Travel Impressions said it has made marketing, planning and
booking groups easier for its agent partners.
Unveiled at Travel Impressions' Best of the Best 2017
conference and awards gala held in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic earlier this
month, the Flex Groups program enables travel agents to book groups of as few
as five rooms without the risk of taking on group booking contract
responsibilities.
Agents provide their clients with a booking code, enabling them to book rooms on their own and at a preferential rate. Once the group
surpasses five rooms, they can get additional
benefits, such as included transfers.
Travel Impressions president Scott Wiseman noted that prior
to creating the new Flex Groups program, Travel Impressions staff had to
complete all group bookings and make all changes manually, an inefficient and
cumbersome process considering group bookings often require tweaks and changes
throughout the booking process.
The technology is powered by Softrip Travel Solutions.
Wiseman stressed that Travel Impressions is not "moving
it all to an automated model." Travel Impressions staff will continue to
be available to assist agents booking groups.
Travel Impressions is positioning itself as a resource
for agents booking small events like family reunions, corporate and incentive
trips, anniversaries, bachelor and bachelorette parties, retirement and anniversary
trips, and destination weddings.
Group travel
represents a little more than 20% of Travel Impressions' business