After 13 years in various director capacities at Sandals, Frank Corzo joined GOGO Worldwide Vacations last year, bringing with him his philosophy of “agent first.” As national sales director, Corzo is charged with developing marketing programs with travel partners, heading up the national consortium group and leading business development managers in the field.
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Frank Corzo, national sales director, GOGO Worldwide Vacations |
“We’ve set a clear vision to be the best wholesaler in the U.S.,” said Corzo in an exclusive interview with Travel Agent. “We’re going to offer [agents] the best possible support and tools.” To that end, GOGO has made “going one better” part of its mission—and its tagline in marketing materials.
“Travel agents come first,” Corzo said, emphasizing a mantra he would repeat several times in our discussion. “We’ve come up with a revised commission structure that gives agents a 12 percent commission, as well as rewards for performance. We negotiate commissions with our high performers. By using our booking engine, agents can earn an additional 1 percent commission. We also pay on all hotel taxes and service charges, which many of our competitors don’t.”
Under Corzo, GOGO’s 22 business development managers are currently visiting agency partners throughout the country to highlight the tour operator's commitment to agents. The company has initiated an “only at your travel agent” marketing campaign to highlight its ongoing commitment to focusing exclusively on the agency sector to increase sales.
“We’re reaching out and pounding the pavement to reach our agent partners,” Corzo said, adding that GOGO’s BDMs are operating with a “new level of enthusiasm.”
In addition, to increase sales for its partner agencies, GOGO has developed a customer-facing website that proactively directs customers to local agency partners. “It emphasizes our focus and interest on the agents,” he said.
Also on the front burner for GOGO is a greater focus on niche travel, with the “highly profitable” gay and lesbian segment, as well as ramping up its honeymoon, family and multi-generational travel options. Corzo said that GOGO is also taking a closer look at adventure travel, and will be including more of that in its Worldwide Collection itineraries, which offer travelers more exotic destinations.