Revised Rewards Program Lets Agents Cash In

TOOLS

Funjet Revamps Agent Program
Funjet Vacations has revamped its Fun for Life travel agent reward program. Now, instead of earning redeemable points, agents earn cash that can be loaded onto a reloadable Visa debit card. Agents earn cash by making a booking with Funjet Vacations in VAXVacationAccess.com or over the phone through the company’s call centers. Group bookings, including Funjet’s “Groups Your Way” program, also qualify for the cash rewards, in addition to reservations made through an agency’s GoFunjet web portal. Program members can also earn bonus cash when shopping at select online retailers. http://www.FunjetFunForLife.com.

Video Promotes Fort. Lauderdale Pre- & Post-Cruise Vacations . . .
The Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB launched a new video for travel agents to use for promoting pre- and post-cruise vacations. The video stars Towel Turtle – a character based on the animal figures stateroom attendants create from bath towels – exploring the many facets of vacationing in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area, including the beaches, dining, cultural events, shopping, and Everglade excursions. Agents can find the video at http://www.youtube.com/visitlauderdale.

. . . While Another Video Promotes River Cruising
Avalon Waterways has created a video showcasing the river cruise experience and how it differs from ocean cruising. “We wanted to create a video that would resonate with cruisers and give agents a tool to cross-sell to those big ship cruisers,” Jennifer Halboth, director of marketing for the Globus family of brands told Travel Market Report. The video can also help agents unfamiliar with river cruising to understand what a river cruise entails. Agents can post the video on their website or view it with clients in an agency office.

Las Vegas Launches New Agent Website
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) unveiled a new website for travel sellers. The site features unique itinerary suggestions, maps, e-templates for marketing the destination, a photo gallery, information about commissionable options in Las Vegas, and up-to-date information on booking incentives.

TRAINING

Travel Institute Sets December Sale
Travel sellers can enroll in any Travel Institute Destination or Lifestyle specialist course (print or PDF versions) for just $39 through December 31. Travel Institute members also save an additional 10%.

New Accessible Travel Course Available for Agents
Special Needs Group, a provider of special needs equipment for the travel industry, has launched a new online Accessible Travel Advocate course for travel professionals. The one-hour, three-module program focuses on understanding accessible travel, building expertise in accessible travel and demonstrating accessible travel advocacy skills. The program is available on the SNG Travel Agent Resource Center. INSERT LINK: http://www.specializedgroup.com/agents

OPEN Forum Designs Digital Marketing Course Series
OPEN Forum, an American Express website dedicated to the needs of small businesses, has launched a series of free “Crash Courses” focusing on digital marketing. Five of the courses address online and social marketing, including Facebook for Your Business, Website Conversion, Location-Based Marketing, Search Engine Marketing, and YouTube Marketing. Other courses available are The Art of Hiring, Leadership Skills for Success, and Perfecting Your Elevator Pitch. Courses are available at http://www.openforum.com/crashcourses.

GBTA Revamps Travel Management Course
The Global Business Travel Association introduced a revised and updated Fundamentals of Business Travel Management course. The course is a gateway program that focuses on the basics of business travel and teaches participants to maximize cost containment, improve efficiency and create a managed travel culture in a company. An overview of business travel technology is also provided by the course, which is part of the GBTA Academy. For more information,  contact academy@gbta.org.

New Agent FAMs Showcase Italy
Central Holidays is offering travel agents three nine-day FAM itineraries in Italy next March. The March 9 to17, 2012, tour spends three nights in Sorrento and four nights in Rome; the March 16 to 24, 2012, tour stays one night in Perugia, three nights in Florence and three nights in Rome; and the March 17 to 25, 2012, itinerary includes two nights in Como, two nights in Biella and three nights in Torino. The FAMS are priced at either $1,199 or $1,399 (double occupancy) and include air from New York, accommodations, most meals and select sightseeing. For more information, contact Stacy at (201) 228-5247; sandrikos@centralholidays.com or Susan at (201) 228-5307; sgonzalez@centralholidays.com.