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Message from Global Membership Services
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By Patti Free
CCRA International is delighted that you are among the thousands of agencies using the CCRAtravel.com Hotel Booking Portal. We hope that you have discovered the value of booking Net Rates and other pre-paid rates (IDR) as a means of securing higher commissions and/or getting paid on a more timely basis.
For 2008, CCRA will greatly expand its Net Rate inventory worldwide. Included in the Net Rate inventory will be top brands from hotel chains globally.
In addition to expanded Net Rate inventory, please note that we will also be adjusting the 2008 CCRAtravel.com commission structure. The cost of collecting and reconciling commissions has increased considerably and made it necessary for CCRA to make the following adjustments. Effective February 1, 2008, commission payment will be 6% for Internet discount rates (hotels.com), Promotional (GDS) rates, and CCRA Preferred rates. For pre-paid Net Rates, you can still set your own commission mark-up, and you’ll be paid in full within two weeks, guaranteed.
If you have questions regarding the commission updates, please email me at patti.free@ccrainternational.com.
CCRAtravel.com offers the best rates for your customers and the best commission opportunities for you. Thank you for your continued partnership. Best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year! |
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To book Utell properties, visit CCRAtravel.com. For the best value in GDS-published rates, book the CCRA rate by selecting CCR in Amadeus, Sabre and Worldspan or CCRA in Galileo. |
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Traveler Trends for 2008 |
January brings about many travel trend reports your travel associations and leading trade and consumer publications. We collected a variety of hot-off-the-press survey results and industry predictions that are worth a look. What will your 2008 travel clients be shopping for? Read on for a quick idea about what to expect in the year ahead.
Ecotourism, volunteering and adventure travel will be top trends according to travel agents surveyed in the ASTA End of Year Survey. The most popular category named by 47% of the ASTA agents surveyed is Ecotourism, followed by Volunteer Tourism at a distant 18% of responses, and Extreme Adventure Tourism favored by 15% of respondents.
Spa vacations are on the rise. The 2007 TIA Voice of the Traveler study showed more than half (54%) of travelers surveyed said they want to go to a spa or a place where they can relax and rejuvenate. Almost a third (28%) said they are more interested now compared to five years ago in visiting a spa or relaxation destination. Of those seeking a spa vacation, 40% were 35-54 years old, and 37% were 18-34 years old.
Enrichment travel and family travel are healthy niches. More than half (56%) of those surveyed in the TIA Voice of the Traveler study also said they are interested in an educational trip where they or their family can learn. The same survey showed more than 35% of travelers were interested in family-friendly destinations that cater to children.
The great outdoors is calling. According to an annual traveler survey from TripAdvisor, 43% of travelers say they are likely to choose hiking on their vacation, and 39% named other adventure activities such as parasailing and whitewater rafting. The outdoors trend has grown since the previous year, and reportedly, more women than men are planning for a nature escape.
More people are packing hand sanitizer. Also according to the TripAdvisor 2007 traveler survey, 80% of travelers are concerned about germs. At least 24% of people say they won’t leave home without disinfectant/cleaning supplies, shower shoes, their own pillow, sheets or towels. U.S. travelers are more than twice as concerned than travelers from the U.K. So, including a packet of sanitizer wipes as a bon voyage client gift may be a nice marketing idea this year!
Mini vacations of three to four days will be increasingly popular this year, sought after more often than one to two-week vacations, according to a report in TravelIndustryWire.com. A nice marketing tip for 2008 would be for you to promote your expertise in weekend getaways.
RV travel in U.S. is growing, evident in the fact the number of RV owners has reached a record high according to a report from Randall Travel Marketing.
Pets need vacations too. According to Randall Travel Marketing, at least 14% of people travel with pets, and 78% of these are bringing their dogs along on vacation.
More hotels are going green. The number one hotel trend in 2008 is going green, according to the president of American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), in an interview this week for USA TODAY. “Every hotel company now has an environmental specialist, and we're working with them to develop a certification program,” said Joe McInerney.
New technology tops the list for room amenities. Hotels are focused on new media technology. After the past year of upgrades to luxury bedding, hotels are now changing armoires to dressers and installing flat-screen TVs and iPod docking stations, according to the AHLA president.
Higher average daily rates in 2008, are also reported by AHLA. Hotels broke the $100 barrier for the first time, and rates will not be declining soon. “Supply hasn't caught up with the demand,” says Joe McInerney. “I don't think you're going to see discounting."
Overall, there are many intriguing and positive growth trends this year. World travelers’ interests are diverse. The hotel market shows signs of fast expansion in many international regions, as you’ll see with the new property openings we’ll report on this year. We hope you’ll keep up with the trends and find great success in your 2008 travel business. |
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Cruise Spotlight: Where to Sail in 2008 |
With so many cruise destinations now setting sail around the world, recommending the ideal location for your cruise clients is not so simple these days. This month is the top selling cruise month of the year, and your clients look forward to your expertise. So, here is a handy list for you to review the popular top cruise destinations throughout the year:
January – March
Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Hawaii, Panama Canal, South America, Tahiti
April – May
Canada, Caribbean, Western Europe, Hawaii, Mediterranean, Mexico, New England, Panama Canal, South America, Transatlantic
June – August
Alaska, Hawaii, Northern Europe, Mediterranean, South America
September – October
Africa, Australia, Canada, Caribbean, Hawaii, Mediterranean, Mexico, New England, Panama Canal, Transatlantic
November – December
Africa, Caribbean, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Tahiti
 You can also encourage your online clients to explore everything their destinations have to offer. Before securing all of the flight and hotel bookings, a good idea is to research the port cities and surrounding areas, and map out an itinerary. Your cruise clients may discover they want to extend their pre or post cruise stay a few extra nights. Research the cruise schedule that covers the broadest areas.
For example, to spend a lot of time in Italy, you can book a 12-day cruise that spends 3 days in each of Milan Florence, Venice, and Rome.
Some of the most popular cruises include: 7-night cruise to the Caribbean, 7-night sailings to Alaska, 7-night sailings in Bermuda, 7-14 nights sailing the Eastern Mediterranean, and 10-14 days in exotic cruise destinations such as Asia, Antarctica, Brazil or Madagascar.
For any pre and post cruise hotel stays, be sure to look up the CCRA Net Rates in the CCRAtravel.com Booking Portal. There is expanded Net Rate hotel inventory this year in all of the major port cities. Low, prepaid Net Rates make perfect sense for cruise travelers.
Information supplied by cruisereview.com. |
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Cruise Spotlight: Net Rates Provided a 30% Pre-Cruise Commission |
Summary: Melvin Lewis is a work at home agent, who was seeking several pre-cruise hotel rooms in Miami for a group of clients. Melvin wanted a single booking source for comparing hotel rates. Following the recommendation of his agency, Millstream Travel, Melvin found a great rate selection, and booked a 30% commission with Net Rates.
 The Challenge: Melvin needed to make several one-night hotel bookings in Miami for a pre-cruise stay. He didn’t want to spend too much time searching and comparing Internet discount rates, but he wanted to provide his clients a good competitive price. Melvin wanted a one-stop booking source that is easy to use.
The Results: Melvin found the solution in CCRAtravel.com, where one search screen displays all rates from lowest to highest. In minutes, he viewed CCRA Net Rates, Internet discount rates (hotels.com), and GDS promotional rates. Net Rates were so much lower than other offerings that they were a no-brainer to book. Since Miami is a major cruise destination, the Net Rate inventory was broad and featured top chains Melvin could be confident in booking. Add to that, the Net Rates allowed Melvin to calculate a 30% commission and still offer below-Internet prices for his clients.
Melvin booked 8 rooms at $75.59 each, adding a $35 commission mark-up per room with a final sell rate of $110.59 (that's $280 total commission paid in two weeks, guaranteed).
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Rate Comparison for Same Rooms
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Commission |
Sell Rate |
Total Earned |
| Net Rate @ $75/room |
$35 |
$110.59 |
$280 paid in 2 weeks |
| Hotels.com |
$9.96 |
$115.11 |
$55.68 paid in 30 days |
| GDS |
$11.61 |
$145.00 |
$92.88 paid after the stay |
With Net Rates, Melvin earned five times the commission he would have by booking the hotels.com rate, and still saved his clients money.
For more about Net Rates, see the online training tools at CCRAtravel.com |
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Cruise Spotlight: New 2008 Passport Requirements
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 As we enter the 2008 cruise season, there are some new passport requirements to be aware of. Cruise passengers in North America, Mexico, Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a passport, as part the Department of Homeland Security measures to strengthen U.S. border security.
Beginning JANUARY 31, 2008, U.S. and Canadian citizens will need to present either a government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license plus proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, or present a WHTI-compliant document.
At a later date in the summer of 2008, full requirements of the land and sea phase of Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) will be implemented. The proposed rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have either a U.S. passport; a U.S. passport card – still under development; a trusted traveler card such as NEXUS, FAST, or SENTRI; a valid Merchant Mariner Document (MMD) when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business; or a valid U.S. Military identification card when traveling on official orders. The passport requirement does not apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning from a U.S. territory.
SUMARY OF TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. Passport when traveling via air, land or sea between the U.S. and the Western Hemisphere countries.
Passport Card: This limited-use, wallet-size passport card is under development. When available, it will only be valid for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean region (including Bermuda).
Other Accepted Travel Documents: SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST and the U.S. Coast Guard Mariner Document. Members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty traveling on orders are exempt from the passport requirement. DHS has more information on these travel documents. This information may be seen at www.dhs.gov.
For further information on passport requirements, visit travel.state.gov.
For details of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the Department of Homeland Security website. |
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Langham Hotels International Secures California's Landmark
Huntington Hotel & Spa |
 Langham Hotels International (LHI) announces its first property in the Western United States with the purchase of the luxurious heritage hotel – The Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel & Spa in Pasadena, California which will be rebranded as The Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa, Pasadena on January 8th, 2008.
The hotel, located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, just 9 miles north of Downtown Los Angeles' just celebrated its 100th anniversary of the original opening. It represents Langham Hotels International’s sixth new hotel announcement in six months, doubling the size of LHI globally.
 Strategic Significance
Strategically, The Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa, Pasadena signals the group’s plans for long-term U.S. investment and expansion. “It is a coup for Langham Hotels International to acquire such a luxurious property,” said Dr. KS Lo, Chairman, Langham Hotels International. “Langham’s legendary 140-year hotel heritage and world-class expertise is the perfect match to the Huntington Hotel & Spa, Pasadena which exudes the quiet glamour and charm of a different century.”
Langham Hotels International will invest $25 million into upgrading the hotel facilities. It will sensitively explore landscaping; upgrading cottages and ensuring the restaurants and spa remain the finest on the West Coast.
About the Hotel
The Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa, Pasadena has been a famous Pasadena landmark since 1907. Set in 23 acres of rolling grounds overlooking San Marino, it is the only AAA Five Diamond hotel in Pasadena, and the closest to downtown Los Angeles. It retains its exclusive AAA Five Diamond status for 2008. The hotel is rich in tradition as the host of the annual nationally televised Tournament of Roses, the Rose Parade and the iconic Rose Bowl college football championship.
The hotel features 380 elegant rooms and suites, including Cottages sited throughout the grounds. The hotel spa was recognized by Travel & Leisure Magazine as one of the top 10 spas in the continental USA.
 Michelin Star Winner
A quartet of award-winning restaurants and bars with their exceptional cuisine and service inspires even the most discerning guest. The Dining Room features the vaunted Modern American cuisine of Chef de Cuisine Craig Strong who has just earned his first Michelin Star for the restaurant this year – the only hotel restaurant with that designation in 2007-2008.
The Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa, Pasadena also offers more than 30,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including three ballrooms, 15 meeting rooms, and three boardrooms. The expansive lawns create unique opportunities for outdoor events.
To book, visit CCRAtravel.com. For the best value in GDS-published rates, book the CCRA rate by selecting CCR in Amadeus, Sabre and Worldspan or CCRA in Galileo. |
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| Portal Booking Tip - Online Reports |
You can view your real time online booking reports on CCRAtravel.com. Your online report will show you booking and cancellation details. You must first sign into the portal and then click on Reports.
To view your cancellations click on the Cancellation tab.
In the Cancellation tab, you can view all your past cancellations and their details.
You can also view more details by clicking on the Booking ID number.
When you click the Booking ID number, you will see this report. It will display the entire summary for that particular booking, including your commission, card holder information, and final sell rate.
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Build a Bigger Client Base! |
 Savvy entrepreneurs are aware of one key element to starting and maintaining a successful business – the business plan needs to focus on finding and keeping customers. How do you get clients? How do you keep them? How do you do that again and again? Those should be the three questions you address daily.
Acquiring new clients takes a lot more work, resources and energy than retaining a client. You must build the client base, by convincing prospects to select you. Once you have clients, you still need to work to keep them. Make sure that your pricing is competitive, your products fit their needs, and your ,service is second to none. Simple right? Within that basic model, you can apply a few tactics to get and keep customers.
Speak in public: This is a powerful way to find people who are interested in your topic. You can present unique information without having people feel that you're trying to sell them something. They will turn to you when they do want to buy because they consider you the expert, and got to meet you personally. Speaking engagements can also turn into their own lucrative sideline.
Consider alternate forms of advertising: It's easy to get stuck in one type of advertising, as if it operates on autopilot. For example, Pay-per-click ads for online businesses; newspaper inserts for offline. If you have used the same advertising vehicles for some time now, and are not truly seeing a direct result, it's time to find a new creative outlet to freshen up your approach. Keep a look out for where your competitors’ ads appear. Think about who your prospects are, and where and how they receive information.
Once you have mastered a niche, adopt another one: There may come a time when you feel you've done what you can with your business niche and have the ability to branch out. It could mean more work and resources (for example, a new website that caters specifically to that niche) but it could increase your customer base.
Ask for referrals: If your current customers appreciate their experience with you, ask them to refer others. Keep in touch with clients often to remain top of mind. Chances are they’ll encounter someone at some point who has travel advice needs. People are very trusting of a personally referred resource.
Offer referral incentives: If your clients need a little nudge to encourage them to share names of people they know, offer a referral coupon. Give them a card (or a code, if you're an e-store) to pass on to friends who may use your services. If those friends turn into customers, send a gift or a financial "thank you" to the referring customer.
Article found on www.morebusiness.com |
www.ccrainternational.com | www.ccratravel.com | www.reservationcenter.net
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Jim Day
Chief Operating Officer
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CCRA GLOBAL
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
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Patti Free
Vice President
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Nancy Freigher
Key Account Manager
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Liz Badras
Key Account Manager
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Lew Faber
Accounts Specialist
Travel Agency Commissions
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Jeff Kirk
Portal Manager
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Jeanette Dvorak
Manager Marketing Services
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Rob Kunz
Advertising Coordinator
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Jamie Blanck
Marketing Assistant
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CCRA SUPPLIER STRATEGIES
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Mai Meyaart
VP and Managing Director
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Benet Henderson
Director, Western Region
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Bill Lawrence
Director, Central Region
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Nora Britch
Director, Eastern Region
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Get Linked
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What Travel Agents
Say About CCRAtravel.com
CCRA International is constantly upgrading the CCRAtravel.com Hotel Booking Portal. We like to help you ensure that your clients are getting the best rates in the best locations, and that you are getting the best commissions. We have recently widened our Net Rate inventory to include port cities worldwide for pre and post-cruise hotel stays. Look at the positive results these travel agents have experienced:
“I find that CCRAtravel.com is easy for me to use. I use it most when there is a hotel that I can not find anywhere else. I love the multiple rates, and I especially love CCRA Net Rates that allow me to pay myself for my hard work. What really makes CCRAtravel.com beneficial to me is that it allows me to quickly identify Internet rates so that I can meet, or even beat them when possible.”
Rich Ferrucci
Unforgettable Vacations
Frankville, NJ
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Monthly CCRAtravel.com
Booking Portal Tips |
| How to Update Your Profile and Currency Display |
| How to Book Multiple Rooms |
| How to Filter Your Search Results |
| How to Find the Reference Guide |
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Three Ways to Calculate Higher Net Rate Commissions
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| How to Enable TRAMS |
| Track Your Commissions |
Portal 2.0- TRAMS
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| Breakfast Adds Value |
| How to Beat Internet Rates |
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