CARNIVAL
CRUISE LINES set new parameters for agents who want to
sail its ships on reduced rates. Effective immediately, agents can
qualify for such rates if they book at least five cabins within a
12-month period. "There are so many different business models out
there in the travel distribution system now that it is becoming
increasingly important to ensure that only professional travel
agents who are actively promoting and selling cruises are receiving
travel agent discounts," Vicki Freed, Carnival's senior vice
president of sales and guest services, said in a statement.
ROYAL
CARIBBEAN INT'L gave its 2007 President's Award to World
Travel Holdings, the parent company of CruiseOne, the franchise
operation of home-based cruise specialists, and Cruises Inc., a
host agency network. WTH was singled out for its "hybrid business
model, vast array of effective marketing vehicles to reach
consumers, and undisputed presence in the travel community," a
statement from the company said. CruiseOne has 500 independent
cruise-only travel professionals, and Cruises Inc. has about 500
independent contractors working for it.
DATEBOOK: The Association of Home Based
Travel Agents, based in New Jersey, has a series of seminars lined
up for 2008. All are held at the East Grand Buffet, 6 Edgeboro
Road, East Brunswick, N.J., and all begin at 6:15 p.m. A fee of $13
includes dinner. The events are open to all agents. Upcoming events
include: on Feb. 12, Carnival Cruise Lines; Brendan Worldwide
Vacations; Adiamo, Italy; and Sunshine Travel USA will be featured;
on March 11, Princess Cruise Lines, Cunard Cruise Lines, Abreu
Tours, A&W Resorts and Vacation.com will be featured. For more
information, e-mail [email protected].
FAM OF THE
WEEK
Vietnam
Trip: Visits Danang, Halong, Hanoi, Ho Chi
Minh City and Hue. Participants spend one night in Singapore at the
airport hotel.
Departure: March 10 from Los Angeles to
Singapore via Singapore Airlines.
Length: Nine nights.
Sponsor: Pacific Holidays, New
York.
Cost: $1,695 per person, double. Includes
roundtrip air, hotel accommodations, most meals, transfers and
sightseeing.
Noteworthy: The companion rate is $1,895 per
person. The single supplement is $350. A
four-night extension to Singapore and Angkor Wat and Phnom Penh,
Cambodia, can be added for $650 per agent or $750 per
companion.
Contact: (800) 355-8025 or (212) 629-3888;
fax: (212) 629-8882; e-mail: [email protected].
Home-Based
Agent Editor: Donna Tunney
Phone: (508) 221-3674
[email protected]
For promotional
opportunities in the E-letters, contact [email protected].