JDB Fine Hotels & Resorts Focuses on Agents
JDB Fine Hotels & Resorts is kicking off 2016 with a new game plan centered around “getting more people back to the agent,” company CEO Brian McCabe said at a press conference this week.
A new website will go live next week with a dedicated page for agents. It will make the booking process easier by offering a chat option for questions and an easy-to-navigate search function for the company’s portfolio.
The site’s rollout will coincide with a new campaign focused on the agent experience, with the call to action being, “Call your travel agent.”
JDB Fine Hotels was acquired in 2014 by Waterstone Ventures from Judith Davis Baer, who began the company in 1978. JDB represents 77 boutique luxury hotels, but expects 100 by the end of the year, said Chairman Brian Froelich. A majority of the four- or five-star hotels are in Italy, with a few properties in France. It also offers tours and shore excursions.
The company pays agents 12% commission on hotel bookings and 10% on tours and transfers. Through the JDB Exclusive Offers program, agents also get complimentary amenities for their clients, including free dinners, upgrades, and free nights.
Photo courtesy: Glen MacLarty
