(Photo courtesy of Christian Spahrbier.)
Start off the new year with a slew of travel agent rewards and incentives, ranging from a FAM trip in Dubai to a chance to win a trip to Hamburg, Germany.
Education
Take part in the new travel agent training program, launched by the Hamburg Tourist Board, to become a Hamburg Specialist. The complimentary program features four courses exploring the city’s culture and neighborhoods, and agents who complete the program will be entered to win a 5-day trip for two to Hamburg.
For more information, visit happygohamburg.com. For more on Hamburg, visit hamburg-travel.com or see the Hamburg Travel Planner 2013.
Dubai FAM
Sunny Land Tours is offering a 6-day Best of Dubai tour complete with airfare when agents book now through Jan. 31.
Choose from a stay in the Ahmedia Heritage Guest House (rates starting at $1,349 for a twin) or the Cosmopolitan Hotel Deria (starting at $1,549 for a twin) with flights departing from Washington Dulles, Houston (IAH), Los Angeles or Boston. The FAM rates include airfare on Emirates Airlines, roundtrip transfers, a 4-night stay in first-class accommodations, daily breakfast, a half-day Dubai city tour, a ticket to Burj Khalifa, and a desert safari with BBQ dinner. Travelers can also opt for a half-day Sharjah/Ajman city tour ($50) or a full-day Abu Dhabi city tour ($90).
For more information, call (800) 783-7839 or visit hotfamtrips.com.
Booking Bonus
This month, when travel agents book their clients on a 5-night or longer trip with the Travel Impressions Cancel For Any Reason Waiver, they will receive a $25 American Express gift cheque for each booking. Bookings must be made by Jan. 31 for travel through Dec. 15.
Agents can also help their clients save money and earn resort credits for stays at Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in the Bahamas. When travelers book 3-night stays or longer from now through Feb. 17 for travel Jan. 30 through March 5, they can earn a $100 resort credit per room in the Atlantis Coral Towers, a $200 credit in the Atlantis Royal Towers and a $300 credit in The Cove Atlantis in an Ocean suite. Travelers who book a 4-night stay with air can also save $250 when they book by Feb. 17 for travel now through Aug. 31.
For more information, visit travelimpressions.com.
Indus is also offering travel agents and their clients a deal when they book the 16-day small group Essential South Africa trip by Jan. 31. Travelers can save $1,000 per couple (with rates starting at $3,190 pp, sharing) and agents can earn 20 percent commission.
The trip, which takes travelers down the South African coastline, includes visits to Johannesburg, Kruger National Park, Swaziland, Hluhluwe, Umhlanga, Durban, Coffee Bay, Port Alfred Plettenberg Bay, Oudtshoorn, Stellenbosch and Cape Town. Rates also include 15 nights of first-class accommodations; daily breakfast; four dinners; touring in an air-conditioned coach; an English-speaking guide; return airport transfers; and open safari vehicle game drives with a nature tour guide.
Blue Sky Tours is also offering a bonus of $40 in Maholo Money for each 5-night booking or more in Hawaii when agents book by Jan. 31 for travel through Dec. 31.
Use promo code JANWEB14. Agents receive the bonus, part of Blue Sky Tours’ agent loyalty program, on a Visa prepaid debit card. For more information, visit bonuscash.trucash.com or blueskytours.com.
When agents book clients on trips to Central and South America on Copa Airlines, they can earn commission on all booking classes.
Agents earn 5 percent commission on trips to Central and South America from Boston, Washington Dulles, Las Vegas, New York (JFK), Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, Chicago (ORD), and Tampa. Flights from Tampa to Brazil offer agents 7 percent commission, and flights from New York (JFK) to Ecuador earn 7 percent.
For more information, visit copaair.com.
Agent Discounts
Sonesta is offering travel agents the Experience Sonesta discount, through Dec. 31, allowing agents to book up to two rooms at a time with 50 percent off the best available rate.
“Now with over 55 hotels worldwide, we have introduced the ‘Experience Sonesta’ travel agent discount to make it even easier for more travel agents to learn first-hand what makes Sonesta special,” says Carol Bullock, corporate vp of sales, Sonesta.
Use discount code TVL. For more information, call (800) SONESTA or visit sonesta.com.
