If Luxury Escapes were a car, it’s just gone from a sensible sedan to a throaty V8 convertible with the roof down and a sea breeze in its hair. The company has taken its Agent Hub platform, a handy gadget for travel agents, and bolted on two shiny new extras: global car hire and cruise bookings. In travel terms, that’s like adding first-class champagne service to your economy ticket… and discovering the upgrades on the house.
These latest additions come barely a pit stop after the platform’s recent “experiences” rollout. It’s clear Luxury Escapes isn’t here to cruise gently along the service road — it’s gunning for the autobahn.
From Keys to Cabins: Agents Get More Toys to Play With
Let’s start with the car hire. Agents can now book vehicles from a garage stuffed with some of the world’s most recognisable names — Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Sixt, Thrifty, Enterprise, Budget, Alamo, and a few more that probably smell faintly of new leather and possibility. Availability stretches across most major global destinations, so whether your client wants a Fiat in Florence or a Ford in Florida, it’s on the table.
The fine print is refreshingly unfine. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup? Tick. One-way hire options so you can drive off into the horizon and not come back the same way? Tick. It’s all very civilised, and it could potentially be the difference between a dream holiday and a trip that ends with an awkward airport taxi ride.
Cruises Now Boarding
And then there are cruises — the kind of travel option where unpacking once is part of the appeal. Agents can now access itineraries from some of the biggest names in ocean and river cruising: Carnival, Princess, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney, MSC, Hurtigruten, Cunard, Holland America, and Royal Caribbean. Whether it’s chasing icebergs in Alaska, sipping espresso off the Amalfi Coast, or waving to passing pelicans somewhere along the Mekong, the list is long and pleasantly distracting.
A Platform with a Mission
Chris Brandon, Senior Manager, Retail Distribution at Luxury Escapes, says the upgrade is part of a bigger picture:
“We’re continually evolving Agent Hub to be a true one-stop-shop and there is more to come. These new features mean agents can now offer even more value and convenience to their clients, while enjoying a streamlined booking experience and access to some of the best deals in the market.”
You get the sense he’s not exaggerating. The Agent Hub, launched in March 2024, already had plenty of travel agents quietly nodding in approval thanks to exclusive offers, generous commission rates, and client perks that make agents look like miracle workers. With cars and cruises now in the mix, the platform is edging closer to becoming the Swiss Army knife of travel booking tools — if Swiss Army knives came with panoramic ocean views and complimentary upgrades.
Why It Matters
The travel industry loves a buzzword, but in this case, “one-stop shop” isn’t a stretch. For agents, it means more time curating perfect trips and less time juggling logins, phone calls, and email chains that inevitably vanish just when you need them. For clients, one conversation with their agent could now result in a meticulously planned holiday complete with accommodation, a hire car, and a cruise, all without lifting a browser tab.
If Luxury Escapes keeps up this pace, agents can only decide whether they’d like to sell holidays… or take one themselves. Honestly, after writing this, I think the latter sounds pretty good.
