TravelResearchOnline.com Blog

Have you ever been lost in the woods? It can be a scary event for a child or an adult no matter how you look at it. While the last half of 2008 was pretty scary, we did have a good first half; and I am pretty sure 2009 will not be as kind. Make [...]

Earlier this week, Mike Batt of Travel Leaders suggested that 2009 will be challenging and that agents will have to fight for their business; he even suggested stealing it! TRO Publisher, Richard Earls feels that 2009 will be harder (not worse)—and there is a distinction. I agree.
For a moment, let’s not discuss the acquisition of [...]

Last week I brought up the question of the relevancy of a travel agent to a supplier. And I firmly believe that if you are not proving your relevancy, you indeed are irrelevant on that side of the equation.
But what about the consumer side? Hopefully, each time you interact with a client or a prospect [...]

Are you still relevant? Are you really?
Over the years I have had the chance to talk to literally thousands of Business Development Managers, District Sales Managers, Executives, Owners, Partners, Founders, Directors and every other title you might come up with for a supplier representative. One constant among 90% of them is that they truly believe [...]

Travel Research Online sure knows how to pick ‘em.  I just looked at the Travel Agent 30 Under 30 article and who is smiling back at me but none other than our own Nina Van Harn!

My youngest daughter came home from school last week with an assignment for a 500 word essay on why she is thankful at Thanksgiving; and I am sure that this assignment (in one form or another) is being handed out by thousands of teachers all over the country by the time you are reading this. [...]

Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting with a group of agents from a small, yet powerful consortium called the IT Group on board Carnival’s Elation. This meeting was not nearly as large as the Baltimore Home Based Travel Agent Show, but in a more intimate setting you really get a chance to see [...]

Over the past few years, there has been a glut of hybrid words in the travel industry. Stay-cations were for those unable to take a va-cation. Baby-moons were for those who were a little too late for the honey-moon. The boys weekend in Vegas? The man-cation. And of course the MLM crowd has their pay-cations. [...]

If you could make a great first impression on a client for three cents would you be willing to fork over the cash? What about leaving that same impression on 2500 potential clients for less than $100? Will you part with the c-note?  My hope is that you would. I know I would; and I [...]

A week or so back, TRO hosted an online webinar called Starting or Enhancing a Travel Newsletter (available for viewing) with a terrific response. While a newsletter is an essential piece of a larger marketing plan, getting it read can be a challenge–from a technology standpoint.