GOGO Worldwide Vacations is one of the leading travel wholesalers in the United States.
The company specializes in vacations, cruises, resorts, hotels, and tours. As a wholesaler, you sell exclusively through travel agencies. It is not sold directly to the public.
In business for more than six decades, the company has more than 40 field offices in 26 states. They work with more than 8,000 travel agents nationwide. Your reputation is one of strong association with the agents that sell your product. Innovative training, commission, sales and marketing tools are a hallmark of the company.
GOGO was acquired by Australia-based Flight Center Limited in 2008. The move created one of the most extensive product distribution networks in the world. But the company’s commitment to travel agents has not wavered. In fact, GOGO continually implements programs to help agents improve their product knowledge and increase sales.
This is because the company’s business model adheres to a basic principle.
They see the travel agent as an expert consultant who is the most influential person in the vacation sales process. To encourage agents to sell their products, GOGO provides agents with state-of-the-art research, marketing and booking tools; access to which is available through a special Agent Travel Center website. The GOGO consumer website is itself a well-designed marketing tool. Provides information on destinations, cruises, tours, resorts, and special deals; but without booking engine. Instead, it provides a travel agent locator.
In addition, each page of the GOGO Worldwide Vacations consumer website bears a facsimile mark that says “Only to your travel agent.” Support for your agents includes a 24-hour hotline, company business development managers who help travel agent partners develop their businesses, and a broad social media presence.
Agent support
GOGO agent support comes in a number of different forms. Cooperative advertising programs offer agents help in reaching specific local markets. GOGO’s Annual Learning Conferences and Global Showcases (held across the country) provide relevant and up-to-date information and products.
The ‘Travel Agents First’ program is the centerpiece of the GOGO support system.
The three tier system offers increasing benefits for each tier: Reservation Agent, Associate Agent and Associate Elite Agent.
“We want to reward agents directly and generously,” Randy Alleyne, president of GOGO Vacations, tells About.com. For an in-depth interview with Randy Alleyne on the new Travel Agents First program, click here
Travel Agent First includes educational sessions, operational tools, familiarization trips, national and international learning conferences, and marketing services. Programs and incentives include monthly “Ready, Set, Set!” Promotions, offering commission bonuses of up to 5%.
Booking engine
Few tools are as important to travel agents as a booking engine. They can simplify the tasks involved in managing sales, payments, and fulfillment. The GOGO booking engine is specifically designed to simplify the booking process, and has earned high marks from agents.
The booking engine is fully optimized for tablets, desktops, and desktop extended views.
In addition to displaying a number of advanced search terms, the GOGO booking engine eliminates one of the major annoyances for agents. That is, the need to start from scratch after the modification. Agents can filter the search with several different options. A variety of car and air rental options appear on the booking screens. And there is also a secure booking feature built into every booking.
If you are a travel agent interested in partnering with GOGO Vacations, you can contact the nearest GOGO branch by calling 888-567-0600; or the Executive Office at 201-934-3500 (FAX: 201-934-3500). Email the Sales Department at [email protected] or call Customer Service at 800-833-8040. For partner agents, the 24-hour “by your side” service hotline number is 201-663-9100; the Deptartment Fam Trip number is 201-934-3864; and the automation help desk is at 800-254-3477 (Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm EST, Friday from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm EST and Saturday from 10:00 am at 5:00 pm EST
