VACATION.COM is encouraging member agencies
to submit an updated client contact list in order to take full
advantage of the Engagement direct-marketing program. The
consortium is providing an incentive of hundreds of free pieces of
direct mail for agencies that submit an updated list by Nov. 16.
Members can opt-in to each individual campaign offered by suppliers
and have mail sent directly to their clients for free or at a
nominal cost. For more details, agents can call the membership
department at (800) 843-0733 or e-mail [email protected].
STARTOURS
AWESOME VACATIONS, a tour operator based in Detroit, is
looking to make its name better known among home-based retailers.
Owner Glen Mullins, a former owner of Keytours, founded Startours
in 2002. "For 30 years I have followed the traditional methods of
distribution to get our message to travel agents. Direct mail,
sales calls, trade shows, faxes. Today, e-mailing and the Internet
have been added to the list. However, our dilemma is getting to the
growing number of home-based agents who are out there. We welcome
all travel providers, both store-front and home-based and urge all
agents to send us their particulars for registration," said
Mullins. The operator offers a combination of rail-only,
hotel-only, theater-only and complete rail/hotel vacations from the
Windsor/Detroit area to Toronto, Niagara Falls and Chicago. It pays
10% commission to its registered agencies. Learn more at [email protected].
THROUGH THE
PORT HOLE: After 13 years in Boston, Norwegian Cruise
Line's Norwegian Majesty departed the city's Black Falcon Cruise
Terminal on Oct. 12 for the last time. The NCL vessel has been
repositioned to Charleston, S.C., and will be replaced by the
Norwegian Dream in May 2008. The Dream will operate seven-day
sailings to Bermuda in the spring and fall seasons. Meanwhile, the
Majesty will sail to Bermuda, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Key West
from Charleston.
DATEBOOK: The OSSN Austin (Texas) Chapter
will meet Thursday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. for a dinner seminar with
Carnival Cruise Lines. The chapter will welcome OSSN agents, as
well as non-members, at Joe's Crab Shack. The meeting fee for
non-members is $10 per person. A Carnival representative will
discuss ideas for agents to increase their bottom lines. Agents
should RSVP via e-mail to [email protected].
FAM OF THE
WEEK
India
Trip: Spends two nights in Calcutta and
eight days cruising the Brahmaputra River aboard the 24-passenger
Sukapha.
Departure: Dec. 5 from Calcutta, land
only.
Length: Nine nights.
Sponsor: Value World Tours, Fountain
Valley, Calif.
Cost: $1,595 per person, double. Includes
hotel, some meals during the land portion of the trip, air within
India, sightseeing, upper-deck cabin accommodations on the cruise,
all meals on the cruise and guided shore excursions.
Noteworthy: Companions are eligible for
$100 additional; the single supplement is $595. Port charges and
visa fees are not included. Air can be arranged.
Contact: (800) 795-1633; 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].