A Virtual High Five To Pilgrim Tours

While Pilgrim Tours is a relatively small company specializing in pilgrimages for the past 20 years, in November 2007, they established a policy regarding the card mills and specifically name YTB and Global Travel International. We have alluded to this policy in this blog in the past, but never re-published it.

So, just to be clear, here is one more company that refuses to deal with YTB or GTI and I applaud Pilgrim Tours for their insight and for their commitment to professionalism in the travel industry. While it has taken a while for supplier to come around, they slowly are and I am sure that Pilgrim Tours is pleased to be included with the likes of IATAN, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Perillo Tours, Azamara Cruise Lines, Qantas Vacations, Celebrity Cruise Lines, A Plus Tours, and Norwegian Cruise Lines. Slowly the suppliers are coming around to the realization that doing business with an MLM is bad business. Granted, it is business, but the suppliers are beginning to see that it is not the business they want!  To Pilgrim Tours, I say "THANK YOU!"

Pilgrim is getting an alarming number of calls from prospective travel agents who have purchased memberships and/or travel cards from companies such as YTB, Global Travel International, etc..  They use the company IATA number from the agency in order to get a discount or rebate on their own travel.  We also have travel agencies who encourage clients to do all the research on a tour, choose the tour they want and then call their agency for the reservation.  If the client has already done the research, the agency will then rebate some of the commission back to the client.

Pilgrim's classifies the above situations as unethical practices that undermine the travel agency commission system.  We will not support these practices and discourage honest people from buying into any form of this activity.

Does Pilgrim Pay Referral Commission?
Pilgrim Tours pays commissions to travel agents who refer clients to our product line and help the client through the quotation and booking procedure. Commissions are normally paid only on our Christian Retail Tour Products.  We also give commissions and small group net fares to tour operators and approved CLIA agencies that wish to promote our Christian Tour products.  It is our policy to not give commissions to agencies if the client has first been quoted by a Pilgrim agent.  We appreciate very much the work that professional agents do if they initially deal with clients, but we only pay commission under this condition - no exceptions.  Pilgrim also does not pay commission on clergy or industry discounted fares.

In order to receive commissions from Pilgrim Tours, your agency must be a valid travel agency that is not involved in rebating in any form.  If you are interested in applying for our "Qualified Agency" status, please fill out the form at the following link.  Click Here