The Mark Travel Corp. took over the management of United Vacations from MLT Vacations as of Dec. 12, returning to its portfolio a business that it had run for 20 years until 2011.
MLT, which is owned by Delta Air Lines, announced in January that it would operate United Vacations only until the end of the year, a decision the company said would enable MLT to focus on its Delta Vacations business.
MLT took over management of United Vacations on Jan. 1, 2011; prior to that it had been operated by Mark Travel for two decades.
But since then, Delta has been taking steps to bring MLT closer to the Delta corporate nexus. This year, Delta moved most of MLT's operations team and employees from MLT's former headquarters in Edina, Minn., to Delta's base in Atlanta.
Earlier, Delta installed John Caldwell, formerly Delta's managing director of national account sales and specialty sales, as president of MLT, replacing longtime MLT executives Larry Chestler and Ken Pomerantz.
Thus it probably came as little surprise that MLT was looking to unload United Vacations, and Mark Travel appeared ready to reclaim it, having reached an agreement with United Airlines to take over management of the United Vacations program effective Dec. 12.
Along with the new partnership comes a new title and responsibility for John Hanratty, who joined Mark Travel from Travel Impressions in October. At the time, Mark Travel said that Hanratty was joining the company with an as-of-yet-unnamed title to oversee expansion of the wholesaler's managed-brands division and to head up a newly formed groups division.
What at least some of that expansion entails has now become apparent. Additionally, Hanratty has been named senior vice president of travel agency engagement for Mark Travel's managed brands, which include Southwest Airlines Vacations, MGM Resort Vacations and now United Vacations.
"United Vacations will continue to be highly supportive of the travel agency community," Hanratty said in a statement. "We will offer the tools, programs and earnings opportunity agents desire."
The UnitedVacationsAgent.com agent portal website will now be powered by the Mark Travel-owned VAXVacationAccess and can also be accessed through www.vaxvacationaccess.com.
Mark Travel said it will pay agents 5% commission on air as well as give them the option to add on their own commission. The company will also launch an agent rewards program for United Vacations.
The Mark Travel Corp. will manage all United Vacations travel booked on or after Dec. 12, while prior bookings will continue to be managed by MLT.
The Mark Travel portfolio also includes Blue Sky Tours, Brand G. Vacations, Funjet Vacations, and TNT Vacations.
United Vacations sells vacation packages on United Airlines and partner airlines to more than 400 destinations worldwide, including the mainland U.S., Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada, South America, Central America, Europe, Australia, Asia and the Middle East.
Travelers can earn miles through United's MileagePlus frequent flyer program when booking United Vacations.
Follow Michelle Baran on Twitter @mbtravelweekly.