NOVATO, Calif. -- Golden Bear Travel, a leading cruise
wholesaler, started a consortium for its 50 top-producing travel
agencies.
The program, called Golden Bear Travel Partners, will be
expanded to another 50 members in January 1999, said John Bell,
Golden Bear president.
The membership includes incentive cruise commissions, marketing
services and preferred vendor agreements.
"This network will give our members the competitive advantage to
succeed," Bell said. "It offers group rates along with a major
passenger benefit program that will let agencies compete with any
major cruise or tour operator."
Travel Partners is an extension of Golden Bear's 19-year-old
wholesale division, which specializes in premium and deluxe cruise
products.
Override commissions for Travel Partners participants will be
12% for Golden Bear's own escorted programs and for charters, such
as on Radisson Seven Seas' Paul Gauguin. Overrides will rise to 13%
for Travel Partners agents that reach $500,000 in volume.
Golden Bear has chartered the Paul Gauguin in its inaugural
season for one 18-day sailing in 1998 and for a sailing of the
Nieuw Amsterdam in 1999. In addition, Golden Bear operates the
Mariner Club, which offers benefits such as cruise hosts, unique
shore excursions, shipboard credits, upgrades and other extras.
The association with Golden Bear will allow Travel Partners
members to promote to consumers on more than just price, offering
them the extra services and comfort of traveling in a group, Bell
said.
"Our idea is to do more programs that are unique so that it's
not a matter of having to compete on price. Travel agents shoot
themselves in the foot by rebating. Our focus is to have a unique
product and unique pricing."
The first 50 participants will be by invitation from Golden
Bear's top producers; the next 50 slots will be open to new,
noncompeting members.
Bell said that Partners participants can continue membership in
other consortiums. The only requirements are that members are
outside of a 30-mile radius of each other and that they do not
actively promote to the same affinity markets.
There is a $500 fee to join. Annual fees, if any, have not been
determined.
Agencies wishing to be considered can submit a written inquiry
with agency information and annual revenue to Golden Bear Travel
Partners Program, Box 6115, Novato, Calif. 94948-6115.