TravelResearchOnline | The voice of the travel agency community

They say every preacher really has only one sermon. Here’s mine: success in the travel industry has everything to do with relationship selling. Too much of the agency population continues to act as though it is in the business of selling travel and is trapped in a transactional, retail mentality. The travel advisorys and agencies  doing really well have long ago left the retail model behind and have replaced it with relationship sales. It is an easy point to understand, but apparently difficult to implement for many travel agents.

The money collectively spent on travel has an astronomical ring to its tally. Reflect on the fact all travel agencies, including the largest online agencies, handle $240 billion dollars, or about 31% of all travel booked. The number is admittedly an estimate, but one thing is certain. There is a tremendous volume of travel being booked other than by travel agencies. Read the rest of this entry »

Crystal Cruises announced its full lineup of 2021 luxury sailings aboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity. In all, 68 all-inclusive voyages span the globe to 238 destinations in 53 countries.

From Crystal Serenity’s 139-day “Ancient Dynasties & World Wonders” comprehensive World Cruise to 10 seven-day sailings through the Mediterranean aboard Crystal Symphony, travelers will find opportunities to explore destinations both famous and less visited in 2021. Staying true to Crystal’s philosophy of offering guests numerous choices, including shorter sailings that are easily combinable with other cruises – without repeating ports – for those seeking an extended vacation. 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.

Read the rest of this entry »

Recycle. Upcycle. Repurpose. Whether you hang out in the world of DIY or social marketing you’ll recognize these terms as trendy time savers.

In the world of DIY, we think of upcycling as taking an old table and turning it into a trendy kitchen island.

In the world of sewing, recycling and repurposing just became part of my world. Recently I received my grandmothers wedding dress as a gift. This family heirloom has now become a couple of new pieces in my closet. I’ve been able to transform parts of the dress into 4 different garments; the front panel on a blouse, a skirt, appliques on a blouse for my mom and trim on a bathrobe. Yep, a lot of time in my sewing room, and 4 trendy pieces that remind me of my grandma. Read the rest of this entry »

Managing a travel practice is tough work. You’re in charge of all the details, from sales to marketing to hiring to firing to budgeting to supplier selection. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you’re keeping tabs on a million different details. The good news is that there are ways to simplify and make managing your business easier no matter how big or small you may be.   Read the rest of this entry »

When I was in the second grade, our old black and white television broke and it stayed that way for over three years. Why? My parents told us we were watching too much TV (sound familiar?). However, the reality was we were too poor to have it repaired or replaced. As a result, I became a voracious reader – a habit that continues to this day.

It was around this same time my grandfather gave me a book that would influence the rest of my life. It was an original, well-read, 1937 copy of the now classic Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. If you are not familiar with it, look it up. Read the rest of this entry »

Recently I had a conversation with a potential independent contractor, and the discussion naturally turned to compensation. His business model was strongly focused on selling only those cruise lines that paid the highest commissions. It made me wonder how much travel advisors focus on their commission when recommending cruise lines to clients.

This is the time of year when travel agencies start to re-evaluate their preferred suppliers, making decisions on what to change in the upcoming calendar year. Part of that analysis involves our relationships with BDMs, our clients’ past experiences, and how we are compensated. Read the rest of this entry »

You have a fantastic idea for starting a Travel business, or shifting your business to focus on a specific travel niche. You imagine hundreds, maybe even thousands of highly satisfied customers working with you!

You begin to write your marketing “to do” list – social media, newsletters, flyers, website etc., and suddenly you feel overwhelmed. There is so much to do! You wish you knew more about, well everything!

Help is here! Here are 5 steps to get you on your way! Read the rest of this entry »

A few months ago, we featured a Supplier Profile article that highlighted the way Australis handles their tours with care for the traveler and environment, their tours in the unique land of Patagonia, and how their world-class service let’s the traveler witness sites to spur the imagination. Today’s article is on Australis offering up a limited promotion for kids to sail free on their ships in the month of December. Read the rest of this entry »

Two weeks ago, my Agent Perspectives article focused on sources of valuable business, already ON YOUR DOORSTEP. In case you missed it, take another look at it here because this week’s eclectic mix ‘n’ match medley will give you inspired suggestions for clients who are fans of Masterpiece On Location tours in general and Doc Martin/Poldark in particular, spectacular flower shows in Paris and London, tea rooms and stately homes in the Cotswolds, Methodist Heritage and literary anniversaries.

To see an Aladdin’s Cave of conversation-starting UK tours that can be customised to meet your client’s interests, time frame and budget have a look at www.customgb.co.uk. Read the rest of this entry »

Most of us generally start out by marketing to a so-called “warm market.” Your warm market is basically everyone you know: friends, family, colleagues, advisers, teachers, doctor, lawyer, neighbors and other acquaintances.

Reactions will vary once you let those know that you are in the travel business. You close friends and family’s reaction will probably run from excitement to humoring you. Others who don’t know you well may be dismissive or even downright hostile to your approaches. Some agents have reported people crossing the street to avoid them when they see them coming! So you may need to develop a thick skin in this business.

Read the rest of this entry »

I could wax eloquent on this boast but in the interest of time, I will immediately address the subject at hand.

I believe today’s headline to be true and I can say this for five simple reasons: Read the rest of this entry »

Since 2001, Travel Alliance Partners (TAP) has emerged as one of the dominant leaders in the travel industry. Owned and managed by the top North American tour operators, we take a great deal of pride in establishing the right partnerships with our travel agents, group leaders and tour operators. We act as a cooperative organization of tour operators and have sought to create an environment of trust. We believe full access to top decision makers is the key to the success of the TAP network. TAP was the first travel company to develop a brochure exclusive to guaranteed departures and since then expanded tour options to included scheduled and custom tour programs. Our unique corporation mandates that each tour operator member operate under the highest standards for business ethics and product quality. Each member is a regional expert who develop, plan, and operate dynamic packages in the world of global travel. Read the rest of this entry »

John Burbidge is the CFO of Sky Bird Travel and Tours. In his capacity of CFO, John directs Sky Bird’s fiscal functions and oversees its entire financial operations. He manages 13 offices in North America for Sky Bird.

John has been with the company for over 30 years and has seen massive changes in the travel industry. His biggest challenges are balancing cash flow along with developing new revenue streams. He sees technological advances as both blessing and challenge in the day-to-day work environment.

He holds BA and MBA degrees from Wayne State University. John lives in Michigan with his wife. They have one daughter who is a junior at the University of Alabama. He enjoys visiting MLB stadiums and rooting for his favorite teams. the Detroit Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Read the rest of this entry »

Instantly recognizable from the skyline as you approach, New York City is as iconic as cities come. A cosmopolitan city with so much to do, multiple trips barely scratch the surface of what the traveler can experience in the city that never sleeps. Today’s 60-Second Geography is about a special time of year NYC, Thanksgiving and Christmas time. Thanks to New York City Vacation Packages, you’ll learn about the best events during the merriest time of year.

Read the rest of this entry »

The highest of the world’s large lakes, Lake Titicaca sits next to the Andes on the border between Peru and Bolivia. The sky above is a reflection of the deep, blue water. Dotted with islands that contain ancient ruins and cultures dedicated to traditional ways, Lake Titicaca is a site unlike any other. Thanks to Marnella, today you’ll learn all about the islands of Lake Titicaca.

Read the rest of this entry »

Brussels in not only the capital of Belgium, but also part of the de facto capital of the European Union. It has been a major player in international politics since World War II. The city sits at the crossroads of many European cultures and maintains a healthy mix of Romance and Germanic parts of Europe, which makes it a fantastic melting pot. Thanks to TUI Fly, today’s Outpost will be all about the beauty of Brussels and its many sites. 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 »