Become a Home Based Travel Agent

Touching Base with Greg Hybl
American Express
Vice President, National Client Group,
Travel and Entertainment, Merchant Services

American Express has been offering a 2011 agent incentive program, Win with American Express, since last November. Greg, how has the program done in 2011?

First, I want to be sure and let agents know there is still plenty of time to win – the program is not over until October 31^st! Now, from a travel agent perspective, the feedback we have received about the program confirms our belief that it is a success with agents. The $6,000 in monthly incentives has been attention-getting. From an American Express perspective, we are very pleased with the response from the agent community and with the growth of the 2011 program over the 2010 program.

We really value our relationship with agents across the industry, and we enjoy showing them we appreciate it when they ask for the card. We also want to continue to remind agents that by asking for the American Express card, they can add value to their client’s trip without adding any cost to themselves.

There are important travel protections a client receives with the card like lost baggage protection, roadside assistance, and even concierge services, just to name a few. The benefits vary by card. Agents can see the comparison of benefits by card at the americanexpress.com site. And, agents can find out more by taking a quick course on card benefits at tauniv.com.

Well, on November 15^th, we will be identifying the October winners but the big news is we will be drawing the name of the $15,000 grand prize winner for 2011. Then we will introduce the winner from the main stage at the Luxury Travel Expo in early December. That is always an exciting event. Agents can qualify for the grand prize drawing and the trip to Luxury Travel Expo by entering only 10 cruise or tour bookings over the course of the program. It’s not too late. And, that’s in addition to the $6,000 we are awarding each month.

Right now we are deep into the planning stages for the 2012 program. Part of the planning process includes getting the input of agents about what they would like to see next year. I cannot share the details yet but I promise we’ll check in with you when the program is ready to launch.

Agents can enter at winwithamex.com. You are eligible for three $1,000 drawings with only one cruise or tour booking. A deposit qualifies for an entry.

Joanie Ogg CTC MCC
Joanie Ogg Marketing Group
Editor

Joanie Ogg is a thirty-five year veteran of the travel industry and has been involved with the independent contractor evolution since 1988. She is the principal of Joanie Ogg Marketing Group, which specializes in consulting and speaking on the topic of Home-Based Travel. She also provides marketing and sales for wide variety of products under the umbrella HomeBasedTravelAgent.com.

A demonstrated industry leader, Joanie most recently served as the President of the National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents (NACTA) and TravelSellers. She and her husband Tom acquired NACTA in 1996 and sold it to The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) in 2000. Joanie’s tenure in the travel industry includes owning and operating one of the first successful host agency models. She has owned and operated several storefront travel agencies (both commercial and leisure), as well as a Hawaii wholesale tour company.

Her decades of success have garnered her numerous accolades over the years. Her accomplishments have been recognized by receipt of two Lifetime Achievement Awards from major trade groups, being named as one of the “100 Most Powerful Women in Travel” by Travel Agent magazine on several occasions, voted as “Travel Agent of the Year” by the readers of Travel Trade magazine, and has been recognized by many other industry organizations throughout her tenure in the industry. In 2008 Joanie Ogg was inducted into the CLIA Hall of Fame, an honor held by some of the most influential executives in the travel industry.

Joanie is a Master Cruise Counselor (MCC) and a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC). Joanie has co-authored two popular travel industry books for cruise specialists and home-based travel agents and has authored hundreds of travel trade articles. She has inspired tens of thousands of travel agents attending her presentations at trade events, cruise seminars, international trade gatherings and numerous local educational venues throughout the United States. With a time-honored background and forward-looking vision, she is often featured as a speaker at many of the travel industry’s major conferences and events. Joanie’s speaking talents are widely sought as a travel industry emcee by the most recognized travel organizations. She has emceed such events as Cruise-A-Thons, ASTA’s CruiseFest, The Trade Show, The Travel Institute Forum and all of NACTA’s National and International Conferences.


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