Travel Agent - April 14, 2008 - (Page 90)

NEWS IMPACT THE INDUSTRY Earning Opportunities, Agent Recognition MSC Aims New Website Toward Agents In anticipation of two MSC Cruises’ ships— MSC Orchestra and MSC Lirica—sailing in the Caribbean in the coming year, MSC has unveiled a new website (www.theorchestra iscomingtotown.com) with a dedicated travel agent section that will include a multitude of marketing tools to help agents sell the cruises. As Travel Agent reported earlier this year, MSC is making a major push in North America with two ships and is incentivizing agents with special offers and prizes. MSC Orchestra joins MSC Lirica for the 2008-09 Caribbean season, which will feature seven itineraries, 16 ports of call and the line’s first-ever Bermuda call. Pricing begins at $449 per person for the seven-night itineraries and $699 for 10-day voyages. MSC Orchestra, which debuted in 2007, will become the largest MSC ship to ply the Caribbean, carrying 2,550 passengers. The ship will begin its Caribbean season on January 2, 2009, and sail sevennight itineraries from Fort Lauderdale through April. Lirica will operate seven- and 10-night itineraries from Fort Lauderdale beginning December 3, 2008. Visit www.msccruisesusa.com. says Ralph Aruzza, Rosewood’s vice president of sales, who was involved in setting the program’s deliverables and establishing the criteria. “We will reevaluate each agency’s performance at year-end to determine its future status in the program and will bring on new agencies that meet our criteria.” Rosewood has also established Global Elite contacts in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and London, says Aruzza. Rosewood Launches Elite Travel Agent Program Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has launched Rosewood Elite, an exclusive program for its top travel agency partners. Rosewood Elite is a select group to which only 37 travel agencies worldwide have been invited, based on a set of performance criteria. Rosewood says it created the program to recognize and reward those travel agencies that have been its most productive partners. It was created with the guidance of Rosewood’s Travel Agent Advisory Board, all of whom were grandfathered into the program. “Membership includes a series of recognition and service deliverables that go beyond Rosewood’s already high standards of service,” Cabo Resort Announces New Commission Program Pueblo Bonito Oceanfront Resorts & Spas in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, announced its new 2008 Bonus Commission Program specifically for travel agents. The program applies to bookings made through wholesalers, the GDS or directly with Pueblo Bonito Reservations. The agent’s commission is paid on a perbooking basis with a four-night minimum required. It includes an additional $125 bonus payable for every 10 rooms booked within a calendar year. For more information on the terms of this special promotion or to obtain a Pueblo Bonito Bonus Commission form, travel agents should contact mary@pueblobonito. com. Visit www.pueblobonito.com. Interested? Request #028. 90 | TravelAgent April 14, 2008 http://www.theorchestraiscomingtotown.com http://www.theorchestraiscomingtotown.com http://www.msccruisesusa.com http://www.pueblobonito.com http://www.farechina.com http://www.farechina.com http://www.farechina.com/famtrip/

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - April 14, 2008

Travel Agent - April 14, 2008 Online Now Contents Contributors From the Editor From the Publisher Europe: The châteaux-hotels of the Dordogne and Quercy in France Middle East: Although Dubai is Expanding, it is not Bursting at the Seams Pacific/Asia: Pattaya is Southeast Asia’s Sunny Paradise Pacific/Asia Briefs Las Vegas: New York City Dining Comes to Sin City Hawaii: Accommodations in Hawaii for the Entire Family Central & South America: Cayo Espanto is the Private Island Resort for Clients to Get Away from it All Caribbean: Iberostar Property Opens in Rose Hall, Jamaica Running El Casino at the Sheraton Old San Juan Africa: Africa Travel Association’s 11th Annual Symposium Spotlight on the Djibouti Palace Kempinski Cruises: Experts Share Views on the Direction Cruise Pricing is Heading Cover Story: Home Counsel Car Rental: Vacation.com Joins with Hertz to Grow Car-Rental Sales Transportation Briefs Northeast USA: Brooklyn’s Hotel Le Bleu Agent Profile: Gary Mansour of Mansour Travel Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Violent Protests Halt Travel to Tibet Celebrating Company and Agency Innovations Sheraton Upgrades Brand through Renovations and Redesign Earning Opportunities and Agent Recognition In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Classified Marketplace Trendwatch

Travel Agent - April 14, 2008

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