Travel Counsellors has reported a significant rise in its agents using its in-house dynamic packaging system Phenix, with 60% of its home-based agents producing more Phenix sales compared to last year.

The system, which allows agents to quickly and easily search and compare different travel options in a matter of minutes and tailor-make travel to suit their customer’s individual requirements, is proven to greatly increase individual Travel Counsellor’s earning potential enabling them to achieve a higher margin.

This increase also follows a host of new developments to the dynamic packaging system in order to make it even more efficient and content rich, incorporating direct feedback from agents within accommodation and destination searches. Both agents and their customers are also asked to submit rating reviews of properties after travel and this is another search option available within the system.

Australia General Manager Deb Duncan comments; “We have seen a significant increase in agents using our in-house system as they have the ability to earn more commission whilst delivering a better value product to their customer. We have direct contracts with a number of properties which means we can include ground handling, which is another great selling tool for our Travel Counsellors to offer their customers. It’s a win-win situation.”

The new search options within Phenix give the agent much more extensive and varied information about the properties and destinations, including online destination guides, videos, downloadable fact sheets plus weather and climate information. Agents now also have access to integrate attraction bookings into itineraries and the company plan to introduce more bespoke cruise, ski and villa content into the system. 

What’s more everything the company’s Travel Counsellors booking through Phenix is financially protected, so if a supplier fails the company’s agents and their customers can rest assured they won’t lose their money, which is another positive selling point for agents in light of recent failures.

Victoria based Travel Counsellor Tamsin Catto comments; “I use Phenix because it offers products for my clients at a lower price and at the same time I can earn more commission. The new functions are fantastic and give me a one-stop shop to a wealth of information about products and destinations. Plus as the system offer financial protection I can rest assured my client’s money is safe!”

The latest developments follow the integration of the customer contact centre into Phenix which enables the company’s Travel Counsellors to easily convert enquiries into bookings using one system, saving them time and resources, and avoiding the risk of customer duplication. It also enables customers’ preferences and booking history to be displayed at the time of enquiry, as well as other saved information such as passport numbers. The company also amalgamated its payment processing system, with Phenix now allowing a full search and booking integration including flights, accommodation, car hire and transfers.

Duncan adds; “We are constantly working to improve and develop Phenix to cater to our agents needs and help them build and protect their businesses in an ever-changing industry. The key to this is a focus on personal recommendation and validation from their fellow colleagues and customers about the product they sell, whilst making the system content rich and enabling them to create a quality and bespoke experience for theirs customers. It really gives them the competitive edge”