by Robin Amster
Last updated: 4:30 PM ET, Tue March 29, 2016
Photo courtesy of Eurail
Eurail has announced a variety of new passes and deals this year-all aimed at enhancing its offerings for U.S. travel agents and their clients.
A new 11-month booking period will allow U.S. travelers to plan their trips in advance. By extending the rail booking period, travelers can take advantage of deals on both air and rail passes, both of which are often launched in the first quarter of the year.
The 11-month booking period also allows agents to book their clients' flights and Eurail passes at the same time.
Also new this year are a re-introduced Eurail Select 3 Country Pass (one of Eurail's "Select Passes") which gives travelers a choice of up to three bordering countries, and the Eurail Scandinavia Pass, formerly a regional pass, that is now one pass for Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
And currently Eurail is offering an extra days promotion through April 30. It offers between one and five extra free travel days on all Eurail Passes.
"It is anticipated that 2016 product improvements will have a positive impact on sales in the U.S., particularly the introduction of the new 11 month advance booking period, and the re-introduction of the Eurail Select 3 Country Pass," said Clarissa Mattos, Eurail's North America market manager.
The U.S. is currently Eurail's largest market, accounting for 105,000 passengers and 32 percent of total sales in 2015, according to Mattos. (The second largest market is South Korea with a 14 percent market share.)
"The strong U.S. dollar in 2015 had a positive impact on the number of U.S. citizens choosing to travel to Europe. " said Mattos. "Lower oil prices also led to a reduction in airfare prices for long-haul air travel, which greatly benefited customers."
And several Eurail product improvements introduced last year contributed to the positive impact on sales, she adds. These included a new policy allowing children under 11 to travel for free and making the youth discounted pass available in first class.
In 2015 North America-the U.S. and Canada-had the highest level of growth, at nearly 16 percent, compared to other Eurail regions. The U.S. market specifically grew by just over 17 percent that year over 2014.
Eurail passes are sold in the U.S. through the Eurail Group's international network of authorized "General Sales Agents" and their "subagent network," which is composed simply of American travel agents.
Commission rates for subagents, meaning American travel agents, vary and are determined by the General Sales Agents, said Mattos.
Mattos called Eurail "a strong brand with more than 50 years of history and a leading product for European train travel."
"Agents can benefit from competitive commissions, as well as attractive revenues with potential to grow in many market segments," she said. "Agents also have access to a number of complimentary passes, sales incentive programs, and regular training and sales support from Eurail Group, the marketing and management of the Eurail Pass."
There are now three types of Eurail passes: the Eurail Global Pass for travel in 28 countries, the Eurail Select Pass, for travel in two, three or four bordering countries, and the Eurail One Country Pass, for travel in a single country and offered in 21 countries.
The Eurail system encompasses nearly 3,900,000 square miles, more than 155,000 miles of railways, and more than 10,000 train stations in Europe. Eurail has more than 35 railway and ferry partners.
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