The Department of Tourism has distributed US$100,000 to travel agents in the US over the past three years through its Cayman Rewards Programme.
According to a press release from DoT, Cayman Rewards was introduced in May 2002 in conjunction with Travel Agent magazine. This incentive programme allows frontline agents, and their agencies, to reap cash benefits when they sell trips to the Cayman Islands.
The release explains, ‘Agents and agencies that sell the most trips each month win $500, compliments of DoT. The next nine top-booking agents/agencies receive $100 each ($200 total). The program is limited to ARC/IATA/CLIA agencies, and there are no minimum booking requirements’.
Mary Gathercoal of Mary-Go-Round Travel in Florida City, Florida was the most recent recipient of the $500 cash incentive, fulfilling the $100,000 allowance.
‘The Department of Tourism is committed to rewarding our Travel Agent Partners with cash, and we are thrilled to have awarded over $100,000 in the three years of the Cayman Islands Specialist programme,’ stated Ms. Pilar Bush, Director of Tourism. ‘We also have a direct referral to our Cayman Islands Specialist Travel Agents, from consumers who request it, from our website and we provide annual product updates to keep their knowledge current.’
Since May 2003, the Cayman Islands has offered a specialist travel agent training programme, which aims to more fully educate loyal travel agents. In addition to gaining in-depth knowledge about the Cayman Islands, which in turn helps agents to direct their customers toward an ideal vacation, these specialists get to participate in greater incentives beyond the already successful Cayman Rewards, says the release.
The specialist travel agent education process consists of a 40-page educational course that is available periodically in Travel Agent Magazine and online at Travel Agent University (www.tauniv.com). The course features details on Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, as well as information on all that the Cayman Islands offers visitors including historical attractions, diving, beaches, nature, dining, and sports. DoT also holds seminars at individual agencies with a CD-Rom presentation focusing on how to sell to families and the weddings and meetings markets. Participants who pass the final exam are eligible for enticing benefits, including: Cayman Specialist Diploma; 4.5 ICTA Continuing Education Units; Automatic required enrollment in Cayman Rewards; Monthly Cayman Rewards e-newsletters, featuring exclusive offers; One trip (five-night stay with air for two) to be awarded in a random drawing of those agents who receive a perfect score; FAM trip invitations.
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