Avoya Travel, a prominent player in the travel industry and ranked No. 36 on Travel Weekly’s Power List, has recently unveiled a groundbreaking booking engine designed to transform the way consumers book cruises. Dubbed the “Avoya Live Bookings” engine, this platform empowers travelers to make their own cruise reservations through the AvoyaTravel.com website. Once a booking is completed, it is directed to an Avoya advisor who can then offer additional services such as airfare coordination, insurance options, and hotel accommodations. This innovative step not only creates convenience for travelers but also enhances the role of travel advisors in the booking process.
Avoya Travel’s launch of the Live Bookings engine is part of a larger strategy to optimize their lead generation tools, which include Live Leads and Smart Leads. Jeff Anderson, Avoya’s co-CEO, emphasized the company’s motivation to go beyond traditional lead generation. By asking, “What’s something even more valuable that we could generate?” Avoya is positioning itself to capitalize on current market demands for greater booking autonomy, while still ensuring that skilled travel advisors support consumers through the travel planning process.
Since the beta testing phase began in August, the booking engine has made notable financial contributions, generating over $600,000 in total revenue and handling high-value bookings exceeding $10,000. This illustrates not only the potential profitability of the engine but also the confidence Avoya has in its capabilities. With plans to create “the best booking engine in the world for cruise,” Anderson’s vision highlights the ambition behind this new technology.
One of the significant benefits of the Avoya Live Bookings system is the promising opportunity for travel advisors to earn commissions from bookings made through the platform. Once consumers finalize their cruise reservations online, the involvement of independent travel advisors becomes critical. They can enhance the client’s experience by handling all necessary arrangements, and in turn, ensure they maintain a long-term relationship with the client for future travel inquiries. With reports of substantial booking values, naturally, there are commissions involved that present robust earnings potential for advisors.
During the media briefing, Anderson mentioned an impressive booking totaling $13,000, emphasizing the lucrative nature of commissions in this sector. As the testing of the new engine continues, Avoya is carefully optimizing how they distribute bookings among their extensive network of over 2,100 independent contractors, ensuring that each advisor can provide the necessary value to clients.
As part of its evolving strategy, Avoya Travel has shifted focus towards attracting more experienced travel advisors. The Elite 100 program allows senior advisors to retain 100% of the commission from their clients’ travels while Avoya retains a share on sales generated through its lead-generation initiatives. This program charges advisors $399 a month, allowing them to maximize their earnings potential.
To incentivize this change, Avoya is providing a noteworthy $5,000 “quick-start incentive” for the top producers who join the Elite 100 program. The initiative reflects Avoya’s commitment to nurturing a high-caliber network of travel advisors who can offer exceptional service and leverage the booking engine effectively.
Avoya Travel’s advancements, especially with the introduction of the Avoya Live Bookings engine, herald a significant transformation in how travel bookings are approached. By blending technology with tailor-made advisor services, Avoya is not only enhancing the customer experience but also redefining the role of travel advisors within the marketplace. The company’s keen focus on profitability, the introduction of higher commission programs, and targeted recruitment of seasoned advisors showcases a forward-thinking model aimed at sustaining growth.
As Avoya celebrates 60 years in business, its recent innovations position it at the forefront of an industry that continually adapts to the evolving needs of consumers. Stakeholders can expect to see everything from increased commission structures to improved lead generation systems, and above all, an enriched experience for travelers. This marks an exciting era for Avoya Travel, one that embraces both technology and human expertise in the pursuit of unparalleled service.
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