CALABASAS, CA — Travel advisors booking AmaWaterways can now earn Tour Conductor (TC) Credits on airfares and land packages, in addition to the river cruise TC Credit.

The offer applies to all new group contracts for 10 or more passengers signed with deposits paid between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2022, for travel on select dates on Europe and Mekong River cruises in 2023 and 2024.

Travel advisors can earn unlimited TC Credits based on one TC for every nine full-paying passengers reserved in each of the three trip components – river cruise, airfare and pre- and post-cruise land packages.

Earned TC Credits can be applied to the 10th guest or group leader, or the value of the TCs can be taken as a discount shared by all guests in the group or as additional commission.

The net value of the TC Credits earned is based on the average price paid on each component with the value of the airfare TC Credit capped based on class of service. The earned airfare and land package credit(s) will be awarded as applicable after the group is paid in full, no less than 90 days prior to departure.

Kristin Karst, co-founder and executive vice president of AmaWaterways, says: “Like us, travel advisors are entrepreneurs and we always strive to come up with new innovative group offers and marketing support to grow their river cruise business and reward them for entrusting their groups to us. With only 150 guests on board, attentive service and the choice of up to 23 tours included, it is easy to personalize our 7-night river cruises experience for groups and by offering Tour Conductor Credits for airfares and land packages, as well as the river cruise portion, we want to demonstrate how rewarding it is to let AmaWaterways be their one-stop trusted shop for all their groups’ travel needs.”

AmaMagna | Passau, Germany

In addition to the benefit of receiving unlimited TC Credits on the river cruise, air and land packages for every nine full-paying guests, travel advisors also earn commissions on cruise, land, air and insurance when reserving all of their group needs with AmaWaterways.

A large selection of departure dates also offer Enhanced Group Benefits with larger savings and a choice of special onboard amenities.

We wanted to know more about this new TC Credit offer, so we contacted AmaWaterways’ Chief Marketing Officer, Janet Bava, with a few questions…

Travelweek: Why was it important to AmaWaterways to make TC Credits applicable to not just cruise but land packages too, and airfares?

Bava: “More and more we are seeing travel advisors and their guests using AmaWaterways air services, as it provides the convenience of very competitive rates and complimentary airport to ship or hotel transfers (if they purchase land package, as well) when they reserve their clients flights through Ama.

“We are also seeing an increase in travel advisors extending their clients’ journey by reserving our pre- and post-cruise land packages that also includes hotel to ship transfer and convenient luggage handling so guests can enjoy their vacation and allow us to handle the logistics of their experience.

“Our highly esteemed Cruise Managers accompany travel agents’ clients during their pre- and post-cruise land package and then escort them to the ship, making it very attractive as they know their guests will be taken care of from the moment they arrive to their destination.

“AmaWaterways provides a one stop shop for travel advisors and so it was important for us to offer comprehensive group offer that aligns with our product offering making it easier for our travel advisors to do business with us, versus having to source various suppliers for each part of their client’s experience.

“To reward them for using all of our services for their group bookings, now they will able to earn tour conductor credit towards not only the cruise portion but also the air and land packages reserved with AmaWaterways.”

Travelweek: Could this become a permanent offer, or least a frequently recurring incentive?

Bava: “Based on the results and feedback from this limited-time offer, we will definitely consider extending or making a recurring incentive. Stay tuned!”

Travelweek: Are AmaWaterways bookings from Canada through the roof? 

Bava: “Since the announcement of Canada removing COVID related restrictions when traveling internationally, we have seen an increase in demand from Canada. We are excited for this and continue to see the growth in both FIT and new group bookings from this region.”

For more information about AmaWaterways’ new TC Credit offer, travel advisors can contact their BDM or AmaWaterways’ Groups Department. All AmaWaterways’ 2023 and 2024 itineraries are now open for reservations.