TO drive greater sales volume, Orient-Express is rolling out higher travel consultants’ commission across the world next year.
Speaking at the presentation of its 2013 Myanmar programme yesterday, Marco Rosa, Orient-Express global sales & marketing director, trains & cruises, revealed that commission rates for travel consultants will be raised from the current eight per cent to 10 per cent next year for its cruise and train bookings.
When enquired about the reason for the revision, Rosa replied: “It’s more like an incentive for travel (consultants) to sell our products. We thought that eight per cent is maybe, on some occasions, below the industry standards while ten per cent is more reasonable.”
Consultants making bookings now for departures in 2013 will also get to enjoy the higher commission rates, he added.
Boosted by the growing demand in South-east Asia, Orient-Express is sharpening its focus in the region with the launch of a new river boat as well as several new appointments.
Said Rosa: “Both our Myanmar cruises and Eastern & Oriental Express products are doing extremely well over the last few years. The South-east Asian markets are performing quite well, and they are also attracting quite a lot of clients from the other markets like the UK, the US and Australia.”
Earlier this week, Orient-Express has just appointed Eddie Teh in the newly created position of general manager of Myanmar cruises, while a new Bangkok-based sales director for trains & cruises will come on board on October 1 to handle the South-east Asia market.
At the presentation attended by travel consultants, Orient-Express also unveiled its newest cruise product, Orcaella, a 25-cabin luxury boat (TTG Asia e-Daily, September 5, 2012) that will begin sailing along Myanmar’s Irrawaddy and Chindwin rivers in July 2013.
