Hindsight is 20/20, and Hawaii wholesalers are proof positive. They’re learning from past experiences and entering the new year with a clear vision of how to help travel advisors sell island vacations in the coming year.
As agents navigate Hawaii's sea of hotels, activities and attractions, wholesalers are showing their support by enhancing advisor rewards and educational tools.
Here are some key perks, programs and tips from Hawaii wholesalers moving into 2020.
Blue Sky Tours
Agent Perks: Blue Sky Tours will continue to pay 3% commission on Hawaii airfares in 2020, and its new rewards program will give points to advisors for every booking they make.
“After the success of our 2019 Year of Aloha campaign, we have exciting promotions in store for 2020,” said Ron Jacobs, president of Blue Sky Tours. “Many of them will be unprecedented, as resort partners compete for agent bookings with rate reductions, free night offers and value-added amenities.”
Educational Programs: Blue Sky will place high priority on training opportunities for advisors in 2020, Jacobs says.
“Our Orientation Series, which helps agents become proficient at managing multiple-destination itineraries and group bookings, will be taken to the next level,” he said. “We’ll tackle issues such as new itinerary tools, customer engagement, price matching and agent rewards.”
Tips: Hawaii is an extremely competitive destination, so advisors must strive for expertise to sell it successfully, Jacobs adds.
“Our business model provides the content, tools and offers that agents need to succeed in Hawaii, whether they book significant volume or just an occasional tour,” he said.
www.blueskytours.com
Blue Sky Tours aids advisors in managing clients' Hawaii itineraries, including activities such as snorkeling.
Credit: 2019 Adobe Stock
GOGO Vacations
Agent Perks: GOGO’s new rewards program earns advisors points every time they book an FIT or a group product. Points can be redeemed for merchandise from brands such as Kate Spade, Tumi, Ray-Ban and Montblanc.
“Offering 10,000 reward options, the program helps advisors feel valued, while inspiring them to set new goals for themselves and reinforce their commitment to GOGO,” said John Van den Heuvel, president for GOGO Vacations.
Educational Programs: GOGO will continue running new training programs and refresher courses for agents. It recently presented a session on group sales to Hawaii.
“There was a huge positive reaction to that session,” Van den Heuvel said. “Hawaii is always a fan favorite.”
Tips: When seeking better deals or lower costs, clients should book early and travel during the off-season.
In addition, advisors would do well by booking clients on Hawaii cruises. Cruises are surging in popularity because they “allow clients to visit multiple islands in a short period of time, with all accommodations accounted for,” Van den Heuvel said.
www.gogowwv.com
With GOGO Vacations' new rewards program, agents earn points on each booking, including trips to Kauai.
Credit: 2019 GOGO VacationsPleasant Holidays
Agent Perks: Pleasant Holidays has boosted commission for Hawaii bookings by its higher-selling travel agencies.
The wholesaler will continue to add new activity product, “including eco-friendly tours, soft adventures and cultural experiences,” said Jack Richards, president and CEO of Pleasant Holidays.
The company also now offers two year-round Hawaii cruise options that will earn agents even more commission, he adds.
Educational Programs: Pleasant will expand its emphasis on education, rewarding advisors who complete Hawaii’s Destination Specialist program. Meanwhile, the wholesaler will revamp its own training program with more specialized courses.
“For 2020, Pleasant Holidays has increased the number of educational trips to Hawaii, with advisors eligible based upon sales volume growth to the destination,” Richards said.
Tips: Since Hawaii airfares are trending down, agents can leverage that as a selling point, Richards says. And, they should encourage clients to take advantage of activities covered by resort fees, such as hula lessons and yoga classes.
“Advisors looking to increase commission must offer Hawaii clients all travel components, from flights and airport lei greetings to accommodations, car rentals and activities,” Richards said.
www.pleasantagent.com
Pleasant Holidays gives agents two cruise options to sell to their Hawaii clients year-round, including UnCruise Adventures.
Credit: 2019 UnCruise AdventuresTravel Impressions
Agent Perks: Travel Impressions will introduce new agent benefits connected to its 2020 Best of the Best event for top bookers.
“We solicit suppliers for added values, exclusive sales and reduced rates to incentivize agents,” said Scott Wiseman, president of Travel Impressions. “They’re offering agents upgrades and experiences that they won’t find elsewhere.”
Educational Programs: Travel Impressions will fine-tune its 2020 educational initiatives so that advisors can book clients’ Hawaii vacations as efficiently as possible, Wiseman says.
“We support bookings with customizable, ready-to-print marketing materials, including quick references like Top Tours to Hawaii,” Wiseman said.
The company will provide up-to-date information on its portfolio of Hawaii accommodations, and it will maintain a presence at industry events.
Tips: Hawaii may be an established destination in the tourism scene, but few places can compete with the investment capital flowing into it, according to Wiseman.
“The islands’ hospitality industry is constantly being refreshed with new openings and large-scale renovations of existing properties,” Wiseman said.
The most successful advisors will stay on top of those trends as they keep an eye on 2020.
www.travelimpressions.com
