A NEW scheme has just been launched designed to boost sales for travel advisors through a suite of additional benefits.
TTC Tour Brands has formally launched its Inner Circle travel trade rewards program.
The initiative had been teased to agents in recent months during countrywide promotions for the 2024 touring range across Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, Contiki, Costsaver, Luxury Gold, Brendan Vacations and others.
The first incentive is Book Bank Bon Voyage’, with advisors able to earn credits through sales to put towards their own adventure with a brand of their choosing. Here’s how it works:
- Book Agents simply choose a TTC Tour Brands tour that they want to travel on by filling out the Book Bank Bon Voyage form that can be found on the TTC Travel Agent Portal
- Bank For every client’s booking the agents make, with Luxury Gold, Insight Vacations, Trafalgar, Costsaver and Contiki, from the date their own trip booking deposit is taken, they earn a credit towards the final payment of their own trip
- Bon Voyage The agent pays a final balance; minus the rewards credit they have earnt from selling TTC Tour Brands.
At TTC Tour Brands we are committed to rewarding our travel agents and give them incentives that not only motivate them to sell our brands, but gives them the opportunity to also travel more, said Toni Ambler, Managing Director of TTC Tour Brands.
By launching this rewards programme for their own travel, we are giving our agents more access and convenience to experience our brands on their own schedules.
When agents travel on our brands it not only enables them to impart first-hand knowledge to their clients, but also enriches their own personal experiences.
Further incentives and promotions will be launched in coming months.
FAMIL OP PUTS YOU IN LA LA LAND
A NEW sales incentive gives Aussie agents the chance to mingle with the rich and famous in the City of Angels.
Winners will gain in-depth knowledge of Los Angeles while experiencing the city’s iconic landmarks and the charm of Universal Studios Hollywood.
The five-day trip for Australasian agents is being offered by Bedsonline in collaboration with Los Angeles Tourism, Universal Studios Hollywood and Delta Air Lines.
Advisors who book participating hotels in Los Angeles and tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood before the end of the year will automatically be in with a chance of winning a VIP spot.
The 10 agents with the highest total value of qualifying Los Angeles hotel and Universal Studios Hollywood ticket bookings by December 31 will win their place on the trip.
Experiencing a destination is the best way to sell it, said Peter Jones, VP for APAC at Bedsonline.
That’s why we’re excited to partner with Los Angeles Tourism, Universal Studios Hollywood and Delta provide this incredible fam trip to our clients in Australia and New Zealand.
We value the hard work travel agents do and hope this trip serves both as a reward and an inspiration for their future sales efforts.
Through its online platform, Bedsonline distributes accommodation, experiences and mobility services sourced from 191 countries to more than 64,000 travel agencies worldwide.
The trip is scheduled to take place in March next year.
VOUCHER SYSTEM GETS AGENTS ONBOARD
AUSTRALIA’S TRAVEL agents have spoken and one cruise line has listened with a new voucher system introduced.
In response to demand from advisors wishing to sample the brand first-hand, Viking has announced the launch of Viking Voyage Vouchers.
Vouchers are available in denominations of $100, $200 and $500 from the Viking online store. Agents can redeem Rewards by Viking points for vouchers toward their next Viking voyage.
Rewards by Viking rewards travel agents with bonus points for every ocean, river, and expedition voyage they sell in addition to their commission.
Points can also be earned by participating in promotions and completing Viking training modules.
Agents can then redeem their points in the online Rewards by Viking store toward various high-quality, brand-name items, now including Viking Voyage Vouchers.
WIN A $13K TRIP TO CANADA
AGENTS HAVE the chance to win a trip on the Rocky Mountaineer worth more than $13,000.
Entire Travel Group (ETG) is joining forces with Air Canada to offer the enticing incentive.
Every time a travel agent books a Rocky Mountaineer 2024 journey through ETG between October 1 and February 28, 2024, they automatically go into the draw to win, as long as the client is also travelling with Air Canada (flights can be booked separately).
The prize is for two people and includes all Air Canada flights (international and domestic), three nights’ accommodation at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre and two seats in GoldLeaf service on a Rocky Mountaineer journey departing April 26, 2024 (Vancouver to Banff).
To enter agents simply e-mail [email protected] with their ETG booking number and the associated Air Canada reference number.
“We have experienced extraordinary growth to Canada over the past year and this is an opportunity to show our appreciation, while working with Air Canada to give agents the chance to experience one of the world’s great rail journeys – and some of the world’s most scenic landscapes – themselves,” said Greg McCallum, ETG General Manager Marketing.
PORTAL POINTS YOU TO THE COMPASS
MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURE tour company Compass Expeditions have made a significant enhancement to their booking process for travel agents.
Advisors can now seamlessly make and manage bookings for all Compass Expeditions products through a newly created agent portal.
With the recent introduction of small group 4WD tours, the company acknowledges the importance of providing agents with user-friendly tools to navigate the complexities of their intricate itineraries.
“We understand that travel agents play a pivotal role in shaping remarkable travel experiences for their clients, said Ben Willox, Managing Director of Compass Expeditions.
“Compass Expeditions is committed to delivering exceptional adventures, whether on two wheels or four. By empowering travel agents with a straightforward booking system, we aim to enhance their ability to book our trips for their clients.
Agents can request access to the booking portal by emailing [email protected] and for any agents who are already set up with tourCMS they can provide their account name to connect with the system.
Compass Expeditions 4WD tours are now available to book for departures next year with the first itinerary, Kyrgyzstan Discovered’, departing August 4, 2024.
CHRISTIE GOWAN, PTM TRAVEL MANAGERS (LEFT) WITH CHRISTINE OLIVER, KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER, HAL
CHRISTIE BAGS TOP PRIZE
AN AUSTRALIAN travel agent has taken out the top prize in a competition to win a luxury European cruise.
Personal Travel Manager Christie Gowan has won a twin share Signature Suite on a seven-day round trip itinerary from Rotterdam aboard the Pinnacle class ship, Rotterdam.
The competition ran from July 10 to September 30, during which participants engaged by responding to a brief question in under 50 words.
I am so excited to have won this incredible prize from Holland America, said Christie.
Springtime in the Netherlands promises fields of tulips and the Norwegian fjords will also be covered in spring colour making them even more spectacular.
I have everything crossed that I’ll get to experience the Northern Lights too if I’m really lucky.
Apart from the cruise, Christie has won standard Have It All cruise package benefits for both guests, $2,000 air credit for both and one $500 Visa gift card to go towards travel expenses or a shopping spree.
Pictured L-R: Grant Robertson (Key Account Manager Rail Europe), Richard Leonard (GM of APAC Rail Europe), Sandra Babey (Director Switzerland Tourism ANZ), Antonio Khattar (Account Manager Switzerland Tourism)
AGENTS LEARN THE RAIL TRUTH ABOUT SWITZERLAND
A GROUP of 24 travel advisors have been treated to a Rail Europe update on Switzerland’s transportation system at the QT Hotel in Canberra.
They met the new Director of Switzerland Tourism, Sandra Babey, and were given the full run down on the functions and benefits of using the Swiss Travel Pass, the country’s expansive public transportation network, as well as the many panoramic trains to be experienced.
The group was also thoroughly acquainted with Rail Europe’s intuitive booking platform, round-the-clock support, regular incentives and the ongoing educational programs to equip them with the latest information and selling tools.
Advisors who haven’t done so are encouraged to get their login to the Rail Europe booking tool to allow for seamless commission payments.
They can also sign up to the company’s monthly webinars and closed Facebook group to access exclusive incentives and offers.
HERE’S AN INTREPID INCENTIVE
FIVE NEW trips have been added to a sales incentive which allows agents to win their way to a small group adventure.
Intrepid Travel has just launched its 2024 trip range, debuting more than 100 new itineraries and experiences.
To celebrate the release, five new trips have been added to the company’s Sell 10, Get 1 Free’ incentive, which allows agents who sell 10 Intrepid trips to experience a small group adventure for themselves.
Advisors can find more information and shareable content on Intrepid’s Agent Hub. The incentive runs until December 31.
SAIL AWAY WITH A FREE-ISH CRUISE
AGENTS CAN turn sales into sails with a new incentive from Virgin Voyages offering a voyage aboard one of the line’s ships.
Advisors who make three Virgin Voyages bookings departing Australia in the upcoming 2023/24 maiden season will get a bonus voyage for themselves, with just port taxes and fees to pay.
All agents (or First Mates’ as VV calls them) need to do is log their sales into the sales tracker and receive their Access Key to book a cruise on any Australian or New Zealand cruise in the upcoming season.
Bookings must be made within 30 days once their Access Keys have been distributed. The offer is valid from now until December 4.
We highly value our First Mates and their significant contribution to making our much-anticipated maiden season down under a resounding success, said Shane Riley, Virgin Voyages’ Vice President of International Sales.
