First in a series on the influx of untrained newcomers to the industry

“I am looking to join a host agency and feeling a bit overwhelmed,” reads a recent Facebook post. “I am looking for a smaller agency that is personable, honest, and helps you reach your goals. That is either low-cost or free. Sells cruise lines as well as Disney, all-inclusives, and more. Offers CLIA. High commission split and no requirements on how much you sell.” Signed, Anonymous.

We’ve all seen posts like that and cringed. And last week, Angela Hughes addressed it in an open letter to the industry—and to those looking to enter it—that I thought was worth sharing Read the rest of this entry »

Citing the fallout from Covid-19, cruise operator Hornblower has filed for bankruptcy, and its American Queen subsidiary has ceased operations.

Private-equity firm Strategic Value Partners has agreed to acquire majority ownership of Hornblower and “provide a significant equity investment in the business,” but the deal will require approval from the US Bankruptcy Court in Houston, the Wall Street Journal reported. Private-equity firm Crestview Partners will retain a minority interest and become the sole owner of Journey Beyond, the leading experiential travel provider in Australia.

Hornblower said in a statement that American Queen Voyages hopefully will be sold; if no buyer is found its operations will be wound down.

Hornblower also provides ferry services to the Statue of Liberty and the Ellis National Museum of Immigration in New York, and to Alcatraz Island in San Francisco. Those services will continue operations.

Guests who have booked an American Queen Voyages cruise should visit the line’s dedicated refund website to submit a claim form and begin the refund process, or call (888) 202-5784.

Hornblower said it expects to move through the bankruptcy process quickly and emerge from Chapter 11 in about four months. It has a commitment for $300 million in financing from Deutsche Bank, $121 million in new-money financing from SVP-managed funds and Crestview.

“The steps we are taking today will enable us to address AQV and strengthen our financial foundation as we continue serving our guests and commuters around the world. With the support of our financial stakeholders, we will continue to advance our business initiatives and drive growth. We thank the entire Hornblower team for their hard work and dedication, as well as our vendors and partners across our businesses for their continued support,” said Hornblower Group CEO Kevin Rabbitt.

In the latest step toward pushing customers to book direct, American Airlines today announced that it will only grant AAdvantage® miles and loyalty points to customers who book through an AA or partner site, a corporate account, or a “preferred agency” that books at least 30% of its trips through the American Airlines NDC.

At the same time, the company raised fees on baggage checking and pets in the cabin.

The NDC ruling takes effect May 1, 2024. Customers can receive points only if they book through AA or its partner airlines, are an AAdvantage Business™ member or have a contracted corporate travel account, or book through an “eligible preferred travel agency.”

“All agencies on a 2024 contracted incentive agreement issued by American are eligible to qualify into the preferred agency program at American’s sole discretion, which enables travelers booking through your agency to continue earning AAdvantage^® miles and Loyalty Points,” the company website now states (Preferred agency program – American Airlines Global Sales (exploreamerican.com). “Agencies will be evaluated on the criteria outlined below, which focus on the use of Modern Retailing technology to provide the best possible traveler experience when booking and servicing tickets. Agencies must be approved by American Airlines to qualify as a preferred agency, and agencies should contact their Modern Retailing business manager to discuss their individual approval process and timeline.”

There are three qualifying criteria:

1. Agencies must be on a 2024 incentive agreement issued by American at American’s sole discretion. If, at any point, their incentive agreement with American ends, the agency will no longer be able to participate in the preferred agency program.
2. Agencies must adopt and implement American’s NDC and shop and book through American’s NDC connections, meeting the progressive NDC thresholds below. Shopping and booking must be done in accordance with American’s connection and capacity requirements.

3. As customers consider purchasing an American Airlines offer, fare rules, product attributes, and fare restrictions should be fully displayed and clearly communicated. A new product attribute of American’s offers is the ability to earn AAdvantage^® For an agency to be considered preferred, they must demonstrate their ability to clearly communicate to customers when they earn AAdvantage^®miles in the online booking tool throughout the booking flow before a purchase is finalized.Agencies must contact their Modern Retailing business manager to begin the review and approval process on display criteria.

   The deadline for the display qualification criteria is July 1, 2024, to allow time for the completion of any necessary updates.

   If an agency meets the criteria for the first NDC threshold on April 21, 2024, customers with tickets issued by the preferred agency between April 21 and June 30 will earn miles and Loyalty Points. In order for customers purchasing a ticket July 1, 2024, and beyond to earn, however, the agency must meet the display criteria.

Basic Economy fare tickets will only earn when booked directly with American and eligible partner airlines.

“We want to make it more convenient for customers to enjoy the value and magic of travel,” said Vasu Raja, American’s Chief Commercial Officer. “Not only does booking directly with American provide the best possible experience, it’s also where we offer the best fares and it’s most rewarding for our AAdvantage members.”

Baggage Fees on the rise

Also in the announcement were new rates for baggage on trips booked beginning tomorrow.

The new fee for domestic flights including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as Canada and short-haul international flights, is $35 for the first checked bag if purchased online or $40 at the airport. A second bag will cost $45 whether purchased online or at the airport.

AAdvantage® status members, customers in premium cabins, active-duty U.S. military personnel and most AAdvantage® credit cardmembers flying domestically will continue to receive complimentary bags.

The fee for oversize bags that are only slightly larger than heavier than regular bags will be lower, however. Bags that weigh less than 70 pounds currently cost $100, but will be charged just $30 effective April 17.

The pet-in-cabin fee was raised to $150.

New York, NY. “We’re in the renaissance of the travel advisor in the distribution channel, driven by the general public,” Travel Leaders Group president John Lovell told a group of trade reporters last week.

Travelers in February are accustomed to keeping an eye on the weather before they depart for the airport. But this year, it’s wise to keep up to date with where the strikes are being held.

This weekend the action will be in France, where two large unions representing railroad workers will walk off the job in the middle of the country’s winter school holidays, upsetting the plans of skiers and visitors alike.

Train conductors are set to strike from Friday, Feb. 16, through Sunday, Feb. 18, on Zones A (including Grenoble, Lyon and Bordeaux) and C (including Paris and Toulouse), canceling half of all trains. Additional unannounced actions are expected from Thursday evening into Monday morning.

SNCF has urged travelers to move their trips to different days if possible, and promised “exceptional compensation” for those affected by the strike. And Jean-Pierre Farandou, chief of the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF, France’s state-owned railroad) noted that “we will try to run all the trains that head to the Alps and the Pyrénées for the winter holidays.”

In other labor disputes, meanwhile, rail workers in Spain have been striking every Monday in February, and bus and metro workers in Paris are threatening to strike any time from now through September 9, including the Olympics. Tens of thousands of flight attendants yesterday picketed at more than 30 US and UK airports as part of the Worldwide Flight Attendant Day of Action. Uber and Lyft drivers are striking today; Alaska Air flight attendants yesterday voted to strike; travelers to Europe last week faced mass cancellations and delays due to ongoing strikes in Germany and Finland.

If you’re headed to a cruise in the Bahamas, it might be a good idea to pay now for that excursion to their private island. Prices are likely to go up after March 1, when the Bahamas begins charging a new 10% Value Added Tax (VAT).

The Bahamian government will be adding the VAT to all purchases of goods and services at any private island operated by a cruise line—including food and beverages, recreational activities, equipment rentals, spa services, cabana rentals and shore excursions bought on islands including Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay, Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay, MSC’s Ocean Cay, Norwegian’s Great Stirrup Cay or the new Carnival Half Moon Cay.

The proposal ends a nine-year VAT exemption for the private islands. Normally retailers in the Bahamas charge a 12% VAT on all goods and services.

Announcing the change, Bahamas’ Financial Secretary Simon Wilson told local news that “originally, we were under the impression given to us by the cruise lines that any commercial activity on the private islands was an extension of the package purchased [by passengers] on ship—they were indistinguishable. That’s not the case. The private islands are much bigger, much more diverse in their operations, and they actually compete with Bahamas-based businesses for onshore excursions.”

While the cruise industry has until February 16 to provide feedback on the VAT changes, Wilson said he expects the tax to take effect as planned on March 1.

Visitors to the Bahamas can get refunds for VATs they pay on purchases of more than $100. But they must shop at designated retailers, request a VAT refund form at the point of sale, complete the form, and present it to a Customs officer when they leave the country.

The Bahamas last year increased its cruise passenger tax 27%, from $18 to $23, for ships stopping at Nassau and Freeport, and to $25 for those going to private islands, and also added a $7 per person tourism tax. Meanwhile, the US State Department issued a travel advisory cautioning travelers about violence ashore, after 18 people were murdered so far this year. And yet, CocoCay is the number-one preferred destination for Royal Caribbean guests.

Sure, sure, you are so busy that you just have no time to even think about marketing. Yet, marketing is the foundation on which all businesses rely. Smart travel advisors with whom we spoke are blocking out time on their schedules to do some outreach, finding new ways to connect, and turning to SEO algorithms and Pinterest to “meet clients where they are.” Read the rest of this entry »

“We’re in the renaissance of the travel advisor in the distribution channel, driven by the general public,” says Tavel Leaders Group president John Lovell. Groups are back; corporate is growing; luxury is blossoming, he told a group of trade reporters at a press conference in the beautiful Ritz Carlton Nomad in Manhattan on Tuesday.

Travel Leaders Network president Roger Block was quick to agree. “2023 was a heck of a year in terms of growth, profitability, business moving upscale, membership – you name a metric and 2023 was outstanding – and 2024 is looking as good, if not better,” Block said. TLN has signed up 300 new travel agency members in the United States and 42 in Canada (for a net gain of 155), projected to sell $635 million worth of travel.

That’s not including the first 2024 new member, “mega-host agency” Inteletravel, which claimed $800 million in 2023 sales.

Among the biggest growth areas for TLN advisors is luxury, where 2924 sales already are up 19% over 2023. The 328 members of Travel Leaders’ Luxury Leaders Advisor Alliance racked up a total of $450 million in sales last year, averaging $1.37 million each.

Group travel also is on a wave; it “really didn’t come back in 2023, but now people are taking out speculative groups; affinity groups are coming back together; businesses are getting teams together and doing incentive trips,” Lovell said. “We’re really seeing group business come back very strong.”

Indeed, the biggest issue seems to be finding employees, Block and Lovell agreed. Where in the brick-and-mortar past newcomers to the industry started as full-time employees, today’s travel advisors are more inclined to start out as independent contractors on their own. “Those ICs used to be the pipeline for full-time employees,” Lovell noted—and now the pipeline is gone.

“We’re trying to attract new talent, but we’re getting 10 here and 10 there—and we need hundreds,” he said. So perhaps the most important thing for those looking to hire is to get out the word that being a travel advisor is a great job opportunity.

Here’s the pitch for you to use, compliments of Lovell: “What industry can you put your finger on and say it’s going to grow 8%? If you look at the hotels, ships, and river cruise ships being built, you can see it is going to grow 8% –and the travel advisor distribution channel is getting more and more of the market. Royal Caribbean just built a $2 billion ship—now that’s a vote of confidence!—and we sell 30% of their inventory. It’s a great time and a great moment in time,
for us as an industry.”

Cruisers looking for something a little different will find lots of options on Crystal this year, as the line rolls out themed cruises for lovers of film, theater and golf.

The fun begins in February, when Grammy-nominated musical theater star Christine Allado will perform on the Film & Theater Enthusiasts sailing (Feb. 16-28) to Hong Kong. Broadway musical historian Steven Friedman, former regional marketing director for United Artists and Columbia Pictures Andrew Friedenberg, and movie and TV actor Bruce McGill will also be onboard to provide insights and anecdotes at fireside chats.

In Europe, the July 18-30 sailing from Lisbon to Dover will host golf instructors David Leadbetter and Roberto Borgatti, who will help players of all skill levels perfect their swings—and help those who are interested pass the PGA Player Ability Test.

In the fall, two sailings between New York and Quebec (October 10-18 and 18-26) will highlight the Great White Way, featuring actress and singer Rachel York, known for her iconic stage roles in City of Angels, Les Miserables, and Kiss Me Kate. More names from Broadway marquees will be announced in the next few weeks.

“We are thrilled to bring back our themed cruises, each tailored to provide an immersive and enriching experience for our guests,” said Vice President of Entertainment Keith Cox.

American Cruise Lines will be sailing its American Revolution 11-day itineraries round-trip out of Washington DC in 2024.

The only cruise ship that sails the Potomac into Washington, American Constitution will depart from The Wharf and sail the Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac and the York River, with calls in the historic ports of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Jamestown, Mount Vernon, Annapolis and Norfolk.

It’s a particularly interesting offer for the drive-to cruise market, “allowing many guests to skip flights and jump on board hassle- free,” noted American’s Director of Business Development Melissa Young

Cruises on the American Revolution itinerary will run in the spring and fall 2024, beginning March 26 and including Cherry Blossom season. They all include entertainment and enrichment, as well as regionally inspired cuisine featuring Maryland’s famous Blue Crabs. Excursions in Washington include guided tours of the Capitol and the Smithsonian museums, as well as Arlington National Cemetery, the Harriet Tubman’s Underground Railroad exhibit, Colonial Williamsburg, the Jamestown Settlement, and Virginia Beach, and an authentic sailing on “Skipjack” through the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.

Wave season specials include savings up to $1,500 plus complimentary airfare on select Spring dates. There is also an option to add a pre-cruise hotel stay at the Four Seasons, D.C.

The largest small ship and river cruise operator in the United States, American Cruise Lines will sail 19 ships in 35 states, with more than 50 domestic itineraries.

“I’ve been in travel for nine years and this is the busiest January I’ve had; every day there’s a new lead from social media,” says Megan Amelio at Bridie Travel in Chicago. “Literally, every day there’s a new post on our local Facebook groups and Google looking for a travel advisor.”

“It’s January 17, and I’ve already booked what I booked in all of January 2023, and I’m nowhere near done,” says Cheri Smith. “I can hardly keep up with the requests.”

They are not alone Read the rest of this entry »

A strike by train drivers is crippling London transit today (Tuesday) and causing delays for travelers headed for the airports.

Members of the ASLEF union are on strike against the Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, Thameslink, South Western Railway and Great Northern railroad lines over the week of January 30 through Monday, February 5.

The union will hold two more 48-hour strikes on the London Overground, on February 19 and March 4. And on the London Underground, the Central Line is suspended between North Acton and Ealing Broadway due to a “points failure.”

The strikes are causing widespread delays for travelers trying to get to and from London airports.

London Heathrow is accessible on the Heathrow Express, the Elizabeth Line, and the Tube. But other major airports will be badly affected—with most trains canceled on strike days.

For example:

London Gatwick will have no Gatwick Express nor Thameslink service on Tuesday, January 30. Passengers headed to London can use a Southern shuttle service, nonstop between the airport and Victoria, or the GWR link from Gatwick to Redhill, Guildford and Reading.

London Stansted will have an hourly skeleton service on Friday, February 2, with “service alterations” on the other days.

Manchester airport will have a drastically reduced rail service on Wednesday, January 31, with only an hourly link on Transport for Wales to and from central Manchester, Chester and North Wales.

Birmingham airport is likely to be inaccessible by rail on Saturday, February 3, except for Transport for Wales from Birmingham New Street.

Independent contractors are the backbone of the industry, Lee says, at the Host Week 2024 kick-off.

There have been four notable trends in the hosted travel advisor market, says Steph Lee:

1. A ton of new advisors are coming down the pipeline and interest in a travel career is at an all-time high.
2. Independent contractors with three years of experience are earning an average of $60,000.
3. Hosted advisors make up the majority of the travel advisor distribution channel.
4. More agencies are expanding into hosting than ever before, and the largest agencies are growing fastest.

Those are the takeaways from the opening session of Host Agency Reviews’ 2024 Host Week, a weeklong online love and education fest for independent contractors and their hosts that began today (Host Week 2024! | Host Agency Reviews).

There was “a crazy level of interest” in becoming a travel agent last year, and inquiries to host agency reviews are up a whopping 66%, Lee said. And that’s good news for the industry as a whole, as a huge influx of advisors is going to need their support in this busiest year ever.

“In an industry that’s bogged down with customer requests, we’re so excited that you’re here!” she said.

For HAR’s recent survey of the industry, one out of four respondents was new to the industry, up 11 percentage points from the previous year. The Travel Institute reports that 71% of travel advisors are now independent contractors.

Independent contractors are more professional than they used to be, too. In 2019 50% of hosted advisors were working in travel full time–but in 2022, the number rose by more than a third, to 66%.

The “average” independent contractor today has annual sales of just under $500,000 and earns an income of $60,000 after three years in business. Her number-one product is ocean cruises, and her commission split is 80% for the first three years and 90% thereafter.

There were 150 host agencies in 2019—a number that leaped to 204 last year and 243 today. They each host an average of 393 agents, up from 376 last year, with most growth at high end, among networks that host more than 500 agents. The number of hosts with more than 1,000 agents saw a huge jump, to 4,000 today from 2,900 in 2019.

A change in US Department of Labor (DOL) regulations should have travel agencies taking a second look at their relationships with independent contractors, travel lawyers say. While the new requirements are relatively easy to meet, their details spell trouble for some agencies. TRO reached out to travel attorneys Mark Pestronk and Tom Carpenter to get their take on what it means—and their advice on what to do Read the rest of this entry »

There’s no word yet on when Southwest Airlines can expect its flight attendants to walk off the job—but the likelihood is much stronger following an overwhelmingly pro-strike vote this week.

About 98% of voting members voted to go on strike, Transport Workers Union Local 556 reports—many more than the 64% who turned down the airline’s contract proposal last month. If they do, it would be the first strike by flight attendants in Southwest’s history.

“98% YES sends a strong message of solidarity,” the union wrote on X. “We will do whatever it takes to get a Contract that recognizes our contributions to the success of our co.”

As a first step in their protest, many Southwest flight attendants will join thousands of airline workers on the picket lines for the worldwide Flight Attendant Day of Action on Feb. 13. Organized by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, it will include picketing at more than 30 airports globally.

The flight attendants cited cost of living increases as well as a better deal offered to pilots, whose new contract includes a 50% pay raise over the next five years.

Take a dose of global warming, add an increase in tourism and a fire in Maui, and what do you get? In Hawaii, it adds up to a new tourist tax.

In his State of the State address, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green renewed the call for a “climate impact fee” to be charged to every visitor to the Aloha State.

A proposed $50 charge failed to pass the legislature last year. But this week, Green proposed a “modest” $25 fee, to be paid by every visitor who stays at a hotel or short-term rental on any Hawaiian island.

The resulting $68 million a year would be used for “beach preservation, fire breaks, and other prevention measures to help us avoid tragedies like the one last year in Maui,” Green said.

“A Climate Impact Fee on visitors would provide the needed resources to protect our environment and increase awareness of the impacts of climate change,” he noted. “I believe this is not too much to ask of visitors to our islands Hawaii’s natural resources — our beaches, forests, and waterfalls — are an essential part of our culture and our way of life.”

At a press conference following the State of the State, House Speaker Scott Saiki and Finance Committee Chair Kyle Yamashita said they will consider Green’s visitor fee, as well as an increase in the existing transient accommodations tax, currently 10.25%.

Highlighting its newest itinerary, American Cruise Lines on Monday officially welcomed its second Coastal Cat ship, American Glory, in Key West, Florida.

Sailing round trip from St. Petersburg, American Glory will visit Punta Gorda, Marco Island and Key West on its seven-night Florida Gulf Coast & Keys itinerary from January 26 through March, and then again in November and December. Glory’s sister ship, American Legend, is scheduled to sail the same itinerary beginning in November.

Both ships are part of American Cruise Line’s ‘Project Blue,’ a fleet of 12 small ships, carrying 100 passengers each, designed to sail almost every domestic US itinerary. The Coastal Cats will sail the east coast from Maine to Florida throughout 2024 and 2025.

At the christening ceremony for American Glory, American Cruise Lines president and CEO Charles B. Robertson introduced the ship’s godmother, Key West mayor Teri Johnston.

“Docking in Mallory Square is a privilege, and we are honored to be a new small piece of the Key West community,” he said.

American Glory has four decks, a unique catamaran bow, an elegant interior design and private balconies, as well as a restaurant, casual café and fitness center.

American Cruise Lines is building five ships in 2024, and will operate 19 ships and cruise more than 50 domestic itineraries, ranging from six to sixty days, in 35 states, including both coasts and many rivers in between. All the ships are American-built, flagged, and crewed.

(Part 2 of 2. For two more great ideas, see Nine Great Ideas for 2024: Travel Advisors Share New Agendas for the New Year | Travel Research Online. I know that’s 10 in all, I’ve added one more since last week!)

It’s going to be a busy year, travel advisors say. While for some the focus is on building their client base, making it more profitable, or marketing to new customers, others say their biggest challenge in 2024 is time management.

At Cruise Planners-The Zeneri Team, Melissa Shanks is looking more to grow her high-end customer base through a luxury travel club she is organizing with two of her associates Read the rest of this entry »

Celebrity Cruises is taking extraordinary steps to keep its Galapagos customers safe. Silversea is canceling a cruise in the Red Sea. From South America to the Middle East, political unrest continued to keep the cruise industry—and the travel advisors who sell its products—on their toes last week.

Celebrity, last week, issued an advisory asking guests booked on Galapagos cruises on Celebrity Flora, Celebrity Xploration and Celebrity Xpedition to not arrive in the country until the day before their sailing.

c, the pre-departure arrival point for many guests, is considered its most dangerous, as its ports have become a hub for drug smuggling. Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa has declared a state of “internal armed conflict” and imposed a nationwide state of emergency and nighttime curfew after a wave of gang violence in which armed men interrupted a live TV broadcast and took more than 100 prison staff hostage.

Lindblad Expeditions has cancelled two cruises in the region that were scheduled to sail on January 12 and 13, National Geographic Endeavour II and Islander II “out of an abundance of caution,” and noting a “lack of clarity” regarding air travel. Celebrity Cruises is taking extraordinary steps to keep its customers safe. Silversea canceled a call in Manta, Ecuador, on Silver Nova, which is sailing a 71-day roundtrip sailing around South America, and Azamara canceled a stop as well. Intrepid and G Adventures posted travel alerts on their websites informing travelers of the 60-day state of emergency and noted they are monitoring the situation carefully.

Celebrity issued an advisory asking guests booked on Celebrity Flora, Celebrity Xploration and Celebrity Xpedition to not arrive in the country until the day before their sailing.

In a letter sent January 10, Celebrity stressed that cruises are not cancelled But, guests who feel uncomfortable can cancel their bookings with a full refund and have the opportunity for price protection on future voyages when they book a new cruise before 2025. Celebrity Cruises also will reimburse guests for any fees they incur for changing their inbound flights.

Guests who are sailing on the three ships will be housed at the new Holiday Inn, in a secure area near the airport, and are asked not to leave the hotel. Celebrity staffers will escort guests as they transfer to the hotel and on to their flights to Baltra.

All pre- and post-cruise excursions in Ecuador have been suspended.

“Any Celebrity pre- or post-cruise packages in Ecuador will be cancelled and refunded, as these will no longer take place. For independently purchased pre- or post-cruise purchases, we recommend you cancel these, and we will review refund requests,” Celebrity Cruises said in the letter.

Celebrity says it is closely monitoring the situation and may still cancel cruises if the situation deteriorates.

Mariscal Sucre Quito International Airport in Quito and José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil remain fully operational, but American Airlines, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines all have canceled some flights, and American, Delta, LATAM and United have issued waivers for travel to the country.

In the Middle East, meanwhile, trouble in the Red Sea and Yemen has more cruise ships scrambling to find alternative routes.

After making changes to the itinerary of the last sailing, Silversea last week canceled Silver Moon’s January 16-26 sailing of the Silver Moon Muscat-Dubai itinerary and is “in the process of informing affected guests and their travel agents of the reprotection options. Our global security team continues to closely monitor the situation in the region and will make any additional changes if required,” a spokesperson told TRO.

The cruise was scheduled to visit several destinations in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrein, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Affected passengers will receive different compensations, including refund of the fate of the cancelled cruise portion, and Future Cruise Credits (FCCs).

But the January 26-February 11 sailing remains scheduled, as are future voyages.

MSC Cruises, meanwhile, has rerouted MSC Poesia’s 115-day world cruise, which now will circumnavigate Africa instead of passing through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea.

We got so many great stories, we’ve divided this article into two! Read part 1 here.

You know it’s going to be a great year when a story about what’s new ends up being about how to cope with all the business coming our way.

On the drawing board for 2024, many travel advisors report, are strategies to focus on high-end clients; hire assistants; host more groups; charge fees—or raise them. Some are taking a step into new technologies; others are building new kinds of road maps and vision boards to keep track of where they are Read the rest of this entry »

Travelers on the road for long periods—and travel advisors working from far-flung destinations—have a new option, as Hilton this week rolled a new studio apartment-style, extended stay hotel brand.

Priced at the “lower-midscale,” LivSmart Studios by Hilton addresses the growing “resilient $300 billion workforce travel market,” said brand leader Isaac Lake.

Focused on travelers staying 20 nights or more, the new properties will have three signature elements:

• Deliberate Design: A modern farmhouse-inspired palette with light industrial touches, an outdoor patio with grills and a communal fire pit.
  Spacious Studio Apartment-Style Accommodations: Spacious bathrooms, ample storage space, movable multi-purpose furniture, and a fully equipped kitchen with a full-sized refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave and two-burner stovetop.
• Nontraditional Lobby Experience: A light-filled public area with a large guest laundry room, a state-of-the-art fitness center and a simple retail market.
  Hilton says the brand already has 350 deals in progress; one 137-room property already is under construction, scheduled to open in late summer.
• Hilton also this week re-opened the Conrad Singapore Orchard, its second Conrad Hotels & Resorts property in Singapore, following extensive reinvention and refurbishment, in an exclusive enclave of Orchard Road.

Conrad Singapore Orchard’s 445 guest rooms promise “refined residential living” with floor-to-ceiling windows, plantation shutters, natural tones and potted tropical trees. Each guestroom features prints by Singaporean artists. There are 46 suites with expansive terraces, including the three-bedroom Conrad Suite, spanning 210 square meters, with a dining room for eight, as well as an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a balconied Executive Lounge, 13 event venues and the grand Royal Pavilion Ballroom.