MailPound Blog

MAC Chat: An interview with Kelly Segnello, GOGO Worldwide Vacations

by Jessica 9/1/2009 6:22:00 AM

Today's featured MAC Chat interview is with Kelly Segnello, Director of Marketing of GOGO Worldwide Vacations.

Kelly Segnello
Director of Marketing

For more information visit:
gogoww.com

Jessica: Hi Kelly, congratulations! GOGO Worldwide Vacations was nominated for this year's MailPound Agents' Choice (MAC) awards.
Kelly: Thank you! Since 1951 we’ve been supporting travel agents and have recently been reinforcing that within the industry. It’s great to be recognized and we’re honored to be nominated!

Jessica: Your nomination is for the Most Agent Friendly Tour Operator category. What do you think appeals most to travel agents about GOGO Worldwide Vacations?
Kelly: I think it’s the fact that we are true partners with a local presence. Unlike a lot of our competitors’ business models, we have local sales offices, not call centers - and travel agents are our only customers. We are constantly working on ways we can help them grow their business. We have a consumer facing website that drives business to our agent partners, and an area where they can write reviews of hotels they’ve visited and list themselves as the call to action. We’ve also expanded our product line dramatically over the past 2 years, including Australia, New Zealand, Dubai, Thailand and China.

We’re going one better and not matching prices, but beating them – including online retailers - and pay them a commission. It’s a great thing for an agent to be able to tell a consumer that they can beat any price they find on the internet. Also, we have our “Only at your Travel Agent” campaign, which reinforces our belief in the retail travel agency distribution channel and reminds consumers they can only get a GOGO Worldwide Vacation package from a travel professional.

Jessica: What advice would you give to someone who has never experienced GOGO Worldwide Vacations and would like to try it?
Kelly: My advice would be to do business with partners who are committed to helping them succeed and a company who you know will be around for years to come. For almost 60 years, GOGO has been providing great service and support to travel agents through our local neighborhood offices. Plus, we have our “GOGO Guarantee” which includes our no walk policy – we’ve even done away with late booking and revision fees to make doing business with us even easier.

We’re your partners, and we prove that every day by generating consumer leads and offering innovative marketing tools to help you grow their business. Our team of 22 Business Development Managers is eager to help with marketing plans, product training and more!

Contact your nearest branch by calling 888-567-0600 or locate your local BDM by visiting gogowwv.com.

Jessica: What is the one thing that you love most about the travel industry and why?
Kelly: As an industry leader, it’s rewarding to know we help open up the world for those who want to see, and play a part in fulfilling dreams and creating lifelong memories for millions of travelers!

Jessica: Do you have any current promotions you would like to share with our travel agents?
Kelly: Until Sept 30^th, any 2010 booking agents make with one of our branches will earn them 15% commission!

We strongly encourage agents to register on our agent only website gogowwv.com and subscribe to the “Deal of the Day” email - so they always have a great offer for whoever walks through their door. Also, our Earn More Money section has great incentives from GOGO and our preferred partners.

Thank you Kelly for taking time to share more about GOGO Worldwide Vacations with us.

Please feel free to submit comments below. Have an excellent day!

Tags: mac chat

MAC Awards | MailPound

MAC Chat an interview with Noel DeChambeau, Windstar Cruises

by Jessica 8/19/2009 2:36:00 AM

Today's featured MAC Chat interview is with Noel DeChambeau, Director Product Marketing and Sales of Windstar Cruises.

Noel DeChambeau
Director Product Marketing and Sales

For more information visit:
windstarcruises.com

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Jessica: Hi Noel, Congratulations! Windstar Cruises is nominated for MailPound Agents' Choice (MAC) awards.
Noel: We are honored. The Nomination Committee is a very distinguished group of travel professionals. To be considered by them is a great compliment to Windstar Cruises. On behalf of Diane Moore our President and all of the incredible team at Windstar Cruises, we are very grateful for the recognition.

Jessica: Tell me a little bit about the Windstar "180º From Ordinary" luxury cruise experience.
Noel: Windstar Cruises operates three sailing yachts known for their pampering without pretense. The ships are also known for their ability to visit the hidden harbors and secluded coves of the world’s most treasured destinations. Carrying just 148 to 312 guests, the luxurious ships of Windstar cruise to nearly 50 nations, calling at 100 ports throughout Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas.

Jessica: You were nominated for "Best Small Cruise Ship Fleet." Share with us what makes Wind Spirit, Wind Star and Wind Surf so unique.
Noel: I believe it is several things. We have been a leader in defining the small ship luxury cruise experience for the last 20 years. And yet Windstar has won the allegiance of a new generation of contemporary travelers who appreciate the line’s casual attire, alternative dining venues, rich mix of shore excursions, complimentary water sports program, deluxe spa facilities and luxurious accommodations.

And our ships are unique; teak-lined decks, towering sails. A vacation on Windstar is the ultimate affair for those who love the sea. On board, you'll discover a unique combination of romance with state-of-the-art luxury and convenience. Yet we feel Windstar is small enough to indulge the every whim of 148-312 guests.

On a Windstar ship you're free to do as you please, on your own schedule. There's no dress code. Five-star dining is informal and casually elegant (leave the ties and formal gowns at home). We offer cuisine that will delight your senses and complemented by a wide selection of fine wines. Our spontaneous and gracious service offers one of the highest crew-to-passenger ratios. Cabin amenities include BOSE(r) SoundDock(TM) systems, sleek flat-screen LCD TVs and plush new Sealy Euro Pillow Top beds

I am proud to report that Windstar recently completed product enhancements which include new dining and spa offerings. Guests will be able to dine on five-star cuisine enjoying exquisite sunsets and the magic of the sea in new outdoor venues—Candles on all three ships and Le Marché on Wind Surf. For those looking for the ultimate in relaxation, (and who isn’t?) Windstar has partnered with The OnboardSpa Company for decadent, certified organic O SPA London spa and salon services in WindSpa. Some of the services guests can indulge in include facials, manicures, pedicures, massages, aromatherapy, body treatments, acupuncture, precision hair cuts and styling.

Windstar is truly an adventure in sailing, with a style all its own.

Jessica: One of the advantages of small ship sailing is the incredible ports of call. Tell us a little about your favorite ports of call.
Noel: Because they're smaller than most, our ships can stop at the more exclusive ports and beaches, accessible only by yacht. Windstar's sleek sailing cruise ships offer an extraordinary way to explore the Caribbean, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, Greek Isles and the Mediterranean.

I would have to say that one of my favorite ports of call is Rhodes. We visit this on our popular Greek Isle Cruises. I particularly love this port at is because our ships have the ability to enter into a harbor that once had the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven ancient wonders straddling the entrance. Our ships tie right next to the ancient wall allowing access for guests to the cobblestone streets, medieval cathedrals and charming cafes.

I also love our Costa Rica sailings. I really don’t have any particular port in this part of the world. I simply love the fact that ships have the ability to get so close to the islands and coves that make Costa Rica an incredible ecological adventure.

Jessica: Do you have any current promotions you would like to share with our travel agents?
Noel: Right now if a travel professional books their guests on a 2010 Cruise before September 30, 2009 we are offering a $250 per person shipboard credit.

Windstar is also offering a gratuity package to guests who pay their 2010 or 2011 sailings in full 6 months or more in advance. The gratuity package covers the daily $12 per guest hotel service charge with a value of $84 per guest on a 7-day cruise and $168 per guest on a 14-day cruise. Final payment is normally due 90 days prior to cruise departure date, so this gives guests a great value for just paying 3 months earlier than when final payment is due.

For more information including brochures, rates and itineraries call Windstar at 1-800-258-7245. Visit Windstar Cruises online at windstarcruises.com.

Thank you Noel for taking time to share more about Windstar Cruises with us.

Please feel free to submit comments below.

Tags: mac chat

MAC Awards | MailPound

MAC Chat an interview with Dan Mahar, Tauck

by Jessica 8/17/2009 6:06:00 AM

Today's featured MAC Chat interview is with Dan Mahar, CEO of Tauck.

Dan Mahar
CEO

For more information visit:
Tauck.com

View Full Screen

Jessica: Congratulations on your MAC award nomination!
Dan: Thanks so much Jessica. We’re thrilled to be nominated for a MAC award! Tauck will be celebrating our 85^th anniversary next year, and when I reflect on Tauck’s history, I’m reminded that our partnership with the agent community is one of the key factors that’s helped us to be so successful for so long. The possibility of winning a MAC award, where agents do the voting, is really an exciting prospect for us.

Jessica: Dan, how do you define luxury?
Dan: We’ve actually gone back-and-forth about the word luxury over the years because we think it can have different meanings for different people. For some people, luxury means a certain standard of quality, service, indulgence and authenticity – and we have no issues at all with that sort of definition. However, others seem to associate “luxury” with being over-the-top or ostentatious, without any regard to practicality or value. That sense of the word luxury has always troubled us, and it’s never been an accurate way to describe our products.

At Tauck we work very hard to deliver an exceptional travel experience to our guests, backed by superior service and representing an outstanding value. That means our itineraries typically feature, among other things, five-star accommodations in the best city-center locations, fine dining, insider access to special experiences, and the industry’s finest tour leaders. Tauck trips are also among the most inclusive you’ll find.

We price our products accordingly, yet they still represent an incredible value; an independent traveler who tried to duplicate a Tauck trip would pay as much as 40% more than they would by traveling with us. Nothing about a Tauck trip is superfluous or showy for the sake of being showy. We deliver an exceptional experience at a fair price, backed by superior service at a great value. Hopefully that message gets communicated clearly to our agents and to consumers, whether we label our products as luxury, premium, upscale or whatever.

Jessica: Can you please share with us some of the benefits of traveling with Tauck?
Dan: Well, our guests tell us there are several! Before the trip, we save our guests from having to do all of the research and planning that they’d otherwise have to do in order to make the most of their vacation. “What are the best hotels?” “Where should we have dinner?” “What sites should we see – and which are a waste of time?” We have extensive experience in 60+ countries, so we know the answers to these questions and more, so our guests don’t have to worry about them.

Once they’re on a Tauck trip, our guests can really relax and get the most out of the experience. We handle their luggage for them, we make their dinner reservations, we get them from place-to-place with no worries about navigating in a strange destination… There’s also the convenience and peace of mind that comes from knowing that virtually everything on the trip is paid for in advance, so there’s never any worry about out-of-pocket expenses or mounting on-tour costs to detract from the experience.

Finally, our guests get a deeper, richer and more authentic experience within the destination by traveling with Tauck. We take guests off-the-beaten-path to discover unique experiences that are either unknown or unavailable to most travelers – like enjoying a private tour of a Loire Valley chateau and a cocktail reception with the baron whose family has lived there since the 1700s. We also arrange special insider access at popular attractions, like being able to experience the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel up-close and without crowds during a private after-hours tour. And our guests benefit from the incredible knowledge and experience of our tour directors – we actually call them “Tauck Directors” – who average over 10 years with our company.

Jessica: What is the best advice you can give agents who want to focus more on luxury travel?
Dan: There’s been something of a backlash against the concept of luxury products as a result of the current economy, and agents need to use the word luxury with great care. As I mentioned earlier, for some people “luxury” implies a sort of lavish, overpriced impracticality – think a $600 bottle of scotch, for example – and that conspicuous consumption is what people have turned away from.

At Tauck, our experience during this downturn tells us that people are still willing to spend more for a premium product, if they know they’re getting a commensurately high level of quality that represents a good value. We’ve seen that our agents can certainly still sell high-end experiences, but they need to be prepared to demonstrate how their clients will benefit by spending the extra money. What services does the more costly hotel offer that aren’t available at a less expensive option? What’s better about a premium quality cruise, versus a mass-market cruise at a lesser price?

A bit closer to home for Tauck, agents need to be ready to explain what an upscale or premium tour provides to justify the higher cost. With Tauck some of the easiest things to point to are the high number of inclusions (particularly meals), the quality of the hotels we use, the experience and expertise of our Tauck Directors, and the overall quality of the entire experience. Over half of our travelers each year are repeat Tauck guests, and they wouldn’t be returning if they felt their vacation experiences weren’t worth the price.

Jessica: Do you have any current promotions you would like to share with our travel agents?
Dan: Absolutely. We know that travelers today are looking for incentives and promotions, so we’ve arranged several to help our agents sell Tauck to their clients.

For example, we’re offering companion air for just $199 on two of our Asia itineraries, “China, the Yangtze River & Hong Kong” and “Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand.” We also have companion air for just $499 on selected African safaris and itineraries in India, Japan and Australia. Or, guests can save $2,000 per couple on business class air on these trips instead.

We’ve also worked closely with our hoteliers and other suppliers in Europe and western Canada to negotiate savings that we’re passing along to Tauck guests. Couples traveling on any of our Yellow Roads of Europe land journeys will save $380, while guests traveling with us in western Canada will save up to $580 per couple. These savings are for 2009 departures only, and details on these and other offers can be found at Tauck.com/special-savings.

Thank you Dan for taking time to share more about Tauck with us.

Please feel free to submit comments below.

Tags: mac chat

MAC Awards | MailPound

MAC Chat: An interview with Paul Allen, Holland America Line

by Jessica 8/12/2009 8:35:00 AM

Today's featured MAC Chat interview is with Paul Allen, Vice President of Sales of Holland America Line.

Paul Allen
Vice President of Sales

For more information visit:
HollandAmerica.com

View Full Screen

Jessica: Welcome to MAC Chat Paul! Holland America Line is nominated for 2 categories in this year's MailPound Agents' Choice (MAC) awards. Congratulations! How many ships are there currently in the Holland America fleet and can you tell us a little bit about your most popular itineraries?
Paul: It is hard to believe that in 2010 we will bring on our fifteenth ship, the Nieuw Amsterdam. When I started with Holland America in 1981, we had four ships and 3,400 berths. The new ship will take us over 23,000 beds, all on mid-sized ships ranging from 800-2100 beds. As most new ships for other lines are arriving with 3,000 to 5,000 beds, our ships can maintain their distinctive premium service levels serving fewer guests. Holland America has always had one of the most extensive selections of itineraries. We sail to all seven continents. We have Grand Voyages from 35 to 114 days that really celebrate cruising in high style. We have distinctive itineraries of 20 to 35 days that provide some great exotic vacations with roundtrip travel from US ports. Our cruises to Europe, South America, and Asia make every major cruise destination accessible. And our North America cruises to the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, Alaska and Eastern Canada offer incredible value at a time when vacation dollars are being stretched. We have something for everyone in cruise travel.

Jessica: One of your nominations is for "Best Cruise Line for Families" which has 6 cruise lines nominated. What do you think makes the Holland America cruise experience stand out as an ideal choice for families?
Paul: Family reunions have become a big travel trend since 9/11. While your first inclination is to worry about the kids, reunion planners eventually realize that these trips are more important for the seniors, who will cherish them, than the kids, who will forget them. No one takes care of the whole range of guest ages like Holland America. In fact, teens love our private Oasis, with its waterfall, hammocks, Astroturf, and privacy. We even have a group program designed to accommodate a Family reunion. It’s a great way to gather together where no one has to cook or clean!

Jessica: You were also nominated for "Best Large Cruise Ship Fleet." Speaking of which, I heard about the Signature of Excellence Enhancements program. Can you share with us some details about this program?
Paul: While new ships are always exciting, the investments we have made with our current ships have been just as interesting. In the first phase, we introduced the Culinary Arts Center sponsored by Food & Wine Magazine, the Explorations Café powered by the New York Times, The Greenhouse Spa, and the Pinnacle Grill. In the latest phase, we are adding the Digital Workshop powered by Windows, a very popular learning program. We have new facilities like the three beverage areas of Mix, upscale jewelry shopping at Merabella, the all-hours hand-made pizza at Slice, the new pool concept of the Retreat, Spa staterooms, and Lanai staterooms. We keep improving our accommodations, the onboard experiences, and the service. It’s a very exciting time.

Jessica: Do you have any current promotions you would like to share with our travel agents?
Paul: Our biggest news is the Double GAP program we have for most of our 2010 cruises. Register your group space using POLAR Online by 8/31/09 and get DOUBLE GAP POINTS for your group promotion. All 2010 products are available for registration. Make sure you take advantage of this program.. Call your sales representative if you need any help selecting cruises or registering online.

Thank you Paul for taking time to share more about Holland America Line with us.

Please feel free to submit comments below. Have an excellent day!

Tags: mac chat

MAC Awards | MailPound

MAC Chat an interview with John Hanratty, Travel Impressions

by Jessica 8/7/2009 2:29:00 AM

Today's featured MAC Chat interview is with John Hanratty, Chief Marketing Officer of Travel Impressions.

John Hanratty
Chief Marketing Officer

For more information visit:
TravelImpressions.com

View Full Screen

Jessica: Welcome to MAC Chat, John. Thank you for joining us. Congratulations on Travel Impressions' nomination for the MailPound Agents' Choice (MAC) Awards.
John: Thanks, Jessica. We were delighted to hear about the nomination, especially because it relates directly to our core business, which is supporting the travel agent community. This is our first year to work with MailPound, so we are very pleased to be part of your awards program.

Jessica: You were nominated for "Most Agent Friendly Tour Operator." What are some of Travel Impressions' features you think appeal most to the travel agent community?
John: Travel Impressions’ day-in, day-out philosophy is to delight our customers. We achieve this not only through award-winning customer service, but also with outstanding technology, an industry-leading travel protection plan, strong supplier support, committed partnerships with our agent customers, and dedicated long-tenured employees who truly care. Travel Impressions also offers the support and stability of its ownership by one of the world’s most respected companies – American Express. We continue to ensure that our existing strategy, sales message and culture are relevant to keeping the company in a position of strength for future growth.

We have adopted a strategy of “consultative selling,” which assists agents in understanding their businesses, provides advice and tools to market to an identified customer base, advises on effective marketing and sales strategies, and provide product knowledge by niche market rather than just by destination. We have just introduced an online Travel Agent Resource Center as part of our website which serves as a one-stop shop for everything travel agents might need from Travel Impressions, including marketing tools, customizable marketing materials, online brochures, news and information, online forms, our booking engine, payment capability, and sign ups for Twitter and Facebook. And, through our heavy reliance on MailPound, we are able to deliver promotions to agents more quickly and concisely – something that has proved to be especially important this year with the incredible number of excellent promotions we’re seeing from our suppliers.

As I mentioned earlier, travel agents are our core business and what makes Travel Impressions successful, so we value agents as true business partners. We provide commissions to agencies based on volume and offer a wide range of promotional incentives throughout each year. We provide onsite and webinar training on the latest technology, new properties and destinations, and we sponsor a series of informative trade shows and appreciation dinners for agents at various locations nationwide. We also recognize our top producing agencies at our “Best of the Best” annual event hosted at a major resort destination and featuring industry information, tours and entertainment. Most importantly, we continually listen to our travel agent customers and survey them quarterly to identify ways to better serve them.

Jessica: I noticed on your website that Travel Impressions provides a Managed Brands program. Can you tell us more about it and the Vacation Brands that are currently managed by Travel Impressions?
John: We manage and operate American Express Vacations (AEV), which is a private-label brand sold exclusively through the American Express Consumer Travel Network which includes wholly owned and representative travel offices and Platinum and Centurion Card call centers. AEV features broad-based, quality products with premium brand positioning, focusing on the upscale, luxury traveler. The AEV destinations are the same as those offered by Travel Impressions. We also manage United Vacations – Latin America, providing attractive vacation packages with special United Airlines leisure fares to key destinations in Central and South America. And, Almond Vacations is another one of our managed brands, providing vacation packages to all-inclusive Almond Resort properties in Barbados and St. Lucia.

Jessica: What is the best advice you can give new agents just starting out in the business?
John: Focus on differentiation and selling on expertise and value. Be clear on what sets you apart. Identify a niche market and establish yourself as a credible expert in the field. Provide a customized best-value vacation, rather than joining the ranks of the “order taker,” merely validating that price is king.

Take advantage of using a limited number of preferred suppliers to maximize compensation and support. Focus on product that provides the most commission, while creating value for the customer – such as all-inclusive properties and optional tours.

Be visible! Communicate – not only with your clients, but also with your preferred partners. And make sure that you are communicating in the right way to the right people to drive them into your store or to your website. That means being as up to date as possible on all the latest online communication tools and social networking opportunities.

Don’t be afraid to ask for the business. Be available. Look at every shopper as a buyer and every buyer as a long-term customer. And, if you feel that you need assistance, call your Business Development Manager at Travel Impressions – we’re ready to help!

Jessica: Do you have any current promotions you would like to share with our travel agents?
John: There are so many terrific promotions across all our destinations, it is difficult to single out any specific ones right now, so I would encourage everyone to continue to watch MailPound and definitely check our website at TravelImpressions.com for the latest and greatest! We’re soon entering the season of early booking bonuses, so stay tuned. I will mention one current promotion that is running during the month of August with our partner, Palace Resorts that benefits agents and their clients. Travelers can receive up to $400 in air credits per booking at Palace Resorts properties in Mexico and can also take advantage of the Palace Passport with great added values. And, agents booking these packages can earn a $25 American Express® Gift Cheque, plus bonus commissions from Palace Resorts up to $250! We encourage everyone to check for details on our website or call 800-284-0044. Lastly, I want agents to remember that when they book online with Quest for Agents, they receive an additional 1% commission bonus.

Thank you John for taking time to share more about Travel Impressions with us.

Please feel free to submit comments below. Have an excellent day!

Tags: mac chat

MAC Awards | MailPound

MAC Chat: An interview with Edie Bornstein, Carnival Cruise Lines

by Jessica 8/6/2009 2:26:00 AM

Today's featured MAC Chat interview is with Edie Bornstein, VP of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at Carnival Cruise Lines.

Edie Bornstein
VP Business Development
and Strategic Partnerships

For more information visit:
Carnival.com

View Full Screen

Jessica: Carnival Cruise Lines received 2 nominations for the MailPound Agents' Choice (MAC) awards. Congratulations!
Edie: Carnival is honored to be nominated in Mailpound’s Agents Choice Awards. The two categories for which we are nominated - Best Cruise Line for Families and Best Large Cruise Ship fleet – are areas that our company places a great deal of emphasis and to receive these nominations is a wonderful validation of these efforts.

Jessica: You were nominated for "Best Cruise Line for Families." Why is Carnival such an ideal choice for families interested in a cruise vacation?
Edie: Families are an important part of our marketing mix. In fact, Carnival Cruise Lines is the leader in family cruising, carrying some 625,000 kids a year. Families love cruising on the "Fun Ships" because we offer a wide variety of fun-filled activies for kids of all ages- all at one, all-inclusive price. Carnival's ships offer something for kids of all agets- Camp Carnival for 2-11, Circle "C" for 12-14-year-olds and Club O2 for older teens-with expansive, modern facilities and enthusiastic counselors for each group. Carnival's unmistakable brand of fun also extends to our top deck areas with our signature Twister Water Slides, deck games, sports activities and more. We also offer a number of kid-friendly dining options-and don't forget about the 24-hour ice cream! Combine all that with Carnival's value-oriented pricing, the greatest variety of short cruises in the industry and a wide range of embarkation ports and it's no secret why Carnival is number one with families. We'll build upon this reputation this fall when we launch our newest and largest ship, the 130,000-ton Carnival Dream, will offer the most elaborate children's facilities with more than 19,000 square feet of dedicated space for families.

Jessica: You've also launched a new "Behind the Fun" tour that offers a unique look at the shipboard operations of Carnival Cruise Lines. Can you tell us more about it?
Edie: There are many guests who are interested in finding out exactly how the “Fun Ships” operate. And for those who want to get an insider’s look at the inner-workings of a Carnival “Fun Ship,” we’ve created Behind the Fun, a guided tour that provides guests with a unique insight into our shipboard operations. Behind the Fun is currently available on the Carnival Valor and Carnival Conquest and will be rolled out to all 12 ships that operate voyages of seven days or longer by September. The tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at shipboard venues that are normally off limits to guests, including backstage at the show room, the laundry room, galley, engine control room and bridge, and various crew areas. Also, key personnel, including the captain, chief engineer, chef de cuisine and other department heads, are on hand to share their knowledge in their particular area of expertise. Participants receive commemorative gifts such as a Behind the Fun baseball cap and lanyard, a Team Carnival Picture Perfect and complimentary photos with the captain on the bridge. The tour cost $95 per person.

Jessica: Carnival Cruise Lines was nominated for "Best Large Cruise Ship Fleet." The new Carnival Dream will embark on it's first voyage soon. What are some of the great features we can expect to see on your newest ship?
Edie: Carnival Dream promises to be a spectacular addition to the “Fun Ship” fleet. At 130,000 tons with a double occupancy capacity of 3,646 guests, Carnival Dream will be the largest Carnival Cruise Lines ship ever constructed. Ushering in an exciting new era in “Fun Ship” cruising, Carnival Dream will offer a host of innovations, including Ocean Plaza, a magnificent indoor/outdoor café and live music venue; a half-mile wrap-around promenade; cantilevered whirlpools that extend out over the sides of the ship; a 23,750-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa – Carnival’s largest - and new five-berth, two-bathroom staterooms that should have particular appeal to families. Its top-deck amenities will include a sprawling Carnival WaterWorks aqua park – the most elaborate facility of its kind at sea featuring a 303-foot-long water slide, the longest in the cruise industry. Combine all this with Carnival’s attentive and friendly service and unmistakable brand of on-board “fun,” makes a cruise aboard the Carnival Dream the ultimate vacation experience. Following a series of inaugural 12-day Mediterranean voyages from Rome (Civitavecchia), Carnival Dream will reposition to New York for two eight-day Caribbean cruises followed by a special nine-day Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral, Fla. The ship launches year-round seven-day Caribbean service from Port Canaveral Dec. 12.

Jessica: Do you have any current promotions you would like to share with our travel agents?
Edie: IT PAYS TO PLAN AHEAD- Introducing Carnival's Early Saver Program. It pays to plan ahead- Carnival's Early Saver program is about making sure you get the lowest rate. Book a three-to five-day cruise three months in advance, or a six-day or longer cruise five months in advance, and you are assured the lowest rate. In the unlikely event you do find a lower Carnival-advertised rate after you book the cruise, Carnival will provide a shipboard credit equal to the difference.

Thank you Edie for taking time to share more about Carnival Cruise Lines with us.

Please feel free to submit comments below. Have an excellent day!

Tags: mac chat

MAC Awards | MailPound

Midnight Marketing Focus Group onboard HAL's Westerdam

by Patti 2/13/2009 5:08:00 AM

MailPound recently completed their first Focus Group at sea onboard Holland America’s Westerdam. Over 40 travel agents joined Bob and Debbie on the Jazz Cruise’s inaugural Playboy Jazz Cruise sailing from Ft. Lauderdale. Agents were given the unique opportunity to experience a full charter cruise while learning about MailPound’s newest marketing tool, Midnight Marketing. Agents participated in a two-day focus group.

During the first session, Debbie gave the agents an overview of MailPound’s marketing products, including custom eBrochures, eFlyers and Ready to Go Promotions. She discussed strategies for utilizing MailPound’s marketing tools to increase agency revenues and maintain strong client relationships.

Bob Maier followed with an introduction to Midnight Marketing. The system is designed for agents who ‘know’ their client and enables them to send personalized, customized and targeted emails to their client list. After an overview of CMS (Client Marketing System), Bob described how MailPound will send an ‘opt in’ letter on behalf of travel agents to their client list requesting their ‘interests’ and desired email frequency. The system will be web-based with full data encryption ensuring the highest level of data security.

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MailPound

How does a family of 7 do Disney and Universal without breaking the bank?

by mailpound 10/28/2008 5:19:00 AM

Help Wanted!

Question: How does a family of 7 do Disney and Universal without breaking the bank?

I need your help!

The next week is New Jersey's annual teacher's convention. Combined
with the election this year, the kids are off most of the week. So…I'm packing up the family
and we are heading down to Florida! I don't know who is more excited me or the kids.
We are planning on going to Disney World for a few days and then spend some time at
Universal Studios. Our boys are huge fans of Spiderman, Shrek and the Hulk, so visiting
Universal Studios will be a must!

Do you have any ideas on stretching my vacation dollars?

I'd love to hear how you and your clients visit the Orlando area without breaking the bank!
Please post your best stories, suggestions and pictures by clicking "comments" or by
emailing them to me at debbie@mailpound.com

I look forward to hearing from you!

~Debbie

Here is a picture of my kids taken
at Disney World 7/07

Tags:

MailPound

Meet MailPound’s new Director of Travel Agent Relations

by mailpound 10/9/2008 10:58:00 AM

Meet MailPound’s new Director of Travel Agent Relations; Sheona Miller.

We are so excited to have Sheona become part of the MailPound family. Her role here is to assist you in increasing your sales by utilizing the marketing tools available to you on MailPound. Each week, Sheona will host short training webinars and write about our tools on our MailPound blog.

The first training webinar will be held Monday, October 13th, at 3pm EST and we would love to “see” you all there! To register please click the link below www.MailPound.com/training. We will also be releasing a new marketing newsletter on October 20th. The newsletter will provide you with our latest blogs, our marketing tools, upcoming seminars, ready to go promos, marketing tips and the week's sweepstakes prize.

So I hope that you will join us in welcoming Sheona!

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MailPound

“I Do” Carnival Honeymoon

by mailpound 9/30/2008 7:44:00 AM

My husband Shayne and I just got back from our honeymoon on the Carnival Triumph and have so many new memories and friends to take with us. We could not have had a better honeymoon J

Our ship took off the day after our wedding so the first thing we did on board was buy a drink and sit out on our balcony and watch the boat depart from Miami. From there the great times just never stopped.

I will never forget all the places we got to see and all the friends we made along the way. Although our snorkeling excursion got cancelled in Mexico we were able to trade it for a new one where we got to ride horses through the Mayan Ruins. Though I learned riding horses is not really for me we had a great time and made some close friends. It gave us a chance to meet and talk to other guests we may not have talked to. The best part was afterwards we got an authentic Mexican fiesta. They served us authentic Mexican food, Coronas and margaritas, and even got to knock down a piñata. It was a blast and made friendships that will last for years to come.

Jamaica is also a place I will never forget and hopefully get the chance to visit again. We climbed Dunns River Falls and what an accomplishment! It is such a rush and the leaders really make the experience worth while. That is something we will definitely do again if we are ever there. After all that work we enjoyed the afternoon at Dolphin Cove laying out and enjoying the nice beach. Part of our excursion included a private cabana and an attendant to provide us lunch and a foot massage. Let me tell you that was the best foot massage ever!

Another big part we love is the food! If you are on a diet a cruise is not for you J We especially loved dinner because we got to sit and chat with new friends while enjoying great cuisines you do not experience everyday. Their desserts were my favorite- especially the chocolate melting cake. I am getting hungry just thinking about it J The waiters even sing and dance for you a few nights which you don’t experience at normal restaurants.

The crew was so welcoming and really helped give us a great honeymoon we would never forget. It was nice to come back to the room with our room service attendant welcoming us back and asking how our day was. They really knew how to make our experience special. I will never forget our last formal night. I get a tap on my back from the hostess and she tells me that someone had given her a gift for me. So confused she handed me a wrapped box in tissue paper. Looking at my husband I open it and its diamond earrings as a wedding present. He had snuck out when I was getting my hair done and after he purchased the earrings the sales lady wouldn’t let him take them but said it needed to be special. She arranged everything and really made the night special and is something I will never forget.

The only complaint we had of our honeymoon is that it went by so fast (and that we gained a few pounds from all the great food)!!! Before we knew it we were married a week and saying good bye to the crew and all the friends we made. Now we just need to decide what cruise we would like to do next J

Sheona

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