From
R4025 p/p sharing
O N E
W A I T I N G
63255B
Southern Africa’s Travel News Weekly
August 19 2009 I No. 2071
2 Pay for 3 stay for T H E R E ’ S
F O R
Y O U
Call your nearest ASATA travel agent or one of our Dream Makers on 011 217 5555 or visit www.suninternationaldreams.com Subject to availability and definite terms and conditions. E&OE. Excludes approximate taxes of R1520 p/p.
TNW3551SD
INSIDE
TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY
News
news
going green
Uniworld special
How important is it for your clients?
Book now and save!
Page 2
feature Hong Kong
Page 4
A destination with great potential Page 10
Death of the incentive? Natalia Thomson
O
benefit or convenience to the passenger sufficient to offset the loss of freedom to choose.” The end decision should be for the benefit of the consumer, says Allan Lunz, md BidTravel. “At no time does (BidTravel) try and persuade the decision based on some financial gain. We will always offer alternatives if there is a cost saving or a better way to construct the fare.”
UTRIGHT bribery or added value for your client? Agent incentives may get industry bosses hot under the collar as they undermine override agreements, but the new Consumer Protection Act, which will come into full effect by October next year, may actually outlaw them. According to Benchmark’s Advocate Louis Nel, the Act requires agents to choose a product based on what is “Incentives are seldom best for the passenger and to the benefit of not because of what the override dictates or what the end user.” the agent stands to gain as an incentive for booking a Harvey World Travel particular product. Ontdekkers consultant “The position of the Leon Smith says he would travel agent has changed strongly support any move post zero commission. to stop agent incentives. “It Since then and based on undermines the authority of a professional consultancy travel companies, supplier fee being charged, the agreements and is very agent’s client is clearly the seldom to the benefit of the passenger, regardless of end user.” commission and override. You could argue, however, The decision as to which that by incentivising an agent service provider must then be with educationals, the client based on what’s best for the does ultimately benefit. passenger.” And there have been a fair The same applies for number of these types of competitions, says Louis. incentives in recent months “The CPA gives the following Asata’s call to consumer the freedom to scrap monetary incentives. choose and choosing for Beachcomber launched its the passenger based on B-Line incentive, Cruises 22575 Airlink Pemba 30x206 2:56 PM Pagehas 1 its ‘Book a competition erodes this6/23/09 International right of choice unless the 10, get one free cruise’ while agent can show financial Naïade has its
Lucky 7 incentive. Said one anonymous agent who wrote to TNW: “It is imperative for an agent to experience a product in order to sell it effectively. Every time I have enjoyed the privilege of such an experience, my enthusiasm is ‘catching’ and the clients want to experience it too.” She says she can sell with confidence because she knows what she’s talking about and is sure her clients’ needs are catered for. Cruises International md, George Argyropoulos, says the operator’s intention is not to “force” agents to see their products at the expense of a client’s best interest. “We will happily comply with the word and spirit of the Act,” he says. The intention of competitions and other incentives, says George, is to bring cruising to the “top of mind” of consultants. “A cruise holiday option is usually neglected from being presented as an option to clients, which then results in the exact opposite of what the Act intends, ie to be presented with all options available which fit the client’s brief and be given expert advice even if that means to present the client with a suitable option he may not have thought about initially.” C MmdY CM Naïade Holidays, says To page 12
Want to go to Europe? We want you to travel to Europe on this fantastic agent special offered by Swiss International Air Lines. From R1 200 in Y-class return and R1 600 for your companion excluding airport taxes, you could be jetting off until October 31 to your favourite European destination. Get your applications in now by visiting Travelinfo for more details, say (from left) Vera Matic, customer relations, and Shirley Wright, indoor sales: ticket office Photo: Tijana Huysamen
Top web stories ● SAA head group corporate affairs resigns ● SAA strike on the cards? ● Letter of the day: Going bust ● Protea Hotels takes over the Hilton Hotel ● BA pax now served Woolies meals ● Tuesday smile: airline anecdotes ● Talking point: Picnic in the ruins ● Swiss agent special ● Airlines take opportunity to raise cash MY CY CMY K ● On-the-go info with SAA
TNW3511SD