For the typical business professional, interruptions occur every 11 minutes, accounting for nearly 30% of the work day. Once interrupted, it generally takes 25 minutes to get back to the work at hand. It’s the same for travel agents. So how do you stay on track? A work-life balance expert offers suggestions.

CLIA and other cruise organizations announced a new policy requiring mandatory muster drills for embarking passengers prior to port departure. The new rule follows a flurry of safety reassurances from cruise lines to customers. Are such measures necessary, given the safety record?

Where should travel sellers focus their energies in 2012? Top agency players share these pointers: 1) Personalize client communications. 2) Take full advantage of consortia training and marketing programs. 3) Focus on preferred suppliers and high-yielding products.

Travel sellers and agency group executives applauded Norwegian Cruise Line’s vow to avoid poaching agency clients in its direct sales efforts. But they’ve been burned before by cruise lines, agents said, so they’re waiting to see the “real” results of Norwegian’s commitment.

Travel seller Paul A. Belletiere’s YouTube channel has attracted tens of thousands of views, mostly from young Baby Boomers. Result: 10% to 20% of the views translate into bookings. Today, video is a key marketing tool for the Cruise Planners franchise the 20-something Belletiere owns and operates with his mother.