Joystar: New hosting program
Joystar announced its new hosting program for travel agents.
Agent Advantage Pro (Www.joystar.com/pro) is a business solution for the growing number of travel professionals migrating from traditional “storefronts” to home-based operations.
The company says home-based travel agents are the fastest growing segment of the travel industry, with more than 14,000 agents representing $7.6 billion in leisure travel sales annually.
“We provide all of our agents a suite of tools and resources to help them succeed, including personalized consumer travel websites, access to the company’s state-of-the-art ‘Agent Only’ Extranet and live toll-free support,” said Robin Moore, Joystar’s director of agent services.
Joystar does not charge monthly sign-up fees. And agents receive up to 90% of commissions they generate.
While on-line travel is growing, it still only represents 16% of all travel booked, according to Joystar.
The company pointed out that agents are still the dominant force in travel distribution, especially in high-grossing products such as vacations, cruises, group tours and honeymooners.
William Alverson, Joystar’s CEO, says the goal is to host 5,000 travel agents, each averaging $300,000 in annual bookings, by the end of 2007. He said he hopes to enroll another 250,000 members who generate a lower income averaging $10,000.
“At first, our more plodding competitors will argue the sustainability of such a rich payout, but we’re also building a massive network of referral agents who earn a much smaller percentage of the commission,” said Mr Alverson.
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
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025