Editor's Note: This story was originally published on May 3, 2023. It was last updated on May 16, 2023.
Recent research from the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) revealed that travelers have more appreciation for travel advisors than ever, with 50% of people now more likely to use an agent than in the past. And, for National Travel Advisor Day — celebrated May 3, 2023 — travel brands from across the industry are showing their support and appreciation for agents, as well.
Here’s a sampling of some of the special offers, incentives and promotions travel companies are offering for the month of May and beyond.
This National Travel Advisor Day, we celebrate our valued advisors and appreciate their expertise and hard work.
African Travel, Inc.
As of May 1, luxury safari operator African Travel, Inc. will award an advisor booking incentive for each new custom safari (excluding specials, Classic Safari Vacation Packages and groups) booked from now until Dec. 15, 2024, payable the month of the client’s travel. In addition, advisors will earn up to 15% commission on land safaris. Agents can even save up to 30% on travel to Africa for themselves and a travel companion.
“This National Travel Advisor Day, we celebrate our valued advisors and appreciate their expertise and hard work,” said Sherwin Banda, president of African Travel, Inc. “We want to thank those advisors who book with us and join our African Travel Specialist program with great booking incentives and effective selling tools to help make 2023 a roaring success.”
AmaWaterways
Celebrating travel advisor appreciation throughout the month of May, AmaWaterways has announced several new offerings for partners. To start with, the line is offering seven new Seminar on the River cruises, hosted by business development managers and taking place from July through November. Advisors are invited to apply, with further details available on AmaWaterways' Travel Advisor Portal.
In addition, the line has announced the early opening of 20 fam cruises sailing through November. Travel agents can also benefit from a special Sell Three Sail Free initiative, giving them the chance to earn a free cruise this year after making three new FIT reservations on any 2023 sailing. Finally, as a special thank you, all advisors attending Webinar Wednesdays throughout May will be entered into a weekly drawing to win a European or Mekong river cruise for two. And, advisors who attend all five sessions will have an added chance to win a balcony stateroom on June 7.
Avanti Destinations
Avanti Destinations is offering travel advisors a $25 gift card for each FIT land booking of $5,000 or more made until May 31 for travel before Dec. 31 (must be paid with at least a deposit on land arrangements by the end of May). There’s no limit to the number of gift cards an advisor can earn through the promotion.
Celebrity Cruises
To honor its travel advisor partners, Celebrity Cruises is offering incentives during the month of May — and up to $70,000 in cash prizes.
Agents can earn double entries for Celebrity’s $60,000 cash giveaway for every 2023 Europe booking made through May 13. They will also receive double rewards points for bookings made through May 13 on any sailing through April 30, 2025. Advisors can also engage with the brand across its various channels (including Celebrity Rewards, CruisingPower.com and Celebrity Learning) for the chance to win one of five $1,000 gift cards. And finally, through May 23, advisors are encouraged to share their favorite Celebrity moment, tagging both their sales manager and the brand’s new travel advisor Facebook page (@TheCelebrityCommitment) for the chance to win one of 10 $500 gift cards.
CIE Tours
CIE Tours is currently offering three promotions for travel agents and their clients. First, from May 3-17, CIE is offering 50% off the land portion of any Ireland-only guided vacations for travel advisors, plus 30% off for a companion (in the same room). Advisors can submit booking requests via CIE Tours’ Travel Agent Appreciation Request Form, for departures between Aug. 1 and Dec. 31.
Second, from May 6-10, travelers can save up to $900 per couple on all 2023 Ireland guided vacations. And third, those who serve — current and retired military, law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, teachers and nurses — can save $150 per person on a CIE guided vacation, or $75 per person on a self-drive trip. The offer is available for booking through May 31, with travel dates from June 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2024.
Hilton
Hilton has announced its third-annual Travel Advisor Appreciation Sweepstakes for this May. To participate, agents simply watch a short video on Hilton’s Environmental, Social and Governance initiatives, then take a quick quiz. Ten winners of the sweepstakes will receive 80,000 Hilton Honors Points to use at any Hilton property around the world.
Hurtigruten Expeditions
Agents booking Hurtigruten Expeditions now through May 31 can take advantage of an agent-exclusive promotion. The campaign includes a “Buy One, Get One” deal on destinations including Antarctica, Alaska, Greenland, the Galapagos Islands and West Africa for travel through March 31, 2024. Solo travelers can even receive 50% off a full single-occupancy cruise fare.
The company is also offering a “Sell Three, Sail Free” deal for agents to earn a free Hurtigruten Expeditions cruise of their own by selling three cabins.
“During this period, advisors can even combine both promotions, saving their clients a lot of money while earning themselves an unforgettable expedition adventure and experiencing our product firsthand,” said Jeffrey Oar, president of Hurtigruten America.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Sweetening the pot of its "Spring Into Summer" promotion, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is providing an extra $100 gift card per booking, plus a two-point bonus commission, on all reservations made during May. Also as part of the luxury line’s "Sell Three, Sail Free" perk, when advisors make three bookings in May on select sailings, they and a guest can sail for free.
“Travel advisors always have been, and always will be, the key reason for Regent’s success, and we want to recognize and reward their incredible support,” said Andrea DeMarco, president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. “Not only are we celebrating Travel Advisor Appreciation Month, but also our best ever performance in Q1, all thanks to our incredible travel partners. We are delighted to provide them with a number of different ways to earn more with Regent and opportunities for them to create new memories onboard by sailing with us.”
Rental Escapes
Full-service luxury villa company Rental Escapes is offering up to $5,000 in bonus commission for the entire month of May. It’s the highest bonus commission ever offered by the company. Valid on booking made through May 31, for travel from May 8, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2024, the offer is designed to thank advisors for their continued support. The brand has also introduced a new rewards program, giving agents the chance to earn free villa vacations and increase their earning potential.
Sandals Resorts
In partnership with ASTA, Sandals Resorts is offering incentives to celebrate Travel Advisor Day. With new bookings of six nights or more made directly with Unique Vacations from May 4-31, for travel through Dec. 24, agents will be eligible for an added incentive of up to $200. And, on May 3 at 2 p.m. EST, Sandals and ASTA will host a Facebook Live event during which advisors will have the chance to win a trip to the new Sandals Dunn’s River, debuting May 24.
“We’re excited to partner with Sandals to celebrate the accomplishments of travel advisors who are a vital part of the travel and tourism industry as they provide unparalleled customer service to their clients,” said Zane Kerby, president and CEO of ASTA.
Scenic Group USA (Emerald Cruises and Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours)
Scenic Group is launching its new Partners in Travel campaign this month and offering bonus commission and river and ocean cruise giveaways with air included. Advisors can get $100 in extra commission for river sailings and $250 for ocean voyages when making new deposited bookings this month. For every reservation, they will also receive one entry in the “in a Free Cruise contest; one victor and a guest will receive an Emerald Cruises luxury Danube Delights sailing on July 8, and another and their guest will win an 11-night Atlantic Isles and Caribbean voyage onboard Scenic Eclipse II on Oct. 13.
“We are immensely grateful for the hard work and dedication our travel partners have shown our two brands during both the toughest of years and our more recent strong recovery,” said Ken Muskat, managing director for Scenic Group USA. “As we grow our brand awareness in the U.S. market, we wanted to create a campaign built for our travel advisors that encompasses our relationship with them and helps them grow their business together. Our Partners in Travel campaign seeks to reaffirm our commitment to the travel advisor community — and what better time to launch than during Travel Advisor Appreciation Month?”
Lastly, prize pack giveaways such as gift certificates are available to agents who subscribe to the group’s Trade Weekly Newsletter and follow its Facebook page.
Seabourn Cruise
Line
For May, Seabourn Cruise Line is
offering travel advisors a special 5% bonus commission on the booking of select voyages, which is further combinable with the
luxury brand’s Bon Voyage Event and The Finale Sail for airfare and 2023 and 2024
itinerary savings.
Silversea Cruises
Advisors who make a new confirmed
booking on any Silversea Cruises sailing during May and June will be automatically
entered into a weekly drawing for an opportunity to win a gift card. One victor
will be chosen each week in both May and June.
“[This month] is a special time for us
to show our appreciation and reward our travel advisor partners for their
loyalty and efforts," said Massimo Brancaleoni, senior vice president of
global sales for Silversea. "Though it kicks off in May, our incentives
continue through June, marking our continuous appreciation for our travel
partners and the important role they have played in our success for nearly
three decades. This appreciation campaign focuses on our expedition cruises,
which provide clients with uniquely immersive travel experiences that can lead
to repeat business and, due to the higher per diem fares of our expedition
voyages, enable travel advisors to earn more in commission.”
The latest perk is in addition to a
bonus 1% kicker commission on expedition voyages, 1% kicker commission on
new-to-brand customers and 1% kicker commission for new-to-repeat clients (those
who book for a second time with Silversea via the same agency).
TourRadar
TourRadar, an adventure booking platform, is celebrating agents through the month of May by giving away organized adventures to Peru, Italy and other destinations to three winners. Ways to enter include:
- Registering as a new agent on TourRadar.com/Agents.
- Logging in as a current agent during the month of May.
- Attending a TourRadar hosted webinar as a registered agent in May.
- Referring two other agents to register for the agent portal.
- Following TourRadar on the TourRadar Agent Facebook page and Instagram (@TourRadar).
Viking
This month, Viking is providing a bonus booking incentive to all graduates of the Viking Travel Advisor Academy. Every booking this month will earn a $100 booking incentive in addition to the $100 already provided to graduates through the Viking Rewards program.
Virgin Voyages
During First Mate Appreciation Month, as Virgin Voyages calls it, advisors can receive perks, win giveaways and participate in other activities. First and foremost, agents — or "first mates” — can enter to win passage later this year on the line’s Australian MerMaiden sailing (airfare included) from Melbourne on Resilient Lady. The sailing will be hosted by John Diorio, vice president of North American sales for Virgin. Also, by following Virgin’s SeaCiety Facebook page, advisors can further win special branded swag.
The line will also be releasing a series of videos with special guests during the month, as well as hosting happy hours and lunch events with regional sales managers.
