American Safari Cruises' "Yachtalist" Club
offers valuable rewards, special training for agents
SEATTLE, WA. – Commission bonuses, reduced fam-cruise rates, and a chance for a free luxury cruise for two – that’s what awaits travel agents who learn the fine points of selling luxury yacht cruises and become members of American Safari Cruises’ Yachtalist Club. The company operates four mega-yachts for just 12 to 36 guests in Alaska, Mexico’s Sea of Cortés, Pacific Northwest and Columbia and Snake rivers, and inter-island in Hawaii beginning in December.
Membership in the Yachtalist Club helps agents sell into today’s growing luxury niche market where recession-friendly, small-group travel to eco-sensitive areas results in higher commissions. To join, agents participate in three 30-minute Web-based seminars and take a qualifying exam. Once certified as a yacht specialist – or yachtalist – agents are eligible for ongoing rewards and client benefits:
$795 per agent rate on ASC seven- or eight-night FAM cruise (non-member/companion rate $995) confirmed at 45 days prior to departure compared with non-yachtalist agents being confirmed at 30 days prior.
A $150 per guest bonus commission on first booking after accreditation (limited to first 2 guests).
Priority listing for unique “yacht theater” virtual client nights.
Name entered in an annual year-end drawing for a free ASC cruise for two with choice of destination (Camilla Sundahl of Wayfarer Travel in The Villages, Florida, won the 2007 drawing).
Advance notice on value-added offers via Exclusive Yachtalist e-newsletters, special gift in the agent’s name for clients when they sail, and additional periodic program benefits and offers.
Upcoming Web seminar topics include “Private Group Yacht Cruise Vacations,” 9 a.m. (PDT) Wednesday, April 30, 2008. In May, a trio of presentations set the stage for the inaugural season of the 36-guest Safari Explorer, introducing the first in-depth cruises of Maui, The Big Island, Lanai and Molokai: “Romantic Hawaiian Honeymoons and Getaways,” 1 p.m. (PDT) Thursday, May 8, 2008; “Golf Charters and FITs,” 11 a.m. (PDT) Tuesday, May 13, 2008; and, “Hawaii Yachtscapes; Celebrating the Aloha Spirit,” 9 a.m. (PDT) Wednesday, May 21, 2008. The Aloha Spirit session celebrates the Christening of the Safari Explorer on Wednesday, May 23, 2008 in Seattle, WA.
“Being an expert in a travel niche is one of the best ways to make money in today’s sophisticated marketplace,” says Tim Jacox, ASC vice president of sales and marketing. “As travelers become more savvy, they seek out the unusual and exotic, and that’s when they really need an experienced travel counselor. The yachtalist program helps agents add another lucrative specialty to their base of knowledge.”
About American Safari Cruises: Now in its 11th year, the company offers luxury yacht cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Mexico's Sea of Cortés, Hawaii, the Columbia and Snake rivers, and the Pacific Northwest. The company has four yachts: 145-foot, 36-guest Safari Explorer; 120-foot, 22-guest Safari Quest; 112-foot, 12-guest Safari Escape; and 105-foot, 12-guest Safari Spirit. American Safari Cruises was named one of the world's top 5 luxury small ship/specialty cruise lines of 2007 by Virtuoso, luxury-travel agent consortium.
To join American Safari Cruises’ Yachtalist Club: www.amsafari.com or 888/862-8881. Click on “travel agent” on the home page. Information and brochures: 888/862-8881; www.amsafari.com; e-mail: sales@amsafari.com
