Booking upscale? Get an agent
Hotel guests staying at upscale properties such as one of the Noble House Hotels and Resorts are more inclined to use travel agents, believes Liz Johnson, corporate director of leisure travel. “I think certain people will always want to deal with travel agents, and that’s more often the case with upscale markets,” she said. She thinks that is the case even at some Noble properties that have a lot of drive-in traffic. She does not know how many bookings of the dozen or so upscale Noble House properties come from travel agents, but thinks the amount is “substantial.” One reason is that the rooms are far from budget priced. The price tag for rooms can go as high as $800 a night. In addition, Ms Johnson said, the chain with a corporate office in Seattle, goes out of its way to work with agents. “They know we will take care of them. We offer a personalized service, and we work hand in hand with agents,” she said. In addition to the standard 10% commission, she said, the chain hands out thank-you notes to guests in the agent’s own name. For wholesalers, Noble House often gives out $100 gift certificates that can be turned over to clients to spend at a hotel gift shop or spa or restaurant. Noble House sales people also regularly call directly on agents, she added. The Noble House hotels cater to leisure travelers. About two thirds of their bookings are in that market, Ms Johnson said. Report by David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive