Third party commissions are essential for travel agencies to plan for. The additional commissions can really add up.
For example, an agent use to make quite a bit more for a cruise than they do now. With all the taxes and fees that are part of the price, and is not including in the commission percentage, plus the airfare that use to be part of the cruise package with commissions, it just does not pay like it use to.
What do you do? Sell optional tours from a third party company, like Shoretrips and Port Promotions. They pay commissions that you would not get with a cruise line. If customers are sure they want a particular shore excursion, take the time and book it for them and make extra money. Or book them a hotel before or after the cruise.
This also applies for extra side trips when a client is taking a tour. There are many additions travel agents can add on. Maybe even airport transfers or a limousine can be added for more commission.
This not only helps the travel agent's bottom line, but is also beneficial to the customer. It saves them the time to book it on their own, and can often save them money, which both brings return business.
If a travel agent is organized with phone numbers and website information is handy, then it should not take much time to add these beneficial extras for the customer and the agent.
What extras, as travel agents do you book for customers? Do the extra commissions add up?
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