Travel Market Report RSS Feed

Supplier-Direct Competition? Don't Get Mad, Get Proactive

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Travel agency owner Sandy Anderson is over it. Griping about suppliers who go after her clients, or about other forms of vendor-direct competition, is a waste of her time, she says. In her own words, here’s Anderson’s response to one of the thorniest issues facing today’s travel agents.

Bhutan, Mexico Spotlighted on Agent Fams, Conference

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Upcoming fams for agents feature exotic Asian destinations, including Bhutan and Mongolia, and a Big Apple stay. Other training options include an adventure travel conference in Mexico, a Windstar seminar road show and webinars from The Travel Institute and BritTalk.

CEOs in Travel: Where Are the Women?

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Women comprise the vast majority of travel agents, but they are far from the majority in top travel industry leadership positions. In the first of a Travel Market Report series on the status of women in the industry, women who have made it to the top rungs weigh in on the situation.

Tourism Cares to Induct 3 Honorees into Hall of Fame

Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Tourism Cares will induct three travel executives into the Tourism Hall of Fame later this month. The hall of fame recognizes industry leaders for their personal and professional contributions to the industry through philanthropic, volunteer and mentoring activities.

Shoppers Expect Consistency in Online & Offline Pricing

Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Consumers are looking to retailers to integrate the online and offline shopping experiences and be consistent in pricing, according to a new survey. Also: NACTA will feature Olympic diving medalist Greg Louganis at its conference; ACTE signs child protection code, and tips on safe air travel with pets.

Frontier Gives Agents a Workaround on New Bag Fees

Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Travel agents will be able to work around Frontier Airlines’ new carry-on bag fees when they take effect this summer. The fees apply only to passengers who buy Basic fares through traditional and online travel agencies. ASTA negotiated two workarounds, but declined to provide details.

Want to Boost Sales? Take a Tip From Improv Theater

Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Bestselling author Daniel Pink urges agents to rethink traditional ways of doing business, especially sales. Borrowing techniques from improv theater, adopting the client’s lingo and focusing on ideas and not just products are among his outside-the-box tips for sales success.

Washington State Agents Face Six-Fold Tax Hike

Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The latest attempt to increase state revenues by taxing travel agent income is happening in Washington state. The state’s legislature could decide as early as next week to enact a law ending a decades-old preferential tax rate for agents. ASTA has issued a call to action to its members.

Agency Industry Seen Losing Its Young Entrants

Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

More young people are joining the agency industry than at any time in the past decade. Unfortunately, they’re not sticking around, says Ryan McGredy, president of ASTA’s Young Professionals Society. Here’s his take on the issue, plus an update on YPS, which is in a “big transition phase.”

Agency Pins Marketing Strategy on Social Media

Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Tactical use of social media platforms, including Pinterest, figures prominently into the marketing strategy at Valerie Wilson Travel. Co-president Kimberly Wilson Wetty shares tips on using Pinterest and other social media to grow business and improve leverage with suppliers.

With Paintbrush and Shovel, Nonprofit Shows That Tourism Cares

Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

From Ellis Island to Cuzco, Tourism Cares has been a force for preserving tourism sites. It also benefits the travel industry with scholarships and grants. Later this month Tourism Cares will hold a volunteer event in NYC areas hit by Hurricane Sandy. Executive Director Bruce Beckham spoke with Travel Market Report about what the nonprofit has accomplished and why agents should get involved.

Thrifty Consumers Are Saving Up for Longer Vacations

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

U.S. consumers are still keeping a tight watch on leisure travel spending, but there’s a silver lining for travel agents: Consumers are sacrificing shorter trips in favor of longer, more complex travel, according to PhoCusWright. On the downside, interest in cruising has waned.

At a Loss for Creative Business Ideas? Start Stealing

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Creativity is vital in business today, especially if you’re an independent travel agent. Brazen thievery has helped entrepreneur Stephanie Lee jazz up her creative output. She shows agents how to follow suit.

Agents Fear Air Delays Will Dampen Travel

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

FAA furloughs of air traffic controllers took effect this week, triggering widespread alarm about major air delays, as well as accusations by federal lawmakers of FAA mismanagement. Travel agents are concerned that delays will make their jobs more difficult, irritate clients and discourage travel.

Travel Agents Cope With Boston-Area Chaos

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

When a dragnet for suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing led to a lockdown of Greater Boston, travel agents in the area coped, along with their neighbors, with uncertainty, fear and the need to carry on.

American Airlines’ Outage Shows Agents’ Value

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Travel challenges like the American Airlines res system outage that led to hundreds of cancelled and delayed flights on Tuesday demonstrate — yet again — the value that travel agents offer their clients.

Sustainable Travel Intl Launches Certification Program

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new certification program on sustainable tourism is now available for travel professionals. Also: ASTA and BTC schedule an online seminar about New Distribution Capability; a new portal on ship accessibility debuts and Travel Impressions expands agent education with new interactive presentations.

8 Ways to Excite Client Enthusiasm in a Destination

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Even destination specialists can find it challenging to convey to clients their enthusiasm for a destination in a way that inspires them to travel there. Industry educator Steve Gillick shows agents how to take a more dynamic approach to stimulating client interest in a destination.

NACTA Tightens Its Membership Requirements

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

NACTA has set new membership criteria for new and renewing applicants. Applicants are now required to provide supporting evidence that demonstrates they are true sellers of travel. The organization says the new requirements will boost NACTA’s credibility and guard against fraud.

5 Reasons You Should Become a Mentor –– Today!

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

It’s a problem on everyone’s mind in the travel agency industry – the shortage of young travel professionals. Here, Kari Thomas, founding chair of ASTA’s Young Professional Society, urges her colleagues to nurture new talent by mentoring young travel agents. The rewards go both ways, she says.

Consumer Travel Attitudes Hit a High Note

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Americans are now more likely to travel for pleasure and business than they were pre-recession, according to a new study. Also: agents give top ratings to Africa and Costa Rica; international tourist arrivals exceeded 1 billion in 2012, and China overtakes Japan in the Asia/Pacific travel market.

Supreme Court Upholds DOT Authority on Airfare Ad Rules

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a challenge to the DOT’s authority on requiring airlines to include taxes in their advertised fares. As a result, the rule imposed last year stands. Three airlines – Spirit, Allegiant and Southwest – had requested that the high court challenge the DOT.

Travel Agencies Post Solid Gains in 2012

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Travel agents enjoyed healthy gains in revenues as well as in transactions and new clients last year, according to an ASTA survey. All segments saw improvement, but independents did not fare as well. The survey also sheds light on top product segments for agents.

Uneven Insurance Laws Can Cost You Up to $40,000 a Year

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The slow state-by-state campaign to obtain uniform regulations for travel insurance sales is moving forward. Virginia and California are the latest to come onboard. The current maze of inconsistent state regulations is both costly and confusing for travel agents, says ASTA’s John Pittman.

Joselyn: Supplier-Direct Competition Is ‘Rampant’

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Remember the lyric, “Smiling faces sometimes pretend to be your friend”? That’s what the issue of supplier competition brings to mind for consultant Robert Joselyn. Here’s his take.