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- By Category
An index of categories in the #echo var=

10 Great Options While in Santa Fe, NM
For those that love art, good food, unique shopping, history, or looking for romance, Santa Fe, New Mexico can be a great getaway.

A Journey to St. Lucia

ASTA Travel Agent Courses
The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) offers a variety of productive education courses and webinars travel agents may want to look into that may boost their careers.

About - Tourism Buyer's Guide
Find Guide reviews, top picks, and advice you can use before you buy.

Air Fare Increases
Airfare prices in general seem to be skyrocketing. With the price of jet fuel rising, the obvious thought would be future increases as well. As a travel

Airfare Bargains
Airfare Bargains

Airlines Association with Global Distribution Systems
Comparison shopping is of foremost importance when searching for the best price and convenience for airline travelers. Travel professionals are relied upon to

Airport Security
Security screenings can be made easier with advance preparation. My description of the TSA process and DIA, Denver and McCarran Airport in Las Vegas.

Alabama Gulf Beach Vacations
Hurricane Katrina and the gulf oil spill curbed vacation travel to the beaches of Alabama in the past few years. However, most of the area is beautiful, clean, and ready for visitors. The gulf beach area is coming back to life. Travel professionals may want to recommend this for a family or couples beach or golf vacation.

Ancillary Fees Creating Travel Havoc
Ancillary fees, or all those extra fees added to airline travel, are creating havoc in the travel community. These fees are making travel costs uncertain and nearly impossible to compare actual costs of airfare in advance of travel. This creates problems for travel agents, travel management companies, and travelers themselves.

Ancillary Fees-Airline Revenue
Airline revenue from ancillary fees add up to as much as 32% of an airline's annual total income. Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines are among the highest in fee

Aulani-Disney Arrives in Hawaii
Walt Disney lovers can now enjoy a new resort in Hawaii, the Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa, on the island of Oahu. Besides having outstanding service and ambiance Disney Resorts are known for, Hawaiian cultures and traditions are evident around the Aulani as well.

BBQ Challenge, Frisco, CO
While walking toward Main Street, the smell of barbecue floats through the air. The annual Frisco, CO, BBQ Challenge took place June 17-20, 2010. Main Street

Beach Vacation at Cape Cod
Beach Vacation at Cape Cod

Becoming an Independent Travel Agent
Becoming an independent travel agent can still be a very profitable business to consider. According to a study by ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents), and NACTA ((National Association of Career Travel Agents), 57 percent of independent travel agents saw an increase in sales in 2010, even with the downturned economy.

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Brazil, World Cup and Olympics
Rio de Janeiro has been honored with hosting both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. Since the announcements of the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, more travelers from the U.S. have shown interest in travel to Brazil, according to some travel surveys.

Breaking Into the Luxury Travel Market
Many travel agents wish they could break into the luxury travel market. What does it take to start selling world luxury cruises, Arctic treks, or luxury African safaris? The answer is networking among the right groups and education. Some of this requires a financial investment, but agents can start learning at no cost.

Britain’s Royal Wedding, 2011: A Big Boost for London Tours
Now that Prince William and Kate Middleton have chosen April 29, 2011 for their royal wedding occasion, well wishers and devoted royalty fans may want a London tour in hopes of catching a glimpse of the happy couple. London tours should be a huge hit next year and boost to London’s economy.

Car Rental Questions
When customers ask a travel agent for a car rental reservation, it is really important to know details of their travel before renting. With these hard economic times, car rental companies are adding many more restrictions and fees.

Continuing Education
Continuing education is an enormous factor in keeping current in travel procedures and global tourism. There is education for travel destinations, accounting, airline regulations, tour companies, on-line cruise and tour operator web sites.

Copper Mountain Resort Family Vacation
After a recent visit to Copper Mountain Resort, I noticed how family friendly of a resort it is for winter or summer travel. This would be a great place for a travel agent to recommend for a family vacation.

Cruise Booking Portals for Travel Agents
In the old days, a travel agent had no choice but to call cruise lines for rates and information. Then after a few calls, the agent may call back to reserve the

Cruise Line Jobs
What does it take to get employment on a cruise ship? Working on a cruise ship sounds like a dream job, but the bottom line is that it takes a lot of hard work,

Cruise Line Safety
Cruise Line Safety

Cruising Power for Travel Agents
Cruising Power is a vital resource for travel agents for booking individual or group reservations for Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity and Azamara Club Cruises. This web based program is chocked full of information, brochure and flier templates, and a booking engine for reservations.

Culinary Travel Destinations
Culinary travel may be a fantastic vacation for some clients. Many travel customers look to their travel agent to suggest new travel ideas. Knowing clients'

Dauphin Island, Alabama, A Gem in the Gulf
Dauphin Island, the one mile wide island across the causeway from the Alabama mainland, is a gem on the gulf coast. White sand beaches spread around the island, along with history, activities and even higher education.

Developing Religious and Spiritual Travel Business
Faith based and spiritual travel is an increasingly large market for travel professionals to consider. Training and education to market these groups can be obtained though many sources. With the desire to work hard and knowledge of these groups the rewards may be substantial.

Earning Group Travel
Tonight I had the opportunity to meet with a prominent member of a large church in town about group vacation trips. I strongly urge travel agents to reach out

Earning Loyalty Points
Travelers and travel professionals rely more on loyalty programs to supplement their work benefits and supplement their income.

Ecotourism
Travel and tourism with environmental awareness to unpopulated, natural or pristine locations with careful minimal impact to area culture, landscape, wildlife and marine life.

Ecotourism Flourishes at the Kingfisher Bay Resort
Ecotourism brings to mind natural, unspoiled surroundings. The Kingfisher Bay Resort at Fraser Island, Australia fits the description.

Ecotourism: Is it truly an Eco-Friendly Vacation?
Ecotourism is a travel concept than can be confusing and difficult to figure out. The Encarta Dictionary definition is “a form of tourism that strives to minimize ecological or other damage to areas visited for their natural or cultural interest.” Some travel packages claim to provide ecotourism, or eco-friendly vacations, but are they really? Research needs to be done before a travel agent sells such a vacation to their clients.

Egypt Tourists Flee the Country
Tour Operators and cruise lines around the world are now scrambling to get their guests out of Egypt and rearrange their tours and cruises With the unrest in the country, it has become increasingly dangerous for tourists.

Electronic Passports
Electronic Passports

Employment
Travel and tourism employment opportunities for the job seeker and staffing and personnel issues are discussed along with tips and techniques from the field. Profiles, people and announcements from the travel field are entertained.

Encouraging Cruise Line Safety
In light of the tragic cruise disaster on the Costa Concordia, January 13, 2012, travel agents are asked to assure clients of the safety and advantages of cruising, as opposed to other vacations, or for those first time cruisers who may choose not to go at all.

Exotic Vacations for Clients
Do you have clients that are always looking for somewhere new and exotic to travel to? Being a travel agent, looking through brochures and dreaming of exotic destinations seemed to be a hobby of mine.

FAA Reauthorization Bill: Senate and House Versions
The last Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Reauthorization expired in 2007, though extensions have been renewed several times. The Senate has passed their version of the new bill, and the House will vote this week, after ongoing deliberations of the bill. Both the House and Senate will have two months to combine a version that all can live with. The object of the combined bills should be to strengthen U.S. airline transportation for the future, and increase passenger protection.

FAA Reauthorization Bill: Updating American Travel
When customers ask a travel agent for a car rental reservation, it is really important to know details of their travel before renting. With these hard economic times, car rental companies are adding many more restrictions and fees.

FAA-Another Funding Extension?
The Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, is holding out for another funding extension through Congress. The latest extension lasts until the end of May. The

Faith Based Travel Business: How to Achieve and Keep It
Faith based and spiritual travel is on the rise. Learn how to acquire the business and how to keep it.

Fall Festivals and Oktoberfest Vacations 2011
Not everyone can afford to travel to Germany to take part in Ocktoberfest, but there are plenty of festivals this fall travel agents can book for clients. Money is tight for many people, but a simple suggestion of a fun three or four day festival or fall foliage trip, may keep customers traveling and make an agency profit.

Fam Trips-A Learning Tool or Fun Vacation?
Fam Trips-A Learning Tool or Fun Vacation?

GLBT Military Convention, 2011
GLBT Military Convention, 2011

GLBT Travel Business Opportunities
There is a demand for travel agents with a specialty niche and an awareness of travel needs for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) travelers around the world. The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) supports the use of a travel agent to plan a vacation. IGLTA suggests finding a specialty travel agent who is an expert on the destination of choice.

Global Impact of Japan Earthquake Disaster
The global tourism community is watching and calculating the impact of the recent earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear reactor issues that have devastated parts of Japan, and how it will affect the rest of the world. Besides extending well wishes for the people of Japan, many countries wonder how it will affect trade, tourism, and other financial matters related to each country.

Global Tourism Issues
Global Tourism Issues covers travel news and awareness around the world, including information travelers need to tour the world safely, while having fun and relaxation on vacation, or getting the job done while traveling for business.

Global Tourism Issues
Information necessary to travel including weather issues, federal regulations, one being the Travel Promotion Act and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations. How the economy affects the travel industry including currency conversions.

Glossary
Travel and tourism terms and phrases. Pertinent and current words concerning the travel industry and regulatory agencies for the travel and tourism industry.

Gulf Coast Tourism Restoration
The state of Mississippi will receive a $16 million grant from BP to promote tourism as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in April 2010.

Hapaq-Lloyd Cruises for Luxury Cruisers
Hapaq-Lloyd Cruises offers a luxury small ship experience with four to 26 day itineraries around the world. For those travel agents selling to luxury cruisers, this may be just what the client is looking for. This cruise line has a variety of itineraries, much different than the average Europe, Caribbean or Alaska cruise, with luxurious accommodations to enhance the experience.

Hilton Sandestin; A Recreational Playground
The Hilton Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort has been updated with $6.5 million in recent renovations. The resort, positioned in the Northwest Florida Coast panhandle is complete with white sand beaches, golf courses, and generally a beach lover’s playground.

Hotel Chocolat in St. Lucia
For chocolate lovers who want to experience the creation of their beloved chocolate while surrounded in incredible beauty, travel agents may want to look into Hotel Chocolat, at the Rabot Estate Cocoa Plantation for their clients. This St. Lucia resort offers a different experience for vacationers, combining beauty, a learning experience, and tranquility.

Hotel and Car Loyalty Programs
Hotel and car loyalty programs can be a great benefit for travel agents and travelers.

Hotel and Car Rental Loyalty Programs: Benefits for Agents and Travelers
One of the incentives of being a travel agent is being rewarded by vendors for a substantial number of reservations, better known as loyalty programs for both agents and travelers. Loyalty programs benefit travel professionals as well as the individual traveling.

Hotels and Resorts
Reports and information for new, renovated or existing hotel or resort properties worldwide.

Hotels and Resorts
There are numerous new hotel and resorts around the world that travel professionals should be aware of. Updates on hotel and resort chains are important as well for travel agents to share with their clients. There are reward programs for travel agents and consumers, as well as training for travel professionals that is essential when choosing hotels and resorts for their clients.

Hurricanes-Travel Agents on Call
Hurricanes-Travel Agents on Call

International Travel Summit
International Travel Summit

Karisma Hotels and Resorts, Riviera Maya
Karisma Hotels and Resorts are changing the way families can travel to the Riviera Maya, MX. Going to Cancun and the Riviera Maya in the past was often a

Karisma Thrives in Riviera Maya, MX
Karisma Hotels and Resorts in Riviera Maya Mexico offers a variety of properties for adults only, couples, or families. The resorts are a

Kingfisher Bay Resort, Fraser Island
The Kingfisher Bay Resort is situated in an ecological wilderness area, forty five minutes off the coast of Hervey Bay, north of Brisbane, Australia. For those

Las Vegas-Where to meet?
With the addition of so many new hotels and resorts in Las Vegas, plus all the added meeting space, there should be plenty of deals to attract large functions.

Legal Tours to Cuba for Americans
Legal Tours to Cuba for Americans

London Royal Wedding 2011
Flight availability to London toward the end of April, when Prince William will marry Kate Middleton still looks plenty available. However, will the customers

Luxury Tourism
Luxury tourism ideas, news and information for corporate rewards, VIP services, lounges, private charters and jet shares, and luxury perks available.

March Madness and Travel
March Madness can create extra money, as a travel agent, if the agent has a group of friends or clients who follow their favorite NCAA teams.

Marketing and Promotion Tips to Promote Travel and Tourism Business
Marketing and promotion tips to increase travel and tourism business and profits. How to use social and interactive media to enhance networking and keeping your clientele happy.

Mazatlan, Mexico Dropped as Port of Call
Mazatlan, Mexico, has always been a favorite port on the Mexican Riviera cruises. With recent crime, cruise lines are dropping the popular town as a port of call.

New Caribbean Hotels and Resorts
Travel agents have a variety of new hotels and resorts to offer clients in the Caribbean. There are new boutique hotels and large mega resorts. Some offer an all inclusive package, there are new adults only properties, and some great for kids.

New Caribbean Resorts
New Caribbean Resorts

New Cruise Ports to Entice Cruisers
With many more cruise ships being added to the cruise market, cruise lines must make sure there are appealing ports available to entice cruisers.Travel professionals look for new and unique ports of call from the cruise lines to attract past cruisers, keeping the cruise brand fresh and inviting.

New Cruise Ships Add More New Jobs
With so many new cruise ships entering the vacation market, many more jobs are created as well. According to the Cruise Lines International Association, or CLIA, 35 new ships are planned to enter the North American fleet by 2012. Ships are also getting larger on the whole, accommodating more passengers, therefore needing more crew.

New DOT Airline Consumer Protection Rules
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has implemented new rules to benefit airline passengers, on or before January 26, 2012. Generally the new rules improve the customer’s treatment for flight delays or cancellations, baggage service and airline reservations, plus makes sure all fees are transparent to the customer when quoted.

New DOT Rules-The Effect on Travel Agents
New DOT Rules-The Effect on Travel Agents

New Hotel Booking Engine for Agents
New Hotel Booking Engine for Agents

New Smoking Policy on Cruise Ships
New Smoking Policy on Cruise Ships

New Travel Agent Hotel Booking Engine
Travelport, the travel GDS provider, is unveiling a new hotel booking engine, Travelport Rooms and More™, exclusively for travel agents. This new booking platform will not only be available to those agents using Travelport, but those who do not currently use their GDS service as well.

New and Unique Ports for Cruisers
Soon travel professionals can offer even more new cruise destinations to their customers. For years it seemed like cruisers had the option of choosing from

No More Sleeping on the Job for Air Traffic Controllers
As travel agents we must think about our customers and their travel safety of course. However, when we have nervous flyers for clients, we also have to try and make them feel that air travel is a safe way to travel, before they even by a ticket. We have to believe that ourselves, before we convince others.

No Refund For Airline Taxes
No Refund For Airline Taxes

Open Skies Airlines-An All Business Concept
Open Skies Airline asserts itself as a business class only airline with upgraded services on the ground and in-flight, along with complete French meals on board. The airline, which began service in 2008, offers service from Washington Dulles Airport and Newark Airports in the U.S.A., round trip to Orly Airport in Paris.

Overview of Fashion 26 - A Wyndham Hotel
Fashion 26 A Wyndham Hotel is a trendy new hotel in the fashion district of New York City. The hotel is decorated in fashion themed surroundings and local art adorning the hallways and lobby. The staff all wear designer clothes. Upscale amenities are offered in guestrooms. The hotel features the Rare Bar & Grill with burgers and chic cuisine. The Rare View rooftop bar serves trendy cocktails with a skyline view of New York City.

Pampered Luxury at The Arabelle at Vail Square
Rock Resorts has created a new European inspired luxury resort, Arabelle at Vail Square in Vail, Colorado. For winter and summer vacationers looking for pampered comfort before and after mountain activities, this resort can be a terrific option for travel agents to recommend to clients.

Planning the Perfect Honeymoon for Clients
Spring wedding season is right around the corner. Experienced travel agents know where to find the best deals and the most romantic spots to celebrate the new beginning. Travel professionals will plan the most outlandish honeymoons whether it be a tree house in the rainforest or an elegant resort on a white sand beach.

President Obama Offends Travel Agents
President Obama Offends Travel Agents

Priority Security Screening
Travelers now have opportunities to speed up the security screening process at the airport. Of course it comes at a price. These

Private Luxury Train Travel in the United States
Consider holding a corporate function or entertaining on a moving train car surrounded with luxury. Meeting planners looking for an unmatched venue with a unique luxury experience for business or pleasure should take a closer look at private rail car travel.

Profitable Niche and Specialty Travel
Travel agents engaged in niche and specialty travel may find themselves ahead of the curve when it comes to profits. Becoming a specialist in a niche group

Profitable Travel Business From Sports
Sports teams and production companies can prove to be a profitable account for travel agencies who are willing to put the time and effort into it.

Reduction of Air Travel to Europe
Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM, and Alitalia, members of the airline trans-Atlantic joint venture, plans on reducing passenger capacity from the U.S. and

Referring Clients to Cape Cod and the Beaches
Travel agents may want to suggest Cape Cod when clients are looking for white sand beaches, plenty of activities, and Cape Cod historic colonial charm.

Reservations Ready for the New Disney Dream
The gleaming new Disney Dream was christened on January 19th, by godmother, Jennifer Hudson, with 3,000 spectators watching. With a swish of her magic wand, a helicopter then heaved a 16 foot bottle of dreams toward the new ship in spectacular Disney style. Travel agents now have another ship to help fulfill Disney customers’ dreams.

Rethinking Travel to Japan
High season travel to Japan is right around the corner with the cherry blossoms blooming as spring spreads throughout the country. This year will be different with the major earthquake and tsunami hitting the region.

San Antonio Hill Country
Several Golf and Spa resorts are located in the beautifully rugged San Antonio hills area, but a short distance to enjoy all of San Antonios great attractions.

San Antonio VIA System
This year, 2011, is a great time to visit San Antonio. The city is celebrating the 175th anniversary of the Battle of the Alamo. When clients ask for transportation options in San Antonio, travel agents may recommend the VIA transportation system.

San Antonio, 2011, 175th Anniversary of the Battle of the Alamo
San Antonio celebrates the 175th anniversary of the Battle of the Alamo this year, 2011. What a great time for travel agents to recommend a vacation to San Antonio for their clients.

Selling Clothing Optional Vacations
There are all sorts of travel customers and some just like to have clothing optional, or be able to take it all off, when on vacation. There are clothing optional resorts, nudist resorts or naturist resorts. While on the other hand there are lifestyle resorts or swinger clubs.

Selling Colorado Ski Vacations
Knowing your clients will help travel professionals choose their ski vacations.

Selling Culinary Tours: A Growing Concept in Vacationing
Culinary tours are a hot seller for travel agents to think about marketing to their clients right now. With all the frequently watched food preparation shows on television and all the excitement about culinary schools, tours to learn cooking techniques are quite popular.

Selling Sandals Resort Vacations
Sandals Resorts are a favorite of honeymooners and couples in love. Though there is a lot of competition in the all inclusive upscale resort class of destinations, Sandals Resorts usually are constant winners for travel agents to recommend to clients.

Selling Vacations to Clients With Disabilities
Travel agents with a niche for clients with disabilities can be rewarding, challenging and profitable for an agent. Many disabled tourists would love to travel,

Software and Technology for Travel Companies
Software and technology information for the travel community making the company more efficient and productive through accounting and tracking systems, on-line booking engines, and payment and expense automation.

Some New Legal American Travel to Cuba
Good news for the client waiting to travel to Cuba. It is now legal through Insight Vacations. They have obtained a license from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and can begin selling tour packages.

Southwest Airlines-No Longer Low Cost
Southwest Airlines-No Longer Low Cost

Southwest Vacations Goes Ticketless!
Southwest Vacations Goes Ticketless!

Special and niche travel and tourism for groups and individuals
Finding travel and tourism for niche groups and special interest clients can be a lucrative business. How to build your clientele with special interest tours for individuals and groups and what tour operators specialize in niche travel.

Sports Related Business Travel
No matter what the state of the economy is, there is always business travel related to sports. As a travel agency account representative, landing an account that travels for sports business can be lucrative and challenging.

Sports Tour Groups
Functions such as Superbowl Sunday are a perfect time to bring up the idea of a group sports trip. Everyone is pysched up for the big game and sports are the

Summer in Summit County, Colorado
Summer in Summit County, Colorado can be a fun or relaxing vacation for anyone. Lake Dillon has many activites to offer inlcluding fishing, boating, biking, and hiking, with acess from either Dillor or Frisco, CO. The mountain resorts of Keystone, Copper Mountain, and Breckenridge all have their own individuality that makes them each special. Shopping can be found either at the Outlets at Silverthorne or in any of the resort boutique stores. Getting around is easy and the views are breathtaking.

TSA Requirements and Advisements For Airline Travel
TSA requirements and advisements for travel professionals to advise airline travelers including rules for carry-on luggage, redress numbers and how to get one. TSA travel warnings,advisements, and new screening technology for passengers are reviewed.

TSA Requirements for Airline Travel
Air travel has become increasingly stressful and tedious, though the Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, is trying to make air travel safe and

Ten Reasons to Recommend New Orleans Travel
New Orleans is hopping, and needs tourists back to their city. The city is welcoming with good hotels, good food, and has much to offer tourists. Here are ten

Ten Reasons to Recommend the Gulf Coast
The gulf beaches are beautiful and the local tourism industry is ready for visitors. On a recent visit to Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, and Biloxi, Mississippi, and

The Culinary Class Weekend
Many of my friends are moms who are the regular

The Ever Evolving Las Vegas
Las Vegas, the ever evolving hot spot in the Nevada desert has made big changes in the last few years with more to come soon. Particularly for upscale customers, there are several new choices in accommodations, restaurants and nightlife. Meeting planners and travel agents may have a tough time deciding, with all the variety of accommodations and facilities their clients can choose from in Las Vegas.

The Future for Global Distribution Systems
What will happen if airlines start pulling out of global distribution systems (GDS)? American Airlines no longer have flights and airfares to be sold on Orbitz and Expedia, since they could not come to a contractual agreement. If American succeeds with their exclusive sale of American Airlines (AA) flights only on their Direct Connect affiliated websites, then it seems in turn other airlines will follow.

The Future of Global Distribution Systems for Airline Travel
Imagine if every airline used a separate reservation system to distribute flight information, instead of the familiar global distribution systems (GDS) in place now. Individuals and travel professionals would have to compare flight costs on every reservation page or call each airline separately. This would make the price comparison procedure a time consuming and defeating practice.

The Gulf Coast Comeback
As a travel agent, I was interested in seeing how the gulf coast is trying to make a comeback after the gulf oil spill last April and hurricane Katrina. So far,

The New Boeing Dreamliner
Boeing is in the process of launching a new aircraft, the 787 Dreamliner, hopefully this year.

The Royal Wedding, Super Social Event
The Royal Wedding seems like the Super Bowl of social events for some. As many people go to the host city for the Super Bowl or World Series without game

Third Party Commissions
Third Party Commissions

Third Party Commissions Add Up
When travel agents hear that a cruise line or tour operator pays higher commissions of 12 to 17% for a booking, an inexperienced travel agent may get excited. Those agents that have been around for awhile know that it does not add up to what it used to. That is where third party companies come into play.

Third Party Travel Partnerships
Knowledge concerning tour operators, excursion companies, transportation companies, cruise lines. Find out what they offer and which companies would serve travel clients needs most completely.

Tired of Airport Hassles? Try Luxury Train Travel
For those tired of the hassle at the airports, how about luxury train travel? It may cost more than the average vacation, but for clients willing to put forth

Top Reasons to Visit Village West, Kansas City, Kansas
When people think of Kansas City, they usually think of Kansas City, Missouri. The sleepy farm and grassland area of Kansas City, Kansas has sprouted a new

Tourism Boost for Los Angeles and U.S.
Tourism Boost for Los Angeles and U.S.

Tourism Destination Information
Destination information helpful to the travel community, making traveling easier, safer and more efficient, while making the best vacation possible. Current destination details to save time and money and stress when traveling.

Tourism: What is RSS?
Tourism What is RSS

Training for Travel Agents
To make it in the competitive travel industry today travel agents really need to keep a knowledgeable edge on the competition. Stressing this is important because clients want to know and depend on their travel agent to give them good and accurate information.

Travel Advisory to Mexico
Mexico continues to be the top destination for Americans traveling outside of the United States. However travel advisories against travel to Mexico seem to be

Travel Agent Familiarization Trips
Familiarization trips, or loosely called “fam” trips in the travel agency world, can be a great learning tool for travel agents and meeting planners. As airlines tighten their belts and cut costs, they do not offer the travel agent deals of past decades, but there are training trips still available for agents.

Travel Agents Offered New ARC Programs
Travel agents are very familiar with the Airline Reporting Corporation (ARC), for accreditation in the travel industry, and moreover, to process airline tickets from travel agency and airline sales.

Travel Agents Profit by Selling Shore Excursions
Cruise lines, for the most part, do not pay travel agents for selling shore excursions. However, there are third-party vendors selling shore excursions that do pay travel agent commission. Besides paying the agent, the tours are often lower prices for the customers, or at least the same price.

Travel Agents Utilizing Airfare Consolidators
Travel agents often use consolidators to find lower airfares for their customers, while adding more profit for the travel agency. With so many consolidators to choose from, an agent needs to be discerning when choosing a consolidator to work with.

Travel Agents' News and Information
Contains pertinent information for both store front travel agencies and on-line travel sites. Includes news and useful tourism knowledge to help increase profits, and stay informed for their customers' safety and pleasure.

Travel Agents: Customer Service Goes a Long Way
What should a travel agent do when a customer, or maybe a friend of a customer, calls with problems after buying an airline ticket or cruise from another online

Travel Agents: Finding Military Travel Discounts
After serving their country in the U.S. and Canadian Military, many travel and tourism companies offer substantial discounts to help service men and women find rest and relaxation, or just some plain fun with their families on a vacation.

Travel Agents:Customer Service Goes a Long Way
Travel Agents:Customer Service Goes a Long Way

Travel Agents:Reservation Follow Up
The importance of travel agents following up on changes and entries in a GDS customer reservation cannot be stressed enough. When making the initial

Travel Agents’ Car Rental Tips Review
Car rental reservations can be a tricky business for some travel agents and individuals booking on line. Of course some people make their reservations on line, but they may often not be aware of some important details a travel agent usually can pass along to their clients.

Travel Destinations
Travel Professionals will help decide where the perfect vacation can be to suit the client. Determining the best time of year, the most practical transportation and the most value for the client are main features of using a travel agent services, meeting planners, or incentive travel planner. Business travelers need to be aware of travel alerts, airport information and what to expect when they arrive at a destination.

Travel Promotion Act: An overview
An overview of the Travel Promotion Act gives the facts and figures for the new bill passed by President Obama, what this means for foreign visitors to the United States, and what impact this will have on Americans. There is a difference of opinion on how this will impact both groups and opposing views on whether the bill is even necessary.

Travel Retailing and Destination Expo
Travel Agents still have an opportunity to attend the Travel Retailing and Destination Expo, held in Las Vegas, September 10-13, 2011, sponsored by the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). This is a great opportunity for travel agents to network, share ideas, and bring back new ideas to implement in travel agency operations.

Travel Updates for New Orleans
New Orleans is ready, and the visitors are coming back. Many business owners say they have been ready since Hurricane Katrina, but the media dramatized the devastation to the point they have actually lost business due to overreaction of the hurricane and the Gulf oil spill. The travel industry should be aware of the many updates and additions the city continues to add.

Travel Weather Issues
While watching the news and hearing about an approaching storm across the country, the first thing that comes to mind for many travel agents is

Travel and Tourism -- Resources For the Travel and Tourism Professional
The subject of travel and tourism is a broad area including information for travel professional on continuing education, third party partnerships, employment,accounting and software programs. It is important for the travel professional to be updated on destinations, marketing, hotel and resort updates. Tourism subjects include special and niche travel, ecotourism, luxury tourism and global tourism issues. Keeping up to date with travel and tourism is important for the travel professional.

Travel and a Possible Government Shut Down
What happens in the travel industry if the U.S. government shuts down for non essential business? For now the shutdown has been averted. Travel can be greatly affected if it should happen.

Trusted Traveler Program
Trusted Traveler Program

Turkey Earthquake and Security Issues Effect on Tourism
The 7.2 magnitude earthquake experienced October 24, 2011 in Turkey, is expected to have minor impact on tourism. The epicenter is located over 1500 miles from Istanbul. This region of the earthquake is not often visited by tourists. However, vacationers in Bodrum, on the Aegean coast, felt the earthquake with rumbling and a visual crack in a hotel wall.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites
What can a travel agent suggest to a client who wants a pristine, extraordinary destination to visit? For those that crave a destination that will thrill even the well traveled vacationer, look at the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Some offer astonishing beauty, while other destinations offer historical or educational value to travelers.

United Airlines, New Service to Hilo, HI
United Airlines, New Service to Hilo, HI

United and Continental Airlines Merger
United Airlines and Continental Airlines have been in the midst of merging the two airlines into one brand name, United Continental Holdings, beginning in 2010. For travel agents, this means watching for updates, notifying passengers about schedule changes and flight updates, and working through the technical side of air and vacation package reservations.

Visiting Airlie Beach, Australia
Airlie Beach, Australia is a popular town to embark on a sailing or diving trip to the Whitsunday Island, including the popular Hamilton Island, and Whitehaven Beach. The cosmpolitan tropical beach town has a variety of lodging choices and many dining and drinking establishments to suit most any taste. It's a great place to spend a few extra days before or after a sail, or make it a full vacation in itself.

Visiting Hotel Chocolat
Visiting Hotel Chocolat

Weather Issues for Holiday Travel 2010
Weather issues may cause delays and flight interruptions this week prior to Christmas. Travelers are already stranded at airports like London Heathrow, plagued by ice and snow Sunday, December 19 as they wait to be accommodated on other flights. Reaching their holiday destinations has become a chore for many traveling this week.

Webinars for Travel Professionals
Making it in the travel industry today can be tough for travel agencies and independent travel consultants. Webinars offer special training for the travel industry personnel. Webinars teach how to book most aspects of travel on line, or offers guidance on border security, TSA regulations for most everything needed to be a travel professional. Webinars are crucial to staying up to date to stay ahead of the competition and are generally free.

Weekend at the Historic Plaza Hotel, Las Vegas, NM
The Historic Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, NM is bursting with history, and would make a terrific weekend vacation. With the economy as it is, many people look for a more local getaway vacation. Travel agents can recommend the Plaza hotel with assurance that clients should find a fun-filled or romantic, historical place to visit.

Western History in Las Vegas, NM
Passing through central to northern New Mexico, a surprising town caught my eye. Las Vegas, no not the gambling town, but the restored western historical town.

Western Kansas City, KS, Featuring, The Legends at Village West
Western Kansas City, Kansas in the past was residential homes and farmland. Today, it is a thriving entertainment community, featuring mega shopping stores, Nascar racing, baseball and a vast array of restaurants and nightlife. There are hotels right next door including the Great Wolf Lodge, with an indoor water park, or try the new Schlitterbahn Vacation Village, featuring an outdoor family water park. There is something for everyone now in Western Kansas City, KS.