MIAMI -- The Caribbean Hotel Association Charitable Trust is
getting into the commissions business.
Travel agents in the U.S. now can earn commission from the new
tourism marketing body on hotel, car rental and package bookings at
the group's www.gocaribbean.com site.
"This Web site is the way to the Caribbean and now agents can
benefit," said Ralph Taylor, chairman of CHACT, a semi-private
organization that promotes the Caribbean as a single
destination.
Some 18 destinations -- Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas,
Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica,
Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St.
Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos
and the U.S. Virgin Islands -- are participating in the
campaign.
"Travel agents are leading distributors of travel products and
services and we are pleased that they are part of the Web-based
component of this program," Taylor said.
Expedia provides the booking engine and handles inbound
telephone sales and customer support. All members of the Caribbean
Hotel Association are allowed to post inventory on the site.
Commission is based on the purchase price of rooms or packages,
less non-commissionable items.
Agents booking at the site earn 10% on hotels, car rentals and
gocaribbean.com waivers, while attractions and services pay 5%.
But airfare, applicable taxes, service fees in packages and
customer coupons are not commissionable.
CHACT has launched a toll-free travel agent support line at
(888) 724-6413; to book, call (888) CARIBBEAN or visit www.gocaribbean.com.