| May 25, 2012 | News for travel agents |
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| Business and Industry Watch |  |  |
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- American Airlines is pushing for increased service personalization
American Airlines continues to invest in new technology that will enable it to make targeted air-travel offers based on gathered customer data, says Derek DeCross, vice president of global sales at American Airlines. "We've collected masses of customer data over the years. Now, we're rapidly trying to operationalize that data so we can improve the experience throughout the travel life cycle," DeCross said. Travel Weekly
(5/24)      
- Hospitality Properties will reflag 20 hotels under Wyndham brands
Wyndham Hotel Group's Wyndham and Hawthorn Suites brands will acquire 20 properties across the U.S. under a rebranding effort by Hospitality Properties Trust. Hawthorn Suites will gain 16 properties; the other four will become Wyndhams. The initiative will include renovations on all 20 properties and cost about $75 million, Hospitality Properties Trust says. Travel Weekly
(5/24)
- Southwest looks beyond U.S. borders to Mexico, Caribbean
Southwest is becoming an international airline as it begins taking over AirTran Airways' routes to Mexico and the Caribbean after the airlines' merger. Southwest recently signed a deal for a new reservations system capable of handling international bookings and is seeking approval to build a new international terminal in Houston to add as many as 25 flights a day. "We have always wanted to get to a point where we added international capabilities," said Southwest Chief Commercial Officer Bob Jordan. USA TODAY
(5/23)
| Trends and Technology | | |
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- Tight lending tempers local equity boom in Latin America
A panel of hotel executives at the Hotel Opportunities Latin America Investment Conference this month noted a "huge mind shift" afforded by the availability of local equity in Latin America, hindered only by the general "lack of debt" from banks. "The problem folks like us faced is, even if we raised the equity or deployed our own equity, then what? Bankers have run for the hills," said Homi Vazifdar, managing director and CEO at Canyon Equity. "Today you look at a resort model, and if you [desire] a return of 15% to 20% you can find private equity. The problem is debt, debt, debt," Vazifdar said. HotelNewsNow.com
(5/24)
- Opinion: Cruise safety regulations still appear lacking
Cruise passengers still apparently face risks aboard cruise ships despite the passage of the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act two years ago, Christopher Elliot writes. In this feature, Elliot notes a number of untoward cruise incidents uncovered in the past month, as well as some cruise companies managing statistics concerning cruise-related crimes to make reported numbers lower than in reality. The Washington Post
(5/24)
- Airlines invest in future of IFE
Many airlines are recognizing that better and more comprehensive in-flight entertainment options are integral to passenger satisfaction and financial success. Industry experts estimate that IFE will soon be better than the entertainment options that passengers have in their own homes. Developments will include larger movie and television libraries, the ability to download movies and shows to personal devices such as iPads, fast and cheap Wi-Fi and more sophisticated gaming options, this feature says. CNNGo.com (Asia)
(5/24)
| Consumer Travel News | | |
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- Art exists above the waves in Curacao
Travelers in search of different fare in Curacao can visit the numerous art galleries across the island. Curacao also is home to a rich community of contemporary artists, some of whom are dedicated to capturing the vivid beauty of the marine life in a variety of media. San Francisco Chronicle
(5/20)
| Regulatory and Legislative | | |
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- DOT is looking into search-engine test at Delta
The Department of Transportation is investigating fare discrepancies at Delta Air Lines after calls from travel advocacy groups. The carrier's test of a new search engine resulted in frequent fliers seeing different fares than other customers over an approximately three-week period. Delta says it was testing the search engine as part of an overhaul of its website. Delta's vice president of e-commerce, Bob Kupbens, says the new search engine displayed less-desirable connections or flight times, which had lower fares. Delta halted the test of the search engine May 9. TravelMarketReport.com
(5/24)
| Best Practices | | |
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- Setting boundaries helps minimize work interruptions, expert says
Travel agents can manage their time better by establishing priorities for each work day and setting boundaries for personal interruptions, such as checking e-mail, says Jeff Davidson, a work-life balance consultant. "Set a timer for every 15 minutes and allow yourself to just click on your e-mail software then. See what's there, eyeball it and then go back to what you were doing," Davidson said. TravelMarketReport.com
(5/24)
| Small-Business Strategies | | |
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- How mature is your social media marketing?
There are three stages of social media marketing maturity and only those in the third phase can expect to realize the full potential of social networking, Toby Murdock writes. These advanced marketers "have had to invest more time and resources into producing longer, more thoughtful content pieces in the form of blog posts, infographics, e-books, and videos," he writes. "Rather than entertain, this content addresses the real concerns and interests of prospects and provides them valuable information." ClickZ
(5/23)
| ASTA Spotlight | | |
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ASTA lauds president's call to action on job creation
ASTA is praising President Barack Obama's recent call to action for Congress to move swiftly on job creation measures, including small-business hiring incentives and veterans employment measures. In 2009, ASTA joined a group of allies in the small-business community to call for an expansion of existing Recovery Act tax incentives. ASTA also lent its support to H.R. 4032, the Help Entrepreneurs Create American Jobs Act of 2012. ASTA has repeatedly called for federal action to reduce the tax and regulatory burden on small businesses and to promote access to capital through the Small Business Administration and other avenues. In February, ASTA announced the creation of the Joining Forces Travel Industry Coalition. Read more.
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Reach millions of potential TV viewers with ASTA, "The Balancing Act"
ASTA is pleased to bring members an exclusive opportunity to put their brand message in front of millions of today's key travel buyers -- women between the ages of 25 and 54 -- on Lifetime Television's "The Balancing Act" at a special discounted rate. ASTA is working with "The Balancing Act," one of television's premier morning programs, to showcase various aspects of travel and the value of working with a professional travel agent to millions of viewers across the country. For more information, please contact Kristina Rundquist.
| Editor's Note | | |
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SmartBrief will not publish Monday
In observance of Memorial Day in the U.S., SmartBrief will not be published Monday. Publication will resume Tuesday.
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