MIAMI — Effective immediately Karisma Hotels & Resorts’ Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultants will see a boost in their commission rate, to 21%, plus the company has a new loyalty travel club program and a variety of weddings and romance-related offerings and tools exclusive to GIVCs.

The new benefits were announced at the 8th Annual Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultant Awards and Sales & Marketing Forum held last month at El Dorado Royale, A Spa Resort, by Karisma in the Riviera Maya.

“Despite the industry focus on direct bookings, Karisma Hotels & Resorts has continued to bolster benefits and incentives for our partners to ensure that we are together evolving and building upon last year’s momentum for even greater success in 2016,” said Mandy Chomat, VP of Sales & Marketing for Karisma Hotels & Resorts. “We are extremely proud of Karisma Hotels & Resorts’ growth and success over the past year but know that none of it would be possible without the support of our dedicated travel agents.”

In response to feedback from agents Karisma Hotels & Resorts has also launched a loyalty travel club program that rewards GIVCs for memberships purchased by their clients.

The program promises agents a free two- or three-night stay (based on type of membership purchased) at any Karisma property in Mexico, Jamaica or the D.R. at any room category with no blackout dates when their clients purchase a membership with Exotic Travelers or Prestige Travelers by Karisma. Additionally, GIVCs will receive one free night every time their original client travels back to any Karisma property for the next 10 years.

New this year Karisma also debuted a co-branded romance website, co-branded Memorable Moments wedding website and a free private events promotion.

The co-branded websites are powered by Karisma Hotels & Resorts but include each agency and agent’s personal logo and contact information on every page, assisting them to constantly be marketing their businesses.  Partners will also have personal booking engines on their websites, a new way to generate and collect leads, and strategic e-marketing on their behalf with professionally designed and strategically deployed e-blasts. GIVCs are rewarded for signing up with exclusive booking bonuses of up to US$375.

Karisma’s free private events promotion is back by popular demand, offering GIVCs up to two free two-hour cocktail parties and one free three-course dinner for 30 rooms booked or more. The free private events promotion is valid for bookings by March 31, 2016 for travel June 1, 2016 – Dec. 22, 2016 and June 1, 2017 – Dec. 22, 2017.

The Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultant Awards and Sales & Marketing Forum hosted 450 of the most accomplished Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultants from around the world as well as Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Wykeham McNeill.

Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultants receive benefits from the program, from marketing tools to added incentives to offer consumers, plus their clients are privy to exclusive deals and on-property VIP recognition. The ninth annual Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultant Awards will be held in winter 2016.