SKY-HIGH
PAY: Travel Impressions is promoting Aeromexico Vacations,
which it took over this January, with higher commission and bonuses
this spring. Agents earn 15% pay on all bookings -- as well as $25
bonus cash for every two bookings -- for travel arrangements
throughout 2005 that are made by May 31. The operator is also
promoting a 24/7 customer-service hot line and its cancellation
insurance. The Mark Travel Corp previously operated Aeromexico
Vacations. For more, visit www.aeromexicovacations.com or call (888) 677-7888.
CRUISE
NEWS: Mexico has invested $7 million in the Pacific port
of Chiapas in the southernmost part of the country, 13 miles from
Tapuchula Airport. Tourism officials in the state of Chiapas,
already popular with European packaged-stay vacationers, say they
hope the cruise port will spur more tourism arrivals from this side
of the Atlantic. For more on the Port of Chiapas, visit www.puertomadero.com.mx.
HOW THE FAIR
WILL FARE: Organizers of the impending Mexico Tourism
Tianguis 2005 trade fair set for Acapulco next month upped their
participant estimates. Set for April 10 to 13, the fair will host
an expected 1,100 buyers from 25 countries (making 19,000
appointments), up from 994 in 2004. At the top of the Tianguis
conference agenda this year: low-cost airlines, a booming Asian
market, the future of tourism and sales and marketing in the
tourism industry. For more information or to register, visit www.tianguisturistico.com.mx.
QUINTANA
ROO-TE: Delta Air Lines began permanent, twice-weekly
service to Cozumel out of Atlanta on Saturdays and Sundays as of
March 5. Delta will fly the Georgia-Quintana Roo route with
148-passenger aircraft. Air-passenger arrivals in Cozumel in
January were up 39% over the same month in 2004. For more
information, visit www.delta.com or www.quintanaroo.gob.mx.
TEXAN
PERKS: Funjet Vacations and Vacations by Adventure Tours
are offering more incentives for agents who book and pay in full
getaways to Cancun from Dallas/Fort Worth between April 1 and May
31. Retailers booking 10 charter air seats to Cancun from
Dallas/Fort Worth will get one free charter air seat; there is no
cap on the number of free seats. Agents also get 12% base
commission when booking charter air/hotel vacations from
Dallas/Fort Worth to Cancun; bookings also are worth double
production credits toward 2005 commission schedules and toward
Funjet Vacations 500 Club and Vacations by Adventure Tours
Presidents Club membership. Eligible bookings must be made via VAX
VacationAccess. To participate in the free seat offer, agents
must e-mail their name and e-mail address, ARC number and agencys
name, address and phone number to [email protected] with the subject line Cancun
Promotion.