“Agents really love it because they can
double dip,” Chang said. “If their preferred
supplier has their own incentive program,
they can still count their bookings with
their wholesalers in our Stars Online pro-
gram and earn whatever they get from the
supplier as well as what they get from us.”
Agents also seem to appreciate Aston
products, and with 25 properties across the
Hawaiian Islands — along with newly ac-
quired locations in Sun Valley, Idaho; Lake
Las Vegas, Nev.; and Lake Tahoe, Calif. —
the company accommodates a range of
markets.
“For our normal client, unless they’re
super high-end and looking for one of the
Four Seasons or something like that, Aston
is one of the first options that comes to
mind for us to sell in Hawaii,” said JoAnne
Olsen, a travel agent with All About Travel
in Newbury, Calif. “We know the client is
going to be happy; very seldom do we get
any kind of complaints, and it’s a good
middle-of-the-road to upper-end product
you almost can’t go wrong with.”
Olsen also said that Aston’s condo op-
ASTON
Continued from Page 73
tions have routinely led a number of her
cost-conscious clients to choose Hawaii
over competing destinations, thanks to the
prospect of saving money through purchasing groceries and preparing meals in the
condo’s kitchen rather than eating out all
the time.
“Especially if they have a family and
they’re taking kids,” Olsen added. “It defi-
nitely sways them when they think, ‘Oh
yeah, I’ve got a washer and dryer, a full
kitchen’ as opposed to a family of four
sleeping on two queen-size beds in a room
with nothing else.”
According to Chang, Aston’s success, and
that of Hawaii as a destination, is heavily re-
liant on just that sort of insight from travel
agents.
“The thing that makes Hawaii unique as
compared with some of the mainland desti-
nations is that Hawaii is considered a more
complex destination,” she said. “Therefore,
consumers feel much more comfortable
working with a travel agent when they’re
booking a vacation to Hawaii because of all
their expertise and their knowledge about
the destination.”
For more, including information about
Aston’s webinar training, visit www.aston
hotels.com.
ADVERTISEMENT
SHORE EXCURSION
Who we are...
Roberts Hawaii is a full service company that delivers first class Transportation, personalized
Sightseeing Tours and Excursions, and an exciting variety of Activities and Attractions. As an
employee owned, kama’aina company, Roberts 1400 dedicated staff have proudly set the
industry standard for travel excellence since 1941. Today our
services extend to the four major islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauai,
and Hawaii.
How we show our commitment...
Roberts Hawaii Shore Excursions’ website, gorabbitgo.com,
offers a partner program for agents, providing earnings of 10
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available to cruise passengers using the Roberts Hawaii Shore
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Our website provides brochures, promotion sheets, email-friendly PDFs and snail mail sales kits for travel agents.
Promotions
Roberts offers commissionable three- and four-day tour combo
packages. Book any four of our offered shore excursions for
$100, or book any three of the offered shore excursions for $90.
Please see website for details.
CONTACT INFO.
Toll-free: 800-918-5549
Fax: 808-522-7872
Email: shoreex@robertshawaii.com
Web: www.gorabbitgo.com
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