Companies Honor Travel Advisors With Incentives for National Travel Advisor Month

May is National Travel Advisor month, and May 4 is officially National Travel Advisor Day. With that, several companies in the travel industry are offering travel advisors new incentives as appreciation for the important work they do with tour operators, cruise lines and other travel companies.

Considered the backbone of the travel industry, travel advisors work tirelessly to make their clients' vacation dreams come true and guide them during the entire travel planning process.

In honor of all that they do, here are some of the travel companies currently offering advisor incentives and perks this month.

ALG Vacations is offering a month-long Travel Advisor Appreciation Month program, with twelve vacation giveaways, Local Lore gift baskets and other fun prizes for travel advisors.

Travel advisors who book two or more trips with global tour operator Collette for 2022 during the month of May will earn an extra $50 with the "Travel Advisor Appreciation Booking Incentive" program. Additionally, the three who book the most during May will earn first, second and third-place prizes of $1,000, $750 and $500.

"On behalf of the entire team, we want to thank the dedicated travel advisors for their hard work and perseverance over the past year." said Jaclyn Leibl-Cote, President and Chief Brand Officer of Collette. "These incentives programs are designed to reward travel advisors during a month-long celebration."

Hurtigruten is giving away a free 9-day Galapagos adventure trip for any travel advisor who booked the same itinerary for travel in 2022; this includes those who have already booked clients on the itinerary. Travel advisors can use the free cruise through March 31, 2023.

"We are extremely thankful for the wonderful support from our travel advisor partners, who generate a significant part of Hurtigruten Americas' overall business. To better understand their needs, we carried out a survey among advisors last year. Based on the results, we've made several improvements since, not only to our portal but also sending more personalized emails, and we've partnered with BranchUp to push our social media messages through travel agents' social media. And as always, we know one of the most appreciated initiatives among our travel advisor partners is the extended sales period that starts before and finishes after they have been open to the general public," said Jeffrey Oar, President, Hurtigruten Americas.

Pleasant Holidays, Journese, Pleasant Activities and Air by Pleasant are thanking travel advisors with TRIP bonus points and more. The three top advisors who book the most travel for 2022 the first week of May will win three prizes. The grand-prize winner will receive two roundtrip business class tickets on American Airlines from the U.S. to their choice of Europe, Hawaii, Caribbean or Mexico. The first-place winner will receive two roundtrip economy tickets on American Airlines to anywhere within the contiguous U.S. The second-place winner receives 5,000 Bonus Trip Points for personal travel.

"During National Travel & Tourism Week we want to show our gratitude for the tremendous perseverance and dedication of our travel advisor partners as we work together to rebuild travel after the industry's most challenging time," said Jack E. Richards, President and CEO. "Our goal is to make the travel process as seamless as possible. Our brands' booking engines allow 24/7 booking capabilities with helpful tools to empower travel advisors to build the vacation their clients have been seeking after two plus years of dreaming about travel once again and creating memorable moments with loved ones."

From May 2-6, Riviera River Cruises will gift advisors a $200 gift card bonus for every cabin booked on a 2022 European river cruise, excepting group bookings. Additionally, all guests who are booked during this time will receive a free drinks package.

"As the only European river cruise line that doesn't accept bookings directly from consumers, we're appreciative of all that travel advisors do for us throughout the year," said Marilyn Conroy, Riviera River Cruises' Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing North America. "For the week of Global Travel Advisor Day, however, we're offering this incentive as an additional way of saying thank you to advisors and their clients for choosing Riviera."

Scenic Group is offering bonus commissions and cruise giveaways this month. Advisors who book clients through their ExpressBook travel booking system through June 30, 2022 will receive an extra 5 percent commission on all Emerald Cruises and Scenic river and ocean cruises for 2022 as well as an extra 3 percent commission on any cruises for 2023. Rebookings are also considered valid bookings.

Every booking made now through June 30 will also add one entry for the travel advisor who booked them into a drawing for five free cruises on Emerald or Scenic, including two 8-day cruises in Europe or Southeast Asia on Scenic, two in the same regions on Emerald or one free "Iconic West Coast Experience" for two on the Scenic Eclipse along North America's Pacific Coast.

Virgin Voyages is celebrating its "First Mates," the cruise line's term for travel advisors, with a month-long Sea of Appreciation month. It's giving away free Virgin Voyages swag each Thursday on its SeaCiety Facebook page and it's hosting special in-person programming in certain cities across the U.S. for advisors and members of the Virgin Voyages team.

John Diorio, Virgin Voyages' Vice President of North American Sales, said, "We have the most incredible partners in our First Mates, and there's no better way to say thank you than with an entire appreciation month that honors their work and commitment to the Virgin brand. We've built an extensive agent community and are always seeking new opportunities to engage with First Mates and welcome new advisors into the program."

Villas of Distinction is appreciating its travel advisors by offering them a bonus commission offer when they book clients this week through May 7 for travel through December 31, 2023. The bonus commission? Up to $1,500 extra!

"Travel advisors are the lifeblood of our industry," said Steve Lassman, vice president villa product & agency relations for Villas of Distinction. "The theme of this year's National Travel and Tourism Week is 'The Future of Travel' and without the advisor community, we would not be ready and prepared for the pent-up demand for travel. This bonus commission is just one way to thank our travel advisor partners."

Besides featuring some of its best travel advisors on social media this month, Atlas Ocean Voyages will be giving every travel advisor a bonus $500 in commission when they book a 2022 Atlas Ocean itinerary onboard the World Navigator during the month of May. To claim the bonus, advisors must mention the word APPRECIATION during booking.

"Atlas Ocean Voyages recognizes the importance of Travel Advisors and the invaluable role they play in our industry," said Carlos Garzon, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Atlas Ocean Voyages. "We sincerely appreciate all the work Travel Advisors have done to promote our new luxury expedition cruise line. Our new $500 bonus commission program is one of the many ways we thank Travel Advisors for their hard work recommending Atlas Ocean Voyages."

Sandals is celebrating advisors with a two-part live-streamed event on Facebook Live with guest speakers, giveaways, incentives and more in a collaboration with ASTA. The event will be held 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST and continue from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST on May 4.

Spa credits are also extended for use by advisors now through December 2023, while advisors who book 6 nights or longer with Unique Vacations Inc. through May 6 for travel to any Beaches or Sandals resort in 2023 and 2024 will receive bonus commission ranging from $50 to $100.

"It's a fascinating day as we join with ASTA to recognize and celebrate travel advisors and the leading role they play in our industry's success and way forward," said Sadler, who today is hosting a group of more than 40 advisors for a celebratory luncheon at Beaches Turks & Caicos. "We're proud and grateful to our incredibly loyal travel advisor community who have been in our corner for forty years and counting. As our revered partners on this journey, we celebrate you today, and every day, with the utmost gratitude."

Azamara is honoring advisors on May 4 by giving an extra 5 percent bonus commission on everything booked today for 2022 when they use the code BONUSCOMM. Throughout May, every travel advisor who books a cruise will be entered into the "AzAmazing Advisors Appreciation Sweepstakes," with a grand prize of a cruise for two. The winner will be announced June 7.

"Our travel partners have played an integral role in helping Azamara and our guests return to sea following these challenging years and every day we appreciate their support. To show our gratitude on this special day, we are pleased to offer this bonus commission and sweepstakes opportunity," said Michelle Lardizabal, Chief Sales Officer at Azamara.

During the Travel Advisor Appreciation Month of May, the ultra-luxury cruise line is offering an exclusive $200 USD ($250 CAD) bonus commission per booking on any 2022 voyage. In addition, it is extending travel advisors an invitation to sail on select 2022 Alaska and Northern Europe voyages for as low as $150 USD per person, per day.

Throughout the month of May, travel advisors can earn a $20 gift card for each new 2022 FIT booking and earn a reward cruise when they confirm three FIT bookings made between October 1, 2021 - December 31, 2022 for 2022 sailings. AmaWaterways will also give away complimentary river cruises with round-trip business class airfare to two lucky travel advisors who attend its popular Webinar Wednesday series during the month of May.