Everyone knows you need to experience a hotel firsthand to sell it
well. With that in mind, resorts throughout Hawaii are designating
certain times of the year as Travel Agent Month, with perks for
agents who come to call.
Outrigger Hotels & Resorts is one of several companies
encouraging agents to visit their properties during specific
dates.
“While the Internet has made researching vacation options easy,
the traveling public continues to look to the professional travel
agent for personal recommendations on where to go on vacation and,
more importantly, where to stay,” said Peter Jenkins, vice
president of sales and market development for Outrigger Hotels
& Resorts.
In January 2003, Outrigger will offer agents a $99 per night
rate at Waikiki Shore and Royal Kahana Resort, while Ohana East and
Ohana Reef Lanai list a $50 agent rate. In February, a $35 per
night rate is available at Ohana Waikiki Village and Ohana Waikiki
Surf East, with the same rate listed in March for Ohana Waikiki
Tower and Ohana Waikiki Surf. One of April’s hotels of the month is
Outrigger Waikoloa Beach on The Big Island ($75). For summer
travel, Outrigger Royal Sea Cliff Resort costs agents $99 in June,
while Ohana Surf is featured for $35 in August.
For a complete list of 2003 Travel Agent Month rates at
Outrigger, call 800-688-7444. For Ohana, call 800-462-6262.
Throughout the year, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa offers
a discounted nightly travel agent rate of $195, but in May and
September 2003, agents can stay there for $125.
“Traditionally these are low occupancy months, so we can better
ensure that there are plenty of rooms available to agents,” said
Melissa Nelson, Hyatt Regency Maui sales manager. “Airfares are
lower during those months, which are popular vacation times for
travel agents.”
According to Nelson, last year’s travel agent month program
resulted in 271 room nights for agents visiting in May and 310 in
September. Participants get a welcome amenity and, if they’d like,
a personal hotel tour. Call 800-554-9288. Chain-wide, Four Seasons
Hotels & Resorts honors visiting agents in May, dubbed Travel
Agent Appreciation Month, and its hotels on Maui and The Big Island
follow suit. Along with a reduced travel agent rate of 50% off rack
(oceanview), each agent will receive a welcome amenity from the
general manager, an invitation to the managers’ reception and a
tour of the hotel.
“May is almost mid-year and generally a slower month for most
agencies,” said Mark Simon, Four Seasons Resort Maui marketing
director. “It’s a time we set aside to give special recognition to
the importance of travel agencies to our company and acknowledge
their support. It also gives us an opportunity to update agents on
our new developments.” Call 800-332-3442.
Lanai Resorts traditionally designated July as travel agent
month, but for this year it moved it to September in response to
agent requests, said Lanai Resorts spokeswoman Debbie Adachi.
Launched in 1992, the program provides agents with significant
discounts on room rates throughout the month at the 250-room Manele
Bay Hotel and the 102-room Lodge at Koele.
Participants also will receive discounts on vehicle rentals and
such activities as golf, sporting clays, snorkel and scuba
expeditions, sea kayaking and biking. They will also get a special
rate for a modified American meal plan.
“Not only does this let us thank the industry, it gives agents a
chance to refamiliarize themselves with the island,” Adachi said.
Call 800-321-4666.
