Brightline, Florida's high-speed rail service, will begin offering commissions through its new travel advisor program.
U.S. and Canadian travel advisors will be able to make up to 10% commissions on bookings between Orlando and South Florida through the new Travel Professionals Program.
Commissions can be earned on bookings for both Smart and Premium service, which is Brightline's version of a business-class experience.
Brightline's Travel Professionals Program will also include the From Station to Vacation offer, which helps connect cruise travelers with some of Florida's cruise ports. In the offer, premium ticket holders receive complimentary Uber rides from their home or hotel to the cruise port and access to exclusive station lounges, priority boarding, extra space and complimentary drinks and snacks.
"The Brightline team is excited to roll out this new program dedicated to travel professionals as we grow our business together," said Johanna Rojas, senior vice president of partnerships and sales for Brightline. "Agents can connect their clients to and from the 'Theme Park Capital of the World' to South Florida's iconic resorts and even the 'Cruise Capital of the World.'"
In addition to the new commission program, Brightline has also added a new senior manager of distribution, Ralph Ebra, to its team who will focus on partnerships with travel advisors.
Brightline's new Orlando service
Brightline's Travel Professional Program comes on the heels of the company's September launch of service to Orlando, connecting travelers between Central and South Florida, with stops in Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach.
Prior to the new rail connection between Orlando and Miami, travelers either had to fly or drive to reach those destinations, a task travel advisors and Floridians alike say has been a pain point for years.
"Think of a family traveling to Walt Disney World and wanting to tack on a cruise on the Disney Dream," now homeporting in Port Everglades, said Adam Duckworth, CEO of Travelmation in Fort Lauderdale. "Now they don't have to rent a car to do that, which we know is a hassle."
Vicki Freed, senior vice president of sales, trade support and service for Royal Caribbean International
and a Brightline commuter herself, said Brightline's new connection
between Orlando and South Florida will provide a more seamless
experience for cruise travelers.
"The Brightline experience is a
wonderful way to start and end your cruise vacation," Freed said. "It
is comfortable and becomes a part of the vacation with no hassles of
driving and parking at the pier."
Update: This report was updated to add the name of Brightline's new senior manager of distribution.