Monthly Archives: July 2017
Posted In: Support@
Jump in as we learn about Travel Show Marketing Group, and their place in the travel industry. From tradeshows to Hosted Travel Agent programs, Travel Show Marketing Group does it all.
Travel Show Marketing Group (TravelSMG), an independent event organizer which caters to the B2B leisure travel agency channel, has implemented a number of new initiatives crafted to enhance the overall travel agent and supplier engagement experience, while offering a plethora of unique educational opportunities.
Posted In: Mike's Morning Missives
Enhance your presence with great niche-related features.
These days, any serious business owner with a brain in their head has a website or blog to help market their business. A website with your own domain name (URL) establishes a professional presence and offers a central hub for all of your online and offline marketing efforts. However, if you have not updated your website recently or posted fresh content to it, it’s time to enhance your online presence to improve your chances of succeeding in a competitive niche.
Posted In: Editorial Musings
When the Internet first became a powerhouse in the travel industry, many said it was the death knell for us. We persevered. Through fees and specialties, we shrunk in numbers, but grow in profitability. Whether it was incredible prescience or dumb luck I will never know, but today’s travel agent is a far cry from the one of yester-year. Those of us still in the business can attest that our office today is nothing like the old ones. Many agents have no idea what the ARC is. Many are not familiar with a GDS. That is why, when I was catching up on my reading that I was thrilled to see Vogue magazine understand what we’ve known for a long time. We are here and we are strong. Vogue magazine gets us. They really get us! Read the rest of this entry »
Posted In: Publishers Corner
Carnival Cruise Lines did a study several years ago indicating 80% of cruisers booked their second cruise with someone other than the travel professional with whom they booked their first. However, the clients must have been satisfied with the cruise experience, because they took a second cruise.
So how to explain this rather startling statistic?
Understanding the title to today’s article is the beginning of a strong customer retention program. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted In: cartoons
Posted In: Soundings
On July 21st, Royal Caribbean International rolled out their new travel agent training program, Royal Caribbean University. The new program replaced the old University of WOW, which has now been closed. The University of WOW has been around for approximately seven years. Rewards for achieving Expert or Expert Plus include the earned designation on the Find a Travel Agent Locator on the Royal Caribbean website, framable certificates, invitations to Seminars at Sea, and “more.”
Posted In: Point-to-Point
The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), the leading organization representing travel agents in the U.S., today released a groundbreaking study that tracks perceptions of American travelers. This year’s wide-ranging study includes reaction to prominent issues like airline regulation and travel bans, collected to help ASTA better advocate for travelers as well as support travel agents as they advise their clients.
Posted In: Deck Plans
I find river cruising to be one of the most enjoyable travel experiences available to those seeking to get to know Europe. Let me count the ways:
Posted In: Mike's Morning Missives
It is now time to put your money where your mouth is. If you have been honest up to this point, you have nothing to fear. You simply deliver the service that was promised, and you do so in a timely fashion.
Posted In: Luxury Travel Tips
In case you missed it, the luxury and niche travel business has been exploding in growth. Tour operators are offering more upscale itineraries with custom built coaches and five-star hotels than ever before. Capacity in the luxury cruise segment increased by 45% in 2016 alone, and will double again by 2020. And of course, river cruising is still on a juggernaut, fueling the growth more than any other sector.
Posted In: Mike's Morning Missives
You have scheduled face time. Now is not the time to tell anybody how smart you are. Based on the information you uncovered during the fact-finding session, all you are doing is outlining the services you are in position to provide your prospect. There is no need to be cute, or to try to be anything you are not. No need to sound “clever.” No up-selling, no overcoming objections, and no closing. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted In: TRO SMITH
Remember when it was easy enough to snap a photo on a fam trip and use it in your next newsletter?
Remember when you had to spend huge dollars to buy an image to use in a newspaper ad?
Remember when… back in the ‘good ol’ days’ of travel marketing there were only a few sources for images and only a few reasons to use them.
Posted In: Departures
From art lovers to history buffs, Antwerp has something for everyone. With beautiful Renaissance and Gothic-style buildings, famous Flemish art, and the oldest animal park in Belgium, Antwerp is a charming place to blend the past with the present. Thanks to VISITFLANDERS, the supplier sponsor for this article, you will not miss a moment of Antwerp’s exciting activities.
Posted In: Mike's Morning Missives
I still like to consider selling as a contact sport. That means the sooner you physically get in front of people, the sooner the game begins. Your job is to get an appointment. All efforts should be designed toward scheduling an appointment. The best way to do this is to contact your prospect, and inform them that you have a service they will find to be very helpful when it comes to vacation planning and management.
Posted In: Mike's Morning Missives
This is where the action is. Finding new accounts…people to help…people to serve.
Do you have a list of travel account targets? Ten will do if you don’t have any. Twenty is better. You don’t want or need 500. Are you contacting these people on a regular scheduled basis? Read the rest of this entry »
Posted In: 60-Second Geography
Cozumel is an island located in the Caribbean Sea, and highly popular among travelers due to the abundant scuba diving and snorkeling. Cozumel offers both the excitement of a luxurious getaway, and the educational experience of exploring new cultures, as there are many close areas on the mainlands of Mexico to explore. Thanks to ShoreTrips, the sponsor supplier of this article, you won’t miss a second of adventure exploring Cozumel and the surrounding areas.
Posted In: Publishers Corner
Before your client becomes a repeat client, before they ever book with you at all, they have to know you exist. In fact, the most difficult and expensive part of any marketing strategy is building brand awareness: alerting prospective clients to who you are and what you do. Too often, travel professionals market not according to a plan, but impulsively, with a heroic “give it a try” mentality. That certainly is one way to market, but tends to be error-prone and expensive.
Is there a better solution? Read the rest of this entry »
Posted In: Mike's Morning Missives
For the next five days, I’m going to discuss the five areas that make up your sales and marketing strategy. I am certain you will not find my reminders to be new or earthshaking fodder for the evening news.
Posted In: Editorial Musings
I am sure you all have seen the headlines this week. “Family Searching For Answers After Daughter Dies at Resort During Vacation in Mexico.” It dominated my timeline and feed on social media. Ugh, here we go again. And, not unlike our current President, the media is proving to not be our friend. When I read the first article, I wanted to shout “fake news, fake news” but couldn’t. It is not fake at all. Tragically a woman died as a result of an incident at a resort in Mexico. The issue is that only part of the story is being told. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted In: Soundings
At this point, most major cruise lines have only released itineraries through April 2019. However, 2020 can be booked now for certain itineraries. For example, take Regent Seven Seas’ recently announced 2020 World Cruise. It starts in San Francisco (departing January 24, 2020) or Miami (departing January 6, 2020). The 131 night itinerary includes 6 continents, 30 countries, 66 ports of call, 3 oceans crossed, 11 seas cruised, 36 UNESCO World Heritage sites, 13 overnight stays, 330 free shore excursions to choose from, and 33,871 nautical miles sailed.
