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| Dear Prestige Agent, |  Our goal is to help make your travel business as efficient and profitable as possible. In our Agent News Bulletin we will update you on any new procedures, products, and resources as well as provide you with helpful reminders so you can stay well informed with the agency and the industry. |
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Prestige Has Moved to a New Location
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In June, Prestige moved to a new office 3 miles down the road from our previous location. Our new office was constructed and designed to accommodate our various divisions and departments into one large office space. This allows for more efficiency so we can provide you with even better service and support.
The new office suite features a larger conference room and work area so we can continue to hold in house training events with our supplier's Business Development Managers. We are always committed to having the best educational opportunities for our agents!
Our new address is as follows:
Prestige Travel Systems
2803 W Busch Boulevard, Suite 100
Tampa, FL 33618
We welcome our agents to stop by and visit us!!!
Visit our new Prestige Travel Systems blog page to see some photos of our new office! |
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Introducing the Prestige Agent Network
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We have always referred to our agents as part of our "Prestige Agent Network" but now we are making it official! Although all independent agents will continue to operate under the Prestige Travel Systems umbrella, you will now see a new logo, tag line and branding when it comes to our marketing and email promotions.
As part of this new branding we have also started a new Prestige Agent Network Facebook page and will be creating a private group just for our independent agents within the next few weeks. Make sure to visit and like the new page today!
We invite you to Dream, Discover & Connect with the Prestige Agent Network!
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Important Expedia Registration Update
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 We would like to request that you take a moment to join our agency Expedia TAAP account which is now open to all agents! This is a new program is separate from the previous Hotels.com and Agent Rez systems and you will need to have a NEW Expedia account in order to receive commissions. Although Expedia is now available for reservations, we would like to remind all agents that your focus should still be on our preferred suppliers. Expedia should be used only based on client requests or price match situations. Commissions earned with our preferred suppliers are higher than what Expedia offers. We want to continue to promote suppliers that support the agency and our network of independent agents!
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HomeTravelAgent.com Update
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The new HomeTravelAgent.com site has now been live for several months! Based on agent feedback we will continue to add and enhance to the new agent portal. We appreciate any feedback and comments you have about the new site. Just send us an email with your thoughts!
As part of the new site, all Prestige Agents are now required to login for access. The registration process is quick and only needs to be completed once. To register simply go to the "Register" link in the top right hand corner and complete the required information. Please make sure to include either your last name or agent ID number in the profile and make a note of the username and password you created.
Once you register you will receive a confirmation email and your request will be sent to the administrator for verification. You will then receive a second confirmation email with your access verification within 48 hours. If you are a NETAdvantage subscriber your additional access rights will be granted automatically.
Happy Selling!
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Exclusive Rate Codes for Cars & Hotels
| As part of our membership to Vacation.com, we are able to provide exclusive rates codes for you and your clients for car rentals and hotel reservations. Take a look a just a few of the available promotions below. Use these codes for preferred rates and commissions. Always make sure you are in the travel agent section or are prompted to enter the agency ARC/IATA when booking.
- Dollar - CD# TB7707
- Hertz - CD# 1170024
- Thrifty - CD# 0010231601
- Accor: 888-708-3816 - Request "1 Travel Leaders Group"
- Choice: 800-228-5050 - Request "1 Travel Leaders Group"
- Hilton: 800-HILTONS (800-445-8667) Request "1 Travel Leaders Group rate." The 1 must be included when requesting the rate via the call center. Please use the following Client ID#s: D043844984 is for Hilton International hotels outside the US. N2639545 is for Hilton Hotels in the US as well as Conrad and Waldorf Astoria brands. 560000045 is for Doubletree, Hampton Inn, Embassy Suites, Home 2 Go and Homewood brands
- Hyatt: 800-233-1234. Ask for the Travel Leaders CR# 39960
- InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG): 877-424-2449
- Marriott Travel Agency Reservations: 888-236-2427 for reservations and give the Marriott reservations agent your IATA/ARC number to access the Best Available Rate, "BAR."
- Starwood: 800-334-8484. Ask for the Worldwide Program with the set number 92207
We will be adding detailed information about all of our preferred rates on HomeTravelAgent.com during the month of October.    
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Pleasant Holidays & Tour/Air Department Update
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 We hope you have had a chance to visit our new and enhanced website, HomeTravelAgent.com. The site is now password protected and can only be accessed by our active Prestige agents. In addition to changing the look and feel of the website, Pleasant Holidays has been added to the mix of the online consumer booking engines you can use to quote and book vacation packages. Pleasant Holidays has been in business for over 50 years specializing in vacations to various destinations, including the Hawaiian Islands and Mexico. Once you have logged on to HomeTravelAgent.com, click on the "Reservations" tab at the top of the page and again on "Tour/Vacation Packages". There you will find the link to Pleasant Holidays as well as some of our other preferred suppliers.
And to help you become more familiar with Pleasant Holidays as well as the booking engine, we are running a booking contest that is open to all of our Prestige agents. In addition to earning your commission, the first 10 agents to make a new reservation of $500 or more with Pleasant Holidays will win a $50 dining card.
Please submit the confirmation number, the lead passenger's name, the date the reservation was made, and the total price of the trip to tours@goprestigetravel.com by December 31, 2014 in order to qualify. But hurry; only the first 10 agents will win a dining card!
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Condo Weeks Now Available on our Agent Only Portal
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Prestige Travel now offers availability on resort condo weeks on our Agent Only Portal, HomeTravelAgent.com.
When you are logged in to HomeTravelAgent.com, click on the Reservations Tab and then click on Condo Booking Engine. This resort condo booking engine offers one to three bedroom condos that are offered on a weekly basis with check in on a Saturday or Sunday (check the dates shown on the site). Resort Condo accommodations are great for families because they offer a living room, full kitchen, and one or more bedrooms--not just beds, a table and a small cooking area that may be found in certain hotels.
 Many travel agencies do not have access to condo availability so offering a resort condo unit sets you apart from other agents. The rates are great and offers much value so be sure to visit the site and become familiar with the destinations offered. Availability changes weekly so you will see new property names with each change.
We suggest you read the reviews before selling the units and make sure your clients are aware that payment is non-refundable after payment. Submit a Tour Worksheet to Prestige Travel when you have booked your condo reservation. Be sure to obtain a signed credit card authorization form for your records. For security, block out all the credit card numbers except for the first 4 digits and the last 4 digits.
Recommend travel insurance to your clients for their resort condo booking. Not only does it protect them and gives them a peace of mind but it gives you more commission income.
We are here to assist you in any way so please call us if you have any questions about resort condo bookings - 800-359-0517.
Thanks, happy selling!
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Travel Insured Explains 5 Reasons Why You
Need Travel Insurance
by Erin Weiland
|  Whether traveling to a place you have visited before, or to a brand new destination half way across the world, it is important to invest in a travel insurance policy that will protect against unexpected situations that can occur both before and during your travels. It should never be a question about whether or not you can afford a travel insurance policy, but a question of how could you afford to travel without one. A low payment spent on travel insurance could save you and your family thousands of dollars in medical expenses due to unexpected illness or injury while on a trip, lost or stolen baggage, or flight cancellation and delays. Travel Insured, a leading travel insurance provider explains why you need to purchase travel insurance for your next trip.
1. Travel insurance is your safety net - Travel Insurance allows you to travel with 24/7 protection and support. If you are investing in a trip, it is imperative to invest in coverage for your health, safety, and travel costs. Travel insurance provides you with a safety net, just in case you find yourself in a less than ideal situation.
2. Travel insurance provides medical coverage - Most existing health insurance coverage does not apply while traveling abroad. Travel insurance plans include emergency medical and emergency medical assistance coverage as well as any transportation that may be needed. This protection can provide you with proper medical care and protect you financially if you had to stay in hospital, be evacuated for treatment, or undergo a major medical process.
3. Travel insurance protects your personal belongings - you are inconvenienced by either lost or stolen baggage during your travels, travel insurance coverage can provide you up to the maximum amount stated in the policy for the personal effects lost such as clothing, electronics, and other personal items.
4. Travel insurance helps cover costs if you have to cancel - If your cruise or flight is cancelled for a reason such as a natural disaster, or you need to cancel plans for your own personal reason such as unexpected illness or death of a family member, a travel insurance policy that includes cancellation coverage can reimburse you for any pre-paid, non-refundable deposits that were made for your travel plans.
5. Travel insurance can cover costs if you have to cut your trip short -If you purchase a plan with Interruption For Any Reason, you can receive unused, prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if you must interrupt the trip and head home early.
About Travel Insured - Travel Insured International is one of the largest privately held travel protection companies in the US, and preferred supplier to over 5,000 travel agents, travel consortiums and wholesalers in the US and abroad. As a former division of the Travelers up until 1994, and originator of travel insurance in the US, you can say that the "travel protection" blood lines run deep. Travel Insured International's customer centric claims operation has significant expertise in both domestic and international claims administration.
For information about registering with Travel Insured contact kim@goprestigetravel.com.
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Preferred Partner Spotlight: Shore Excursions Group
|  We are thrilled to feature Shore Excursions Group in our Preferred Supplier Spotlight!
Earning 12% commission from Shore Excursions Group is easy. All of the tracking is processed using their best in class technology, and there are never any user names, passwords or login's to remember! Any time either you or your customers click on your web link and make a booking, the system will recognize the booking as coming from Prestige Travel Systems and will automatically track the booking for commission credit. As a result, you are not required to make bookings on behalf of clients; you simply need to send your unique web link to clients who can book for themselves, allowing you to spend more time selling cruises.
Shore Excursions Group is the largest shore excursions company in the world offering nearly 2,000 excursions in over 130 ports worldwide! Take advantage of this partnership to grow customer loyalty, repeat and referral business and your own income!
Shore Excursions Group's new partnership offers YOU the following benefits:
- They handle ALL aspects of the excursion sale, allowing you to focus on more cruise sales.
- Their excursions are HIGHER quality and LOWER cost than the cruise lines.
- Their excursions travel in SMALLER GROUPS providing a more intimate experience for your clients.
- They offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee, or your money back!
- The very rich Guaranteed Return to Ship policy provides peace of mind for you and your clients!
- They help you position yourself as a One Stop Shop for your cruisers!
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Royal Caribbean - New and Improved Groups Your Way
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Our Royal Caribbean Business Development Manager (BDM), Jean Dorn, hosted an Agent Training Event in our office. We had a great group of agents that attended. One area Jean Dorn covered was cruise group business. Royal Caribbean has put efforts to help agents build their cruise group business. They have revised their group polices to help you do just that.
Here is a summary of these enhancements.
No Deposit Groups
16 staterooms or less
- Maximum group block of 16 staterooms on most sailings
- No initial deposit required
Deposit Groups Program
17 - 50 Staterooms (Up to 50 Staterooms)
- Maximum group block of 50 staterooms on most sailings
- $50 USD per stateroom deposit due within 30 days of creating a group
- Additional inventory for qualified groups may be added upon request at prevailing standard rates and named/deposited FIT bookings may be transferred into the group
Now you can hold your inventory until...
75 Days to Sailing for sailings 4 nights or less
120 Days to Sailing for sailings 5 -8 nights
150 Days to Sailing - 9 nights or longer
What's in it for you
- More time to market and sell your group inventory.
- Royal Caribbean's group policies are now more aligned with consumer booking trends.
- Options are available to you depending upon the type and size of group you are creating.
- Promotions are available to groups and combinable with prevailing standards rates.
- Opportunities for you to earn more commission by selling more group inventory over a longer period of time and commissions are paid on group shore excursions.
- Ongoing group availability as unsold inventory is returned.
We thank Jean for such great information and many of our agents have shared how our training events have given them confidence, more knowledge about travel suppliers' products, marketing ideas, and many made bookings right away. If you were unable to attend this training event, we will continually have in house training, FAM/Seminars in various cities, webinars and training videos on HomeTravelAgent.com.
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Social Media Tips by Andrea Romero
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Social Media Tips:
Create a more Personal Image. Don't just promote advertisements on your Facebook page. Show your personal side and connect with your clients by posting interesting photos from
your travels and favorite moments. Write an interesting fact about the place or what you loved most about that moment in your post.
*Upload your pictures on Picmonkey.com to create cool collages and add text or graphics to your photos. Then add them to your social media pages. It's FREE and easy.
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C&H International
International Air Consolidator
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With 20  locations nationwide and over 300 dedicated employees, C&H International has become a leading air consolidator. C&H International has a 30 year history of incomparable service to the travel community. With contracts representing more than 70 renowned international airlines, C&H International offers only the most competitive net and commissionable fares.
Why should you book with an air consolidator? Travel agents looking for profit opportunities can buy tickets at a competitive price, which is the air consolidator's stock in trade. The agent then adds a commission to the tickets and then resells them. Agents should ALWAYS be able to collect a minimum of 10% commission on a consolidator ticket, and many times agents can add as much as 20%-25%.
If you are quoted a "net" fare with an air consolidator, you must consult with Prestige Travel Reservation Center PRIOR to quoting the final airfare to your client. We will recommend a commission amount, which will need to be added to the net fare, thus giving you the fare you will quote to your client. Remember, you are not authorized to book any net rate bookings when reservations are made under Prestige Travel.
C&H International has a dedicated line just for Prestige Agents so when you are looking for international airfare, give C&H International a call at 888-264-3273 ext.5.
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Important Reminder about Submitting Booking Forms
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We would like to remind everyone about our policies pertaining to booking forms. In order to receive commissions for your reservations, booking forms MUST be submitted to Prestige Travel at time of booking or when payment has been applied. These booking forms must be received PRIOR to the travel date. Bookings made online that require you to enter a Preferred Customer ID Number (your Agent ID Number) do not require a booking form to be submitted.
We have made submitting your booking forms even easier! Just login to HomeTravelAgent.com, complete the booking forms online and then click on Submit. You will find these Frequently Used Agency Forms throughout the tabs on HomeTravelAgent.com. If you would like a copy of your booking form, please print before you click on Submit.
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Independent Agent Spotlight: Nancy's Travel & Cruise Center
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Nancy, one of our agents from Virginia, shared with us on how she promotes her travel business. At her local mall, Belks Department Store holds a Bridal Show and she
sets up a table to display ideas for honeymoons and Disney travel. They have two shows per year, one in February and the other is August. Her table is set up for honeymooners and other travelers. She offered one of our Incentive Products, a 3 day/2 night Vacation Getaway, which created a buzz.
She had many brochures to show off for Mexico, Caribbean, Vegas and All Inclusive properties. These travel brochures included Sandals, Beaches Resorts, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Celebrity, and GoGo. She also had information for Disney Vacations and Cruises and of course, Alaska and Europe.
She received some leads and had much fun chatting with other vendors that offers services to brides. She answered many questions about Disney and cruises to Alaska. It was a wonderful free event and great way to grow her business.
Nancy also participates in Concerts in the Park in downtown Bristol, TN & VA. A small fee allows her to set up a travel table and talk with people about vacations. Another great way to get her business name out there.
Nancy's Testimonial/Feedback
I love the travel business and get such fulfillment in seeing smiling faces and excitement when a trip or cruise is planned. Vacations bring families together!!!!! Memories that last a lifetime!!! Get involved in your community.
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I want to personally thank Nancy for taking the time to share with us what she has done to be successful with her home based travel business. Keep up the good work, Nancy!
If you would like to share your experience with our company or how you have made your travel business successful, we have a number of ways you can do so. You may send an email to me directly, annette@goprestigetravel.com, mail to Prestige Agent Network, fax to 813-968-3897 or leave a voice message on our Comment/Feedback line at 813-314-7919.
We would love to hear from you. We are always enhancing our Agent Program to ensure it exceeds the needs and wants of our agents so any of your comments/feedback is greatly appreciated!!!
Annette Diamond
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