There are a few luxury travel flash sale sites on the web, but a new up-and-comer caught my eye. Spire is a members-only travel site that offers absolutely unbeatable deals on luxury hotels all over the world.
Spire in Perfect Escapes, Inc. Family of Sites
This column has discussed Perfect Escapes before, and now I've had the opportunity to talk with Jennifer Gaines, a senior travel editor and spokesperson at Spire. Spire is owned by Perfect Escapes Incorporated, along with a handful of other luxury travel sites such as Suzanne's Files and Chic Retreats. What makes Spire interesting to luxury travel fans is the evolution in web-based flash travel sales it represents.
Spire as a Travel Flash Sales Site
Flash sales on the internet have typically been chock full of restrictions (vis a vis dates, inflexibility of packages, etc). The owners of Spire recognized the limitations of these types of sites, and worked hard to develop relationships with hotels and destinations that ensure that the traveler's best interests come first as much as possible. Partnering with an elite group of international for-and five-star resorts to offer clients limited private sales with a 30% off all going rates is guaranteed by Spire.
Spire Spokesperson Q&A
Jennifer Gaines told me that the site's deals are exactly what they appear to be, with no hidden costs -- and that 30% off guarantee is firm. This is the Best Deal Guarantee: Should a purchaser find a cheaper rate online, it's a simple matter that Spire will get to that lower rate. This is an example of the customer-centric ethos that guides Spire.
Spire just launched in June 2011: that's two months ago as of this writing. Since then, it's already beginning to make a name for itself in terms of it's ease of use and customer-centric approach. Besides that Best Deal Guarantee, there are very often added Spire Perks such as spa credits, an integrated air fare check (like Kayak.com), and a no-fuss cancellation policy within 72 hours of booking.
Unlike other flash travel sale sites, Spire also offers deals that last around 8-14 days (more typical is 3-5 days). This also eases the mind of consumers uncertain if they should take that leap and book the room; more time to decide should equal less buyers' remorse.
During our interview, Jennifer Gaines said, "the hotel industry is still recovering from 2009, which was a terrible year for most hotels. This new business model helps hotels and helps people find deals for luxury hotels they couldn't normally afford."
Benefit for members of Spire
Now, Spire is a members only luxury travel flash sales site, but it's free to join. Further, when a member gets another person to join Spire, that member will receive a $30 credit towards their next trip once their friend makes a first booking.
Jennifer Gaines comes to Spire from being a Travelocity spokesperson; she's clearly a travel professional who knows her stuff. Anyone considering joining Spire and taking advantage of their luxury travel flash sales can ask her remaining questions: Her Twitter handle is @JennGaines. Even luxury travel fans love great deals, and Spire looks to be a great site to find them.
Jennifer W. Miner - Jennifer has years of travel writing experience, spoken at several national conferences, and more. See Jendeavor.com for more details.
