| February 7, 2013 | News for travel agents |
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| Business and Industry Watch |  |  |
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| Trends and Technology | | |
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- Hyatt "lab hotels" swap front desk for mobile-equipped Andaz "hosts"
Hyatt explores technology with its eight "lab hotels," four of which are in the U.S. One concept involved associates moving around the lobby with iPads to expedite check-in and assist guests, eliminating the need for a desk. An Andaz "host" acts as "doorman, concierge, front office and bell attendant," whose work can include greeting guests, carrying luggage and more. Hotel Management online
(2/5)      
- Asian budget carriers eye more ancillary revenue growth
Despite a 21% surge in ancillary income over the past year, budget and premium airlines in Asia are still looking for ways to increase such revenue. For discount carriers such as AirAsia X, the recent move to offer child-free quiet zones -- and charge extra to sit in them -- is another way to boost income while keeping flight ticket prices competitive. The Wall Street Journal
(2/5)
- Column: Collaboration makes sustainable tourism viable
Despite the challenges of mass tourism and a lack of universal standards for sustainability, eco-friendly tourism is still a possibility through cooperation within a country's local tourism industry, writes Gavin Landry, principal of Landry Hospitality Consulting Services. Bhutan stands as an example of how a country's government and local tourism industry can rally together to provide a tourism product that is both economically and ecologically viable, he writes. HotelNewsNow.com
(2/5)
| Destination of the Week | | |
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- California's spa city
The thermal pools in Desert Hot Springs, in California's Palm Springs area, provide an unexpected respite for clients. The area is home to some two dozen intimate resort spas, each sporting a unique aesthetic ranging from mid-century Modern to Moroccan.
| Home-Based Agent Update | | |
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- Experts: Destination specialists should master the art of consulting
To be a successful destination specialist, travel agents should learn to be expert consultants -- having the ability to dispense advice based on information gathered from a variety of sources, travel-industry leaders say. "The specialist consultant is the advocate for the client who can decipher the mass of information and stand behind what they advise. The reality is, there's no way for someone to look at something on the Internet and really know if it's the right place for them," said Martha Gaughen, vice president at Brownell Travel. TravelMarketReport.com
(2/7)
| Consumer Travel News | | |
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| Regulatory and Legislative | | |
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| Best Practices | | |
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- Column: How to be a responsible e-mailer
Travel agents should take steps to ensure that their e-mail messages are not mistaken for spam by clients' e-mail providers, John Frenaye writes. "This is not horribly critical for a promotional piece, but if you are all of a sudden e-mailing a client about a change in flights or that Princess Cruises is bouncing them from their cruise this weekend, you need to be assured your mail goes through," Frenaye writes. Travel Research Online
(2/4)
| Small-Business Strategies | | |
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- Developing a marketing budget for your small company
How much money should you be spending on sales and marketing initiatives? The answer, according to Jeanne Rossomme, president of RoadMap Marketing, is generally around 10% of your revenue. In addition, you should reserve about one-fifth of your time for sales and marketing. "Included in this time are cultivating relationships via social media and networking, bringing on distributors and salespeople, and managing marketing campaigns," she writes. SCORE Small Business Success Blog
(2/4)
- What Super Bowl ads can teach you about marketing
From Best Buy's "Asking Amy" commercial to Budweiser's "Brotherhood" spot, this year's Super Bowl was full of memorable ads that provide some key insights about effective marketing. The commercials illustrate the importance of including a clear call to action, emphasizing your company's value proposition and taking advantage of unexpected opportunities to reach out to consumers, experts say. Entrepreneur online/The Daily Dose blog
(2/4)
| ASTA Spotlight | | |
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Tourism Cares' 2013 Academic Scholarship
ASTA is pleased to announce the opening of Tourism Cares' 2013 Academic Scholarship program. Tourism Cares manages ASTA's scholarships along with scholarships available from NTA and IATAN. This year, 50 Academic Scholarships are being offered with awards ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 and totaling more than $70,000. We encourage ASTA members, who are eligible, to apply and we ask you to encourage others to apply if they are studying to enter the travel industry. The online application and additional information can be found here. The application deadline is April 1.
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Penetrate new markets at ASTA's IDE
ASTA's International Destination Expo (IDE) Dubai 2013 aligns highly qualified global travel agents with suppliers. Through networking events and an interactive trade show floor, ASTA creates synergy between travel agents and suppliers to spark excitement and success. Travel agents attend IDE to build rapport and develop long lasting relationships with tour operators, hoteliers, airlines, cruise lines and more. Our agents are looking for the best travel retailers the industry offers, so they can be confident in their client referrals. Purchase a stand to establish connections with key decision-makers, penetrate into new markets and increase sales.
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- Wednesday, February 06, 2013
- Tuesday, February 05, 2013
- Monday, February 04, 2013
- Friday, February 01, 2013
- Thursday, January 31, 2013
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