How we see ourselves and the profession of travel counseling has much to do with sales psychology. For travel agents the problem is two-fold: The first aspect concerns societal perception of the travel profession in general. The second deals with the individual travel consultant’s personal self-image. Being consciously aware of the influence of these two aspects of one’s personality and working to place self-image in its appropriate context is a worthwhile exercise in becoming a better travel professional. Read the rest of this entry »
On average only 6 out of 10 American’s take a vacation every year and for some that might be because they don’t feel they can afford it. If you are wanting to plan a cruise but need to save money while doing it, then you are in luck. We have plenty of tips and ideas to help you do just that.
Keep reading to learn about how to save money on a cruise. Read the rest of this entry »
Every January most people endeavor to create their list of personal resolutions. As an entrepreneur, I do my business resolutions at the start of the year as well, also known as my annual business plan. The secret to my success is to not make these resolution lists mutually exclusive.
I take a blended approach to goal-setting. My personal and business resolutions, always audacious, have to be perfectly synchronized for me to achieve my ultimate goal which is to maximize success and happiness simultaneously.
Isn’t it grand to have them both?
I believe the secret to having a stellar year is identifying our truest intentions and streamlining our efforts and energies in order to achieve them. In a sense, we need to work together internally. Read the rest of this entry »
Do you get as many video views as you think you deserve?
Are you earning as many clicks to your website as you’d like?
If you’ve answered NO to the above… Have you thought about giving up on social ads because you don’t think they work?
Well, don’t give up!
Just test and tweak your next campaigns! If that sounds confusing, here’s some simple steps you can take to learn more about what appeals to your ‘perfect’ client; and, then tweak your ads so they work better for you and bring greater success. Read the rest of this entry »
Recently, a friend of mine retired from the Federal government. He was 57. To me, retirement always seemed so far away; and now I realize that it could be right around the corner. Maybe. Like many of you, I do not see myself being able to kick back, sleep in, and spend my days on the couch anytime soon. But there will come a day when it is inevitable. Are you ready for it? Read the rest of this entry »
According to a recent LinkedIn survey, those who worked with a business coach or adviser earned on average of 7x more than those who tackled it on their own. This makes sense and why even athletes at the top of their game employ coaches to help find that extra edge.
Can you benefit from a coach or adviser? The answer is probably ‘yes’.
I am a huge fan of business coaching. Over the years, I have personally employed a half-dozen and had several more provided corporately. However, I got much more from those I personally hired – because I had skin in the game. Read the rest of this entry »
The team at ShoreTrips has traveled to over 400 destinations around the world and came up with a list of our best recommendations for your next world travel experience. From the far corners of Asia to the United States, here is a list of must-see travel experiences to fuel your wanderlust in 2019. Read the rest of this entry »
This is the seventh of seven articles in a series titled Discover Your Group Niche. You will be able find the others in our Point-to-Point section.
Michael: I DECLARE BANKRUPTCY!
Oscar: I just wanted you to know that you can’t just say the word bankruptcy and expect anything to happen.
Michael: I didn’t say it. I declared it.
Fans of The Office will instantly recall this hilarious segment from Season 4, Episode 4. Michael believes he will solve his financial woes in three words. His staff accountant is quick to correct him. The solution requires more than words, it requires him to take action! Read the rest of this entry »
Blue-Roads Touring Co. (formerly Back-Roads Touring Co.) has been in the business of showing the traveler what it means to experience the world off the beaten path. Their philosophy is one of meeting the locals and tasting the traditional cuisine. This leads to a personal exploration of the beauty that each culture and location has to offer, a discovery of far more than your typical landmarks.
Blue-Roads accomplishes this unique method through a few ways. The first is that they don’t squeeze as many people as possible into the tours. Their tours max out at 18 passengers, giving the traveler a more intimate experience. Read the rest of this entry »
I often find that many travel planners like the sound of the words ‘The Cotswolds’, though many are unaware that the region covers an area of England with Shakespeare’s England (aka. Stratford upon Avon to the north), the Roman and Georgian city of Bath to the south and the university city of Oxford as the front door when travelling from London. By English standards, this is a large area of almost 800 square miles and filled with quintessentially English villages of honey-coloured stone, lively market towns and some of the country’s greatest palaces, castles, country houses, gardens, traditional country pubs and charming tea rooms. Read the rest of this entry »
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 »
Your Competitive Spirit Is Not Ready For Prime Time
I bet that if we were to play tennis and, just short of taking your first serve, I declared you the winner, you would feel somewhat less than fulfilled. Likewise, if we were going to play golf and I declared you the winner on the practice putting green, I don’t think you would cherish the victory.
Then I ask you: Why do so many salespeople want to accept victory before having the chance to earn it? Competition is what makes the game, (any game) worth playing. Read the rest of this entry »
There are many reasons to visit the paradise known as Santorini. It is home to some of the famous and stunning white-washed houses found along many of the islands in the Cyclades. Almost all cafes and restaurants have a view of the azure waters. Nights bring starry skies, the revelry of nightclubs and bars. These traits make Santorini perfect for the start of a new life together – whether it be weddings or honeymoons. Read the rest of this entry »
Peter N. Lobasso has served as ASTA’s General Counsel since 2015. A licensed attorney for over twenty years, Peter has successfully represented clients in a wide variety of litigated matters before courts and administrative agencies at both the state and federal level. Peter has also negotiated numerous multi-million-dollar transactions on behalf of businesses throughout the country. Practice areas include contracts, corporate governance, employment and labor law, intellectual property, real property, mortgage lending, and creditor side bankruptcy, among others. Peter is a member of the bars of New York, Virginia and Washington D.C. He received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Central Florida in Orlando and earned his law degree at Touro Law Center on Long Island.
In southern Egypt, just above the border with Sudan, sits Abu Simbel. It is a small town that houses lesser-known temples that stand out as grand sites. Along the river considered to be the cradle of civilization, Abu Simbel rests next to where the Nile opens up to Lake Nassar. The desert region is home to perfect examples of Nubian monuments and musical traditions that date back thousands of years.
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.
In the northeast area of Hungary is the Tokaj-Hegyalja Region. Here, the famous Aszú wine flows and the cuisine is topnotch. The nearby Zemplen Mountains offer up rugged wilderness, while just outside of those mountains nature trails and ancient castles are ready to be explored. From luxury to cozy, this UNESCO World Heritage site is a getaway for travelers that has much to offer in the way of luxury and adventure. 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 »
When it comes to a world tour, it means to go and explore. There are a number of tours which exist and you will need to understand what each one of them really means. There is the hosted, independent, and escorted tour. The independent tour means that you are traveling on your own. This is where the travel company only takes the initiative to book your hotel and then seating on your own for any train or boat rides. When you land in the country you are going to, you will have to find your way to the hotel and make arrangements of what and where you want to go and see on your own. Read the rest of this entry »
