EXPRESS Travel Group is phasing out its longstanding “Express Rewards” card-based agent incentive payment scheme, which early next year will be replaced by a smartphone-based mobile electronic wallet.
The move, unveiled last weekend in Shanghai at the Independent Travel Group Forum, will allow instant payments directly into a “virtual card” with a new app providing full details of all transactions.
The new program is dubbed Express Incentives, and ETG GM Jonathan Nelson told conference attendees it meant that from Feb 2019 they would be able to spend their incentives, paid on a quarterly basis, via mobile phone.
Other major changes announced during the Forum included a new “Elevate” loyalty and member benefit program, including a range of tiers with different reward levels.
The base introductory level is “Ruby” which gives access to the Express Travel Group member platform, air and supplier incentives, agent training and the annual conference.
Higher levels, based on TTV and growth, include Emerald, Silver, Gold and Diamond, each of which offer additional benefits such as discounted membership and conference fees, access to marketing tools, reduced ticketing fees, digital in-store displays, annual functions and a “refund fee waiver bank”.
Emerald, Silver, Gold and Diamond members also have a dedicated account manager for business support.
MEANWHILE the group also unveiled a major makeover for its Express Academy consultant training program.
The updated portal complements existing supplier training modules with new content including fares and ticketing courses, industry related training, customer service and skills enhancements.
Agency owners can create teams and “leaderboards” with the ability to check progress of their consultants on the various learning pathways.
Source: traveldaily