Turkish Delight-Ritz Carlton Style with Platinum Seminars

by mailpound 10/7/2009 10:04:00 AM

Turkish Delight- Ritz-Carlton Style

By Dana C. McPherson, MCC PLSI

As a child I read a lot. One of my favorites was The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis. At the beginning, the Queen of Narnia tempts Edmund with Turkish Delight. I had never heard of Turkish Delight but it sounded divine. Edmund eventually betrayed his family and sold his soul for Turkish Delight. Years later in Istanbul I had my first taste of the fabled Turkish Delight. Nice, a little chewy, reminding me of bubble gum; hardly worth selling your family or soul out for this confection.

Recently, at the Ritz-Carlton in Istanbul, that changed. Disembarking after a Black Sea cruise on Oceania with fifty other luxury travel agents we were training, we had a 20-minute ride to go the pittance of half a mile to get there. Reaching the Ritz-Carlton, various porters and doormen greeted us by name, a sure tonic for the ride. Once in the massive marble lobby, Mr. Brown checked us in while I explored. I was taken with the amazing views of the Bosphorus and Asia across the water. A small table in the lobby held several elegant jars with copper lids stuffed with Turkish Delight. Immediately I reached in with tongs taking a small rose colored candy, about the size of a dice, and plopped it into my mouth. 

Ritz-Carlton Istanbul Lobby

Turkish Delight served in 
the Ritz-Carlton Suite

                                 

From that moment I wanted more and understood Edmund selling out his family for Turkish Delight.  Unlike any confection I had ever experienced, it was supple and delicate with lingering flavors dancing on the tongue for hours (if you waited that long to try another flavor).  After eating 3 or 4 pieces, we finally went to our suite.

A charming lady escorted us to our room.  She opened the door and we stepped into 2,600 gorgeous, amazing, square feet (View the Suite).  We stay at the Ritz-Carlton 25-30 nights each year when joining a cruise to conduct our seminars or attending trade shows.  The office overlooked Europe, the talking Jacuzzi tub had Bosphorus and European views, the dining room gazed at Asia, the living room and bedroom had Bosphorus views too.  In Istanbul we’ve stayed at many luxury properties but this was breathtaking.  I expected staff to pop out asking if we needed anything and they did.

Ritz-Carlton Suite Living Room

Ritz-Carlton Suite Bedroom

The dining room sat 10, encouraging us to invite guests. We invited the cruise director from the Oceania Nautica, Dottie Kulasa, and her husband, comedian extraordinaire, Tom Drake. Their ship was overnighting and they said they would be delighted to put on the Ritz. 

Ritz-Carlton Suite Bathroom View

Ritz-Carlton Suite Dining Room

Shopping all day at the Grand Bazaar we returned to the Ritz-Carlton Club for champagne. One glass led to two and two to… well anyway, Dottie and Tom arrived and were announced by the charming ladies of the Club. We enjoyed some delicious Meze (appetizers) in the Club and caught up. 

Grand Bazaar Istanbul, over 4000 shops

Ritz-Carlton Istanbul Club

Martin Kleinmann, the GM was in the Club greeting guests and made our guests feel at home. We proceeded upstairs to our suite and gave them a tour of our palace. The chef of the hotel was there to personally greet our guests and ask what they would like for dinner. We told him to decide and proceeded to enjoy the view and have some lovely California chardonnay. The coffee table was overflowing with an amazing display of various flavors of Turkish Delight. Dottie and Tom tried several pieces and were hooked. There is something about being at a Ritz-Carlton overlooking four Sultan’s palaces and enjoying the view from your own, however temporary. The Food and Beverage manager personally supervised the dinner which was beyond words. I am not certain how many bottles of wine were served but all the guests were definitely enjoying the experience. Dottie and Tom left and returned back to the ship and sailed away the next afternoon. This memory will be with all of us for a lifetime. 

At the spa the next afternoon, The Laveda, our experience was equally rewarding and relaxing. The Turkish bath or hamam was a religious experience at the Ritz-Carlton but that is another story.

Laveda Spa Hamam

Ritz-Carlton Istanbul

The moral to this story is that this is what you can do for your clients. When booking a cruise, please do them the favor of booking them a pre and post hotel so they may further enjoy their adventure. Most clients are loyal to one or two hotel brands. Platinum Seminars enjoys the Ritz-Carlton worldwide and the perks that go with that. Once your clients stay with a luxury brand with frequency, they are recognized and rewarded. Make sure they are using all the benefits of the credit cards they carry. AMEX offers many benefits for Centurion and Platinum members. I am told Visa and Master Card offer similar benefits to their high end clients.

Cookies, Ritz-Carlton Style

Stay with a brand that is loyal to your clients and to travel agents in return. You should also be experiencing luxury properties first-hand so you can more confidently recommend the properties. Your client’s memories of their trip are priceless and you as their agent are in position to continue making those special memories for a lifetime.

I still have some Turkish Delight in the fridge and it is calling me, beckoning me to sit in a quiet place and savor a memory that was 40 years in the making. After it warms to room temperature, I will take the journey to Narnia and see what other adventures and mischief I may find.

Just as Turkish Delight takes seven years for an apprentice to master making it, an agent should learn about luxury every day and make it a part of their life. Turkish Delight is only made from a few simple ingredients; sugar, cornstarch, cream of tartar and flavoring. A luxury experience contains simple ingredients as well; exceptional service, outstanding location/property, unique amenities and a reputation to deliver all of these on a consistent basis.

I look forward to seeing you in Narnia or onboard one of our cruise seminars.  The Ritz-Carlton Istanbul would be a wonderful place for you to stay when you attend ASTA’s International Destination Expo in Istanbul next year.  Experience it, Sell it!

Platinum Seminars trains over 2500 travel agents how to sell luxury on over 250 sail dates a year.  The training is traditionally conducted onboard the cruise lines.  Experience a Platinum Seminar and see how you can make your clients memories Platinum.     www.platinumseminars.com

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Q&A from May 1st Coffee Break featuring ShoreTrips

by mailpound 5/6/2009 4:05:00 AM
Last week’s coffee break featured ShoreTrips.  Barry Karp gave a great presentation on shore excursions available to your clients in Alaska. We received some really great questions and provided them below with Barry’s answers.  If you have any additional questions please leave a comment below or e-mail admin@shoretrips.com.  Please be sure to check out the recorded version of the webinar by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.


Q.  What is the minimum group size that the clients need to receive a discounted rate?
A.  At ShoreTrips we do not have a minimum or maximum number to consider a group.  We will install groups on our group page that have as little as 4 or 6 people.  It really depends on how customized everything is and how specialized you need us to be.  For example, if you have 4 couples that want to make sure they are all together we might form a group so they can all get on the site. 
Do we offer discounts for groups?  Alaska has a very, very short period for there vendors to sell their products and make a profit. Our vendors, because they are the best vendors out there, seldom discount their trips.  However, if you come to me and tell me you have a group of 40 people who would like to do a bus tour of Juneau we will be able to work out a discount.  I will be able to go to the tour company and get the net price of the bus.  We add very, very little mark up, it is only $10 per person and on top of that we will add in your commission.  So we should be able to beat the price if you give us 30-40 people because we will then own the bus.  We can then take the price of the bus and divide it by the 30 or 40 people and everyone will be happy J

Q.     Do you offer any travel agent rates?
A.  As I mentioned before we do not mark up our prices by much so we make very little money on each excursion.  However we will work with you.  If you call us and tell us you are going to Alaska we will remove the Travel Agent commission and you can pay the net price for the excursion.  If you have a group we will work with you and the tour operator to see what kind of free ones we can get.  We usually do not go to the operators and ask them for free spots up front but will ask them for a formula, for example 1 free of 20 guests.  Usually we like to receive the bookings before we talk to the tour operator.

Q.     If I send my clients directly to your website, how do I receive my commission?
A.  That is easy J Before you send your clients to ShoreTrips you will login to our website using your user id and password.  Once you are logged in you will click on “edit referral list” and you will add your clients to the list.  You will be asked to put in their name and e-mail address.  If you have a couple I suggest putting in both of their names and e-mail addresses.  Also make sure to include both their work and home e-mail addresses if they have both.  Now anytime your clients come on our site they have to register with us and we specifically ask for their e-mail address.  When they type in their address we will know that they belong to you/your agency.  Now if you forget and you referred your client to us and they booked with us just give us a call providing their name.  We will look up the booking and will add your agency into the system under their booking so you receive the full commission for it.  You will receive your commission check 2 weeks after your client’s trip.

Q.     Can travel agents set up an affiliate account so their clients can purchase directly from their website?
A.  No, however we can provide you a link to place on your website that says “shore excursions”.  When you client clicks on the link they will be taken to ShoreTrips website.  We will know that those clients came from your travel agency and anytime they come to us, now and in the future, you will make full commission on those clients.  You will also be notified everytime they book and you will be able to see their vouchers.  It is a really nice and easy way of offering shore excursions to your clients.

Q.     How do you pick them up by the ship?
What size group do you need to have your own van or private transportation? For example Chris has a group of 17
A.  To answer the first part of the question, 99 times out of 100 in Alaska or any of our locations their tour guide will be there with a sign when they get off the ship.  The sign will have your client’s name on it, which really makes them feel like VIPs.
Now let’s take Chris’s example of a group of 17.  If you would like the group of 17 to stay together, for example a sightseeing tour in Alaska, we will probably use a mini bus.  A mini bus holds about 20-21 people and we would divide the price by 17 if that is how you wish to do it.  If you are unsure that everyone will want to go on that tour we can always divide the price by 14 or 15.  So yes, if you have a group of 17 we could certainly provide private transportation.

Q.     What do you say to clients who are afraid of going outside the cruise ship line on an excursion because they are afraid the cruise ship will leave without them if they are delayed?
A.  ShoreTrips is not for everybody.  If you have clients who are completely afraid of going away from the shore excursions offered by the cruise line, then no matter what you say or do you will not be able to convince them otherwise.  You need to focus on the clients who are open to independent shore excursions.  I would say 90% of your customers would never think twice of coming off the ship and grabbing a taxi to go somewhere.  Those are the people you should be offering ShoreTrips to for independent shore excursions.  Independent shore excursions have been around since we started in 2001.  Every single year our sales are growing which means more and more people are doing independent shore excursions.  So your clients should not be afraid.  We have never had anyone miss a ship and if it does happen we will make sure to get your client to the next port.  It happens to the cruise line shore excursions all the time.  The ship leaves and they fly them to the next port.  We would do exactly the same thing.  If we make a mistake we will make sure to get your clients to the next port.  We will never have you lose a customer over a shore excursion.

Q.     Does everyone in the group have to take the same package?
A.  No, not everyone in the group has to take the same package.  When you have a group and they are doing 3 ports in Alaska we will sit together and think about what your group may want to do.  They do not all have to go on the same trip.  We can have one customized tour for your port or we can have 17 different excursions.  Especially if you have a multigenerational group, not everyone in the group is going to want to do the same thing.  That is why we offer an array of excursions for each port.  For example Juneau we offer helicopter tours, fishing trips, whale watching, hikes, and so on.  We will work together and select shore excursions that will make everyone in your group have a great time.

Q.     Where can I view this webinar again?
A.  We recorded it and posted it on MailPound.com.  Please click here to view.

 

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Volunteers Help at Gettysburg's Spangler Farm

by mailpound 5/4/2009 3:37:00 AM
 

Volunteers Help at Gettysburg’s Spangler

Farm



by National Trust for Historic Preservation on April 27th, 2009

Written by Bobbie Greene McCarthy

Bobbie Greene McCarthy, director of Save America's Treasures at the National Trust and Debbie Maier of MailPound in New Jersey, pose in front of the summer kitchen they helped rehab as part of the Tourism Cares for America weekend at Gettysburg National Military Park.

Bobbie Greene McCarthy, director of Save America's Treasures at the National Trust and Debbie Maier of MailPound in New Jersey, pose in front of the summer kitchen they helped rehab as part of the Tourism Cares for America weekend at Gettysburg National Military Park.

Last week, my colleague, Fiona Lawless, and I joined more than 300 volunteers at Gettysburg National Military Park for the seventh annual “Tourism Cares for America” weekend. Begun in 2001 as the tourism industry reeled in the wake of 9/11, this education/philanthropic association of the country’s large tourism organizations has logged countless people hours in an effort to preserve and protect some of our country’s most treasured historic sites, including Ellis Island, Mount Vernon, New Orleans (twice!), the Mississippi Gulf Coast after Katrina, and Virginia City, Nevada. The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Save America’s Treasures program has had a long and productive partnership with Tourism Cares and the tourism industry, and we count ourselves among their faithful volunteers.

Participants flocked to Gettysburg from across the US and some even as far as British Columbia to help the National Park Service and the Gettysburg Foundation clear and clean the 80-acre Spangler Farm recently purchased from the family that owned it for many generations. Once restored, it will be used for the Park’s educational programs and outreach activities. The farm was the logistical center of the Union battle line and served as a field hospital for more than 1,700 wounded and dying soldiers during three horrific days in July 1863 that made Gettysburg world-famous and changed the course of the Civil War. It is best known as the place where Confederate General Lewis Armistead died after he was wounded in Pickett’s Charge on the third day of the battle.

(If the name sounds familiar to you, it’s because the Armistead family name is woven through American history. Of special note, Lewis’ uncle, Lieutenant Colonel Major George Armistead, commanded Fort McHenry in the War of 1812, defending Baltimore against the British during the attack that inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the words to the Star Spangled Banner. In fact, George Armistead was given the Star Spangled Banner after the battle and it remained in his family for generations.)

Most of the Tourism Cares volunteers cleared countless tons of heavy brush and debris from the land but others cleaned the barn and farmhouse. I focused my efforts largely on hauling, shoveling and, finally, sweeping the summer kitchen, where a bronze plaque says it is the actual place where General Armistead died. For a group of desk-jockeys and tour guides with a sense of history but unaccustomed to hard physical labor, it was an exhausting but exhilarating experience. Tourism Cares did — as it always does — a magnificent job of organizing this complex event with its countless moving parts and made sure that the labor was preceded and followed by interesting and enjoyable activities — including LOTS of food and plenty to drink.

The group was treated to a lively tour of the battlefield, and a special viewing of the newly-restored Cyclorama painting (conserved thanks in part to a $200,000 challenge grant from Save America’s Treasures). There also was a special screening of a new video produced by the History Channel about the Battle at Gettysburg. In a final generous gesture, Tourism Cares and Trip Mate Insurance announced a surprise $10,000 grant to the Gettysburg Foundation for further rehabilitation of Spangler Farm.

If you’d like to know more and see pictures from the weekend, visit the Tourism Cares website, and more on Gettysburg National Military Park can be found on their website.

Bobbie Greene McCarthy is the director of the Save America’s Treasures program at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

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Q&A from April 24th Coffee Break featuring Oahu Visitors Bureau

by mailpound 4/28/2009 6:27:00 AM
Last week’s coffee break featured Holiday Oahu Visitors Bureau.  Stacey Alford gave an informative presentation on Pearl Harbor and an overview of the historical sites throughout the national landmark. We received some really great questions and provided them below with Stacey’s answers.  If you have any additional questions please leave a comment below or e-mail Stacey directly at stacey@visit-oahu.com.  Please be sure to check out the recorded version of the webinar by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.



Q.   I have a group of 50 who would like to do a one day tour of the Big Island of Honolulu.  Who should I contact for this information?
A.  Please go to the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau website, www.gohawaii.com.  You will be able to find all of the suppliers that provide that service for you.  For example a few are Polynesian Adventure Tours and Robert’s Hawaii.  If you would like direct contacts for any of those suppliers please e-mail me at Stacey@visit-oahu.com and I would be more than happy to provide them for you.

Q.     Does the Navy still have free trips to the Arizona Memorial?
A.  Yes they do.  The Arizona Memorial is the historic site at Pearl Harbor.  It is free and open to the public but remember you need to get a ticket to go over to the Memorial and the tickets cannot be reserved in advance.  The tickets are given out daily and are provided until we run out.  So please get there early to ensure that you will get a ticket.
You can pre-book a Pearl Harbor Tour, which is basically the transportation to the Arizona Memorial, but once you get there you will have to wait in line like everyone else to receive a ticket.  So again it is free but it is something that you cannot reserve or be guaranteed.

Q.     Can you provide the website for the schedule of incoming cruises?
A.  Yes the web address is http://www.alohaboatdays.com/00schedule.html.  This is an important insider tip.  On the days that we do have a cruise ship in town most of the passengers want to go to Pearl Harbor.  That means you can be waiting in line for 4 hours just to get a ticket and another few hours before you can go over to the Memorial.  Just to clarify our insider tip- it is best not to schedule your clients on a day a cruise ship is in town.

Q.     Is the shuttle handicap accessible for those not able to transfer from a wheelchair or scooter?
A.  Yes the shuttles are handicap accessible.  Thank you for bringing this up.  I am actually working on a webinar with ADA Travel because I know we receive a lot of requests for information like this.  I actually had a travel agent on a FAM trip with us and we were even able to get her on the ship Battleship Missouri.  Someone there volunteered to take her in an elevator and brought her onto the deck.  The same holds true for the Arizona Memorial-a Navy personnel will be able to assist anyone that needs it.  If this is a topic you are interested in please e-mail me at Stacey@visit-oahu.com and I will make sure you are invited to my webinar on the island of Oahu and wheelchair accessible travel.

Q.     I have a child who is 7 years old.  Would it be appropriate for him to visit?
A.  Yes it would and I can say that from personal experience.  My son is now 8 but I took him for the first time when he was just 5 years old.  It was in July and we had to wait in lines for long hours and I was worried about bringing a young child.  I found, at least for my son that day, it was very educational for him and touched him in a way that it is now one of his favorite things to do.  When we have family or friends visiting he always wants to go back to Pearl Harbor.  As a parent we have to know the personality of the child and profile the patience of the child if they are going to be in line for that many hours.  It is also a good idea to bring lots of snacks.  The concession stands at the Arizona Memorial are very, very limited and hungry children seem to get agitated and impatient.  Just a little insider tip from a fellow mom J but yes I would definitely bring them along.

Q.     Is there anyway to get a copy or DVD of the 23 minute film at the Arizona Memorial?
A.  I am sorry but I do not know the answer for this, but if you e-mail me I will happily contact the manager at Pearl Harbor and get you the answer to that.

Q.  Is this webinar available to view again?
A.  Yes we have recorded it and posted it on MailPound.com.  Please click here to view.   

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Twitter with MailPound

by mailpound 4/24/2009 4:20:00 AM

MailPound is excited to announce that we have joined the Twitter community.  Since we are new to this we would appreciate any tips, suggestions or stories you may have.  Please submit them by leaving a comment below.  You can follow us on Twitter by going to http://twitter.com/mailpound.  Thank you for your help and we look forward to receiving your tips!

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Q&A from April 3 Coffee Break featuring Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort Montego Bay

by mailpound 4/8/2009 7:44:00 AM
Last week’s coffee break featured Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort Montego Bay sponsored by Travel Impressions.  Jackie Raccuglia gave a great presentation on the recent refurbishments of the resort and why it will be a vacation your client’s will never forget. We received some really great questions and provided them below with Jackie’s answers.  If you have any additional questions please leave a comment below.  Please be sure to check out the recorded version of the webinar by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.

Q.  What activities are there for teenagers ages 13-17?
A.  We have a game room for the teenagers equipped with Play Station, Xbox 360 and Sega.  We also have a play area that allows teens to do puzzles or read books.  This is all part of our Kids Free Club and is provided free of charge.

Q.     Are there exclusive wedding packages?
A.  Yes we provide a wide variety of wedding packages.  We have recently revised our wedding packages and launched honeymoon packages, which we are very excited about.  We also have additional packages that include engagement celebrations, bridal showers and bachelor/bachelorette parties.  We have a great selection of these packages.  For more details please visit our website www.montegobayjam.sunspreeresorts.com. 

Q.     Are excursions included in the package and is transportation offered to any off site activities?
A.  Excursions are not included in our all-inclusive packages but can be arranged at our tour desk.  Usually the venues you visit will provide their own transportation.  The resort is not responsible for any transportation.

Q.     Do you have to pay to reserve a lounge chair on the island?
A.  No there is no charge to reserve a lounge chair.

Q.     Are there 2 double beds in a standard room?
A.  Yes we have 2 double beds or a King bed available in our standard category rooms.

Q.     How many rooms are in your resort?
A.  We have a total of 524 rooms.  Out of that total – 280 are standardized accommodations (which are our favorites), 144 are in our superior category and 73 are ocean front rooms in our deluxe category.

Q.     Is your resort handicap friendly?
A.  Yes our resort is handicap friendly.  We usually have about 7 special rooms that are included for disabled people and are located across the property.  We also provide roll in showers for wheel chair confined guests, as well as access to the beaches and pools.

Q.     Can you please provide the agent website and the information that goes along with it?
A.  Certainly.  Our agent website is www.caribbeanhi.com/agent.  The website provides you information on our specials and reward programs. From time to time we also have exclusive promotions in terms of rewards and will send them to you once you register on our website.  In the meantime, we are providing a $25 gift certificate for every 3rd booking at either the Holiday Inn Montego Bay or Holiday Inn Aruba.  Again to receive special offers please register at our website www.caribbeanhi.com/agent.

Q.     Do you have a one day pass available for cruise guests?
A.  Yes we do have available one day passes for cruise guests.  For an adult pass the cost is $90 and for a children’s pass it is $60.  You can purchase these in the lobby area of our resort.

Q.     What are the ages for the Kid’s Club?
A.  The Kid’s Club is available for ages 2-12 years old and our teenagers are 13-17.  Babies under 2 years of age are required to be kept in the nursery with our certified staff.  Babysitting is also available at an additional fee.

Q.     When is your high peak season and do you offer specials for the off peak season?
A.  Our high peak season runs from December 15th- April 15th and our low peak season is from April 15th-December 15th.  We actually have a great promotion going on at the hotel right now.  We are offering 50% off across the board to all travel personnel now through December.  It is available to you as well so if you would like to receive more information please contact us at 305-296-9080 and we would be more than happy to forward you the information.

Q.     Does the resort provide transportation from the airport?
A.  Our hotel does not offer transportation to and from the airport.

Q.     Are car rentals available at the hotel?
A.  Yes, we have Hertz rental car service available at the hotel.

Q.     Is there any good snorkeling near by?
A.  Yes we have a wide range of water sports including scuba certified diving.  This can be arranged at the tour desk at the resort and is also available offsite.

Q.     Are you equipped to meet special dietary needs of your guests?
A.  Yes we are, but guests must contact guest services ahead of time and let them know their special needs.

Q.     What wholesalers do you work with?
A.  We work with most of the traditional wholesalers such as Travel Impressions, Liberty Travel, Funjet, Smart Travel Corporation and Air Jamaica Vacations to name a few.  We work with mostly all of the major wholesalers.

Q.     What water craft is included in the all-inclusive pricing?
A.  All non-motorized water sports are included in the all-inclusive pricing.  That usually includes paddle boats, snorkeling, kayak, and windsurfing.

Q.     How far is the shopping area from the resort?
A.  We are located about 8 miles (10-12 minute drive) from the downtown shopping area, restaurants and nightlife, including Margaritaville.  We also have shopping available at the resort.

Q.     Are there any buildings for adults only?
A.  Currently we do not have any buildings for adults only.  However we are considering it in the near future.

Q.     When was your hotel most recently refurbished?
A.  Our last refurbishment was April of 2008.

Q.     Is there golfing near by?
A.  Yes we do have golfing near by including the popular course Half Moon.  This can be arranged at our tour desk.

Q.     Where is the adult pool located?
A.  Our adult pool is located on the Westside of the hotel and is closest to buildings 5, 6 and 7.

Q.     What is your contact information?
A.  You can reach me out our sales office in Miami.  Please see the information below. 

USA Sales and Marketing
IHG Caribbean Sales

6505 Blue Lagoon Drive, Ste 450
Miami, FL 33123
Phone: 305.269.9937
Email: sunspreesales@ihg.com

Q.  Is this webinar available to view again?
A.  Yes we have recorded it and posted it on MailPound.com.  Please click here to view.   

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Q&A from March 27th Coffee Break featuring Kauai Visitors Bureau

by mailpound 4/1/2009 2:41:00 AM

Last Friday’s Coffee Break featured Kauai Visitors Bureau.  Maile Horner, Director of Marketing, gave a great presentation on the island of Kauai and what makes it such a unique destination.  We received many great questions, which I provided below with Maile’s answers.  If you have any additional questions please leave a comment below or e-mail Maile at mhorner@hvcb.org.   To view the recorded version of this webinar, please click the link at the bottom of this page.


 

Q.  What are the hotel prices from May to August?
A.  The prices of the hotels are going to depend on the properties.  We have some hotel properties offering rates as low as $100 a night and the prices go up from there.  Most of our properties are offering specials, such as incentives, and that is where you are going find the best deals.  I have never seen lower prices than those being offered now.  If you are looking at a specific property please feel free to e-mail me at mhorner@hvcb.org and I would be more than happy to help you with the information you need.

Q.     What are your agent websites?
A.  Our travel trade website is http://travelagents.kauaidiscovery.com or you can also go to www.KauaiDiscovery.com.

Q.     I have heard there is a new inter-island airline available.  Would you be able to provide the name of it?
A.  Certainly.  The name of the airline you are referring to is Mokulele Airlines.  It is actually a very nice airline.  They have 70 passenger jets that run 4 times daily in and out of Kauai.  I must say they are also a very comfortable ride.  I definitely recommend checking them out.

Q.     For first time visitors, what would you recommend for tours of all the islands- ground with air or cruise?
A.  I could honestly argue either point.  If your client wishes to do island hopping I think the cruise ship is great for that.  The only problem with that is that it only gives them a quick sample of the island.  If they choose a cruise I would encourage your clients to do an excursion either with the cruise or on their own.  Make sure they go out and see something rather than just hangout around the ship.  On a side note, any clients you are sending to Kauai PLEASE book their rental car ahead of time and as soon as possible.  With the economic down turn many of the rental companies do not have as much inventory as they have had in the past.  So it is very important to make these reservations ahead of time to ensure your client will have a rental car.

Q.     Can you discuss briefly the wedding requirements for Kauai?
A.  Our wedding requirements are pretty simple.  We require you get a wedding license through our state building.  They recommend making an appointment and giving them at least 2 weeks notice.  You can simply make an appointment by calling them.  The cost of the wedding license is $65.  There is no blood work required.  Once you have the marriage license you just need to get married by an ordained minister or judge within 30 days.

Q.     Are there scooters or motorized bikes available to rent?  What is the best way to get around the island?
A.  Yes we have bikes and scooters available to rent.  The bicycles would be really great on the path I spoke about earlier.  I am a little hesitant on the scooters and mopeds for getting around on the island.  I personally recommend a rental car; our roads are not exactly moped and scooter friendly.  Rental cars are definitely the way to go to get around the island.

Q.     When is Kauai’s rainy season?  Is February a good month to visit?
A.  We have great weather all year round.  Our “rainy” season is typically the winter months of December, January and February.  Although, this February we had phenomenal weather.  We are actually half of where we should be with rainfall.  Everyone should keep in mind with a tropical island most of our rainfalls with the trade winds are usually centrally located in the island.  The hotels and condos are actually on the coastal lines.  You have to expect a little bit of rain but it is very rare it will rain the entire time unless there is a storm system over the island.  Other than that you will find sunshine among the island J

Q.     Where do you pick up the bike path and how long is it?
A.  The bike path picks up at Mid Gate and is about 7 miles.  They are actually in the process of extending it.  It is absolutely wonderful and I recommend going if you visit Kauai.

Q.     Is Merrimans open or is there an opening date?
A.  Unfortunately we do not have an opening date at this time.

Q.     Is the website http://travelagents.kauaidiscovery.com the best place to find the latest and best island specials?
A.  Island specials would actually be found from the partners themselves.  We do not have a spot right now, at least for travel partners, with this information but is something we are working on.  We are working on compiling a list of our members to see what kind of incentives they offer our travel professionals now, such as booking incentives and commission.  That is something definitely in the works.  As far as getting just general specials I would expect the partners to tell you more about that.  It is a great time to contact them because just about everybody has a special going on right now.

Q.     Does the MahaloMonth.com site have offers for agents on the island of Kauai for April/May?
A.  Yes they do.  This is our give back (thank you month) to all of our travel professionals for their wonderful support.  It is also a great way for you to get up to date on all of the islands.  For more information please go to the website www.agents.gohawaii.com and click on the banner that says “Discover the Sights…” Click on that and you will then see a press release that will talk about Mahalo Month and will direct you to the website mahalomonth.com.

Q.     What part of Kauai has the best beaches?
A.  Great question! I am going to refer you to the website www.kauaiexplorer.com.  The website gives you daily beach updates and provides you with all the information you need to know.  We have 43 beaches on the island of Kauai and each one is different and good for different things.  Some are great for snorkeling, some are great for swimming and others are great for surfing.  So please check out www.kauaiexplorer.com.  They provide you photos and tell you which ones provide lifeguards.  They also talk about our current and tides, which is very important when you are talking about an island.  Specifically the north-shore of any of the other islands are going to get a really big surf during the winter time.  So if you have clients who want to do a lot of swimming you are going to want to send them to the south-shore in the winter. It also goes the other way around.  In the summer time the south-shore seems to get the bigger surf, so you will want to send your clients to the north-shore for snorkeling in the summer time.  You can of course always view the daily updates on the website to know what beaches to go to.  We also provide a Kauai beach guide, which provides a map of all the beaches and includes information on the tides.

Q.     Where can I view this seminar again?
A.  We recorded it and posted it on MailPound.com.  To view please click here.    

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Q&A from March 13th Coffee Break featuring Travel Impressions

by mailpound 3/19/2009 6:14:00 AM

Last Friday’s Coffee Break featured Travel Impressions. Valerie Harris, manager eCommerce Training, gave a great presentation on teaching agents how to use their award winning, easy-to-use agent booking engine. Agents learned how easy it is to check air and hotel availability, get complete hotel details, view virtual tours, find promotional information and so much more! We received many great questions, which I provided below with Valerie’s answers.  If you have any additional questions please leave a comment below.   To view the recorded version of this webinar, please click the link at the bottom of this page.



Q.  Does Travel Impressions only sell to travel agents?
A.  Yes, Travel Impressions only sells to travel agents.  The booking engine on our website is only available to travel agents. In order to book with us you must be registered with Travel Impressions and will need a user name and password.  Your clients are able to view the homepage, but when it comes to booking that is for travel agents only.  

Q.When booking a hotel that shows it is wait listed, how long will it be before it is confirmed or not?
A.  If you get a wait listed room, I recommend you go ahead and book the room and then call our help desk at 800.999.4321, especially before taking your client’s deposit.  When you call the help desk they will be able to contact our hotel inventory department who will then contact the hotel directly.  You can also wait 24 hours after you book the room and go back into your booking to see if the room has been confirmed.  However, I recommend calling the help desk after your booking.

Q.  How did you get to the hotel picture and trip rating?
A.  To get the picture of the hotel and the trip rating you simply just click on the name of the hotel.  Once you click on the name you will be brought to the picture.

Q.  Do you have bulk fares? If so, are they commissionable and at what rate? Are there refundable rates?
A.  Yes bulk rates are available with Travel Impressions depending on the airline.  They are also commissionable but it depends on the commission you are receiving from Travel Impressions. 

Q.  Who would I speak to if I wanted to book a group of about 120 people?
A.  We have a fabulous group department that would be happy to help you.  You can contact them by calling our help desk at 800.999.4321 and from the menu select group department.  They will be glad to help you!

Q.  Do you have a listing of which class of published airfare does not require clients to pay the total cost of the airfare?
A.  Unfortunately that is not available on our website but you can call our reservations department or the help desk for assistance.

Q.  Is it necessary to book online or are you able to book over the phone directly with Travel Impressions?
A.  Yes you can certainly book over the phone by calling our reservations department.  We have wonderful agents that are very helpful and would be happy to do your booking over the phone.  Please know though that when you book on the internet you will receive an extra 1% commission based on the internet booking. 

Q.  Can the tour date be changed after the package is booked and if so, is there a fee?
A.  That is a great question. Whether or not the tour date can be changed depends on the penalties of the hotel.  If you have any changes we recommend calling our help desk and they will provide any information you need on any penalties, if any. 

Q.  What if I book a hotel package through Travel Impressions and then I receive a call from my client saying the hotel was offering special amenities but only if it was booked directly with the hotel- is there anything you can do in that situation?
A.  If the hotel is offering information on an item or special that is not in our contract unfortunately we would try to get it but if it is something that has not been contracted with Travel Impressions we would not be able to get it for them.

Q.  Is it possible to e-mail a trip itinerary to a client to review.
A.  Yes you certainly can.  There is an envelope icon on your confirmation page. You would just simply click that icon to e-mail the itinerary directly to your client.

Q.  Do you have to book the trip before you can request a price match?
A.  Yes, you have to book the trip before you can request a price match.  The link for “Price Match” appears on the confirmation page after you have booked your trip.  You can also call the help desk after you have booked and they will price match the trip for you right over the phone.  You will see it confirmed on your booking that the match has been acquired.

Q.  How can agents know about upcoming Trade Shows in their area?
A.  They can contact their local business development manager to see if and when a trade show is going to be coming into their area.  They can also contact Travel Impressions by calling our help desk for that information.

Q.  When you find a special on the first screen do you need to add the promotional code somewhere or do you automatically receive the promotion?
A.  If the promotion you select is part of a hotel’s package, during the time your client is traveling, it will be automatically included in the package and you won’t have to add any promotional codes.  This is a wonderful feature with Travel Impression’s booking engine.

Q.  Can you explain your price match program?
A.  We do instant price matching with Apple for Apple to compare the package with other wholesalers.  We will try to price match as much as possible with any online competitors such as the Expedias and Travelocitys of the world. We look at it land to land, as public airfare should be the same.  We compare the hotel components and then go from that point. We just have to look at the components, compare them and make sure it is something we can offer. It really comes down to whether or not we are going to lose money on it.    If you have any questions about this policy it is best to reach out to the inside sales department or your own local business development manager.

Q.  Is it possible to add on excursions after you have made the deposit?
A.  Absolutely! You can add on excursions or tours at anytime and they will be added to the total cost of the package.  You can even add excursions after the client has paid in full, you just want to make sure you add them before the client travels.

Q.  Is there a way to get promotion information from your website before we get to the travel planner?
A.  Yes! All the promotion information is on our homepage.  There is section titled “Featured Promotions” which includes all the promotion information you need.  Also if you click on a destination there is a promotion link provided that will include all promotions for that particular destination. 

Q.  How do you manage agents on the website when you are the owner of the agency?  Are they all going to use the same login?
A.  When you register with Travel Impressions you have the ability to register at manager’s level.  When you register at manager’s level you have the ability to manage your profile, which will include the agents and their user names.  You are then able to make sure the agents are registered and that you want them registered to user the site.  You are able to change anything in the profile you need for your agency.

Q.  Where can I view this webinar again?
A.  It has been recorded and posted on MailPound.  Please click here to view.

  

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Q&A from March 6th Coffee Break featuring Keith Prowse

by mailpound 3/11/2009 9:43:00 AM
Last week’s coffee break featured Keith Prowse- “The Ticket Agent for Travel Agents.”  Kent Davidson gave a great presentation on how Keith Prowse truly is the one-stop-shop for travel agents and went over all the exciting products they have to offer.  I have posted some of the great questions we received below with Keith’s answers.  If you have any additional questions please leave a comment below.  Please be sure to check out the recorded version of the webinar by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.

Q.     Do you sell exclusively through travel agents?
A.  No we do not. However all of our marketing is directed to travel agents only; we do not do any direct marketing to consumers.

Q.     Can the tickets be mailed directly to the client instead of to the agency?
A.  Yes, the tickets can be mailed directly to the client.  We try not to encourage this though because we do not want them to come back to us directly but would rather them come through you. 

Q.     Are you doing the Olympics?
A.  Unfortunately we do not do the Olympics.  We work through promoters and suppliers so the Olympics have always been difficult for us because they award certain contracts.  However, being a British company, we have tendered several proposals to be the ticketing company for the London Olympics.  It is in the hands of fate right now, but if we do become their ticketing company then of course the tickets would be available to our travel agent partners.

Q.     Can you explain how the dining works? For example do we need to buy an “x” amount of gift cards for an “x” amount of dollars
A.  No you do not have to buy gift cards.  You clients will receive a prefixed menu at the restaurant where they will be provided certain items to choose from.  This is all prepaid including tax and gratuity.

Q.     Do you do anything in Branson?
A.  Thank you for that great question but unfortunately we do not.  I should probably start working on a contract for that J

Q.     Is there a minimum amount in the commission earned before Keith Prowse will issue a check to an agency?
A.  No there is not.  Also you may want to know that we commission based on transaction date, not the date the client is actually traveling.  Agents will usually receive their commission 60-90 days after the day they book.

Q.     What are the various commissions that can be earned on the products offered by Keith Prowse?
A.  We commission based on a margin share.  We believe it is most fair to split the margin that is available with you.  The commission ranges from 20-45% depending on your consortia agreements and the products you have booked.  When you book we will let you know what the commission is you have earned.


Q.     Do you provide service events for South Africa?
A.  We do provide service events for South Africa but it depends on what you are looking for.  We do offer sightseeing tours, but we do not do a lot of theater or attractions there.  If you go to our website www.keithprowse.com or give us a call we can let you know what sightseeing events are available.


Q.     Do you sell any sports tickets, like baseball?
A.  We actually provide tickets to the Mets right here in New York.  That is actually a brand new contract and we are actually working on making more of them as the year goes on.  We are hoping in the next 6-8 months to be able to provide more sports products.


Q.     How does the login work for an agent of a host?
A.  You would login using your IATA and name.  You will then have the ability to offer a separate mailing address if you need your products shipped to another location.


Q.     Do you offer concert tickets?
A.  We do not offer any concert tickets in the US except for Cher and Elton John in Las Vegas.  We do a quite a bit of rock and pop outside of the US but we do not do any within the US.

Q.     Is there an agent rate for shows in New York?
A.  There certainly are.  Please call us at 800.669.8687 to request that information from one of our agents.  The price will vary depending on the show and performance. 

Q.     Where can I view this webinar?
A.  We have recorded it and posted it on MailPound’s homepage.  Please click here to view. 

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Q&A from February 27th Coffee Break featuring HVCB

by mailpound 3/9/2009 3:06:00 AM

Christina Aldanese, of HVCB, presented last week’s coffee break.  She gave a great presentation on their spring 2009 marketing programs and went over their latest sales and marketing tools available to travel agents on their travel trade website.  Below I have posted some of the great questions we received with Christina’s answers.  If you have any additional questions please leave a comment below.  Please be sure to check out the recorded version of the webinar by clicking the link at the bottom of this page. 

Q.  Can travel agents earn points for individual, as well as, group bookings?
A.  Absolutely! Travel agents earn points on all bookings whether it is for one person or fifty.

Q.  Can you share any information on all -inclusive packages to Hawaii that include air, lodging, meals, etc?
A.  Hawaii unfortunately does not have all-inclusive packages like other destinations do.  The reason is that although we want our visitors to enjoy their resorts; we encourage them to go out and explore the beautiful places Hawaii has to offer. 

Q.     When is the most economical time of the year to visit Hawaii?
A.  The most economical time to visit Hawaii is actually right now.  We have some great offers out there right now you do not want to miss.  The summer is historically the busiest time for Hawaii so if you can go before June, now is the time to go!

Q.     It has been my daughter’s dream to visit Hawaii, and I would like to show her all of the islands.  Where do I start?

A.  If she has never been to Hawaii I recommend starting with Oahu, which is our main island.  I recommend Oahu because that is where Waikiki is located, you have Diamond Head in the background, you can visit Pearl Harbor and there is just so much to see and do there.  You may also want to try going to another 1 or 2 islands for your first visit.  Our volcano is located at Hawaii’s Big Island and would definitely be a great place to visit.  I would definitely start with Oahu though.

Q.     Do you have travel agent reduced rates?
A.  During the months of April and May of 2009 is our Mahalo month for travel agents.    If you go to agents.gohawaii.com and sign in or create a profile, you will see a banner that says “Discover the Sights…” Click on that and you will then see a press release that will talk about Mahalo month and will take you to the website mahalomonth.com.  There you can register to get some fantastic deals to come to Hawaii.  They provide deals from your rooms to your activities and as you all know air to Hawaii is going down everyday.  Basically a mini FAM trip! 

Q.  Can you tell me some great resorts to have a destination wedding?
A.  Anywhere you get married in Hawaii will be absolutely beautiful, whether it is at a 5 star resort, on the beach or even at a park.  It really depends on your client’s budget and how much they would like to spend.  Maui is a great place, especially since it is known for romance.  You can visit www.visit-Maui.com and click on weddings to view all the different places and resorts.  Most of the resorts provide a wedding planner and allow the wedding at their location.  Anywhere you choose in Hawaii will be beautiful and absolutely memorable for your client. 

Q.  When is whale watching season?
A.  Whale watching season is actually going on right now.  The humpback whales live in Alaska and migrate to the waters of Hawaii during the winter months.  The whales usually arrive late November / early December and leave late April / early May.  There are definitely humpback whales there now.  You can also use this to up-sale to your clients.  If you know they are booking next month let them know and offer them an ocean view room instead of a garden view.  Even if they say no, they are going to know that you are a professional when it comes to selling Hawaii. 

Q.  Is there a way for agents to book a commissionable home stay for families who prefer to stay at a large house instead of a hotel?
A.  Yes there is.  Login to www.agents.gohawaii.com and search for home rentals or condos and it will provide you with the available information. 

Q.  Are all the training resources free of charge?
A.  Yes all of our training resources are complimentary and we encourage you all to take advantage of that.  You can order any of the supplies right from our website.  So please take advantage of our resource center. 

Q.  Where can I view this presentation again?
A.  We have recorded the webinar and posted it on MailPound.  To view please click here.  

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