AFRICASTAY has launched a businessto-business division, dedicated exclusively to travel agent sales, called Holiday Packages. The new division offers agents the best price for their clients, higher commission levels and a dedicated team of consultants dealing with agent bookings only, says Marian Sandu, ceo of AfricaStay and Holiday Packages. Marian says he has already seen exponential growth in the agent market since the division’s launch. “We are rewarding agents while also giving clients the best deals. This is why
agents are bringing their bookings to us,” he says. AfricaStay is 15 years old this month and the company is running a number of agent incentives to celebrate the milestone. Its ‘Sugar and Spice’ campaign offers agents increased commission of 15% on land arrangements when booking selected Mauritius and Zanzibar properties through Holiday Packages. The campaign was created by “negotiating a bit differently” with selected hotels, in return for a higher margin, which Holiday Packages has been able to pass on to agents, he says. Mauritius and Zanzibar were selected as they are the company’s top two
destinations, but he hopes to expand the campaign to other resorts and new destinations in the near future. Kerri-lin van der Berg, Flight Centre Associate, says she has already booked 100 passengers to Zanzibar with Holiday Packages this year. She says although Holiday Packages has increased its agent commission, the real draw card for converting these bookings is the excellent prices they offer to clients. “Where previously I used to book two or three couples a month to Mauritius, I am now booking 10 or more couples to Zanzibar a month because the prices are so much more accessible,” says Kerri-lin.
