NYC Vacation’s Cohen Sees
Big Apple for Travel Agents

By George Dooley

The continued growth of New York City as a destination for leisure travel offers profit-generating sales opportunities for travel agents, including Home Based, according to Joel Cohen, vice president of New York City Vacation Packages (NYCVP).

“For growth minded travel agents the popularity of New York City as a destination represents opportunity,” said Cohen. He reports a 25%-30% growth in sales in 2005 – a record for NYCVP — and a 59.4% increase in travel agent sales in 2005 over 2003. The company anticipates record sales for NYCVP in 2006.

Underscoring his confidence, Cohen noted that NYC & Company, the city’s destination marketing organization, projects 36 million domestic and 7.2 million international visitors in 2006 – a record for the city.

“NYC is a year-round destination with world-class attractions – including Broadway. It’s fully recovered from 9/11 and is rated as one of the safest cities in the U.S.,” said Cohen.

Works With Home Based

A key NYCVP goal in 2006 is to get the word out to Home Based independent agents about New York City Vacation Packages’ programs and resources that can help agents build commission revenues and customer satisfaction, Cohen said.

NYCVP also wants to work with more agency consortia, because member agents and agencies can benefit from the appeals of its program and New York’s legendary attractions, noted Cohen.

NYCVP’s decades of expertise, he added, can help travel agents deliver the New York experience their clients want, when they want it – including hotel accommodations (3-star and up) at peak periods, restaurant reservations, Broadway shows, sports events and more.

NYCVP has extensive block space in leading hotels and also theatre, dining and sightseeing options, Cohen noted, adding that group travel opportunities abound in New York. NYCVP has a dedicated team to help agents put together successful groups to New York.

The company this year plans to upgrade its Web site at www.nycvp.com with more resources for agents in the agents-only section of the site. Agents can book online, download brochures and obtain detailed information on all programs, including maps.

Also, NYCVP plans to come out with its own sightseeing tours that are designed with visitors’ interests in mind, according to Cohen.

NYCVP will continue its holiday-related programs, including Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and New Year’s Eve, and packages to other major events. Sports and cultural events are also major attractions.

In addition to unique itineraries for family and group travel – one NYCVP program, according to Cohen, is the only tour that gets visitors inside the Statue of Liberty – New York City Vacations programs can be tailored to all interests and budgets, including luxury programs.

Override Program

All programs are fully commissionable and, Cohen noted, NYCVP’s override program is among the best in the industry. “We like to work with travel agents and pay overrides for top producers.” Commissions start at 10%.

“We invite travel agents to contact us for more information and brochures – and we remain pledged to working professionally with agents.”

New York City Vacation Packages is a member of the NACTA, ASTA, NTA, as well as NYC & Company.

Travel agents can contact New York City Vacation Packages, based in Kingston, PA, by phone at (877) NYC-TRIP or (877) 692-8747 and (570) 714-4692. Email information@nyctrip.com and visit www.nycvp.com.