| February 1, 2013 | News for travel agents |
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| Business and Industry Watch |  |  |
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- JetBlue will begin code sharing possibly this year, CEO says
JetBlue Airways plans to code share with major carriers for the first time in its history, although it has entered interline alliances with mostly foreign airlines. "We are charting unknown territory," said CEO Dave Barger. "It's likely that two-way code share will be part of our landscape as we move into 2013 and 2014." Bloomberg Businessweek
(1/30)      
- Tauck to boost 2014 offerings with new ships, sailings
Tauck announced that it will launch two new riverboats next year that will go on a series of cruises through Europe. "The new ships will have features and amenities not found on our existing vessels, but they'll also retain key elements and the same overall philosophy that have contributed so significantly to our success," Tauck CEO Dan Mahar said. The cruise line's 2014 schedule will also have four new sailings on the Danube, Rhine and Seine rivers. TravelPulse
(1/29)
| Trends and Technology | | |
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- CLIA expects 20.97M cruise passengers this year
Christine Duffy, president of the Cruise Lines Industry Association, announced the organization's forecast that its member lines will carry approximately 20.97 million passengers in 2013, up from about 20.3 million passengers recorded last year. The organization estimates that about 17.6 million of these passengers will come from North America. Duffy also reaffirmed the group's drive to provide training and support for its member travel agents. TravelPulse
(1/30)
- United Airlines installs satellite Wi-Fi on 747
United Airlines has installed satellite Wi-Fi on a 747, which will be available to passengers at two price points. United selected Panasonic Ku-band Wi-Fi for the wide-body aircraft. "Satellite-based Wi-Fi service enables us to better serve our customers and offer them more of what they want in a global airline," said Jim Compton, United vice chairman and chief revenue officer. Air Transport World
(1/30)
- Atlanta airport tops rankings for dining, amenities
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was picked as the top airport for amenities and dining and most preferred for connecting flights by an annual survey from Travel Leaders Group. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport ranked second in amenities and dining. "Major airports have transformed considerably in the last decade to accommodate the shift in the amount of time travelers spend there," said Travel Leaders Group CEO Barry Liben. TravelPulse
(1/29)
| Consumer Travel News | | |
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- Calif.'s Yosemite National Park is charming in winter
Going to Yosemite National Park in California in the winter is a good idea because it gives visitors the chance to avoid the large crowds and enjoy a different view of the mountain landscape under a blanket of snow, this feature says. Lodging in The Ahwahnee Hotel helps drive the cold away with its cozy amenities and delicious dining options. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
(1/27)
| Regulatory and Legislative | | |
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- TSA plan to use bomb-sniffing dogs is questioned
The Government Accountability Office has released a report questioning the effectiveness of the Transportation Security Administration's plan to add bomb-sniffing dogs to its passenger-screening program. The report highlights repeated failure by canine teams to undergo the required four hours of training every four weeks and a lack of monitoring of the dogs' effectiveness. "TSA has not deployed passenger-screening canines -- trained to identify and track explosives odor on a person -- consistent with its risk-based approach, and did not determine (the canine) teams' effectiveness prior to deployment," the GAO report said. USA Today
(1/31)
| Best Practices | | |
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- Agents can tap roots travel to boost their business
Several travel agencies have jumped on the growing potential of genealogical travel as a profitable travel niche, this feature says. "I have found that people in their 20s, 30s or 40s don't have an interest in finding their roots, but as people get older they do. Boomers have more time on their hands to do more research and go back to wherever they come from," said Jerry Rabas, owner of Weber Travel Agency, which helps its Czech-American clients connect to their roots. TravelMarketReport.com
(1/31)
| Small-Business Strategies | | |
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- How to get your clients to create clients
High-value clients can give a boost to your business by bringing you other profitable customers, if you make it easy for them to make referrals on social media and you provide fresh, relevant online content, writes author and consultant Bill Lee. "Find local clients who are well-connected in their communities and provide them with access to new product and service launches -- give them 'insider knowledge,'" he writes. Skin Inc. magazine
(1/2013)
- What works -- and what doesn't -- with e-mail marketing
Don't worry about sending out too many marketing e-mails as long as you keep your content interesting, writes Michael Mothner, founder and CEO of Wpromote. "Yes, some people may unsubscribe," he writes. "But the impact you get from sending more emails far outweighs the loss of a few subscribers." Don't always feel the need to come up with fresh copy for e-mails, he writes, and consider sending a "remail" within 48 hours to people who didn't open an initial email. Inc. online (free registration)/On Site blog
(1/30)
| ASTA Spotlight | | |
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Commission protection tips
It's never pleasant when a customer must cancel nonrefundable travel, especially when it results in your commissions being recalled. To help protect your business from lost revenue when this occurs, travel agents should consider offering their customers travel insurance that includes travel agency commission protection. If you are unfamiliar with this type of insurance, ask your travel insurance provider for details. Members interested in adopting, or expanding to, a consultancy fee based business model should review ASTA's Consultancy Fee Online Course.
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Unique networking opportunities at ASTA's IDE 2013
Experience once-in-a-lifetime opportunities at ASTA's International Destination Expo (IDE) Dubai (April 4-7). Escape the day-to-day and indulge in the inspiring adventure and ancient culture Dubai has to offer. Create lasting memories all while building essential relationships with travel agencies and suppliers from around the globe. IDE will open the door for networking between you and valuable industry contacts. Experience this valuable expo at a surprising price with ASTA's negotiated rates for hotels, airfare and tours. Discover the details.
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