Vacation store confusion. (F.Y.I.).(Vacation Store's marketing strategy angers travel agents )(Brief Article)

Travel Agent, October, 2002

Some agents are upset about an e-mail sent directly to their clients from The Vacation Store, urging them to "Buy Direct and Save." The offer sports all the Carnival Corp. brand logos and promises cheaper fares by "going direct," even giving an example of the savings available compared with Expedia.com and Travelocity.com.

Given the positioning and the graphics, a number of agents thought the e-mail was sent by Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnival Vacation Stores. But Carnival says it absolutely was not behind it. The Vacation Store is actually the Virginia-based travel agency affiliated with National Leisure Group. It apparently was one of several agencies that purchased the passenger contact list for now-defunct Renaissance Cruises and is sending out solicitations...

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