Shopping around…for commissions
The Rouse Company is offering some new programs for FIT and group travel planning that offer commissionable earnings. Kathy Anderson told TravelMole:
“With commissions dwindling, we thought of this as a way for agents and tour operators to find alternate income in the popular and growing area of shopping.”
Ms Anderson is the tourism representative for Premier Marketplace, which make up about 19 of the Columbia, MD-based Rouse’s 150 properties. The Premier centers are located in prominent historical and cultural areas such as Faneuil Hall in Boston or Riverwalk in New Orleans.
The Rouse program is generally for groups of 6 to 600. Commissions are in the 10-15% range, according to Ms Anderson.
Participants in the program receive special incentives such as discount coupons.
Some unique activities are also offered such as fashion shows.
“Packaging is not a new concept to the travel industry, but it is in the retail industry,” said Susan Houck, regional manager of retail marketing for Rouse.
She pointed out that shopping remains consistently high for on tourists’ list of preferred activities.
Several tour operators are working with Premier to design the commissionable packages that can be incorporated into existing niche programs. The Premier program is expected to be expanded in the near future, and the company is doing a pilot project for FIT travel.
Contact Ms Anderson at 602-608-1007 for more information.
Report by David Wilkening
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