The principles behind the branding success of Apple and Intel can also work for travel agents, says a brand expert who has worked with those companies. She advises agents to identify their ideal customers and to devise a compelling message for reaching them.

Travel agents face competition from many sources, from online search and booking engines to suppliers who market directly to their clients even while claiming they don’t, said travel industry consultant Bob Joselyn, who is also president and CEO of TAMS, a travel agency financial benchmarking and networking company.

The island of Oahu is a great place to experience Hawaii’s culture and history as well as the modern pleasures of Waikiki Beach. Once reserved as a surfing spot for Hawaiian royalty, Waikiki delights modern visitors with a wide array of water sports, shopping and meals fit for kings.

When you’re dealing with a meeting, you’re also dealing with travel risk management, said Bruce McIndoe, president, iJET Intelligent Risk Systems. Planners need to identify and disclose the risks of the venue and the meeting as well as have a crisis management plan in place.

With Scott Koepf resigning his post as president of the National Association of Career Travel Agents (NACTA), ASTA has the opportunity to look at the strengths and resources of both organizations and at ways to maximize them.

“Risk management is not really another thing to do. It should be integrated into everything you already do,” Tyra Hilliard told a packed room at a panel discussion on Event Risk Management at the recent NBTA Conference in Houston.

In difficult times, it is especially important to invest and “create companies that people want to deal with,” Sir Richard Branson told nearly 6,000 delegates at the National Business Travel Association Conference in Houston. Answering questions from award-winning journalist Alexis Glick and in his blog at the Virgin Atlantic Web site, Branson shared insights that can be applied by travel sellers large and small.

The Emirates’ ban on BlackBerry e-mail, messaging and Web browsing services will extend to foreign visitors too, said the country’s telecom regulator, reported the Associated Press (AP). The ban is scheduled to take effect on October 11. The ban will apply to travelers in and passing through Dubai, the busiest airport in the region.

On Thursday, TMR spoke with Sylma Brown Bramble about her appointment as director of the Caribbean and her outreach to travel agents. Here, she shares her views on recent changes in the region and future niche marketing goals.

Numerous action activities, coupled with the indulgent luxury, on The Big Island can be designed to support the serious purposes of corporate meetings and incentives.