Most travel agencies pay a great deal of attention to the brand image they project in their advertising. An advertisement printed in a magazine or newspaper gets a rare amount of attention from everyone involved. The agency owner, the marketing department, the ad designer, all get involved looking closely at the details to ensure that it projects the appropriate image for the agency. After all, the advertisement will be seen by hundreds, even thousands of potential travel agency clients. Read the rest of this entry »
Unfortunately, a flawless river cruise is not as simple as booking space on any ship and stepping on board. There are many decisions to be made before packing your bags and leaving home, not the least of which are which river to cruise and which cruise company to cruise with.
Preceding those two questions, however, you’ll also need to know if you are able to river cruise. That may sound like an odd consideration, but, in fact, some people aren’t able to river cruise because of physical limitations.
Provided that you’re able to river cruise, you’ll need to figure out how much you can afford to spend. How will you get to the port of departure – and back? What do you pack? How much cash do you carry? How do you book your shore excursions? Which stateroom do you choose? How are gratuities handled? Read the rest of this entry »
I am proud to say I have been a part of the National Transaction Corp (NTC) family for over 10 years, and am now the VP of Operations. However, when I left the Army as a Satellite/Microwave Communication Specialist, I never would have imagined it would lead me to where I am today. When you think about it though, credit card terminals need to communicate, and most of the time, the problems merchants experience with the terminals, are communication issues.
Milk & Cookies!
Peanut Butter & Jelly!
Bacon & Eggs!
All these things go together so well that we can’t imagine one without the other. Like two peas in a pod! They bring back fond memories, fill our tummies and make us smile.
What’s this got to do with social marketing?
There are some things in social marketing that go so well together that I can’t imagine one without the other. Plus, they make me smile! (not so sure how they fill my tummy unless I’m eating a cookie while working on my social marketing.) Read the rest of this entry »
First impressions count. I think we can all agree on that one. Just like when someone walks into your store, or perhaps meets you for the first time at the local Starbucks—you are being judged. Will there be another meeting? Do I like this person? Do they seem trustworthy? All of these thoughts go through your prospect’s head when they first meet you. Today, many of the first “meetings” happen over email. And a good portion (if not the majority) will be from your mailing list. Are you making the right impression with that first contact? Or are you making some mistakes right out of the gate with your welcome email? Read the rest of this entry »
Dipping into the reader mailbag, one of the questions that I am most frequently asked is, “How do I communicate my value to clients when all they really want is the cheapest price.
All good salespeople ask themselves and can answer this simple question, “Why should a prospect buy from me?”
In all my coaching, webinars and writings, I talk about your ability to make yourself an integral part of the travel experience.
Hank Schrader a river cruise expert, shared how he does it, “Clients tell us that the Why Buy blog established our level of expertise and set clear expectations for our planning services. This usually results in a sale and repeat business!” Read the rest of this entry »
Lucky travelers heading to Alaska will find a variety of things to do in Juneau Alaska from visiting a majestic Glacier to dog sledding across the snow. After all, Alaska is known for its rich wildlife, lush landscape, and unbelievable beauty. And the best activities in Juneau are all about enjoying nature on unique excursions and experiences. Whether you are traveling by cruise ship or driving through the countryside, there are dozens of guided tours and hiking trails to explore. Get started on your unforgettable Juneau vacation with these eight unique experiences: Read the rest of this entry »
If you don’t have your Europe wish list handy, go ahead and toss it aside because you’re going to need a new one altogether after this. Instead of the usual European vacation, conjure up the kind of bucket list experiences you’ll always remember from speed boats, golf cart tours, icy hideaways, and snowmobiling across glaciers. Here’s what to do and see in Europe to remember for a lifetime. Read the rest of this entry »
Collette truly understands what it means to be more agent friendly. Travel agents are our partners offering many advantages to travel professionals, who we see as an extension of the Collette family. Agents relax knowing that every detail will be taken care of from the booking process, throughout the tour and all the way until clients are back home. Read the rest of this entry »
For many travel planners, London Heathrow arrivals are frequently followed by the slow drive through the London rush hour traffic to hotels, where the rooms are often not ready. For more years than I choose to remember, I’ve been championing the idea of starting tours of Britain with the first three to four nights in the English countryside. To illustrate the point, I’m suggesting journeys of less than one hour from London Heathrow to cathedral cities and market towns where jet lag can be parked in fine country house hotels and new travel experiences can be enjoyed before arriving in London, adjusted to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and when bedrooms are ready.
Take a look at my Six of the Best – St Albans, Guilford, the Ashdown Forest, Oxford, Petworth and Winchester. Many of your clients will love this idea.
I’m doing something a little unusual for this TRO installment! In order to maintain privacy, I’m answering a question without providing the specific exchange. Over the past two weeks, several travel advisors reached out to me to let me know that their host are not paying their commissions (sometimes to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars). Read the rest of this entry »
I’m glad you asked.
In all probability…nothing. But on the other hand, maybe something.
Zumba is a form of exercise designed to get the ‘ole body back into some semblance of shapeliness. While Mexico is a country that is known for a lot of things, the sombrero being just one of them. So, what’s the deal? Read the rest of this entry »
Greece, the birthplace of Democracy and home to some of the most stunning coasts in the world. It’s culture and past run like a main artery through the western world, and the sunshine seems to be unending. Mykonos, an island in the middle of islands, is no different. Surrounded by the bluest of waters and a way of life that only an island could create—Mykonos is a must-see for the traveler. That’s why Homeric Tours has sponsored our 60-Second Geography article for today. Their ways of getting you around Greece, and its islands, will take you to places that fulfill the ideal vacation.
Matt’s career in travel began as a hobby. After returning from the Peace Corps in 2006, he began to help family and friends with their own travel plans. By sharing his experiences abroad he inspired and assisted them as they created their own trips and memories. In 2014, by chance, he got the opportunity to turn his passion into a career, and never looked back. In 2017, Matt left his full-time Silicon Valley career to devote 100% of his time to building his travel business.
Matt has been nominated by Carnival Cruise Lines as CLIA’s Rising Star of the Year and is an active participant in many travel industry associations and boards.
In addition to his thriving travel advising business, Matt is the Supplier & Industry Relations Manager at Ticket 2 Travel, where he is responsible for developing strong relationships with trusted partners in the travel industry. Matt has been an advocate to others who want to follow his path, and has become a mentor to many who desire to seriously build a career in travel. Read the rest of this entry »
The Loire Valley in France is often called the Cradle of the French, as it home to many of the sights that are thought of when France comes to mind. This 310-square-mile area of France near the northwest of the country has vineyards, fruit orchards, artichoke and asparagus fields, and historic towns that reflect the architecture of Renaissance-era France.
You know it from movie after movie; wine, passionate people, vibrant cities, and rolling countrysides. Its romantic atmosphere is unparalleled, while the traditional architecture seems to invite the traveler to stay—enjoy the warmth of home. This is Tuscany, Italy; and there is no question as to if one should visit here, only how. That’s why Blue-Roads Touring is in the business of showing the traveler how traveling the back roads and untold sites of Italy is done right.
Undisputedly considered the most romantic city in the world, Paris is a city of passion and culture. Iconic sites like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Cathedrale Notre Dame de Paris add a special effect to the air—one of unique beauty. The legendary Louvre, with it’s glass pyramid and tens of thousands important works of art, is a staple of any trip to Paris. Love and passion saturate this city and, even more importantly, the cuisine.
French food is world-renowned for good reason. The richness of flavor from everyday fresh ingredients deserves a spot at the top in the culinary world. Though simplicity doesn’t mean easy. The preparation process is often precise and lengthy, but absolutely worth it. Read the rest of this entry »
A conversation with one of our Society of International Railway Travelers (IRT) clients one recent Sunday morning went like this:
Text to my phone early morning: “My passport is lost! We are in London. Help!!” Read the rest of this entry »
