Avoya Travel, a formidable name in the travel industry and ranked 36th on Travel Weekly’s Power List, has recently made headlines with its groundbreaking initiative: the launch of the Avoya Live Bookings engine. This novel booking platform empowers clients to reserve their own cruises, marking a distinct shift in how travel agencies interact with consumers. This initiative is designed to enhance the customer experience while also creating new revenue streams for independent travel advisors.
Understanding the Avoya Live Bookings Engine
The Avoya Live Bookings engine, currently in its beta phase, represents an ambitious project aimed at redefining the booking process. Consumers can efficiently navigate AvoyaTravel.com to make their reservations, which are subsequently assigned to Avoya’s network of independent advisors. The significance of this dual-layered approach is that while clients enjoy the autonomy of booking, they still benefit from the expertise of seasoned travel advisors who can guide them through additional arrangements for flights, insurance, and accommodations.
This leads to a winning scenario for both parties; customers have the freedom to finalize their plans without feeling pressured, while advisors are poised to capitalize on potential upsells and future bookings. The implementation of a tool that has already generated over $600,000 in revenue, including high-value individual transactions surpassing $10,000, speaks volumes about its immediate impact since its launch in August.
Co-CEO Jeff Anderson expressed the drive behind this initiative succinctly during a recent media briefing, stating that the traditional lead generation model was not enough. The new booking tool is part of a larger effort to offer something definitively more valuable. This sentiment is echoed in the potential of the booking engine to drastically increase the revenue for travel advisors, particularly when considering high-yield products that enable significant commission checks.
The connection between Avoya and major cruise lines allows for a seamless booking experience, potentially positioning Avoya’s engine as a leader in the industry. The future goal of refining this tool to become the “best booking engine in the world for cruise” underlines their commitment to excellence and innovation.
Despite advances in technology, the presence of travel advisors remains critical to the process. Once a consumer completes a booking, it transitions to one of Avoya’s independent advisors, who then takes over to facilitate additional travel arrangements. This hybrid approach reinforces the notion that while technology can streamline processes, the human touch remains irreplaceable in travel planning.
Phil Cappelli, Chief Sales Officer, emphasized the importance of this partnership between technology and human expertise, asserting that sharing bookings with advisors can maximize customer satisfaction and improve service quality. Moreover, as the booking tool gains traction, Avoya is exploring how to allocate bookings effectively across its network of over 2,100 advisors.
A notable shift is happening within Avoya’s recruitment strategy. Historically focused on attracting novice agents, the host agency is now seeking to onboard experienced travel advisors. With the launch of its Elite 100 program, which allows advisors to keep 100% of the commission from their own clients, Avoya is actively courting top-tier talent.
To sweeten the deal for seasoned professionals, a $5,000 “quick-start incentive” is being offered to up to 60 top producers. The appeal of this incentive, coupled with an impressive 32% increase in commissions year-over-year for the entire network and a remarkable 44% rise for those in the Elite 100 program, speaks to Avoya’s strategic vision. Their commitment to fostering a competitive environment for experienced advisors may lead to enhanced performance and productivity.
As Avoya Travel celebrates its 60th anniversary, the integration of the Avoya Live Bookings engine illustrates its readiness to adapt to changing consumer behaviors and preferences. By blending innovative technology with seasoned travel expertise, Avoya is not only improving its service offerings but is also redefining the landscape of travel booking. With a focus on both personnel excellence and technological advancement, Avoya is well-positioned for continued success in the evolving realm of travel. The company’s proactive steps attest to a forward-thinking strategy that prioritizes customer satisfaction and advisor development, paving the way for a robust future in the travel industry.