You Can Only Win When Booking United Vacations

Travel Agents cash in with big booking incentives

MILWAUKEE, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- United Vacations continues to pull out
all the stops in a continued effort to engage, educate and revitalize the
travel agent spirit for booking vacation packages to the many destinations
offered by United worldwide.
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United Vacations once again demonstrates their leading position by
leveraging the educational investments in its top agents through their new
2009 Product Launch and Educational Retreat held in Vail, CO earlier this
month. Even the newly launched and innovative Vacation Planning Guide is
creating some buzz as a key agency sales tool that agents can use to assist
consumers in finding that perfect, affordable dream vacation. However, it's
their most recent string of big booking incentives that have taken front
stage.
In a year where cash seems to be king, travel agents are winning some
wildly generous prizes, simply by revving up their bookings with United
Vacations. For the first time ever, multiple incentives to multiple
destinations and hotels are running at once -- which means agents have a
greater chance at earning these prizes than they may have even realized.
Coupled with the very competitive commission that United Vacations pays out,
agents now have more reasons than ever to book United Vacations.
This important message of 'it's within your reach to win' is key. At a
time when many vacation providers may be cutting back on incentives and
prizes, United Vacations is doing the opposite -- and in a big way. Currently
running are four large-scale incentives that span a variety destinations
worldwide, which all encourage agents to continue booking because they can win
more than once. From the exciting city of Las Vegas to the serene islands of
Hawaii, here is a brief look at the many opportunities for agents today:
The Great Las Vegas Giveaway II -- cash is king
United Vacations largest and longest running travel agent incentive, The
Great Las Vegas Giveaway II, marks the second consecutive year that United
Vacations has teamed up with Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for a
travel agent promotion of this size. For 21 weeks, beginning back in May 2008,
agents have had the opportunity to earn $350 VISA gift cards on a weekly basis
if their production deemed them one of the top two producers for that
particular week. Excitement grew within the agent community over the course of
the summer as travel agents could check past winner postings in the United
Vacations Vendor Center of VAX VacationAccess(R). And with opportunities to
win multiple gift cards (up to five) the race kept on a fast and competitive
track.
At present, some thirty travel agents can call themselves winners of the
2008 Giveaway. And with less than two weeks to go, there is still opportunity
to cash in on these prizes. Upon completion of this promotion on October 31st,
United Vacations will announce the names of the top ten travel agent
producers. These agents will have the opportunity to join the United Vacations
team in Las Vegas in December for a complimentary trip that includes admission
to the Luxury Travel Expo and a chance to compete for their share of the
$30,000 grand prize. Wow!
Book Hawaii, put cash in your pocket
Now through the end of the year, agents have a weekly opportunity to earn
VISA gift cards in varying amounts. And since this fall, the biggest story in
Hawaii is its incredible value, there's plenty of opportunity for agents to
pass along great savings to their customer, while putting more money in their
pockets.
Every week through December 28, 2008, the top two agent producers will
each be awarded a $250 VISA gift card. As an added bonus, agents who produce
the most business to the featured hotel partner of the week (listed in the UV
Vendor Center of VAX VacationAccess(R)) will win a $250 VISA gift card from
United Vacations, plus a $250 VISA gift card from the featured hotel for a
total of $500! Last but not least, the grand prize awarded to the top producer
of the entire incentive period will be a $1,000 VISA gift card.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts -- free cash, free trips
The newest addition to the string of incentives comes from one of the most
popular names in travel today, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. United Vacations
offers more than 800 Starwood Hotels & Resorts in over 35- destinations
worldwide, many of which belong to the family of brands that travelers know
and trust today -- Le Meridien, Four Points, Westin, Sheraton, St. Regis and W
Hotels, just to name a few. Talk about multiple opportunities to book and win
big! The overall theme is free cash and free trips. Each week presents
opportunities to win a $100 American Express Gift Card or one of three trips
for two within the U.S., Mexico and Europe.
The Elite -- win a trip a month
United Vacations Elite promotions run monthly and offer travel agents the
opportunity to earn a free vacation. The concept is quite simple -- all of
their bookings with United Vacations earn them an entry into the drawing,
double entries for the destination of the month. And since each month a new
winner is selected, The Elite incentives are a revolving door of fresh
destinations and experiences. The prize giveaway for October is a ski vacation
for two to Denver, CO that includes roundtrip airfare for two, a three night
stay at the Great Divide Lodge and ski passes.
Of course, a series of monthly vacation giveaways wouldn't be complete
without a grand finale. The agency that surpasses their 2007 gross sales by
the highest dollar amount will win a vacation package to Hawaii valued over
$8,000 at the newly renovated Outrigger Reef on the Beach.
In order to put forth such large-scale incentives, and all at once
nonetheless, United Vacations recognizes the contribution of its key travel
partners to make it happen.
"It is because of the ideas and collaboration of the United Vacations team
and our top travel partners that we are able to continue to offer our travel
agents these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities," said Rick Karnes, vice
president and general manager of United Vacations. "It is important that we
continue to pair up these incentives with continued educational and training
opportunities to further support the needs of our best travel agents."
Complete details of all travel agent incentives can be found in the United
Vacations Vendor Center of VAX VacationAccess(R).
Travel agents can book United Vacations through VAX VacationAccess(R) at
http://www.vaxvacationaccess.com or the VAX VacationAccess technology via
Amadeus AgentNet, Sabre Vacations, and Vacation.com AgentNet.
United Vacations' America, Canada, Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico and
Ski programs are operated by The Mark Travel Corporation in Milwaukee, one of
the largest vacation companies and operators of private-label brands in the
United States.
SOURCE United Vacations

Jaime Verban of United Vacations, +1-414-934-1675,
jverban@unitedvacations.com