Explora Journeys to pay agent commission on shore excursions

Explora Journeys has revealed it will begin paying travel agents commission for shore excursions booked for clients.

Speaking on board the line’s newest vessel Explora III, head of itinerary planning and destination experiences Justin Poulsen said: “What we really want to do is engage the travel agent community more with helping guests book their destination experiences.

“For the first time that we will be offering commission on travel on destination experience sales going forward.”

He said the brand has decided to introduce the new policy as “many” guests who book their sailings with an agent then go on to book their shore excursions independently, resulting in a “lower average package amount” than those booked through an agent.

Poulsen hopes the move will allow agents to help select the right experiences for their clients, leading to “higher guest satisfaction and a higher repeat rate”.

He also hopes the new policy will help the line reach its goal of increasing the amount of shore excursions booked before departure from 80% to 90%.

The announcement reflects Explora Journeys’ commitment to the travel agent community, which Poulsen described as the brand’s “most important channel”.

He was speaking during a panel session discussing the Explora Journeys experience during Explora III’s preview sailing from Rome to Barcelona.