Travel Bulletin got the Royalton rundown from Luke Swarbrook, Blue Diamond Resorts business development manager, with trade opportunities and rewards galore.
Hot on the heels of the resort brand's bolstered booking bonus of £20 per booking, we heard from Luke on the agent opportunities that await: US$99 agent stay rates, a comprehensive training platform, and versatile operator booking options.
With such a broad portfolio, how can agents kickstart their Royalton selling?
"The agent community is really important to Royalton Resorts and on that basis we strive to continue to support them in any way we can. The property portfolio covers much of the Caribbean so there’s certainly a lot to learn! Agents keen to know more can take advantage of our extensive and informative training options, which are available in a variety of formats – both face to face and online. We also have fantastic agent stay rates available from just $99 per person, per night for those agents keen to super charge their selling power with a firsthand experience of our properties.
"Royalton Rewards is also a great resource for agents, offering lots of factsheet, training and marketing information, as well as the opportunity to boost earning potential. At the moment there are cash rewards in place for every booking made and logged. Currently, stays of seven-nights or more qualify for rewards of £10 per booking on the first ten bookings logged but from booking number 11 onwards, agents will receive £20 per minimum seven-night stay. And, it’s really easy to log every booking at www.royaltonrewards.com."
How can agents capitalise on such broad booking opportunities?
"One of the big benefits for agents booking Royalton is our wide-ranging network of UK operator options. Our portfolio is available via all long-haul specialists as well as the more mainstream operators, so agents can do business with their preferred supplier and still book Royalton Resorts. The beauty of this network are the regional departure points, which can offer ease of access for those unable to travel to the larger airports in the south.
"There really is an option for everyone and this means agents aren’t pigeon-holed – they can offer customers hassle free variety that fits their needs perfectly."
Why are Royalton's trade relationships so important?
"We are truly committed to the travel trade. Agents are key to the UK selling strategy for Royalton Resorts, and we know they deliver the type of bookings we need. Their expertise is key to successfully selling the breadth of our property portfolio – they know their customer base and therefore can tailor our offering perfectly to fit with a whole raft of individual requirements.
"Our agent community is always receptive to our training. They want to learn and continually better their selling potential and we’re delighted to be able to ensure they can do that. We really do understand the power of the agent, which is why we choose to consistently target them with excellent offers, knowledgeable training and the opportunity to boost their earning potential."
How can agents get involved with the brand and what marketing resources/assets can they access through the Royalton portal?
"Again, our varied training options are the best way for agents to get to know the world of Royalton Resorts. For those home-based agents or anyone that wants ease of access, we offer informative webinars via My Booking Rewards. These happen regularly and are live, but we also archive content so that agents can pick it up in their own time – there is a raft of information currently available via www.royaltonrewards.com. Agents can also head to my Facebook page for lots of bitesize hints and tips whilst I’m on the road - @LukeSwarbrookBDM."
What can agents look forward to in terms of the wider Royalton portfolio and trade-exclusive initiatives?
"We have so much planned for agents in the coming months and into 2024! Agents should watch out for news of Royalton FAM trips – these will be key to our development in 2024 and we’ll have plenty of options available. We also have double rewards offers planned via Royalton Rewards and of course Peaks is not too far away so we’ll have excellent booking bonuses available. And there will be more so watch this space!"
