Author Archives: TravelPulse.com Travel Agent Headlines

The Travel Institute Launches 5th Edition of Travel Advisor-Specific Geography Guide

Non-profit travel advisor training and learning organization The Travel Institute has released its fifth edition of its advisor-specific geography guide, Exploring the World, ETW, with new destinations, insights and updates relevant to the current travel industry. Trending Now ADVERTISINGExploring the World is a tourism geography reference guide, with information on destinations that include information about their histories, cultures, climates and cuisine to more in-depth information such as accommodation and transportation information, along with things like required documents, peak travel times and even safety and security information, which are all helpful for advisors to know when planning overseas travel for their clients. The guide was created in 2001 and is currently available in an online format for USD$115. The fifth edition features fifteen chapters split by region of the world and in some cases, specific countries. As an online resource, the guide comes complete with maps, sample itineraries, helpful tables, profiles on special-interest activities or attractions, travel advisor tips and even scenarios to prepare an advisor for potential challenges.“Exploring The World goes well beyond basic geography,” noted Guida Botelho, CTIE, director of education for The Travel Institute, the travel industry’s non-profit and independent education leader. “It cuts through endless data sources to give agents a validated what-to-do-and-see, when-to-go, and how-to-get-around look at the top cities, countries and regions of the world. It’s truly a kaleidoscope of possibilities.”The ETW textbook is also available with The Travel Institute’s flagship introductory training course, TRIPKIT, which is available for new advisor training.For the latest travel news, updates and deals, be sure to subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter. Adblock test (Why?)

MSC Cruises Announces New MICE Campaign for Travel Advisors

MSC Cruises announced a new campaign with travel agents to attract meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) business for the cruise line’s winter 2022-2023 season.The campaign was spawned as a result of requests from travel advisors, multinational companies and event agencies who have all reported an upturn in demand for MICE business, which struggled due to coronavirus-related restrictions.ADVERTISING Trending Now MSC Cruises’ commercial teams will engage with agents throughout September to explain the attractions and benefits for MICE clients onboard the line’s existing 19 ships, with two new vessels set to join its fleet later this year, MSC Seascape and MSC World Europa.Each ship has its own theatre, conference rooms, dining rooms, bars and lounges that can all be branded and adapted to the MICE clients’ wishes. Every sailing is staffed with experienced Events Managers who can organize various onboard and ashore activities.“Our ships have great advantages over hotels and resorts as venues for MICE venues, no matter the size and scale of the business,” MSC Cruises vice president Achille Staiano said. “There are many more options for food and beverage, an array of different entertainment attractions to enjoy and, of course, different destinations to explore and discover, plus all on one voyage.”“Following the MICE market’s very challenging past 24 months we are really looking forward to play our part and help our network of agents to offer some incredible opportunities for their clients,” Staiano continued.Venues, menus, gifts, daily programs, signage and LED screens can also be customized and the cruise line can also design tailor-made shore excursions and personalize entertainment programs.Last month, MSC Cruises announced MSC Seascape would have a unique amusement ride, dubbed ROBOTRON, when it debuts in December. The attraction is a robotic arm with an attached gondola that seats three guests and offers the thrill of a rollercoaster at sea combined with a personalized music experience.For the latest travel news, updates and deals, be sure to subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter here. Adblock test (Why?)

Why You Should Become a Korea Travel Specialist

More people than ever before are adding South Korea to their list of dream destinations! Why? Because of the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, that is sharing this small Asian country's traditional culture and popular trends with the rest of the world through Korean dramas, K-Pop groups and more. Travel advisors who specialize in selling travel to Asia, to bucket-list destinations or to younger generations such as Millennials or Gen Z should consider becoming a Korea Travel Specialist through the Travel Agent Academy, created in partnership with the Korea Tourism Organization! Click through this slideshow to learn more about the program and why you should consider becoming a Korea Travel Specialist.  Adblock test (Why?)

How to Become a RIU Specialist

Popular all-inclusive hotel brand RIU Hotels & Resorts is a family-operated hotel chain that dates back more than 70 years to 1953. The company has resorts are located in some of the world's top destinations and offer clients an unparalleled experience. To become an expert in all things RIU, travel advisors are invited to the RIU Specialist Campus. Here, they can complete a course and become officially certified as RIU Specialists and receive specific benefits, including a diploma to showcase their achievement, a digital welcome kit and 2,300 RIU Partner Club points upon the first booking as well as 500 bonus points for completing the RIU Updates chapter. Graduates also receive special promotions after certification.  Adblock test (Why?)

Travel ALLIES Mentorship Society Partners with ASTA

Travel A.L.L.I.E.S. Society (TAS), a program dedicated to mentoring the next generation of new travel advisors, has partnered with ASTA to include new networking opportunities, career planning and learning opportunities.The collaboration includes greater mentorship opportunities for ASTA’s Young Professionals Society, which includes 175 members, who are travel advisors under the age of 45.ADVERTISING Trending Now “We are beyond excited for our new partnership with ASTA. This is a huge step forward in fulfilling our on-going mission to elevate our industry and foster leadership,” said Jennifer Doncsecz, Chair of the Travel A.L.L.I.E.S. Society. “With this new partnership, we will align with the team at ASTA to enable more of our colleagues to advance their careers and businesses. At the same time, we hope to inspire even more of the top leaders in our industry to participate as mentors.”The two organizations are planning on announcing and celebrating their new partnership during ASTA’s Global Convention, which will be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico on May 2-4, 2023.“The Young Professionals Society has been at the center of ASTA’s efforts to provide networking, education and professional development opportunities for travel professionals under the age of 45,” said Zane Kirby, ASTA’s President. “Now, through this partnership with Travel A.L.L.I.E.S. Society, we are positioned to also offer amazing mentorship opportunities as a part of ASTA’s growing list of benefits and resources for our members.”For the latest travel news, updates and deals, be sure to subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter. Adblock test (Why?)

Travel Edge Network Launches Edge Advantage Program for Travel Advisors

WHY IT RATES: The new program includes a myriad of benefits for travel advisors of experience levels, from beginners to veteran agents seeking to take their business to the next level. — Patrick Clarke, TravelPulse Senior EditorAs part of its ongoing efforts to provide training and education for travel advisors, Travel Edge Network has launched Edge Advantage. Customized to the needs of the network, Edge Advantage is ideal for both new-to-business advisors as well as for tenured advisors who may need training in limited areas. For example, the Build Your Business program on website development has been in high demand with tenured advisors who have not yet taken the leap to move their business online. There are also live quarterly Bootcamp training programs with the Directors of Hotel, Air, Insurance, Cruise, Tour and Activities, during which advisors of all levels can ask questions and receive live demos and responses. There are also Limitless conferences featuring travel panels featuring high-performing advisors to speak on topics that are timely and relevant to the network. Trending Now For those advisors who are new to the industry and may be looking to evolve their career from a part-time hobby to a full-time profitable business, Travel Edge Network’s 90-day mentorship program offers online and one on one training, tools and support to expedite that process. “Although the industry offers various levels of training and education, we have really taken that commitment to the next level with our programs to help our advisors develop their skills to be more efficient, effective and equipped to deliver results for their clients,” says Michelle Leal, VP of Member Engagement for Travel Edge.“We know that with the return to travel, advisors are needed now more than ever and are working to keep up with the demand for the services of a professional travel advisor. As they may not have the ability or desire to take the typical two years to complete a training path, we have responded to their needs to be successful on an expedited timeline.” The benefits of these programs are already being manifested through organic lead generation and enhancing a sales pipeline. In addition, advisors who receive specialist knowledge are better equipped to sell in their respective niches.Looking ahead to 2023, TEN will continue to grow the Edge Advantage curriculum and a-la-carte course options for its advisors and will also launch Specialist Certification programs later this year in Cruise, Hotel, and Air with other specialist programming coming in 2023. The Edge Advantage program complements Knowledge Trips, a concept introduced in June 2022 with an inaugural trip for independent advisors to Rwanda. “As a critical tool for advisors to achieve success, these custom designed and dedicated educational trips allow members to gain critical firsthand knowledge of our preferred partners for hotel, air, tour operators and more,” said Nadiya Makarenko, Senior Vice President of Travel Edge Network.“Getting to know a destination organically with a network host and with colleagues has proved to be an invaluable educational tool for our advisors across all levels of experience creating a sense of community among advisors as well as translating into actual bookings,” Makarenko added that as a result of the trip to Rwanda and proof of concept that these trips create a unique bonding opportunity, one of the participants booked a multi-generational family safari for a corporate client with the assistance of a leisure travel specialist colleague she met on the trip.Future Knowledge trips are scheduled in October to Portugal, November to the British Virgin Islands, and Kenya in Spring 2023. SOURCE: Travel Edge Network press release. Adblock test (Why?)

Rental Escapes Launches Monthly Travel Advisor Bonuses

Full-service, luxury villa rental company Rental Escapes has announced a new series of bonus commission rewards for travel advisors as part of the lead-up to its 10-year anniversary celebration, which arrives in December.In recognition of the crucial role that travel agents have played during the company’s decade-long history, their unwavering support and dedication, Rental Escapes will be running a new travel advisor promotion each month through the end of the year.ADVERTISING Trending Now This month, travel advisors are being offered a bonus commission amount of up to $2,500 on each booking they make through the end of September, valid on guest stays taken between October 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023. These bonus commissions will be paid out, along with the travel advisor’s regular commission payment, upon the client’s departure.“Travel advisors remain our most valued partners and we feel it is important to express our gratitude with a series of celebratory offerings designed to benefit these advisors,” says Willie Fernandez, chief marketing officer of Rental Escapes. “Over the next four months, we will introduce new, month-long offerings that travel advisors can take advantage of to convey our immense appreciation for their support.”Throughout its decade in the business of providing unparalleled private villa rentals around the world, Rental Escapes has continually prioritized its partnerships with the travel advisor community. The company supplies advisors with various online tools to help grow their businesses and has never charged booking fees. Porters Villa in Barbados. (photo courtesy of Rental Escapes) It also offers them the opportunity to work alongside Rental Escapes’ dedicated villa specialists and concierge team to ensure that guests have access to round-the-clock support. And, when working with the concierge team, advisors are even able to earn commission on customized concierge packages created for their clients. When Rental Escapes and travel advisors join forces, they’re able to truly provide guests with matchless vacation experiences and peerless customer care.“Over the last 10 years we have rapidly expanded our unforgettable product offerings, our first-in-class team and our network of loyal travel advisors who have played an essential role in our business,” says Brian Schwimmer, chief executive officer of Rental Escapes. “When creating Rental Escapes, we sought to establish a customer-centric culture, where exceeding travelers’ expectations is the goal. This philosophy has helped forge our relationship with advisors and made Rental Escapes one of the leading luxury villa rental companies in the world today.”For the latest travel news, updates and deals, be sure to subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter here. Adblock test (Why?)

Avanti Unveils Latest ‘Go365’ Campaign for Travel Advisors

Avanti unveiled its latest “Go365” campaign for travel advisors with two e-brochures, one dedicated to agents and another for their clients.The campaign is designed to assist travel advisors in selling more independent travel, with a focus on the offseason of October through March.ADVERTISING Trending Now “The new travel advisor reference guide to the Go365 Winter Travel consumer e-brochure, emphasizing travel between October and March in Europe and the U.K., has tips on how advisors can create their own winter travel campaign using Avanti’s marketing tools, such as social media posts, flyers, postcards, blog articles,” said Avanti, which sells custom vacations exclusively through travel advisors.“Instructions for how to use the company’s new booking platform to create inspirational itineraries, as well as tips on how to identify likely candidates for winter FIT travel within their client database, are also provided.”In essence, the campaign is designed to help travel advisors recommend independent travel to clients who are traditionally more inclined to take a cruise or escorted tour vacation, said Avanti CEO Paul Barry.“We have seen per booking increases this year of more than 50 percent for FIT clients booking with our advisor partners,” Barry said. “The number of people per booking has increased, and more services are being booked before departure compared to 2019. Also, independent clients are traveling more frequently than before. That adds up to more commission for advisors.”He noted that nearly half the company’s bookings during the last several months were made 10 weeks prior to departure, “which means clients are likely to consider traveling this fall or winter, and that fits right into the European vacations highlighted in the new Go365 e-brochure.”“Private sightseeing and activities with top-notch local guides and private transfers make independent travel less daunting for first-timers, and our revamped agent portal makes it easy for advisors to build their own unique vacations tailor-made for each client,” Barry added.For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter. Adblock test (Why?)

Tap Into Romance Travel with the Romance, Weddings & Honeymoons Expo

From selling luxury all-inclusives for couples’ vacations to helping couples plan the destination wedding or honeymoon of their dreams, romance travel is a niche market that is able to provide sizable commissions for travel advisors who specialize in the niche.Advisors looking to tap into this travel niche can get an introduction to the market with the Romance, Weddings & Honeymoons Expo, which will be held September 14-15, with the opportunity to win two free vacations simply by attending.ADVERTISING Trending Now The expo will run both days from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. An open-flow format, registrants will be able to log in when the expo begins and explore the different digital booths on their own time and according to their own interests and goals. They’ll be able to network with other advisors at the networking lounge, chat with suppliers directly at their individual booths, watch helpful videos and download resources to peruse later. TravelPulse booth at the Weddings and Honeymoons Expo. (photo courtesy of Northstar Travel Group) In addition, Playa Hotels & Resorts will offer one live webinar on September 14 at 2:30 p.m. ET. Called “Playa Resorts – 2022 Weddings & Honeymoons,” the webinar will be hosted by Keli Washburn, the brand’s Business Development Manager.Advisors who attend the expo will be entered into a random drawing for two different vacations; the more involved they are during the expo, their chance of winning will grow. Prizes are a 4-night stay for two at select Playa Hotels & Resorts or a 3-night stay at the Secrets Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa.Register to attend the Romance, Weddings & Honeymoons Expo today to learn all about this niche market, how to sell and plan travel for weddings and honeymoons effectively and to get the chance to win one of two trips. Adblock test (Why?)

Family Travel Association Develops Family-Friendly Certification Program

The Family Travel Association (FTA) announced the launch of a new initiative, dubbed The FTA Family-Friendly Certification Program.The program was designed with the input of FTA members and leading experts to develop industry standards and guidelines that define what it means to be family-friendly and identify what suppliers need to do to earn the designation.ADVERTISING Trending Now “Our ultimate goal with this program and the Association at large is to help our industry better meet the needs and expectations of traveling families,” FTA founder Rainer Jenss said.The FTA created a series of guidelines for each segment of the travel industry—including cruises, resorts, airlines and more—specific to their products and services. Certification requires suppliers to go through an application process and an audit of their current practices.Once approved, suppliers will participate in a training program and receive guidance on creating marketing packages. The standards and guidelines criteria include management processes, communications, booking, guest services, facilities, amenities, health & wellness, activities, accessibility and financial assistance.“By creating these industry guidelines, we are hoping to set the standards that will assist organizations when developing products and services for families and help travel advisors choose who to work with when planning their clients’ vacations,” Jenss continued.Several suppliers have already qualified or are in the final stages of certification, including Austin Adventures, Celebrity Cruises, Coltur Peru, Frontiers North Adventures, Brendan Tours, Trafalgar and Royal Caribbean.For the latest travel news, updates and deals, be sure to subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter here. Adblock test (Why?)