The True Merchants of the Travel Industry
by Nikki Shanley (Business Development Manager, Pleasant Holidays)

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A travel company typically combines components to create a customer’s itinerary. The most common example of a travel company’s product would include a round-trip flight, airport-to-hotel transfers, and the services of a local representative, all for one price. What used to be called a package is now called a “vacation experience.”

Many travel companies have diversified their products, not only in terms of destination, but also in terms of offering pre-bookable excursions, discounted first-class air, and suite accommodations in luxury resorts. Gone are the days when taking a vacation was looked upon as the “cheap and cheerful” way to see the world.

It’s Darwin’s theory, but it also applies to the travel business:

Like many industries, the strong grow stronger, and consolidations and mergers have created a handful of key travel companies that serve popular destinations such as Hawaii, Mexico, and the South Pacific.

For example, Pleasant Holidays began selling Hawaii nearly 50 years ago, and through natural progression and strategic purchases, it now offers vacation experiences to Mexico, Tahiti, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. The company purchased Japan and Orient Tours (J&O), the premier Asia operator, 10 years ago (and, more recently, Hawaii World). Both purchases allowed Pleasant Holidays to significantly grow its business and have helped position Pleasant Holidays as a travel industry leader.

It’s simple when you know how:

Your travel partner acts as a broker, buying rooms and airline seats at a discount, and gives you the opportunity to sell them for a commission. When you find the right travel company for your agency’s needs, it’s a win-win partnership.

Naturally, the more you give your travel company, the more they give you. You’ll receive increased commissions, marketing dollars, year-end overrides, agent incentives, familiarization trips, and the peace of mind that comes from working with a reputable travel company.

Credibility is key, and that’s why Pleasant Holidays participates in the USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program and adheres to a strict code of ethics, which is framed by a pledge to encourage and maintain the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and service.

Give your customers what they want!

Pleasant Holidays is dedicated to exceeding customers’ expectations of their vacation experience on every level. That’s why more than 30,000 nationwide travel agencies continue to send Pleasant Holidays their valued customers.

Make sure your travel partners put their worldwide buying power to work for you. That translates into successful retailing, which all of us (agents and suppliers) define as giving your customers what they want – and even more.

Nikki Shanley is business development manager at Pleasant Holidays, one of the world’s largest tour companies (and an OSSN supplier member!). She may be reached at nikki.shanley@pleasant.net, or visit Pleasant’s agent-only site at www.pleasantagent.com.

(Credit: Pleasant Holidays)