|
In the wake of the announcement by Carnival Corp. that effective for new bookings made on or after
October 15, 2007, the Carnival brands will no longer pay commissions to U.S. and Canadian travel agents on the airline portion of agency sales, ASTA expressed its disappointment,
noting that the policy "does not represent a financial disaster for our
members" and cautioned against other events that could radically destabilize the cruise lines' position in the travel marketplace.
In its statement, ASTA
said:
ASTA is obviously disappointed in the announcement by Carnival Corp.
that its related cruise lines will cease paying commission on cruise-related air services booked through Carnival. Although this policy
change by Carnival Corp. does not represent a financial disaster for our members, it does strike at their potential earnings which can only be
viewed as a negative factor in our relationships.
Furthermore, it represents a disservice to our clients in booking Carnival's products and is likely to create an inconvenience to many cruise passengers.
Additionally, it will further erode the usefulness of the Carnival air-cruise package service by creating a further disincentive for agents to
book it and by diminishing the usefulness of the Carnival product in the eyes of many consumers. Leisure-focused agents who do not sell
air will be forced to find work-arounds and further complications may be introduced into travel agency fee structures.
ASTA, on behalf of its members, continues to be concerned with other issues that could radically destabilize the position of cruise lines in
the leisure marketplace. One of these is surely the continuing erosion of agency earning potentials created by the growth of
non-commissionable charges.
Travel agents' value to both cruise consumers and cruise lines is recognized as vitally indispensable to the continued success of this
industry, as acknowledged in Carnival's statement that "all our brands remain committed to compensating travel agents for the valuable role
they play in selling cruises." Travel agents, and cruise lines, need to keep their eye on the prize. Travel agents are the rock that anchors the
cruise industry's ability to move its rapidly expanding cruise product in economic conditions that are fluctuating frequently and widely.
Travel agents' value to both cruise consumers and cruise lines is widely recognized and must be respected by the cruise lines.
See
other recent news regarding:
ASTA,
Carnival,
Cruises
|
