More Appreciation For Agents

Tourism Ireland is offering up a big thank you to travel agents all across Canada for their support and partnership.

When the time is right, we look forward to getting out and meeting in person to share the world-famous ‘céad míle fáilte – ‘a hundred thousand welcomes.’

Tourism Ireland offers a number of support programs for agents, including:

• The Ireland Specialist Program
• Content Library: 45K video and images free to use
• Ireland Insiders Facebook Group – Exclusive to Travel Agents
• Sign up to our monthly e-zine for updates on events, fams and more…

As soon as we can travel again Ireland will be waiting to fill your heart with its beauty and warmth — until then we invite you to dream of your future adventure. Enjoy the poetic beauty of Ireland from afar …

And Tourism Ireland also has a video message for Canadian agents …

#FillYourHeartWithIreland

Intrepid Says Thanks To Agents

In a letter to travel agents on National Travel Advisor Day in the United States and National Travel Agent Day in Canada, Intrepid Travel writes:

“We would like to use this as an opportunity to acknowledge and express our gratitude to all of our partners and travel agents globally.

Since the start of the global pandemic earlier this year, the travel industry has been turned upside down. And although we don’t know when we will get past this, we know that we can’t do it without you.

Over the course of the past month, with our global operations suspended, we have been collecting letters from travellers all over the world through our #BeTogether initiative.

Today, we’d like to share the first letter that we’ve written: a genuine thank you to you, our agent partners.

Today, is a day we celebrate travel agents all over the world, so we wanted to take the opportunity to express our gratitude for all the work that you do. We know that creating the best travel experiences for your clients is not always an easy job, although you make it seem so effortless.

So, thank you. Thank you for inspiring your clients to travel with a company that puts sustainability front of mind. Thank you for the adventurous souls you have introduced to our style of travel. Thank you for your dedication. For the early mornings, for the late nights, for the long calls, for the longer email chains… for the passions stirred, for the dreams created.

Thank you for working with us to change the way people see the world.

We know this is a challenging time for the entire travel industry, but please accept our sincere appreciation for your continued support, kindness, and understanding. It is difficult now, but we know that together we will get through this – stronger than ever.

We can’t wait to continue making travel dreams a reality, together. In the meantime, we are never more than a call, email, or live chat away!

From your friends at Intrepid Travel, we’re here for you.

Thank you and take care.

#BeTogether

Playa Celebrates Agents And Heroes

Playa Hotels & Resorts celebrated the crucial role travel advisors play in the success of the hospitality industry with the launch of a special video tribute on Travel Agent Appreciation Day 2020 and will spend the month of May celebrating travel advisors, while partnering with select travel advisors, to honour heroes in local communities across North America.

Playa’s Heroes Service From the Heart campaign affords top-performing travel advisors throughout North America the opportunity to gift Playa vacations to deserving first responders within their own communities who have been risking their lives for the safety of others.

One vacation will be gifted each day in May for a total of 31 four-night stays for two — with private airport transfers and a $25 credit towards an excursion sponsored by Discova — at any Playa resort (excluding Sanctuary Cap Cana), valid from Aug. 1, 2020 – Dec. 15, 2021.

Howard Tanenbaum, Playa Hotels & Resorts senior vice-president of sales, observed that while May 6 is National Travel Agent Day, “we feel one day is not enough to celebrate all the professional travel advisors who have worked hundreds if not thousands of hours to book and rebook destination weddings, groups, honeymoons, couples’ trips and family vacations.”

He continued: “We think it’s going to take a full month to properly recognize these remarkable efforts.”

Along with Heroes Service From the Heart, Playa has kicked off what the company is referring to as its #TomorrowConfirmed operation, taking into consideration the trying state of the travel industry and its bright future ahead.

These special agent-directed initiatives will include virtual town halls, surprise meal deliveries, raffles, surprise phone calls with Playa executives and more.

Kevin Froemming, Playa Hotels & Resorts executive vice-president and chief commercial officer, explained that: “With travel being upended for so many months, we want our travel partners to understand tomorrow is confirmed. Our travel advisors have been outstanding in responding to the tremendous amount of questions and concerns that guests have about future travel.”

Windstar Is On Course With Agent Promotion

Windstar Cruises is making a major change to its travel agent commission policy as well as announcing the return of a favorite promotion for travel advisors.

The cruise company timed the changes to the celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week and National Travel Advisor Day.

Windstar Cruises’ Travel Assurance Booking Policy already allows travellers to cancel their cruise up to 15 days prior to departure and receive a 100% future cruise credit to be used on all sailings through December 31, 2021.

Starting immediately, however, Windstar is changing its policy to pay agent commissions on all future cruise credits, recognizing that far more cruises have been cancelled than in the past.

Andrew Todd, CEO of Xanterra and Windstar Cruises, said: “Travel advisors have always been important partners of Xanterra Travel Collection. A few years ago, Windstar Cruises introduced Star Promise – our commitment to travel advisors. In keeping with that pledge, it is important to update our policy to recognize the hard work and support of our travel advisor partners.”

Along with the commission change, Windstar announced the return of its most popular promotion for travel advisors – the “Sell 3, Sail Free” program, which will begin on May 18.

Travel advisors must sell three staterooms, and once fully deposited, the advisor (and a guest) sail for free on a cruise departing by April 30, 2021. Travel advisors will be confirmed 60 days out based on availability and will pay only taxes, fees, and port expenses, plus gratuities.

Sail on over to https://advisorhub.windstarcruises.com/ .

Remember When … 

The Travel Agent Next Door has put together a video that offers a look at travel agents past and present … how much they’ve accomplished over the years and how much they will accomplish going forward … So check it out, it’s well worth watching …

A retrospective look at Travel Agents from The Travel Agent Next Door on Vimeo.