Funjet Promotes Agents With New Call to Action

Starting this month, Funjet Vacations has a new call to action – “For a good time call… a travel agent!” This is one of several new programs the tour operator is rolling out in support of travel agents.

The company’s call to action has always included agents, a Funjet spokesperson pointed out. However, the company decided to update its message “with something fresh, fun and creative to grab more consumer attention and drive more business to travel agents.”

“Funjet believes in the long-term viability of travel agents,” Chad Bolliger, director of travel agent marketing, told Travel Market Report. “We believe that the single best way for consumers to book their vacation is through a travel agent.”

“Travel agents bring a tremendous amount of value to their clients and an agent is the best way to take someone from the dream or vision of the perfect vacation to the reality of a perfect vacation,” Bolliger continued. “If we strive to do what is best for travel agents, then as a result we are also striving to provide the best possible vacation experience for consumers.”

One way the tour operator aims to help agents is through its new Business Energizer, a mix of enhanced policies, new products and a limited-time cash incentive. The entire program was developed based on feedback from the travel agency community.

“The programs that Funjet builds for travel agents are not just to capture agents’ business in the short-term; these programs are designed to help agents capture and retain more clients to grow their business for long-term prosperity,” said Bolliger.

Business Energizer includes a “More for Your Money Guarantee”, an upfront, automatic match/rate guarantee on the operator’s WOW deals and on participating air/hotel and land-only vacations for participating hotels. Agents can identify participating hotels by the “More for Your $ Guarantee” sales message in the booking engine. 

A 24-Hour Published Air Hold Policy gives travel agents up to 24-hours to confirm and secure their clients’ published air vacations. (Some exclusions apply.)

The 24-hour air hold policy, valid 10 days or more prior to departure, gives agents the chance to close more air sales by giving their clients adequate time to make their purchase decisions. Additionally, the policy puts traditional travel agents on an even level with online travel agencies by allowing clients 24 hours to pay for airfare, without worrying about prices going up. The extra time can also be used by savvy travel agents to upsell vacation features, such as upgraded room categories, tours and excursions, and even the company’s travel protection insurance. 

New Products

Business Energizer also incorporates some new products for agents to sell, including Asia and Wellness vacations.

Two types of Asia vacations are now bookable on VAX VacationAccess under Funjet Vacations – “Asia Air Inclusive” or “Asia Hotel Only.” The Asia line-up is comprised of 216 hotels on direct contract and supplemental hotels available via Pegasus. Also available, at commissionable rates, are roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, Asia tours and excursions and a special Asia Travel Protection Plan.

According to a Funjet spokesperson the Asia product benefits travel agencies by offering the chance to earn a higher commission on vacations that normally average a longer length of stay and a higher price point. Furthermore, Asia vacations typically attract a higher-income demographic.

New commissionable Wellness vacations are also now available. The Destination Wellness by David Pritchard for El Dorado Spa Resorts, by Karisma program offers a mix of fitness, training and nutrition all personally designed for each client. During the clients’ stays a personalized Wellness Concierge works with them to create a fitness and dietary program designed to meet their individual needs. Agents can access an on-demand training session on the program via the Funjet Vacations Supplier Center on VAX VacationAccess.