The boss of B2B operator Major Travel has said reaction to the company’s new discount scheme for agents has been “very positive” as it is a win-win for agencies and hoteliers.
Qasim Gulamhusein, managing director, said information about ‘Major 4 Me’ is currently being sent to travel agency head offices after its official launch at the operator’s recent 50th anniversary celebration in London (pictured).
“We want to make sure that people can book before the peaks, by the beginning of December,” he said.
He told Travel Weekly that the idea first emerged after the pandemic when agents began travelling again.
“We got a couple of requests at that time and hotels were very keen for agents to start travelling again,” he said.
He noted there are operators supplying discounted travel to industry staff but believes Major 4 Me is the only scheme working with agencies’ head offices, giving more transparency about what is being booked.
Describing it as a ‘win-win’ situation, he said agents can learn more about hotels that they might not otherwise be able to book; the hotels will showcase its offering to agents and get reports about how the impact of the scheme; and head offices know where their agents are visiting and the sales can count towards overrides.
“We have direct contracts with hotels. If we promote those hotels to agents, agents come to visit the hotel, they will be able to sell that hotel much better,” he said.
“The suppliers are happy, agents are happy, and head office with the agent is also happy.
“Everyone we have spoken to about it has been very, very positive.
“It was a massive hit with the agents at the anniversary event.”
He said agents must have made least a minimum of two bookings in the last six months before being able to book any agent travel with Major Travel.
“It is limited to agents who book, so hotels don’t have to work with any old Tom, Dick or Harry,” he added.
Agents can make a hotel-only booking or Major can help arrange an Atol-protected package.
Gulamhusein gave the example of the Maldives, where agents could get agency rates for two or three nights at two or three different properties and arrange an island-hopping holiday to boost their knowledge of the destination and enjoy a longer break.
He said discounts can reach 50% in some cases but only for the first two nights or so, after which the savings are more like 15%.
More: Agents gain personal discounts as Major Travel marks 50th anniversary