NEWS YOU CAN USE
PAGE 20 HAYES & JARVIS’S US AND CARIBBEAN GUIDE
PAGE 22 P&O LAUNCHES SHINE REWARDS CLUB
PAGE 23 BRAND USA UNVEILS DEDICATED TRADE WEBSITE
THEME PARK
Universal engages agents with new Community site
Ben Ireland
ben.ireland@
travelweekly.co.uk
Universal is to launch an online travel agent community and training portal early next year.
To be named Universal Community, the social media platform will be a forum where travel professionals can share sales tips, read blogs, discuss Universal hotels and keep up to date with news and events at Universal Orlando Resort. Frank Belzer, senior
vice-president for sales at Universal Orlando Resort, said: “It will be an area of engagement for all our travel partners throughout the world – a place to connect with us and with each other, and to share information and ideas. “The broad end goal is to help
our trade partners sell Universal.” The mobile-enabled training
portal, which will be available in English and Spanish, is due to
HOTELS
Hard Rock and Nobu hotels owner RCD becomes 23rd Tipto member
RCD Hotels has joined the Truly Independent Professional Travel Organisation as its 23rd member. The Mexico-headquartered hotel company, which
operates three luxury hotel brands, is the first hotel chain to join the trade marketing organisation. It hopes to improve its links with agents as a result and will be offering training to the trade on its key
Universal Community will launch early next year’ (inset) Frank Belzer
NEWS IN BRIEF
Just Go! and see Terracotta Warriors on coach break
Just Go! Holidays is to offer 11 departures in 2018 to see the new China’s First Emperor and the Terracotta Warriors exhibition at the World Museum in Liverpool. A two-day break starts at £115 based on two sharing, including coach travel and B&B accommodation.
justgoholidays.com
Manchester lounges bring in £25 charge for items
go live by March. It will feature short video modules designed so agents can complete them during a spare five minutes, or on the way to work, to earn different levels of certification. Modules will include subjects
like which hotels suit which customers, and helping agents understand what different families are looking for. Belzer said, for example, that those interested in staying at the Hard Rock Hotel but with a lower budget should be offered Cabana
Bay, a cheaper option, rather than the next most-expensive hotel. “The more people know about us, the more they can sell us,” he added. “If you take someone’s performance after a fam trip, it typically goes up. The community is more important than the learning site. It’s not all about learning, it’s about engagement.” Belzer said he would also like to
introduce a gamification element so agents can score points to
become accredited experts.
universaltravelagents.com
brands. They include Hard Rock Hotel’s all-inclusive portfolio in the Caribbean and Mexico, the Nobu and Eden Roc resorts in Miami, and the new all-inclusive concept at Unico 20˚N 87˚W Hotel Riviera Maya. UK regional sales director Tracey Dyson said: “Via
Tipto’s annual roadshow and events programme, we will have face-to-face access to a huge number of agents and we aim to educate them on our brands. Tipto chairman Jane Atkins said: “RCD Hotels brings
a new dynamic to our member portfolio with its luxury and iconic brand offerings. We know our agents will be
keen to learn about each brand.”
tipto.co.uk
23 November 2017
travelweekly.co.uk 19 Advert
Four Escape Lounge executive lounges at Manchester airport now charge a £25 single-entry price for items, such as hot breakfasts, premium beers and spirits, and hot main dishes, that used to be paid upgrades.
manchesterairport.co.uk
Great Lakes guide gets in tune with pop documentary
The Great Lakes USA has created a Consumer and Travel Agent Travel Guide. It focuses on music in support of Brand USA’s new documentary on American pop culture, due for release in the UK in February.
greatlakesusa.co.uk
Did you know…? Did you know..? The South Seas One Bedroom Butler Suite at Sandals LaSource Grenada offers direct access to a private plunge pool featuring an infinity edge – perfect for guests looking for a romantic escape.
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