Vacation.com is wrapping up its 18th International Conference & Trade Show at the Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Florida. The event, which kicked off Sunday, May 22, is set to close Thursday, May 26. Organized around the theme of “Connect More,” the conference offered a look at new features of the company’s AgentMate agency technology program, the latest updates on its Agent Snapshot lead generation tool and more.
At the conference Vacation.com announced that AgentMate new has a complete communications management solution among its features, including automated and customizable client messaging, as well as an AgentMate smartphone app that allows agents to access the system's features on the go.
Initially developed as the proprietary technology for Cruise Holidays agencies – which are now members within Vacation.com – AgentMate became available to all Vacation.com members earlier this year. Following a strategic implementation plan, nearly 300 agencies are using the fully-integrated CRM system.
Also at this year’s conference, Vacation.com offered the latest updates on its Agent Snapshot lead generation system. According to Vacation.com, to date Agent Snapshot has helped generate approximately 35,000 client leads for its members.
The online tool enables Vacation.com members and their agents to introduce themselves and their travel expertise to consumers through www.vacation.com. Agents can personalize their bios to attract consumers seeking their expertise online, highlighting agents’ destination knowledge, travel specialties, and industry certifications. Thus far, there have been more than 2,200 bios published to the site. In addition to the live Agent Snapshots and consumer leads, the site has received over 10,000 reviews from clients.
Finally, at the event Vacation.com announced that its Family Bonds Foundation, a 501(c)(3) pending organization, launched an auction website and a corporate sponsorship program to attract more donations.
The auction site will include donated prizes from supplier partners including hotel room stays, land-based vacations packages, cruises, insurance coverage and more – and the sponsorship program includes three distinct levels. In addition, Vacation.com announced that it has raised more than $100,000 over the course of the year.
Vacation.com’s Family Bonds Foundation was created to support to select Vacation.com members and travel agents, their children and their communities experiencing hardships beyond their control, such as a sudden illness or death of a parent, accident, tornado, fire, or other emergency hardship. Twice a year, individuals or local communities are selected to receive grants from the foundation. These are confidential and can assist with such things as medical bills, daycare or after-school care, school supplies, and other basic necessities.
One of the first grant recipients has been Christy’s Hope, an organization that donates 100 percent of its proceeds to the Battered Women and Children’s Center in San Antonio, Texas. Additional deserving recipients will be selected for grants in July 2016.
The conference also offered attendees more than 130 hours of classes and seminars, a Supplier Partner Trade Show, General Sessions and Supplier Partner Connections to connect and network with over 1,300 agent members, top suppliers and Vacation.com staff.
Visit www.familybonds.vacation.com and www.agentuniverse.com