At Travel Impressions, A Wiseman Comes To Bethlehem

Travel Impressions’ new president Scott Wiseman, formerly of Abercrombie & Kent, “jumped at the chance to join Travel Impressions because it is 100% dedicated to travel agents” and is “thrilled to be back East” in TI’s headquarters in Bethlehem, PA, he told the audience at the Travel Impressions Best of the Best conference in Cancun. 

“I’ve waited my entire life to have a Wiseman go to an office in Bethlehem,” he quipped. “I’m convinced that if Joseph and Mary had had a travel agent, they never would have walked. They must have booked through an OTA.”

Acknowledging that 2016 has been “a bumpy year” for the travel industry, Wiseman said “the good news is we are seeing positive trends,” including more competitive pricing worldwide, better exclusives and added value, and “one-stop shopping for every budget, to help turn lookers into bookers.” 

New programs from TI include Sunshine Spotlight, designed to encourage travelers to Florida to visit cities other than Orlando; Island Vibes, focusing on lesser-known Caribbean destinations like Aruba and Barbados, St. Thomas and St. Maarten; Steal of a Deal, dramatically discounted, limited-availability packages on the website; and LoyalTI First, a rewards program for travel agents that “soon” will add travel rewards; and Impress me Deals, deeply discounted trips available one business day in advance of departure.

Price Match chat, which debuted during the summer, lets agents chat with a TI representative while they are on the phone with a customer; the Destination Weddings Calendar lets agents browse available space and create packages in real time. For groups, TI has rolled out a dedicated customer service team—and while the rollout “has been a little bumpy in the transition, when it works you will get skilled dedicated professionals and stronger support,” Wiseman promised.

Last but not least, TUI will debut a broad Education First program that includes TI University, webcasts, and a complete program offering 3 CEU credits, extra benefits and bonus points, and exclusive fam trips. It is “designed to make you look like a hero,” with graduates being listed on a special page of the TI website. 

AMResorts also seeing growth, says Bowler
Meanwhile, TI’s sister company AMResorts, the largest all-inclusive company in the Caribbean and Mexico, has signed 16 new management contracts and this year alone is opening 11 new resorts. 

Peter Bowler, president of parent company ALG Distribution, which also owns Apple Leisure Group and Travel Impressions, reaffirmed the company’s focus on “establishing the place of the all-inclusive in this part of the world”—and noted that not just AMResorts properties benefit from ALG’s wide reach. In fact, just 23% of ALG’s 1.6 million customers go to AMResorts; the great majority vacation at properties belonging to its many and varied strategic partners.

“We know you have to offer a broad portfolio of properties to your customer,” he told the travel-agent audience, and noted that “Travel Impressions’ 100% focus on the travel-agency channel reflects the fact we believe you are going to be the most important distribution channel.”

While in Cancun, the group of 175 travel agents toured the almost-complete Dreams resort, which is right next door to the secrets at which the meeting was held. Scheduled to open this month. The combination of the two properties, the adults-only Secrets, it offers a family-friendly alternative that can be combined with the adults-only Dreams for inter-generational groups and weddings.

Also new from AMResorts is the Dreams Dominicus La Romana in the Dominican Republic.