Free advertising for travel agents on new cruise marketplace

A new online marketplace that allows travel agents to advertise cruises at no charge is set for a 4 July launch.

The new website, cruisepricescompared.com, was developed by Harley Van Stratten, a former Voyana tour operator, who was looking to help travel agents find ways to advertise their cruises – without eating into narrowing profit margins.

Van Stratten commented: “Each month the money agents earn from cruise sales is being eroded because competition is pushing prices down. Agents are having to discount to compete and that means they can’t afford to advertise.

“On cruisepricescompared.com, they can advertise for free, which means they can start increasing their margins because they are not paying distribution costs.”

Van Stratten explained that the site will earn revenue from cruise line advertising, as well as from agents and suppliers, including travel insurance companies and airport parking operators. Cruise lines will also have the option of buying a weekly video slot on the site’s homepage.

At the start, all money will be directed toward advertising the site to consumers. “Where there are adverts for cruising, we will advertise too,” he added.

Van Stratten noted that he has refrained from discussing the site until this recent announcement, for fear of copycats. He did indicate, however, that reaction from those who had heard about the offering was positive.

He continued: “I see it as a win-win situation. It’s a free and easy way for agents to advertise, cruise lines can get deals out through more agents and consumers have a cruise marketplace offering very keenly priced holidays.”

ABTA or Travel Trust Association members can register online beginning 4 July. They will then be able to immediate upload their advertisements, following a series of simple online instructions.

www.cruisepricescompared.com