| December 10, 2012 | News for travel agents |
 |  |
| Business and Industry Watch |  |  |
|
- Disney will offer Mediterranean cruises in 2013
Disney Cruise Line has announced that the Disney Magic will return to the Mediterranean for a series of voyages out of Barcelona, Spain. The planned sailings include four-, seven- and 12-day itineraries with calls on 13 ports such as Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kusadasi, Turkey; and Venice, Italy. Travel Weekly
(12/6)      
- Southwest asks FAA for more slots at Reagan airport
Southwest Airlines has applied to the Federal Aviation Administration to secure more landing rights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The carrier plans to use the slots to add service from the airport to William P. Hobby Airport in Houston. "Houston is one of Southwest Airlines' three original cities, and this proposed new service is another example of our strong commitment to continue adding value to the community," said Southwest CEO Gary Kelly. The Boston Globe (tiered subscription model)/The Associated Press
(12/10)
- St. Regis Hotels plans to open its first property in Africa
St. Regis Hotels and Resorts is looking to open its first hotel in Africa with the planned launch of the St. Regis Mauritius Resort. Its beachside location along the Le Morne UNESCO World Heritage Site will afford expansive views of the Indian Ocean from the property's 172 rooms and suites. TravelPulse
(12/6)
| Trends and Technology | | |
|
- Survey: 26.7% of tour operators predict a "boom year" in 2013
The United States Tour Operators Association has unveiled the results of a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers, which shows that 26.7% of its member tour operators are expecting sales in 2013 to rise by more than 10%, while an equal number expect a growth increase of 7% to 9%. The group revealed the study's findings during its annual conference in Hawaii, where it also unveiled an updated website and a new social media campaign. TravelPulse
(12/7)
- Survey: Most European companies stick to travel budgets in 2012
Sixty-three percent of companies in Europe maintained their corporate travel budgets in 2012 and 23% increased spending, shows the American Express Global Business Travel survey. The survey found that 73% do not plan to revise their corporate-travel forecasts for 2013 and 16% will increase their budgets. Reuters
(12/6)
- Club floors bring exclusivity to luxury hotels
The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch in Colorado offers exclusive club floors and rooms in its hotel, creating a hotel within a hotel. These floors in this and other hotels have food and drinks available in the lounges, along with dedicated service and exclusive products not found in standard guest rooms. Hotel Interactive
(12/6)
- Four Seasons in Costa Rica seeks to help guests unplug, rewind
The Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo hopes its Disconnect to Reconnect program will help guests who say they want to unwind actually do so. The resort offers guests a service to hold their iPhones and distributes a guide of resort activities that do not require technology. HotelChatter
(12/6)
| Consumer Travel News | | |
|
| Regulatory and Legislative | | |
|
- FCC urges FAA to widen in-flight mobile device use
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski sent a letter Thursday to the Federal Aviation Administration encouraging it to expand the permitted use of electronic devices on flights. When the FAA formed a group to look into the issue earlier this year, it said it would not allow fliers to talk on phones during flights. The Hill/Hillicon Valley blog
(12/6), CNET
(12/6)
- Sellers of luxury travel need firsthand knowledge, experts say
Travel agents seeking to sell luxury travel can pitch their products better if they possess firsthand knowledge of destinations, luxury agents and suppliers said during the recent Signature Sales Meeting and Trade Show in Las Vegas. "Be more proactive in sending agents out [on luxury fams] so they can sell from their experience of being there rather than from their own taste or their own pocketbook," said Steve Orens, president of Plaza Travel in Encino, Calif. TravelMarketReport.com
(12/6)
 | Follow us! Become a fan! Did you know ASTA is on Twitter and Facebook? Keep up with the latest from ASTA by following us on Twitter @AmSocTrvlAgents. Or, share tips and travel advice with fellow travelers on Facebook by becoming a fan of ASTA's consumer Web site TravelSense.org or ASTA. |
| Small-Business Strategies | | |
|
- 5 tips for delivering superior customer service
Many companies are providing poor customer service that might be hurting their growth prospects, Denise Gosnell writes. However, you can offer top-notch service by paying attention to what your customers tell you, keeping your clients in the loop and requesting feedback to improve your business. The Huffington Post/The Blog
(12/5)
- New Year's resolutions to help you start 2013 with a bang
If you're looking for ways to improve your company in 2013, you can start by resolving to develop a new skill, get to know your customers and join a business organization, Lyndell Fogarty writes in this blog post. Such organizations "are a great way to keep up with advances in your field, contribute to the growth of your industry, make contacts and generate referrals and learn from others' strengths and skills," Fogarty writes. Dynamic Business online (Australia)/blog
(12/6)
| ASTA Spotlight | | |
|
-
Webinar update
Register today for ASTA's Business Productivity Series webinars. They are all geared to enhancing your business skills and making you more efficient and profitable. Sign up today:
-
Make the most of your ASTA benefits
Have you been putting off taking advantage of ASTA's exciting, interactive benefits simply because you don't know where to start? Are you ready to use ASTA's Web Exchange? Want help registering for TravelSense Community or creating a link to ASTAnet.com on your Web site? Let ASTA help you figure it out with convenient tutorials. Located in the eLibrary section of ASTAnet.com, these detailed, how-to instructions make it easy to use ASTA's interactive benefits. View these online tutorials.
| SmartQuote | | |
|
 | Alas for those that never sing, But die with all their music in them."
--Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.,
American physician, writer and poet
|
| |
| |
|
Read more at SmartBrief.com |
|
A powerful website for SmartBrief readers including:
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| | Recent ASTA SmartBrief Issues:
- Friday, December 07, 2012
- Thursday, December 06, 2012
- Wednesday, December 05, 2012
- Tuesday, December 04, 2012
- Monday, December 03, 2012
| | | Lead Editor: Katie Parks
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004 | |
| |
|
| © 1999-2012 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information |
|
