Partnerships take two
Rising online bookings mean agents must find new ways to compete in the marketplace, suggested Bill LaMacchia Jr., chief operating officer for The Mark Travel Corporation.
“If you help us, we will continue to help you,” said Mr LaMacchia, who has repeatedly emphasized his company’s commitment to agents. “Partnerships take two. With your help, we can succeed together.
He said his own family’s companies, which include Trisept Solutions, have invested heavily in providing vacation products and technology tools for travel agents.
Trisept Solutions is the technology behind VAX VacationAccess.com, a web-based booking portal for vacation packages that has more than 60,000 registered agents and nearly 25,000 agencies.
In the past year, more than 50% of those registered have made bookings on the system, according to Mr LaMacchia.
Mark Travel has also provided agents with tools to compete directly with online retailers with fully commissionable booking links such as GoFunjet.com, GoTransGlobal.com and SellUSV.com. Mr LaMacchia said these are all offered free to travel agencies and allow agency customers to book online.
In the past year, he said, Mark Travel invested over $100 million to support travel agents in commissions and marketing expenses.
“This year, we expect to pay upwards of $100 million in commissions alone,” he 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 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026