HAL Ups The Rewards For Group Bookings
Holland America Line (HAL) is rewarding travel agents who act now and make a group booking by April 30 with two bonus points through its Group Amenities Program (GAP).
The additional points add extra value, enabling agents to include more incentives to their group booking such as a cocktail party, dinner at an alternative restaurant, shipboard credit and more.
The extra points can be earned on select summer and fall Alaska, Alaska Land+Sea Journeys, Canada and New England, Caribbean, Europe, Panama Canal, South America and Tahiti itineraries.
“We’ve been listening to travel agent feedback and added these extra points to provide additional incentives for group bookings and help agents motivate their clients to bring a group onboard,” said Eva Jenner, Holland America Line’s vice-president, North America field, charter and incentive sales. “Travel agents can use their points on an exciting array of amenities, which makes every extra point very valuable.”
Travel sellers “spend” earned GAP points to select personalized amenities for their group. Holland America Line’s 2014 GAP menu features 34 amenities including lunch or dinner in the Pinnacle Grill, shipboard credits and two different Winemakers Packages.
Other available 2014 GAP menu amenities include group leader upgrades, beverage cards, Bon Voyage sparkling wine per stateroom, a Canaletto dinner, an Internet package, deluxe canapés, Wine Navigator Packages and a one-hour Fiesta Party with margaritas, mojitos and fiesta food.
On the land portion of HAL’s Land+Sea Journeys in Alaska, GAP amenities include lunch aboard the McKinley Explorer Railcar and dinner at the Westmark Fairbanks. GAP points are based on a per-person value, and selections must be made 90 days prior to the cruise departure.
Holland America’s GAP program also features special packages for family reunions, weddings and culinary groups that offer exclusive amenities tailored to each group program in lieu of points. For a family reunion, this includes an upgrade for the head of the family, a Pinnacle Grill lunch for all family members, fountain soda cards and beverage cards per stateroom.
Wedding couples also receive an upgrade, along with a wedding cake for 16 guests, Pinnacle Grill lunch per guest, chocolate-dipped strawberries per stateroom, a private one-hour wine tasting per guest and more.
Culinary groups of 25 or more paid guests are entitled to a private premium wine tasting with the cellarmaster per guest, a bottle of Bon Voyage sparkling wine in each stateroom and two one-hour demonstration sessions in the Culinary Arts Center with a Holland America Line-provided chef.
For more information on cruise groups and GAP amenities, HAL offers the free guide, “Developing Group Business.” To download a copy, visit Travel Agent Headquarters at http://www.hollandamerica.com .
