The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is in the midst of its second US “Fall in Love With Jamaica Again and Again” travel advisor campaign roadshow, which began on Aug. 23 and will conclude on Nov. 10.Taking place throughout the Northeast, the campaign, which includes an extensive seminar series for agents.ADVERTISING Trending Now In all, the series “includes 21 presentations per region where JTB’s business development officers and representatives from on-island tourism stakeholders are meeting in-person with travel advisors to share important product updates and offers while encouraging the sentiment to come back to Jamaica,” Jamaica Tourist Board officials said. “With 20 more events scheduled, 1,460 travel advisors are expected to attend the complete seminar series.”“Jamaica is experiencing a strong recovery with stopover visitor arrivals nearing pre-pandemic levels over the summer, said Donnie Dawson, the Jamaica Tourist Board’s deputy director of tourism, Americas.“This is in large part due to the efforts of our valued travel professionals, so it is imperative that we continue to educate these partners about everything Jamaica has to offer in order to meet the pent-up demand for travel we are seeing in the marketplace.”Travel advisors are responding enthusiastically to the campaign.“When I first stepped into the pre-cocktail hour and was handed my tropical punch, the Jamaica Tourist Board set the tone for the evening,” said Michelle, Suraci of Traveltopia Unlimited LLC.“It is always great to have fun when learning and Jamaica did just that, they literally had us jumping up out of our seats. Always a great night with Jamaica. Everything is always Irie!”For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter. Adblock test (Why?)

Powered by TravelAge West, the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat took place at the Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos resort from August 28-31.The retreat is designed for travel professionals aged 22-37 years old to come together, network, and help each other grow – both personally and in business. This year, over 80 professionals attended what would go on to be described by several as a “life-changing” week.ADVERTISINGPlaya Hotels & Resorts, the host sponsor of the event, kicked off the retreat with an “Emily in Paris” themed party. Andrea Wright, Vice President of Sales - USA at Playa Hotels & Resorts, welcomed the Future Leaders of the travel industry with a line from the show. “Americans live to work and the French work to live,” Wright said, informing the attendees how they, the next generation of the travel industry, should adopt this mindset in their daily life because of the importance they have on the future of not just the industry but the entire world.It was just the beginning of several words of wisdom that would be shared throughout the week. Opening panel at the 2022 Future Leaders in Travel Retreat (photo by Eric Bowman) Professional Development The event featured engaging panelists and speakers from both the supplier and advisor sides, all with a wide range of experience.Nearly 50 advisors were vetted and hand-picked to attend this exclusive event after an in-depth application process. While several just started their career in the travel industry within the last few years, all were eager to learn and make new connections.“It’s really exciting to see how many young advisors there are out here,” said Mallory Jones of You Deserve It Vacations. “Everyone’s just really eager and ready to grow their business.”Day two’s supplier-advisor appointments put two advisors together at a supplier’s table for a 10-minute meeting to learn more about the brand while connecting with the brand’s representative.Having 10 advisor guides who attended the 2021 Future Leaders in Travel Retreat also helped foster development. The guides shared their own words of wisdom and provided many of the new industry advisors with a shoulder to lean on and a brain to pick.“The Future Leaders in Travel is indispensable for young professionals in the industry to come to this event, primarily because it breaks up a lot of the monotony of going to regular industry events that caters to just learning about suppliers,” Ryan Taylor of Ryan F&T said. “This one focuses a lot more on building connections and I think it does a really good job in enhancing that relationship between agent and supplier.”In addition to hearing from industry experts on the topics of diversifying revenue streams, industry innovations, and the keys to the supplier-advisor relationship, the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat featured two different workshops.“Personality Selling; Gain Control from the Beginning!” was presented by Jenn Lee, VP Industry Engagement and Support, Travel Planners International. She highlighted personality selling techniques for advisors to better understand how to deal with clients based on their dominant personality trait – from the commanding bull, the highly-detailed owl, the caring lamb, and the sociable yet scatterbrained tiger.The other workshop, titled “The Solution Room”, was sponsored by G Adventures. Here, advisors and suppliers separated into groups to tackle real-world business challenges and tips on how to solve them. Advisors and suppliers bounced ideas off each other and shared their best practices in key areas like marketing, charging fees, supplier-advisor relationships and more.“This event has been eye-opening, especially for a young guy like me,” said Jeffrey Pawid, Director of Sales - North Region USA for Exoticca. “I know there's a lot of young people out there within the industry and some of them have the experience and some of them do not. The collective thinking and the collective pain points as well the successes just opens up my eyes as a supplier and I'm sure for travel advisors as well.” Sunrise views at Hyatt Los Cabos (photo by Eric Bowman) Connecting With Peers The connections made throughout the appointments and workshops continued further during the private dinners at Le Blanc Los Cabos and Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos, as well as day three's sunrise yoga and the group activity excursion on the final day. Most of the attendees hopped onto a Catamaran Cruise that sailed past the iconic arch of Cabo San Lucas and over to snorkel and swim outside Chileno Bay Beach.Relationships are key, and this event provided a space for young advisors and suppliers to further develop crucial connections.“Through the connections made this week, I have learned to honor my self-worth,” said Emily Zwiebel of ET Family Travel. "By this I mean, working smarter not harder, adding fees for the added work, [and] getting creative. I am filled with knowledge. I can market that and make a profit. I am not just an independent contractor – I am a business owner. It was really a lesson in a mindset shift that I will continue to work on.”Shannon Burke-Banks, Senior Account Manager, National Accounts, for Globus Family of Brands, noted why it’s crucial for suppliers to attend the event to make connections.“It's a really unique opportunity to interact with future leaders, as the event is named, within our industry and really get them to know your product in a kind of personal way that you wouldn't get to otherwise,” said Burke-Banks.For Tyson Wharton, owner of Sioux Empire Travel, the opportunity to experience the retreat was “outstanding.”“By the time the week was over, I had made priceless connections with suppliers, other advisors and leaders in the travel industry. I had a notebook consumed with ideas on how to better my business on a large and small scale. I understood myself, my clients, and others in my life better because of Jenn Lee's BOLT workshop… all in all, this was one of those business growth moments where I feel energized, supported and most of all, educated beyond measure,” Wharton said.“Through our panels and supplier partners, my eyes have been opened to the many possibilities for my clients,” Zwiebel said. “Most of all, this is a business of connections. We need to connect with clients, not just plan for them. We need to connect and work with supplier partners, not just call them when we need them. Everyone at this event was incredibly supportive. At the end of the day, we are not competing, we are working together to help people see the world.” Trending Now Bright Future AheadThe Millennials and Gen Z generations are well on their way to taking over the travel industry. The knowledge and insights gained at the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat will only propel that forward.And it’s already helping create future bookings.Kendra White of All Things Travel LLC landed eight new bookings within just a few days following the event.“When you attend certain events and post about it, people think you stick out and are different,” White said. “The first question one of the clients asked me is what is your fee, that lets me know they are watching but also I'm worth it. This [event] helped me land new business because I was in a place some have never been and they want to explore, and I let them know it's attainable.”Wharton is also looking ahead to new bookings.“I have adopted some changes I learned from other advisors and suppliers, as well as started to put my notes into practice,” Wharton said. “I have a bunch of leads from my social media posts for Los Cabos. I also met a couple of suppliers that my clients desperately need and will be turning those into bookings within the next month. I will also be incorporating a new strategy for service fees and other places where I can make more money starting in 2023.”And speaking of 2023, Playa Hotels & Resorts has signed on to once again be the host sponsor of the event.“We were excited to be able to have the golden opportunity to host the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat again this year,” said Jermaine Humphrey Director of Sales – USA for Playa Hotels and Resorts. “We hosted it last year at our Hilton Playa del Carmen property and it was such a success it only made sense that we hosted it again. This year again, another successful event – three days of great content with some of our brightest and strongest future leaders in the travel industry to keep this industry alive. We were able to secure not only for 2023 but we will also be hosting the 2024 Future Leaders and Travel Retreat."The 2023 event will take place August 27-30 at Hyatt Ziva/Zilara Rose Hall in Jamaica and the 2024 date is to be determined. Visit futureleadersintravel.com more information. Adblock test (Why?)

Why You Should Become a St. Augustine/Ponte Vedra Specialist St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra are located along the Atlantic Coast of northern Florida. The two comprise what's known as Florida's Historic Coast, home to history dating back to Indigenous times and the beginning of European exploration of the Americas in the 1500s. Known for its unique history, beautiful beaches, delicious foodie culture and more, the Historic Coast is a great destination for travel advisors to specialize in because it's great for so many different types of travelers. Curious to learn more?  Adblock test (Why?)

The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) celebrated the biggest names and brands in the travel industry last week during the 2022 ASTA Global Convention (AGC) in San Francisco.During the convention, the ASTA recognized frontline travel advisors and agency owners who go above and beyond in caring for their customers, as well as the suppliers who were the most supportive of the trade.ADVERTISINGThe event was attended by almost 1,000 travel advisors and winners were voted on by ASTA members. The ASTA President and CEO Zane Kerby released a statement about the convention that ran between August 24-26. Trending Now “As travel trade’s premier organization, ASTA strives to promote excellence within the industry,” Kerby said. “We’re pleased to use the occasion of our annual convention to lift up those professionals and companies who make lasting and meaningful contributions to the travel industry.”Supplier awards were given to companies and individuals who recognize the value of the agency community:—Partner Company of the Year: Royal Caribbean—Partner Representative of the Year: Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean—Airline Partner of the Year: Delta Airlines—Transportation Partner of the Year: Enterprise Holdings—GDS Partner of the Year: Sabre—Hotel Partner of the Year: Marriott International—Ocean Cruise Line Partner of the Year: Royal Caribbean—River Cruise Line Partner of the Year: AmaWaterways—Tour Operator Partner of the Year: Globus Family of Brands—Travel Insurance Partner of the Year: Allianz Global Assistance—North American Destination Partner of the Year: Hawaiian Islands—International Destination Partner of the Year: Los Cabos—Sustainability Partner of the Year: Virgin Voyages—Supplier Medal of Excellence: Royal CaribbeanPartnership awards were also given to ASTA members, chapters and partner organizations who showed the greatest support for the association:—ASTA Travel Advisor of the Year: Melinda Fortunato, Owner, Best Travel—ASTA Consortium Partner of the Year: Signature Travel Network and Virtuoso —ASTA Regional Consortium of the Year: MAST Travel Network—ASTA Host Agency of the Year: Nexion Travel Group and Travel Planners International—ASTA Franchise Partner of the Year: Cruise Planners and Dream Vacations—ASTA Member Service Award: Fell Travel, Inc.—ASTA Chapter on the Rise: ASTA New York City Small Business Network Chapter—ASTA Chapter President of the Year: Shelly Phillips, ASTA Alabama Chapter—Regional Director of the Year: Deb Belchak, Lazy Dayz Travel, LLC—ASTA Susan D. Tanzman Inspiration Award: Camille Olivere, Chief Sales Officer, Globus Family of BrandsThe annual Advocacy Dinner is ASTA’s black-tie gala where the group celebrates the year’s advocacy wins and honors its top supporters. The following awards were announced at the celebration:—Lifetime Achievement Award: Arnold Donald, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Carnival Corporation—Paul Ruden Industry Ambassador Award: Dave Hershberger, Prestige Travel, Inc.—Barbara O’Hara Advocacy Award: Jenn Lee, Travel Planners International and Betsy Geiser, Uniglobe Travel Center—John Haskins Chapter Advocacy Award: ASTA South Florida ChapterFor the latest travel news, updates and deals, be sure to subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter here. Adblock test (Why?)

Independent, upmarket cruise line Azamara has just announced a special new incentive program, featuring special offers for its travel partners, as part of its ‘Azamara Advisors Appreciation’ celebration this fall.From September 1 through October 31, 2022, the cruise line, which specializes in 'Destinations Immersion', is offering travel advisors an added Bonus Commission of five percent for all bookings made on any of its Europe 2023 voyages. A special Sweepstakes contest will also offer travel partners the chance to win the grand prize of a 2023 Europe voyage for themselves.ADVERTISING Trending Now These autumn incentives arrive in addition to Azamara’s recent announcement that it has extended its commission protection program to apply to all sailings through December 31, 2024.“Our travel partners have played a key role in Azamara’s recent growth and return to service, and we want to show our gratitude for their support in the most tangible way,” said Michelle Lardizabal, Chief Sales Officer at Azamara. “As we head into the Europe booking season, we are pleased to offer this bonus commission and sweepstakes opportunity as a token of our sincere appreciation.”‘Azamara Advisors Appreciation’ Incentive Offers Include:Bonus Commission:For every ‘Europe 2023 Voyages’ booking that travel advisors make throughout September and October, an additional five-percent Bonus Commission will automatically be added to their current level of earned commission.— The special incentive program applies to FIT bookings for travel during Azamara’s Europe 2023 season, which are scheduled to set sail from March 11, 2023 – November 14, 2023.— In order to qualify for the extra five-percent Bonus Commission, all guests must be named in the reservation and a full deposit paid before the promotional period ends on October 31, 2022.— As laid out under the Appreciation offer’s detailed terms and conditions, it can be combined with the Double Upgrade Offer, exclusive Travel partners OBC promotions, Back to Benefits, Onboard booking savings, Azamara Circle Quarterly Savings, National Account Hosted Programs and Solo Rates. However, unless otherwise stated, the offer is not combinable with Last Minute Voyages, Closed Rates, Net Rates and Groups.‘Azamara Advisors Appreciation’ Sweepstakes:Each Europe 2023 Voyages trip that advisors book during the months of September and October will automatically equal one entry into the Sweepstakes drawing for a chance to win the grand prize of a 2023 Europe cruise. The complete official Sweepstakes rules are available via Azamara’s Travel Partner Portal.Commission Protection Extension:Azamara will continue to protect travel advisors’ base commissions on sailings scheduled for departure through December 31, 2024. In the event of a cancellation, travel partners will also be afforded the opportunity to earn a commission on their client’s future bookings when they redeem the correlating Future Cruise Credit.For the latest travel news, updates and deals, be sure to subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter here. Adblock test (Why?)

Costa Cruises North America is launching a September Sellabration to honor the travel partners that helped the cruise line succeed.Travel advisors can qualify to win giveaways worth more than $40,000 by booking their clients on a Costa cruise, and agents are encouraged to make as many bookings throughout the month of September for more chances to win cruises or gift cards.ADVERTISING Trending Now During September, Costa will hold a weekly drawing for two quad balcony cabins that will be awarded to one advisor per week, randomly selected from deposited bookings made during the previous week. Agents can invite up to seven friends and family members on a seven-day Costa adventure departing from Barcelona, Spain; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Istanbul, Turkey; or Rome, Italy.“These past two years have been a roller coaster for the cruise industry, and our ‘September Sellabration’ giveaways recognize the value we place on our travel advisor partners and how grateful we are for their support,” Costa vice president Scott Knutson said.“There is no better way for agents to share their passion for travel with friends and family than by taking them on a cruise. A small group of eight is an incredible way to experience Costa,” Knutson continued.In addition to the cabins, the September Sellabration continues with daily giveaways of $100 American Express gift cards. Travel partners can also attend a new series of Costa sales webinars in September, October and November to enhance their brand knowledge.In June, the Costa Toscana was officially christened in Barcelona, Spain. The 165,00-ton ship holds approximately 6,500 guests and is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). The cruise line celebrated the float-out in Finland in January 2021, and the new ship departed on its inaugural voyage in March from Savona, Italy, with the theme of “The Art of Living the Sea.”For the latest travel news, updates and deals, be sure to subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter here. Adblock test (Why?)

The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) concluded its successful 2022 Global Convention in San Francisco with new words to guide travel advisors, record ASTAPAC fundraising ($375,000) and the recognition of a host of honorees.The conference provided a wide variety of educational opportunities to travel advisors as well and the chance to meet one-on-one with top suppliers during a well-attended trade show, which took place over three days, August 24-26 at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square.ADVERTISING Trending Now ASTA highlighted its many legislative efforts over the last year during two general sessions and during the ASTA Advocacy Dinner, held Thursday at the Palace Hotel. The evening raises money for the association's ongoing efforts and honors those who have worked tirelessly on behalf of ASTA's travel advisor and travel industry members."This evening highlights the importance of working together for our common good. This dinner always rejuvenates my faith in our combined strength. I hope it does the same for you," said Zane Kerby, ASTA president and CEO.Arnold Donald, vice-chair of Carnival Corporation received ASTA's Lifetime Achievement award at the dinner. Arnold Donald receives ASTA Lifetime Achievement Award from Zane Kerby (photo courtesy ASTA) "It is an honor to be recognized in such a special way by ASTA," said Donald in accepting the award. "In reality, our accomplishments over the years are the direct results of the outstanding work by the dedicated men and women in our global workforce and the travel professionals who strive always to exceed our guests' expectations.” Debby Corwin, TAToolkit Inc., ASTA Entrepreneur of the Year (photo courtesy ASTA) The second general session honored travel agent of the year, Melinda Fortunato, CEO of Best Travel as well as ASTA's Entrepreneur of the Year, Debby Corwin, whose TAToolkit provides advisors a search tool that enables them to quickly find the best resort for their client based on select criteria.Next year, ASTA's Global Convention will take place earlier in the year and in Puerto Rico."Because variety is the spice of life, the ASTA global convention moves location each year," said Kerby. "Next year, we’re excited to be partnering with Puerto Rico and are moving the Convention to early May. Puerto Rico has been a magical partner. They’re hosting 60 convention attendees for 2-night excursions to other parts of the island. They’ve agreed to host a prominent entertainer of Puerto Rican descent to join us at the convention. I can’t tell you right now, but the options under consideration are BIG!" Andrew McCarthy speaks at ASTA Global Convention 2022 (photo courtesy ASTA) The general session concluded with an address from keynote speaker, actor, director and travel writer Andrew McCarthy, who spoke about how travel overcomes fear."Fear is our greatest foe in the world today," said McCarthy, "And travel is the answer. It's the greatest antidote."For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter. Adblock test (Why?)

The region of Los Cabos on the Pacific coast of Mexico is an ideal destination for travelers of all kinds, known for its welcoming atmosphere, great foodie offerings and plenty of luxury travel accommodations and experiences. Travel advisors who become Los Cabos Specialists will learn how to sell Los Cabos to their clients and create incredible journeys in the destination, with some added benefits and resources for themselves and for their clients, like exclusive rates and other perks. Curious to learn more about the program? Sign up through the Travel Agent Academy today or click through this slideshow.  Adblock test (Why?)

ASTA's first general session kicked off at the association's 2022 Global Convention, which is taking place at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square.Zane Kerby, ASTA's president and CEO made several announcements during the session, which included several speakers, a panel session, one-on-one interviews and a fireside chat.ADVERTISING Trending Now Kerby's remarks centered on the critical role travel advisors played during the pandemic and the ongoing need for advocacy to ensure their ongoing success.“The pandemic underscored not only the value of working with a travel advisor but also the need for a strong national trade association,” said Kerby. “Over 1,000 travel professionals are with us in San Francisco this week, the industry and the continued return to travel. Our program is designed to support travel advisors who are meeting unprecedented travel demand."While 1,000 travel advisors were in attendance live at the Global Convention, ASTA's membership has continued to swell as noted by Marc Casto, ASTA board chair, during the session, saying that the association now has more than 17,000 members, approaching ASTA's goal of 20,000 members by 2025.A New CredoASTA's board also asked the association for a "statement of belief," and Kerby announced the new credo, which complements ASTA's mission statement, during the general session. It consists of four points:--ASTA member travel advisors are globally recognized for their skill, competence, expertise and professionalism in an increasingly complex travel ecosystem.--ASTA member advisors regularly utilize educational resources and certifications to continuously increase their skills and knowledge.--All ASTA members abide by the ASTA Code of Ethics, which protects the integrity of the travel industry as a whole, giving consumers confidence that they're working with a true professional.--ASTA travel advisors often charge clients professional fees, to reflect the value of the unique services they provide to their clients. We support this as a best practice.Kerby noted that these core beliefs "separate ASTA member businesses from the pack."In addition to a new credo and more members, a new website is coming down the pike. ASTA, recognizing the need to appeal to members, potential advisors and consumers, has announced it will launch an updated, modernized website on September 1, 2022.For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter here. Adblock test (Why?)

If there is one travel niche that is absolutely thriving, it’s the destination wedding market. In fact, travel advisors who specialize in the market say their business is off the charts.“Our destination weddings business continues to thrive, so much so that we had to reset our initial annual sales goals as we blew through the full-year goal by the end of July,” said James Berglie, president of Fallston, Md.-based Be All Inclusive. “This year has been great for business, and 2023 is shaping up to be the best we’ve seen yet.”ADVERTISINGBusiness is so robust that the agency is finding it challenging to keep up with the number of inquiring couples. “We’ve had to limit the number of new consultations we take regularly and our team has grown since 2020 from just one agent to now nine agents all specializing in destination weddings,” Berglie said.“As the revenge weddings and do-overs from 2020-22 happened I thought the flow and demand for weddings would slow – but not at all,” said Sarah Kline, president of Davidsonville, Md.-based Time For Travel. “We have a record number of fall 2022 weddings.” Trending Now As is the case with Be All Inclusive, next year is looking even stronger, so much so that Kline is not taking on new weddings business until after July 2023.“I’m shocked daily by the number of requests we are still getting for 2023, especially still for spring and summer,” she said.Sally Jane Smith, president of Point Pleasant, N.J.-based TravelSmiths, said her destination weddings business is surpassing 2019 numbers.One of the reasons, she believes, is because of the higher expenses of US. weddings. “People don’t want to spend that kind of money for five hours of time with their family,” she said, adding that her destination weddings clients typically want – at minimum – three or four-night stays.“In my area, I’ve got venues that run $20,000 just to rent the empty ballroom for six hours,” Berglie said. “That’s not with any catering or decor. Our weddings average spend is $10,000 to $15,000 and that includes their stay and often multiple days of events.“Our brides, when confronted with the idea of spending $30,000 to $40,000 on a six-hour ‘night out’ on a wedding back home or spending one-third to one-half of the cost on an amazing group vacation combined with a wedding and getting to spend multiple days in paradise with those you love most – it’s an easy decision.”In terms of venues, Smith said warm-weather destinations are arguably the most popular. “Mexico is number one –it’s value is fantastic,” she said. “The Dominican Republic is probably number two and Jamaica number three.”In the final analysis, the booming wedding market is at least in part attributable to the pandemic, travel advisors said.“I think the pandemic made couples realize that big expensive one day home weddings with strangers is not what it is all about,” Kline said. “They want intimate multi-day events with loved ones to make memories.”For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter. Adblock test (Why?)