PHOTO: Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort in Cancun

The leading all-inclusive resort companies are highly supportive of travel agents’ efforts and offer programs designed to help them boost their productivity and profits. These companies provide travel advisors with training programs, sales and marketing tools, fam trip opportunities and more. Some resort brands also offer agent loyalty programs that aim to drive sales and cultivate strong partnerships.

Following is a roundup of some of those offerings.    

ALL INCLUSIVE COLLECTION

The All Inclusive Collection offers a coordinated program of agent training and incentives for its Hard Rock Hotels, highlighted by the Weddings on the Water Specialist Program (WOW), which provides travel sellers with tools to create and sell destination weddings, including exclusive Colin Cowie Wedding & Honeymoon experience packages. It includes brand education, sales and marketing support and a lead generation system.

Each year participating agents attend one of four WOW events at Hard Rock properties in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. The in-depth training includes opportunities to meet with wedding coordinators, enabling agents to establish relationships with on-site team members.

Visit www.allinclusivehotelweddings.com/wow-specialists.

AMRESORTS

The company’s travel agent loyalty platform, AMRewards, provides travel sellers with ongoing educational opportunities.

Agents can use the website’s online learning portal to become AMResorts Master Agents. The Master Agent Program offers continuing education on all of AMResorts’ six brands and properties, highlighting destination wedding and honeymoon and spa facilities, amenities and services. The incentivized program provides agents with tools and key selling features to help them close sales. Graduates of the program become Master Agents and receive complimentary day-pass access to all AMResorts properties, plus Master Agent rates for their own personal stays.

The agent platform also offers points-based features, including automatically generated stay certificates for complimentary nights at AMResorts’ properties and client gift vouchers. Agents will also find co-branded marketing materials, on-demand webinars and customized e-communications.

Visit https://amrewards.amragents.com.

BREEZES BAHAMAS

The Breezes SuperAgent Specialist course offers travel advisors a hybrid educational solution, enabling them to participate in the program via the web, as well as on the SuperAgent mobile sales companion app, which is compatible with IOS and Android systems.

The Breezes SuperAgent app for iPad and Android tablets offers travel sellers continuous engagement throughout the year with property updates, a live offer feed, booking capabilities, a sales tool box and easy access to a local sales manager.

Visit www.BreezesSuperAgent.com.

CLUB MED

Club Med’s Expert Agent program includes a specialized course that examines the many facets of Club Med resorts, including its international locations, innovative enrichment programs, unique sports activities and multi-cultural ambiance. The interactive course also features useful tools, including the “Check Your Knowledge” section, which tests travel agents and enables them to keep track of important facts.

Visit clubmedexpertagent.com.

ELITE ISLAND RESORTS

Elite Island Resorts’ (EIR) Elite Island University educates agents about the company’s properties while enabling them to earn increased commissions and become Elite Island Resorts Specialists.

The company equips agents with all the training resources they need – including the services of an EIR travel agent concierge – to match clients to appropriate resorts.

Retailers who complete the training receive an EIR specialist certificate and are eligible for benefits that include gift cards, free stays, exclusive offers for clients, group booking incentives and commissions of up to 20 percent.

Visit www.eliteislandresorts.com/travel professionals.

FIESTA AMERICANA RESORT COLLECTION

The company features a comprehensive agent portal that is broken down into four sections and provides everything an agent needs to sell its 12 resorts.

The Travel Agent Programs and Rates section provides agents with information on Fiesta Americana’s cash incentive program and agent rates. Agents are also able to access the company's two Travel Agent Academy programs, Fiesta Americana Experts Program and Fiesta Americana Luxury Experts Program, in this section. The Resource Center section features sales and marketing materials, including brand logos, high-resolution photos, e-brochures and fact sheets, and access to an e-newsletter library.

In the Spirit of Mexico Experience section, agents will learn about Mexico’s cultural offerings, cuisine, beaches and attractions, and fam trip information. The Resorts section details the features and amenities of Fiesta Americana’s resorts.

Visit www.fiestamericanaresorts.com/TravelAgent.

IBEROSTAR HOTELS & RESORTS

The all-inclusive resort company, which derives upward of 70 percent of its business from agents, offers familiarization trips to provide travel sellers with the personal experience they need to effectively sell the resorts. The fam trips are part of an incentive program that offers themed trips to top-producing agents approximately once every quarter.

Visit www.iberostaragentincentive.com.

KARISMA HOTELS & RESORTS

Karisma’s agent portal features a Learning Center that includes live webinars, tutorials, resort fact sheets, an arsenal of sales and marketing tools, and information on fam trips and site inspections.

Agents who register their bookings on Karisma’s web portal can earn booking bonuses and discounted rates. Those who apply and are accepted to Karisma’s Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultant (GIVC) program are privy to higher levels of rewards and training. On Jan. 1, Karisma boosted its GIVC commission levels from 19 to 21 percent.

Among other GIVC benefits are webinar training, free stays for the agent and a guest, and discounted rates for friends and family.

Visit www.karismatravelagents.com.

MELIA HOTELS INTERNATIONAL

In February 2015, Melia introduced MeliaPro-Training, a program designed to help agents learn more about the brand via a user-friendly virtual library filled with extensive brand data.

The program includes a multimedialearning library with comprehensive information on the company’s seven brands and corresponding properties. The program also offers tips on ways to improve sales and how to select the Melia hotel best suited for each individual client.

Visit www.melia.com/travelagents.

OASIS HOTELS & RESORTS

This year, Oasis unveiled an online agent portal, Oasis Connect, to help agents better sell its collection of resorts in Cancun and the Riviera Maya.

Through the portal, agents can connect to the Oasis Connect Certified Travel Agent Academy educational program, which certifies them as Oasis experts upon completion of course work. Graduates are able to qualify for more lucrative commissions.

The Oasis Connect portal also offers agents round-the-clock access to a variety of tools designed to help them more effectively close sales. Agents using the portal have access to fully customizable promotional materials, including brochures and up-to-date videos for each resort and more.

Visit www.oasisconnect.net.

PALACE RESORTS

Palace Resorts’ PRO program provides training and tools to help agents become specialists in the brand. Through the PRO website, agents can access Palace’s Travel Agent Academy Specialist educational program.

Graduates receive a wide range of benefits, including exclusive marketing consultations, booking bonuses and agents rates.

Travel advisors can also take advantage of the Palace Resorts’ PRO Destination Wedding Specialist Program to develop new techniques in marketing destination weddings and honeymoons. Agents who successfully complete this program will be certified as Palace Resorts Destination Weddings specialist professionals.

The first step toward becoming a Palace PRO Agent is as simple as signing up online for a training presentation.

Visit www.palaceproagents.com.

PALLADIUM HOTELS AND RESORTS

Palladium Hotel Group’s Palladium Connect program provides travel agents with support tools, cash and other enticing rewards in recognition of their partnership.

Palladium Connect is highlighted by Palladium’s e-Learning Program, through which retailers can become Palladium Pro Specialists through its Travel Agent Academy program.

Palladium Connect empowers travel agents with a variety of resources and a wide spectrum of vacation options to satisfy their clients.

Visit www.PalladiumConnect.com.

RIU HOTELS AND RESORTS

RIU Hotels & Resorts’ Travel Agent Academy Specialist Program is designed to equip agents with tools and resources to successfully sell RIU properties in Mexico, North and Central America, and the Caribbean.

Course information is provided in a simple and fun manner, and enables agents to learn at their own pace. Agents learn about RIU’s three brands – Riu Classic, Riu Palace and Riu Plaza – and about each property’s special features and amenities.

The RIU Specialist Program is part of the existing RIU Partner Club (RPC), the company’s agent loyalty program. Agents who complete the program receive certificates designating them as RIU specialists. They receive RPC points for two free nights at any RIU property after one client booking.

Visit www.riuspecialist.com.

SANDALS RESORTS INTERNATIONAL

Sandals’ agent training programs are highlighted by the company’s Certified Sandals Specialist (CSS) workshops. Agents with CSS designations receive exclusive educational opportunities and marketing materials.

To earn a CSS designation, agents must complete a four-hour streamlined CSS workshop featuring detailed information on the company’s resorts and amenities. CSS agents receive customized services, sales and educational support and free and discounted stays through Sandals’ “Sell & Go” program. They also earn valuable marketing dollars.

Sandals WeddingMoon specialist training program educates agents on how to take advantage of the destination wedding and honeymoon markets.

Visit https://taportal.sandals.com/landing.