their period. In many regions throughout Nepal, sanitary wear is considered non-essential, and a lack of hygienic protection often leads to dangerous infections which cause infertility. Exodus has been working with The Freedom Kit Bag Project since 2016 to create opportunities for women to lead fuller, more empowered lives in their communities.
A Freedom Kit Bag includes washable pads for daily use, pad-holders, panties, a carrying purse, a waterproof bag for used pads, soap, a washing line and a colourful bag made from recycled saris. The kit bags are made locally and distributed to villages and schools by the Freedom Kit Project, as part of a workshop where both men and women to raise awareness about healthcare and sex education.
For more information on Exodus Travels’ work with The Freedom Kit Bag Project, visit https://www.exodustravels.com/ca/insights/giving-back-women-nepal
Carnival Cruise Line Launches "Most Trusted Travel Advisor Contest"
Carnival Cruise Line is launching a new contest, “Most Trusted Travel Advisor,” that supports the yearlong “Why Use a Travel Advisor” (WUATA) program dedicated to promoting the value of travel agents.
Not only will the winning advisor be named Carnival’s “Most Trusted Advisor,” the agent and their client nominator will be awarded a cruise on Mardi Gras — debuting in August 2020 — and roundtrip airfare, and the agent also will receive $1,000 bonus and the commission from their client’s Mardi Gras cruise.
To nominate a travel advisor, clients can visit www.wuatacontest.com and submit a short story on why their travel advisor deserves the title by recalling a time when they saved the day, made them feel extra special or went above and beyond the call of duty. The contest is open from May 1 through October 29, 2019, and the winner will be announced at CruiseWorld in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, November 13, 2019.
The three finalists will be selected by a committee of judges including Ann Chamberlin, senior vice president, membership & strategic partnerships for American Society of Travel Advisors; Charles Sylvia, vice president, membership and trade relations, for Cruise Lines International Association; and members of Carnival’s Sales Leadership Team. All three travel advisors will receive an all-expenses paid two-day/one-night trip to CruiseWorld, where the grand prize winner will be announced in front of an audience of more than 1,000 of their peers and industry professionals.
In addition to the title the “Most Trusted Travel Advisor,” the grand prize winner and their nominating client each will receive a cruise for two aboard Mardi Gras, with roundtrip airfare to the embarkation city. The newly named ‘Most Trusted Travel Advisor’ also wins a $1,000 cash prize plus commission from their client’s Mardi Gras cruise. The first and second runner-up travel advisor winners also each will receive a cruise for two aboard Mardi Gras and roundtrip airfare to the embarkation city. All three winners will be celebrated by the Carnival Sales Team during key events at CruiseWorld.
For more information, check out our interview with Carnival SVP of Sales and Trade Marketing Adolfo Perez on the new contest.
Apple Leisure Group Enhances Agent Rewards Incentives from Each Vacation Brand
Following through on its 'Better Together. Stronger Together' promise to travel advisors, Apple Leisure Group (ALG) is kicking off a month-long Appreciation Celebration promotion on May 1, 2019. The campaign ties together reward incentives offered by each of ALG's brand subsidiaries with additional overarching components which include chances to win dream 'bucket list' getaways, free flights and FAM trip opportunities.
A special VIP QT incentive provides an opportunity to win a two-hour lunch for an entire agency with quality one-on-one time with brand presidents for Travel Impressions, Apple Vacations, Funjet Vacations or Blue-Sky Tours, or the managing director for Southwest Vacations or United Vacations.
Additional brand-specific reward opportunities:
Apple Vacations is rewarding 'Amazing Agents' with up to 20,000 Royalties Points for saving the day. It's also giving away 10 three-night trips for two and two roundtrip Exclusive Nonstop Vacation Flight seats. The company is also featuring an Amazing Agents Facebook profile overlay utility which helps travel advisors create a custom profile pic revealing their not-so-secret super power-harnessing the power of Apple Vacations to provide unsurpassed value on memorable vacation experiences. Travel advisors can find the utility on Apple Vacations' Facebook page. A fun scavenger hunt on MyAppleOnline.com adds further excitement.
One million LoyalTI First points are up for grabs through Travel Impressions' Million in May incentive. Half of it will go to just three LoyalTI First-registered agents who make the most FIT/escorted or customized tour bookings to any Travel Impressions destination from May 1 - 29, 2019. The remaining 500,000 LoyalTI First points will be awarded per week, including random drawings as well as weekly incentives rewarding retailers for booking exotic escorted tours, Exclusive Nonstop Vacation Flights or select regions such as the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, Hawaii and other U.S. destinations. Winners will be announced on Travel Impressions' Facebook page each Friday, beginning May 10.
Funjet will offer more opportunities to maximize Agent Bonus Cash earned on Exclusive Nonstop Vacation Flight bookings. Travel advisors will receive $10 Agent Bonus Cash for every Exclusive Nonstop Vacation Flight booked with Funjet Vacations throughout May 2019. This can be combined with an incentive of up to $50 for booking select resort partners.
Blue Sky Tours will give away stays in Hawaii for those who attend any of their three informational webinars during Appreciation Celebration. The company will also offer $25 Agent Bonus Cash for stays of four nights or longer. In total, agents can earn up to $80 in Agent Bonus Cash on bookings to Hawaii or the South Pacific.
Agents can win one of five vacation experiences given away by United Vacations. Retailers can also earn up to $50 Agent Bonus Cash at select resorts as well as 16 percent hotel commission when booking Reflect Resorts and Spas, plus air vouchers when booking multiple stays at that line of properties.
Southwest Vacations kicks off its 30th Anniversary celebration with a $30 Agent Bonus Cash inventive. The promotion applies to air-inclusive vacation packages to Mexico, the Caribbean and Hawaii featuring trip protection.
For more information, visit https://www.appleleisuregroup.com/
Collette Unveils Travel Agent Incentive
Collette, global tour operator, is celebrating travel appreciation day all month long. To take advantage, agents qualify for this promotion after their first booking throughout the month of May. Agents will earn an extra $50 commission for every booking following their first.
To take advantage of this deal, call 800.611.3611 or visit, www.gocollette.com.
Arch RoamRight Offers Survey Contest
Arch RoamRight, the travel insurance brand of Arch Insurance, is running a survey contest for travel advisors in the United States. Advisors could win a prize pack valued at $150, including travel gear and gifts cards. The contest is open until May 10. To enter, complete the short online survey at: https://survey.survicate.com/23d42c667c2aca48/.
For the full contest rules, visit: https://www.roamright.com/travel-advisor-survey-contest-rules/.
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