How the Best Travel Agents Reward Their Most Loyal Customers

Ovation Vacations, a New York City-based travel agency led by Travel + Leisure Travel Advisory Board member Jack Ezon, offers a myriad of perks to its clients. For starters, the agency’s agents can score 30 to 40 percent off published hotel rates and have personal relationships with general managers at some of the world’s top properties who pamper Ovation guests with amenities such as a bottle of champagne and free spa treatments. The agency is a preferred partner with more than a dozen hotel brands. With a stay at a Mandarin Oriental, the perks include breakfast for two daily, $100 food or spa credit per room per stay, a guaranteed upgrade to the next category of room, and a personalized welcome amenity. Mandarin suite guests even get a one-way airport transfer with a meet and greet at the gate of the plane. Client gifts are an Ovation trademark: for example, the company recently sent a prepaid FedEx box to a wine obsessed couple vacationing in Napa so that they could ship home a case of their favorite bottles compliments of Ovation. On top of all the perks, clients have 24/7 access to a support staff who can help rebook travel in the event of flight cancellations and delays and assist with any other unforeseen hiccups.