Blue Sky Tours aims to do one thing and do it well: focus on Hawaii and the South Pacific. As a result, business is strong. Sales to the South Pacific continue to grow at a phenomenal rate, increasing by 15 percent in 2018 and up 50 percent as of mid-April compared with the same period last year, said Ron Jacobs, president.

After taking a hit as a result of the volcano eruption in 2018, Hawaii is quickly regaining momentum, Jacobs said, and the operator is actively working with agents and other partners to stimulate interest and drive bookings.

New Hotel Additions

While Blue Sky maintains its destination focus, the company is always expanding its portfolio in order to provide partners with a comprehensive range of accommodations, Jacobs said.

Among the more prominent recent additions are: The Princeville Resort, formerly the St. Regis Princeville; The Point at Poipu, a Diamond Resorts-managed property; the soon-to-come Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani, the former Waikiki Parc, which has been transformed into a luxury boutique hotel and is set to open in the fall; and Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, which is scheduled to open later this year and will begin to accept reservations this summer.

Jacobs said customers are booking closer in this year, looking for value in the form of a free night or meal package. There is also an increased interest in weddings and groups in general.

Education and Compensation

An updated Blue Sky Tours course has been introduced on Travel Agent Academy, designed to arm retailers with the latest information and selling tips.

The operator also has 15 Hawaii Training Dinner Events planned for 2019, in partnership with the Hawaii Tourism Authority and hotel partners.

Blue Sky is continuously offering agent incentives in addition to its generous standard compensation. For instance, a “Year of Aloha” promotion in partnership with several hotels and resorts is running throughout 2019 to provide agents with sales incentives all year long.

And the company recently launched several policy updates based on agent feedback, including the elimination of fees for minor changes to bookings, adjustment of cancellation penalties for scheduled air and land-only bookings, and the launch of a new reduced deposit program with waiver purchase.

Selling Blue Sky Tours

—The agency website, blueskytours.com, is the best starting point for seeking the latest deals and offers. Agents can also call the reservations center without having to worry about earning less commission on phone bookings.

—The operator differentiates itself by its expertise as expressed in the phrase “We know Aloha.” Its breadth of product, aggressive pricing structure, hassle-free booking and agent empowering earnings model combine to provide a positive experience for agents.

—Among the Blue Sky benefits: agents-only model; no commission cap and 12 to 15 percent commission on every booking; commissions on all land components, including insurance and car rental; 3 percent commission on all air (except published air to Fiji and Tahiti); Bonus Cash incentives every month; inclusive car prices at time of booking; and FLEX codes providing discounts that help agents compete against OTAs.