Global Connections Reports Increase in Buying Service Participation

Travel industry leader Global Connections, Inc. (GCI), one of the most respected travel club fulfillment and service providers in the country, announced that its Buying Service is seeing increased interest and usage among members.

According to Tom Lyons, President and CEO of GCI “our first membership program was a buying service for consumers. It was from those roots that we grew into the Travel Club business, for which we are noted today. We have maintained the purchasing service and our Club members continually enjoy the opportunities and discounts we provide.”

“We’ve seen more activity in our Buying Service among our Club Members,” said Melanie Gring, VP of Strategic Alliances and Public Relations for Global Connections. “Members trust us to help them save on a variety of travel experiences so they are confident they will receive great deals from us on a wide assortment of retail items.”

According to Melanie Gring, “this service builds member loyalty while saving them money. GCI’s Executive Merchandising Services leverages direct-to-manufacturer relationships to offer the best savings on a variety of items including diamond rings to furniture and household appliances. We make this online service to our Global Discovery Vacations members.”

GCI offers this program as well as some of its other benefits to our industry partners to brand with their own identity. Non-industry companies can also take advantage of the buying service and other GCI travel components and incorporate into their own affinity and employee programs.”

One of the most popular services offered is that of Soraya’s Creative Interiors, the preferred designer for all Global Connections’ resorts. “Members find out about us through emails from Global Discovery Vacations (GDV),” said Soraya Shah-Mirany, owner of the firm. “Most are looking for discounts on furniture purchases. The commercial service we offer is predominantly for Global Connections, so it is easy to go full circle with direct wholesale purchases for members seeking individual residential design projects.”

“Since we specialize in vintage interiors using salvaged materials and up-cycling, the work we’ve done for Global Connections at Sea Shells Beach Club in Daytona Beach and Lodge By The Blue in Breckenridge is particularly rewarding.”

Explaining why she likes working with GDV members, Soraya says “The members are generally really happy people. Maybe it’s all the vacations they go on! They get really excited when they find a piece of furniture in a store and then discover our price is so much lower. One particularly happy member from Illinois engaged us to re-decorate her two Florida condos after being introduced to our work through Global.”

About Global Connections, Inc.
Global Connections Inc. is based in Overland Park, KS. It opened in 1996 as a travel club fulfillment and service provider, and is considered a leader in the travel industry. It offers its members a wide variety of benefits and vacation options for more than 700 North American resorts. GCI is also the developer and owner of resorts in California, Florida, Tennessee, and Colorado, as well as owning and leasing multiple resort condominium units throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Caribbean.

About Global Discovery Vacations
Global Discovery Vacations is a respected membership based travel club offering its 150,000 members across the United States access to condominium accommodations, cruise and tour vacations, a full service travel agency, concierge program, camping program, interior design services, and shopping discount and rebate services.

For more information on GCI, visit www.exploregci.com.
For more information regarding Global Discovery Vacations, visit www.globaldiscoveryvacations.com.