Outrigger Enterprises Group Launches OutriggerAgent.com

Outrigger Enterprises Group was one of the earliest hotel companies to realize the importance of travel agent training programs. Over the years, the company has continually fine-tuned its approach and added components to its programs. Over the years, they’ve continually fine-tuned their approach and added components to their programs.

This month, Outrigger Enterprises Group launched a new travel agent initiative that features an exclusive travel agent website called OutriggerAgent.com. The company also revitalized its Outrigger Hospitality Specialist Program.

“When we were preparing the program, we went out and talked to travel agents, both those who were already Outrigger Specialists and those who weren’t in the program,” said Lois Shore, vice president of distribution for Outrigger Enterprises Group.

The company’s survey of East and West Coast agents came up with some surprising numbers. Of the 500 agents surveyed, 96 percent reported that the aspect of the program they liked the most was the amenity given to the client in the agent’s name. Of those 96 percent, 78 percent said the amenity was “very important.”

These early efforts resulted in 1,000 agents either recertifying or certifying for the first time as Outrigger Specialists. Shore notes that the company was especially gratified to see that 40 percent of the 1,000 were new agents to the program.

OutriggerAgent.com presents information about Outrigger Hospitality properties in Hawaii and the Asia-Pacific region, including agent alerts and property updates. A “Specials Compendium” showcases the latest travel agent specials and consumer offers, and “Fast Fact Sheets” in Outrigger’s properties.

The new Outrigger Hospitality Specialist Program allows certified travel agents to earn Reward Points for reporting booked client stays at Outrigger Hospitality properties. Reward Points are redeemable for cash or gift certificates on http://www.amazon.com/.

An agent can earn $50 cash in as few as four or five reported bookings, depending on the property and clients’ length of stay. Sixty-four percent of the agents surveyed by Outrigger reported that redeeming points for cash was an important feature of the program.