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Travel Agent FAQ
(Cruisers: see the Cruiser FAQ)
Why should my agency join this service?
CruiseCompete gives you the opportunity to provide quotes on specific cruises to thousands of experienced, sophisticated cruise passengers who have already done their homework: they know exactly what they wish to book. CruiseCompete allows you to reach these buyers with your pricing information while investing a minimal amount of staff time. The benefits include:
- More leads at a lower cost
- Delayed payments create better cash flow
- Higher quality leads (informed buyers, complete information)
- You decide which quote requests to respond to
- You control volume, costs, and timing
- Maximize use of agent time
- Improve your volume on key cruise lines
- Increased overall agency profitability
Don't let the Internet take your agency out of the picture. Use it to capture that portion of the market that is ready to buy right now--at the right price.
Will joining CruiseCompete hurt my agency's margins?
Joining CruiseCompete need have no effect on the deals your agency offers to
your existing customers.
According to our research, most cruise buyers already get quotes from
multiple agencies before booking a cruise. While CruiseCompete makes
shopping around easier, the overall dynamic isn't changed. As you're already
competing for business and winning, your current structure may be just fine
for success through the system. This is especially true if you respond to
requests quickly and add comments useful to the customer.
With the savings you get in agent time, cash flow, and advertising costs
through CruiseCompete, your margins may improve even though you have to
compete for the business. But even if you choose to offer special packages
to CruiseCompete customers, that doesn't mean you have to change how you
work with your regular customers.
Customers you quote through CruiseCompete are instructed that they must
contact the specific agent who submitted the quote and mention their
specific CruiseCompete Quote Request ID number to get the deal offered
through the system. This makes it easy to differentiate the lead source, and
allows you to vary what you offer to maximize revenue without compromising
existing margins.
As consumers using the CruiseCompete system can be confident that they have
been offered a great cruise deal, they are very likely to book with a
CruiseCompete agent. Join us, and that agency can be you.
What information is available about each quote request?
Each time a cruiser requests a quote you will be able to view:
- Requested line, ship, sail date, number of cabins, and cabin types; plus passenger age categories, past passenger status, and passenger home state
- Time and date of the request
- The number of quote requests submitted from other Agencies
In addition, if a sufficient amount of time has elapsed since the first response to the quote request, you will also be able to view the lowest rate previously submitted.
What does the service cost?
All CruiseCompete membership fees are deferred for 90 days. If you respond to a minimum number of quote requests during that time period, these fees are waived all together. So, for agents who are serious about using the system, joining CruiseCompete is free.
The only fees you pay are on cruises you actually book.
Even then, as the fees aren't due until after the sail date, you keep more cash in your pocket longer (especially vs. an advertising model, where you pay for the advertising today to generate commission months from now).
Your up-to-the-minute account status data will be available online. This will let you view and change the bookings you've entered, and see the amount due at the end of the month. All fees will be billed on the first business day of the month by credit card.
How do I respond to quote requests?
To respond to a specific request, you simply enter pricing information for
the particular trip, including the total cruise fare with all port charges,
taxes, documentation and agency fees. You may also make and include your own
comments, suggestions and recommendations. Then you simply click on "submit".
How do cruisers respond?
Once you submit your quote, cruisers will notified immediately via e-mail that a new quote is available. One click takes them back to their account to view the latest quotes. It is then up to the client to decide which agent or agents to contact. You can specify whether you wish to be contacted via phone or e-mail. It is up the individual cruiser to contact you directly.
How do I get started or learn more?
Travel agencies can Contact us here.
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