LAS VEGAS–In a Travel Agent exclusive, African Travel told the magazine that
the company intends to offer add-on nights on its 20 or so South African
products for the same prices the company had in 1976. That means clients can
get an add-on night at a five-star South African hotel, sightseeing tours,
transfers and dinner for $29. The deal, according to the company's National
Sales and Marketing Manager Karin Jones, is intended to celebrate African
Travel's 30th anniversary. The company was founded in 1976. Other special
anniversary deals, previously announced, include a $30 children's rate on the
12-night Kenya Explorer program, (good through 2006) and 30 percent off the
12-day, 9-night Great Migration Gold Tanzania Tour, (also good through 2006).
Jones informed Travel Agent magazine of the offer during an invitation-only
reception for preferred suppliers of Vacation.com during Vacation.com's annual
convention at CaesarsPalace. In other news: Sceptre
Tours, a wholesale operator specializing in
independent vacation packages to Ireland,
has added a Scotland
product line, according to company officials. The six-night Scotland Tartan
Package starts at $349 per person, based on double occupancy, for travel Nov. 1
to March 31, 2007. Airfare is not included. The announcement came during a
press dinner Sceptre held in conjunction with Scottish tourism officials at a CaesarsPalace restaurant. If you can't come to
them, they'll come to you. Vacation.com is instituting a new program where
sales experts from the travel consortium's Alexandria, Virginia
headquarters will travel to a member agency's location for on-site staff
training. Previously, member agents had to travel to Vacation.com's LearningCenter
in Alexandria
to receive such continuing education: The cost of Vacation.com Personal
Training sessions will vary depending on distance of travel land structure and
content of training, according to the official release. For a quote or more
information, contact [email protected].
Vacation.com is making it difficult for member agencies not to encourage their
clients to book with an American Express card. American Express and Vacation.com
announced earlier this year that American Express was the new official card of
Vacation.com. But the pair waited until Vacation.com's annual convention to
unveil the first programs. Some of the highlights include cash reward programs
with Alamo Rent A Car, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Blue Star Jets and Travel
Impressions. For more information on the specific rewards programs, visit Agent
Net, Vacation.com's members only portal. Vacation.com officials are predicating
softness in the Caribbean market this fall.
Marketing Vice President Stephen McGillivray forecasted excess inventory and
attractive prices on the horizon. McGillivray made the prediction during the
Tuesday morning general session of Vacation.com members. The marketing maven
was asking the agents for permission to directly market "distressed
inventory" to their clients come this fall. But where McGillivray sees
softness in the Caribbean, he said Vacation.com is seeing business in Europe, both Eastern and Western, that is "off the
charts." Some other 2006 hot spots he referenced were Croatia, Alaska
and the cruise products for the Mediterranean.
"We're seeing a stunning performance in the Med," McGillivray told
journalists during a Tuesday afternoon press conference. "Who thought the
masses would sail the Med? That was always an upper crust
(product)." Reception for Vacation.com's Vacation Vignettes series seems
strong among member agents. Among the agents queried on the new program by
Travel Agent was Ellen Karpman of Research Travel in RockvilleMaryland,
who gave this glowing review: "(The Vacation Vignettes) makes it so you
stand out a bit from the crowd. Everyone sells the same products and why should
they buy from me? Now (with Vacation Vignettes) I'm going to have a little bit more
for no extra money. That's why you join something like (Vacation.com). The more
things they do like this, the better it will be." Bob Kramer of Funtastic
Travel in Florida
paid equally vociferous homage to the program, saying, "It gives me the
ability to compete with on-line travel suppliers. It gives us something they
can't do." Vacation Vignettes is a program that adds a host of unique
touches to the ordinary cruise products, like onboard concierge service,
parting gifts, and unique events not available to other customers.
