What is a Wholesale Travel Certificate?

Each year our vendors are rewarded promotional space on cruise ships, hotel rooms, and in resorts. In effect, what the promotional space does is help the cruise lines, hotels and resorts reach 85% occupancy b/c they know that when they do they will most likely be able to fill the remaining 15% at the retail rate. This is what a travel certificate is created around-unused space and off peak times of travel.

Let's use Carnival cruise line for example:

The cruise certificates that we offer from our vendor are 4 days and 3 nights...what they consider "starter cruises." The Cruise line knows that even though your room and board, food and entertainment are all provided for, you will spend your money on other areas on the ship like alcoholic drinks by the pool, gambling in the casinos, and shopping in their duty free stores. But the biggest thing for them is their hope that you will walk away with a phenomenal experience on their ship and will share it with everyone you know, therefore branding their name. They also know that you will most likely choose their cruise line again since we usually stick to what we know and are comfortable with.

Let’s also look at a hotel chainlike Ramada:

It costs a standard hotel $11 a night for a room when it is empty. They would rather have you come in and pay taxes...which are $8-$12 a night and cover that cost for them then to allow it to just sit empty. They also know that you will most likely eat at their restaurants inside the hotel or order room service. Most importantly to them you will be a repeat client if you have a wonderful stay.

For us as the receiver of a wholesale travel certificate, we are able to travel at wholesale prices and save a ton of money over the course of a lifetime. It’s important to be flexible when using a travel certificate. You will need to list your top three dates you would like to travel. They will always try to accommodate you and try their best to find promotional space on your first date listed, but will have to move to the second if those dates are not available.

Now let’s talk about travel incentives. Since it is based on promotional space, there are terms and conditions to adhere to, but nothing so complicated that it would make the gift you received valueless. There will be about a three or four step process for you to complete in order to set up your travel with the vendor. Your patience will be rewarded when you end up paying a fraction of the retail cost!

Another big thing to clear upis the distinction between complimentary and free:

· Free means at no cost to you.

· Complimentary means you still need to pay taxes, a small processing fee sometimes, and port
fees for cruises. All of the travel certificates you receive are considered complimentary.