It may not last forever, but for now the new Delta Digital ID speeds passengers through security faster than PreCheck or CLEAR—and it’s free to boot.

After successful beta testing in Detroit and Atlanta, the biometric program now has expanded to LAX, LGA and JFK, and since the program is so new, its dedicated security lines rarely have a wait.

Delta Digital ID lets customers quickly move through bag drop and security checkpoints without having to show photo ID to an agent. To register, travelers must have:

• TSA PreCheck® membership
• Their passport information and a Known Traveler Number stored in their Delta profile
• A (free) SkyMiles membership
• The Fly Delta app

Eligible customers will receive a notification in their Fly Delta app when traveling from a Digital ID-enabled airport, or can opt-in through their SkyMiles profile on Delta.com once the four requirements have been met.

They then can use the dedicated bag drop line – the one with the green “Delta Digital ID” icon – and security line.

Using Digital ID this week, I walked right through security behind just one other passenger at LGA, while my husband spent 10 minutes in the CLEAR line.

Citing the fallout from Covid-19, cruise operator Hornblower has filed for bankruptcy, and its American Queen subsidiary has ceased operations.

Private-equity firm Strategic Value Partners has agreed to acquire majority ownership of Hornblower and “provide a significant equity investment in the business,” but the deal will require approval from the US Bankruptcy Court in Houston, the Wall Street Journal reported. Private-equity firm Crestview Partners will retain a minority interest and become the sole owner of Journey Beyond, the leading experiential travel provider in Australia.

Hornblower said in a statement that American Queen Voyages hopefully will be sold; if no buyer is found its operations will be wound down.

Hornblower also provides ferry services to the Statue of Liberty and the Ellis National Museum of Immigration in New York, and to Alcatraz Island in San Francisco. Those services will continue operations.

Guests who have booked an American Queen Voyages cruise should visit the line’s dedicated refund website to submit a claim form and begin the refund process, or call (888) 202-5784.

Hornblower said it expects to move through the bankruptcy process quickly and emerge from Chapter 11 in about four months. It has a commitment for $300 million in financing from Deutsche Bank, $121 million in new-money financing from SVP-managed funds and Crestview.

“The steps we are taking today will enable us to address AQV and strengthen our financial foundation as we continue serving our guests and commuters around the world. With the support of our financial stakeholders, we will continue to advance our business initiatives and drive growth. We thank the entire Hornblower team for their hard work and dedication, as well as our vendors and partners across our businesses for their continued support,” said Hornblower Group CEO Kevin Rabbitt.

In the latest step toward pushing customers to book direct, American Airlines today announced that it will only grant AAdvantage® miles and loyalty points to customers who book through an AA or partner site, a corporate account, or a “preferred agency” that books at least 30% of its trips through the American Airlines NDC.

At the same time, the company raised fees on baggage checking and pets in the cabin.

The NDC ruling takes effect May 1, 2024. Customers can receive points only if they book through AA or its partner airlines, are an AAdvantage Business™ member or have a contracted corporate travel account, or book through an “eligible preferred travel agency.”

“All agencies on a 2024 contracted incentive agreement issued by American are eligible to qualify into the preferred agency program at American’s sole discretion, which enables travelers booking through your agency to continue earning AAdvantage^® miles and Loyalty Points,” the company website now states (Preferred agency program – American Airlines Global Sales (exploreamerican.com). “Agencies will be evaluated on the criteria outlined below, which focus on the use of Modern Retailing technology to provide the best possible traveler experience when booking and servicing tickets. Agencies must be approved by American Airlines to qualify as a preferred agency, and agencies should contact their Modern Retailing business manager to discuss their individual approval process and timeline.”

There are three qualifying criteria:

1. Agencies must be on a 2024 incentive agreement issued by American at American’s sole discretion. If, at any point, their incentive agreement with American ends, the agency will no longer be able to participate in the preferred agency program.
2. Agencies must adopt and implement American’s NDC and shop and book through American’s NDC connections, meeting the progressive NDC thresholds below. Shopping and booking must be done in accordance with American’s connection and capacity requirements.

3. As customers consider purchasing an American Airlines offer, fare rules, product attributes, and fare restrictions should be fully displayed and clearly communicated. A new product attribute of American’s offers is the ability to earn AAdvantage^® For an agency to be considered preferred, they must demonstrate their ability to clearly communicate to customers when they earn AAdvantage^®miles in the online booking tool throughout the booking flow before a purchase is finalized.Agencies must contact their Modern Retailing business manager to begin the review and approval process on display criteria.

   The deadline for the display qualification criteria is July 1, 2024, to allow time for the completion of any necessary updates.

   If an agency meets the criteria for the first NDC threshold on April 21, 2024, customers with tickets issued by the preferred agency between April 21 and June 30 will earn miles and Loyalty Points. In order for customers purchasing a ticket July 1, 2024, and beyond to earn, however, the agency must meet the display criteria.

Basic Economy fare tickets will only earn when booked directly with American and eligible partner airlines.

“We want to make it more convenient for customers to enjoy the value and magic of travel,” said Vasu Raja, American’s Chief Commercial Officer. “Not only does booking directly with American provide the best possible experience, it’s also where we offer the best fares and it’s most rewarding for our AAdvantage members.”

Baggage Fees on the rise

Also in the announcement were new rates for baggage on trips booked beginning tomorrow.

The new fee for domestic flights including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as Canada and short-haul international flights, is $35 for the first checked bag if purchased online or $40 at the airport. A second bag will cost $45 whether purchased online or at the airport.

AAdvantage® status members, customers in premium cabins, active-duty U.S. military personnel and most AAdvantage® credit cardmembers flying domestically will continue to receive complimentary bags.

The fee for oversize bags that are only slightly larger than heavier than regular bags will be lower, however. Bags that weigh less than 70 pounds currently cost $100, but will be charged just $30 effective April 17.

The pet-in-cabin fee was raised to $150.

Disasters are following one another in Japan, where two airports are closed and searchers are looking for survivors of a 7.5 magnitude earthquake that rocked the western coast on Monday.

Japan’s Tokyo Haneda Airport is closed following a crash between a Japan Airlines jet and a Coast Guard plane on its way to provide earthquake relief.

The coastal city of Wajima, home to more than 27,000 people, appeared to be among the worst hit; CNN reports 15 dead there, as well as smoldering fires and destroyed buildings. At Noto Airport, damage to the terminal and its access roads has left about 500 people. Officials say the airport will be closed until at least Thursday.

At Haneda Airport, meanwhile, all 379 people on the passenger plane, JAL flight 516, were safely evacuated, but five crew members on the second aircraft, operated by the Japan Coast Guard, were killed.

The majority of departures from Haneda Airport are now canceled and it’s unclear when flight services will resume, Japan’s NHK news reports.

MSC Cruises today welcomed its fifth US-based ship, the Fantasia-class MSC Divina, to her new homeport in Miami.

Beginning this weekend, MSC Divina will sail a variety of itineraries to the Caribbean, Central America—and Mexico—including 3-day trips to Nassau and MSC’s private island at Ocean Cay; 7-night trips that include Isla de Roatan (Honduras), Belize City (Belize), Costa Maya and Cozumel (Mexico), George Town (Cayman Islands), Ocho Rios (Jamaica), Nassau and Ocean Cay; and 11-night voyages that include Montego Bay (Jamaica), Cartagena (Colombia), Puerto Limon (Costa Rica), Isla de Roatan (Honduras), Oranjestad (Aruba), Cozumel and Ocean Cay.

A limited-time flash sale this weekend will give potential sailors a chance to try the ship, or any MSC ship sailing from Miami or Orlando, at reduced prices starting at $109. Trips must be booked by December 18.

Introduced in 2012, MSC can hold up to 4,345 passengers and 1,388 crew members. There’s a 4-D theater and four pool areas, including a 22,507-square-foot Aqua Park, as well as eight restaurants, 12 bars and lounges, an MSC Yacht Club with floor-to-ceiling windows, and a Thermal Suite.

Also sailing the Caribbean will be MSC Seascape, Seashore, Seaside, Meraviglia and Magnifica.

South America also will have six ships this winter: MSC Grandiosa, Seaview, Preziosa, Musica, Lirica and Armonia, sailing a series of itineraries to Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

MSC also will have a winter presence in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, North Europe, Asia, and South Africa.

Celestyal is sprucing up its offerings for 2024, adding two ships, three countries and six ports to its Mediterranean offerings.

Just two weeks after acquiring its second new ship, Celestyal Discovery, the company announced new itineraries that include Croatia, Montenegro and Italy, with stops in Kefalonia, Katakolo and Corfu in Greece; Dubrovnik in Croatia; Kotor in Montenegro; and Bari in Italy.

Celestyal Discovery now will join Celestyal Journey in Athens, where they will both undergo multimillion-euro winter refurbishment programs ahead of the new season, which starts in March 2024. Discovery then will take over the itineraries of Olympia.

Celestyal Journey’s new seven-night “Heavenly Adriatic” cruise will feature full days in Kefalonia, Kotor, Bari, and Corfu, as well as a late-night stay in Dubrovnik. It is now on sale as part of Celestyal’s holiday promotion, with special deals from $579 per person, for bookings made through November 30, 2023.

Celestyal also will update two other sailings, replacing the Three Continents itineraries on March 9 and 16 with the popular “Idyllic Aegean” itinerary, round-trip from Athens, and calling at Thessaloniki, Kusadasi, Heraklion, Mykonos, Santorini, and Milos.

Free Cruise for Guests Impacted

For guests already booked on the Celestyal Journey itineraries departing Athens on March 2, 9, and 16, 2024, Celestyal is offering a free “Three Continents” cruise, which can be redeemed at any time in the next three years. Guests holding reservations on the updated March 2024 itineraries will be re-accommodated on the updated sailings on Celestyal Journey or another suitable option, and those who retain their booking dates on the updated itineraries will be eligible for the free cruise offer.

Celestyal also will “of course be preserving agent commission on all rebooked cruises,” said chief commercial officer Lee Haslett.

“Our team is set to make waves across the industry next season, with new destinations, a completely updated fleet, a fresh new brand identity, and a renewed sense of direction,” Haslett said. “As a business, we really do take the time to listen to customer and agent network suggestions—and Italy, Croatia and Montenegro came out on top.”

As water levels in a major Amazon tributary drop to the lowest levels in recorded history, Viking has rerouted its cruises on the river and switched passengers to a fully Caribbean itinerary.

After months without rain in the Brazilian rainforest, tributaries to the Amazon have been drying up, leaving boats stranded. The port of Manaus, at the point where the Rio Negro and the Amazon meet, recorded 13.59 meters (44.6 ft) of water on Monday, the lowest level since records began in 1902.

“As you may be aware, historically low water levels along the Amazon River have restricted river traffic. We have been closely monitoring the situation to determine the impact on your itinerary. At this time, we anticipate that water levels will remain too low for your ship to safely navigate the affected area. Unfortunately, the situation prevents us from operating your voyage as planned,” Viking said. “We recognize that you may have chosen this particular itinerary to explore the Amazon River, and we share in your disappointment.”

Viking Sea now will add San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Martin; and Saint George’s, Grenada to its Amazon & Caribbean Adventure itinerary to replace the scheduled days on the Amazon. In return, guests are being offered a $500 per person shipboard credit and a future cruise voucher for 30% of their paid cruise fare.

For Avalon Waterways, which also sails the Amazon, the water depth is not an issue, as its ships carry just 44 guests. “Our cruises are still being offered, providing Avalon guests a full—and fully immersive—Amazon vacation,” Avalon Waterways president Pam Hoffee told TRO.

With more than 15 million people expected to descend on Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic games, tickets—and hotel rooms—will be tighter than ever. To help travel advisors put together amazing packages, luxury villa company Rental Escapes is offering up packages that include beautiful private accommodations and tickets to the games.

The Rental Escapes collection in France includes:

Pompidou, a 19th-century building built by Gustav Eiffel that has been transformed into a loft with two lounge areas, four bedrooms and a kitchen with a mobile island.

St Didier, a two-bedroom duplex apartment with views of the Eiffel Tower, a library and a luxurious living room with lots of natural light in the 16th district.

Villa BB, in an exclusive residential area of Saint Tropez, a new five-bedroom villa with a private terrace and balconies that accommodates up to 10.

Bastide Des Chenes in Provence, a 17-acre farm with a main house and an attached farmhouse.

Fleurs De Provence in Avignon, a private estate with fruit trees, fountains and streams that can accommodate up to 24 people, with a heated swimming pool, a well-equipped gym and fitness room, a tennis court and plenty of outdoor seating.

Rental Escapes’ concierge service can help arrange a private chef or massage, exclusive tours or special amenities. And for the Olympics, they can provide tickets and transportation, as well as unique experiences like sitting with an expert or an athlete.

As always, Rental Escapes will pay a 10% commission and one reward point for every $1 travel advisors book. And under a Thanksgiving promotion announced this week, advisors who book a client in November for travel before 12/31/2024 will earn a bonus commission via Amazon gift cards valued at up to $5,000.

“Attending the Olympics is a bucket list, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the dedicated support Rental Escapes provides will ensure a vacation surpassing those in dreams,” said CEO Brian Schwimmer, co-founder of the Montreal-based company. But, he cautioned, “we encourage travelers to plan well in advance and begin booking now.”

A new private jet partnership will allow seamless connections with Delta itineraries; a new class of premium airport lounges is coming; NDCs are on the way, but not right now; and sustainability is a key long-term goal.

Those are the takeaways from Steve Sear, Delta Airlines EVP of global sales and distribution, at the opening session of the Global Travel Collection’s Elevate conference in New York today.

Chatting with Internova Travel Group’s EVP of partner relations Peter Vlitas, Sear promised that Delta’s investment in Wheels Up private jets will allow customers to get off a Delta flight and onto a jet in a partnership that delivers 100% on-time performance. “Operational excellence is going to be the foundation,” he promised. “It has to be 100%—they expect that jet to be there, to know the tail number. It has to work every time.”

Premium customers also soon will get a new kind of airport lounge, curated like the lounge in Charles de Gaulle in Paris, with a full dining experience. The first is scheduled to open in Los Angeles in Q3 2024, then in New York, Atlanta, Seattle and Detroit. “We learned from Virgin that sky clubs are important,” Sear said. “People see it as an experience.” Delta has opened nine new lounges in the past 15 months, adding 5,000 seats, and is enlarging others, including those in all eight of its hubs.

With the complexities of NDC plans, meanwhile, Delta’s first priority is to do no harm to the travel advisor. “For us, NDC is a small subset in our distribution strategy; we want to be where the customers want to engage Delta, and our commitment is to be best in class in every one of those channels,” he said. “We believe the change to NDC is inevitable and we are committed to that, but in an evolutionary way, not a revolutionary way; we are going to do it right, and make it as simple as possible.”

Also in the Delta game plan is a focus on sustainability. “We can’t be a dirty industry, that’s just not going to be a long-term viable situation so we are all 100% committed.” Delta has gone plastic-free on its planes except for coffee cups and is electrifying all ground service.

Surely Delta expected some push-back from customers when it announced changes to its loyalty program last month. But the carrier this week said it has listened to the disappointment its frequent flyers expressed—and is cutting back on the cut-backs.

“Over the past few weeks, many of you have shared feedback about the changes we announced to Delta’s SkyMiles Program,” the email from CEO Ed Bastion said. “What’s been most clear to me is how much you love Delta and the disappointment many of you felt by the significance of the changes. Your voice matters, and we are listening.”

In response, Delta has lowered the Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD, or dollars spent) requirements at each tier of the program. Here’s how they compare with the previous announcement:

• Silver Medallion Status: from $6,000 to $5,000 MQDs
• Gold Medallion Status: from $12,000 to $10,000 MQDs
• Platinum Medallion Status: from $18,000 to $15,000 MQDs
• Diamond Medallion Status: from $35,000 to $28,000 MQDs.

In addition, Platinum, Platinum Business, Reserve and Reserve Business American Express Card Members will now receive a head start of 2,500 MQDs per card.

Perhaps the most contentious part of the changes involved access to Delta Sky Lounges, to which many Delta SkyMiles® and American Express credit card holders until now have had unlimited access. To cut down the growing crowds there, Delta had earlier cut the number of visits per cardholder. But now the following rules will apply:

• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve and Reserve Business Card Members will now receive 15 days of Delta Sky Club access per year, up from 10 announced last month.
• Delta Platinum Card® and American Express Business Platinum Card will receive 10 days of Delta Sky Club access per year, up from 6.
• Each “Delta Sky Club visit” includes entries within a 24-hour period, including the departure city, connecting airports and arrival destination. A same-day round trip would count as one visit.
• Holders of Delta SkyMiles® Reserve, Reserve Business, or Platinum Cards from American Express also will be able to purchase club access for $50 per visit.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve, Reserve Business, Platinum Card, and Business Platinum American Express Card holders will earn unlimited Delta Sky Club Access after spending $75,000 on an eligible card in a calendar year. Unlimited access would continue for the remainder of the current Medallion Year as well as the following Medallion Year. Card spend tracking begins on January 1, 2024 for the 2025 Medallion Year.
• Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access under the current policy is available until February 1, 2025.

Delta also announced improvements to its Choice Benefits program, where Platinum and Diamond Medallion members now will be able to select various perks, such as SkyClub membership or bonus miles, and to choose an MQD Accelerator for the following qualification year.

Perhaps the most significant improvement involves Delta customers who have been saving up MQMs. Beginning in 2024, they can redeem 100,000 MQMs to maintain their level of status. If you have 500,000 miles that you earned and rolled over for the past few years, for example, you can use them to keep your status for the next five years, regardless of the other changes.

“I know the modifications we have made won’t solve for every disappointment,” Bastian wrote. “Our goal is to do our best to ensure we deliver the service and benefits your loyalty deserves.”

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has rejected an unsolicited $8 billion buyout by bid Choice Hotels International, Inc., saying it is not in the best interests of Wyndham shareholders.

Noting that it is the world’s largest hotel franchising company, with 9,100 hotels in more than 95 countries, Wyndham called the proposal “involves significant business and execution risks, including an extended regulatory timeline and uncertainty of outcome, potential franchisee churn, and excessive leverage levels at the pro forma combined company.”

It would take more than a year to determine if the merger of the two companies could clear antitrust review, Wyndham said in a statement to shareholders, that likely would cause franchisee churn. The statement also noted “our deep concerns about the value of their stock,” which would make up 45% of the purchase.

“Choice’s offer is insufficient relative to Wyndham’s recent trading levels, significant growth momentum and premiums paid in a precedent change of control transactions,” Wyndham said, noting its rapidly growing pipeline, which is up 20% over the past two years.

Wyndham operates Days Inn, La Quinta, Ramada and other hotel brands. Its newest brand, ECHO Suites Extended Stay by Wyndham, signed 265 contracts since its launch in March 2022. Choice Hotels, meanwhile, last year acquired Radisson Hotels; it now operates about 7,500 hotels in 46 countries.

The two companies have been talking merger for six months, and the deal is not done yet.

“A few weeks ago, Choice and Wyndham were in a negotiable range on price and consideration, and both parties have a shared recognition of the value opportunity this potential transaction represents,” Choice CEO Patrick Pacious said in a statement. “We were therefore surprised and disappointed that Wyndham decided to disengage. While we would have preferred to continue discussions with Wyndham in private, following their unwillingness to proceed, we feel there is too much value for both companies’ franchisees, shareholders, associates, and guests to not continue pursuing this transaction.”

Barcelona has banned all passenger ships from its central port effective October 22, sending them instead to terminals farther from the popular La Rambla district.

The new regulation, designed to control cruise ship emissions, will send smaller ships from AIDA Cruises, Azamara, Oceania, Regent and Virgin to the Moll Adossat Pier, where large ships dock. Passengers then will have to take a 30-minute shuttle ride.

Barcelona also has cut the number of cruise ships that can visit its ports at one time, from 10 to 7.

The move follows protests against tourism by Barcelona residents over the past six years.

“The closure of the Barcelona northern docks for cruise operations is a new step to comply with the agreement signed in 2018 with the Barcelona municipal government to eliminate the negative impact that this activity could produce for citizens,” said Lluís Salvado, president of the Port of Barcelona.

While many cities have been looking to cut the number of ships arriving on their shores, business owners in Palma, Majorca, this month called on the government to scrap the cruise ship limits set there. They cited an 18% fall in passengers since legislation limited cruise ships to three a day.

“Don’t demonize cruise ship passengers, it is family tourism with a high spending power,” eight local business organizations, including bar and restaurant owners, shopkeepers and tour guides, said in a statement.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises will add two new ships to its fleet, and begin sailing one in 2024 and one in 2025.

The S.S. Victoria and S.S. Elisabeth—formerly Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Bach and Crystal Mahler—are being leased from Seaside Collection under a three-year, bareboat charter agreement. They will sail with an all-Uniworld staff and offer Uniworld’s amenities, to create “the signature Uniworld experience on existing itineraries,” the company said.

The two identical ships hold 110 guests in 55 suites and staterooms, each with full-length windows opposite king-sized beds, and adjoining suites that offer two-bedroom accommodations. They also have a massage room, gym, bistro for snacks, rooftop bar and grill, and fine dining restaurants featuring farm-to-table cuisine gathered daily by the chef in each destination.

S.S. Victoria will sail the Rhine for the 2024 season, beginning in March in Amsterdam with an 8-day “Holland & Belgium at Tulip Time” cruise through Belgium and The Netherlands. Then it will sail the 8-day “Castles Along the Rhine” itinerary from Basel to Amsterdam, the 10-day “Magnificent Moselle and Rhine” itinerary and the 8-day “Belgium Holiday Markets” round-trip from Brussels.

“The S.S. Victoria and S.S. Elisabeth are unique vessels that we know our guests will love, featuring a modern design, some of the largest suites on the rivers, and an ambiance that exudes contemporary luxury. Onboard, guests can expect our Tiny Noticeable Touches throughout every aspect, from the impeccable service provided by the Uniworld crew they know and love to the multitude of all-inclusive amenities available to them,” said Uniworld president and CEO Ellen Bettridge.

The S.S. Elisabeth is scheduled to sail the 2025 season, though no details have yet been released.

Good news for last-minute travelers: Things are looking up in the nation’s passport offices, as an influx of staffers and new technology has cut processing time for passport applications by two weeks, to as little as 35 days.

In a record-breaking fiscal year from October 2022 to September 2023, the department issued 24 million passport books and cards, more than at any time in the nation’s history. Now it promises that passport applications filed after October 2 will be processed in 8-11 weeks, or 5-7 weeks if you pay for expedited service, not including time in the mail.

Staffing is up 10% and there are “hundreds of additional staff in the hiring pipeline,” the US State Department reports in a press release (Department of State Reduces Processing Times, Breaks Records for Passport Issuances – United States Department of State). “We remain focused on lowering processing times, and this reduction is an important first step.”

Still, the department said, “we encourage anyone considering future international travel to check their passport’s validity early and often. Apply well in advance of your potential travel and at least 6-9 months ahead of your passport’s expiration date. Check your passport’s expiration date today and visit travel.state.gov to plan your 2024 travel with the latest passport guidance and travel information.”

And of course, call your travel advisor!

American Cruise Lines continues to provide US river cruising with a look at their 2024 cruise season. With a total of 125 US ports of call and nine new itineraries, ACL has big announcements out.

Leading the announcement is two new 100-passenger ships, Coastal Cats, American Liberty and American Legend. These are the 3^rd and 4^th ships of the American series which will include 12 total. The first two coastal cats already in operation are American Eagle and  American Glory. Slated to sail New England, Chesapeake Bay, Hudson River and Florida, the American Liberty is set to cruise in June 2024 while American Legend is set for October 2024.

Adding to the 19 ships they will have in operation by October of next year are new itineraries. Including longer cruises like the 60-day itinerary exploring 20 states (August 16^th to October 14^th) and the 35-day Civil War Battlefields cruise exploring 20 Civil War battlefields (May 3^rd to June 6^th).

They’ve also announced new 2024 cruises at National Parks. Including Denali Fjords and Glacier Bay National Parks in Alaska, and Smoky Mountains National Park. Also available is the multi-national park cruise of Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton along the Colombia and Snake Rivers.

With new departures, new ships, more itineraries than featured here, and a maximum range of 90-180 guests per cruise, American Cruise Lines looks to be growing into the booming interest in cruises.

In a major change to its business model, Avoya Travel this weekend announced a new program that offers 100% commission on some bookings to its top agents.

Under the Elite 100 program, top-producing Avoya agents who book a customer of their own, and not an Avoya lead, will keep 100% of the commission rather than the current 80%. The program defines top producers as those who have earned $50,000 in commission from customer travel in the past 12 months.

Avoya’s model traditionally has focused on customer leads that Avoya pushes out to its travel advisors, making it an especially attractive host for newcomers to travel. Its Million Dollar Expo in Seattle last week, for example, hosted 10 travel advisors who sold $1 million in travel in their first year in business, much of it thanks to Avoya leads.

Recent research has shown that the industry has changed, Avoya co-CEO Jeff Anderson said at a press conference announcing the program, “we haven’t changed our compensation plan for 15 years.” In today’s market, “most independent advisors aren’t looking for everything we offer, and there’s a bit of a misconception that you only went to Avoya because they offered leads. That’s pretty cool, I think we’ve by far had the best program in terms of that. But if somebody thought that’s all we were about, then we’ve missed an opportunity. We needed to change up our message so the industry knows we’re as much of a host as everyone else.”

Of the 90 agencies that joined Avoya in August, more than 80 are brand new to travel, Anderson said; “that’s where the vast majority of our network comes from. There’s nothing more important than bringing great people into this business, and the more we sell the better it is for everyone.”

Still, though, Avoya doesn’t want to lose its very best experienced advisors; “ultimately, we want to build the host agency of the future.”

The research also found that Avoya customers spend 60% more on their vacation than the average agency customer, Anderson noted, so even an 80% split will be profitable.

Avoya currently has about 1,800 travel advisor members and hopes for 2,000 by year-end, up from about 1,600 in 2019 and 1,500 in 2022.

For more on the Avoya announcement and reactions to it, please see my column here at Travel Research Online on Friday.

There was so much good advice at the Avoya Million Dollar Expo in Seattle last week that I guess you just had to be there to absorb it all. But here are some highlights:

You don’t have a responsibility to tell your clients about commonly known issues like COVID, says travel attorney Mark Pestronk, but if you read in the trade press (where a client would not normally be) that a supplier is having financial problems, you do have a legal responsibility to advise your customers. Have them sign a disclaimer (there are several on his website, Law Offices of Mark Pestronk, P.C. – The Travel Law Office – Legal help for Corporate Travel – Online Travel Agencies – Home Based Independent Travel Contractors). And for heaven’s sake protect your assets from disgruntled clients and the IRS with an LLC. E&O insurance in most cases covers damages but not legal expenses, which can add up to $50,000 in a case that involves death or injury. Always sign contracts in the name of the LLC and not your own—and note that if you deduct travel expenses as a business expense, you are five times more likely to be audited if you file on Schedule C than if you file as an LLC.

Grow your business by creating a simple referral program of some kind. Reach out to your Pied Pipers and incentivize them to talk about you. And don’t forget to celebrate them, perhaps on a Facebook page for only your top customers. In any case, always send an email asking for feedback and for referrals when clients return from a trip. (Travel advisor Carri Kersten, of Carri Kersten Travel Design, told me that during Covid she raffled off a $10 gift certificate to a local business to anyone who shared her Facebook posts or tagged a friend. In return for an $80 expenditure over eight weeks, her followers quadrupled, from 500 to 2,100.)

Keep two questions top of mind when meeting with suppliers: Does my client base have synergy with your product? And, can you help me develop a client base that matches your product?

Celebrity’s new round of shorter Caribbean cruises that stop at Perfect Day in CocoCay offers travel advisors a great opportunity to try the ever-improving product. While you might not think of RCCL’s private island as a perfect fit for Celebrity clients, the itineraries included have seen a high number of immediate bookings as soon as they are announced.

Need a little inspiration? Envision how other people’s lives are better because you are living your dream, says keynote motivational speaker Lucia Onieva (Life and Relationship Coach | Lucia G Onieva | Life Aligned). Write down your dream and then “bring your people into your dream” by visualizing how it will positively your family and your customers.

Don’t overlook the value of selling air. Every single day travel advisors have to prove their value to their customers, and part of that proposition is having a conversation about air. Things will go wrong and you will have to be an advocate for your customers, but you can charge the customer and also retain them by being their airline and travel document advisor.

It’s a new destination and a new kind of resort for Club Med, which will be hunting for big-spending tourist game in South Africa. In 2026, it will open its first resort there—plus an accompanying luxury Game Lodge that offers a Club Med-branded luxury safari experience. And in another new tack, there’s even the very first Club Med Surf Club.

The beachside Club Med Tinley will be in Tinley Manor, an area known for its Bottlenose dolphins, on the Dolphin Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. It’s a lesser-known province for tourists, known for its warm climate and stunning white-sand beaches. The surf-lifestyle themed property will include 342 rooms, 64 suites, and a convention center.

Guests also will have the opportunity to go on a Big Game safari in Northern Natal, based in the new 80-room luxury lodge Club Med is building, a 3.5-hour drive or 40-minute flight away.

Club Med Tinley will feature design, entertainment and food and beverages inspired by the location, climate, and cultures of Southern Africa, in both Premium rooms and Exclusive Collection accommodations.

Like all properties in the chain, it will offer family activities, land and water sports, and a kid’s club with tailored facilities and certified staff, as well as the Surf School at Club Med. Wellness enthusiasts will find an “indulgent spa,” fitness center, yoga school, and adult-only Zen pool and bar.

Club Med Tinley is a collaborative partnership between Club Med and the Collins Residential Consortium. Its sustainability efforts include a “Bye Bye Plastic Program,”  Green Globe sustainable tourism certification and eco-certified construction, and a partnership with Agrisud, a not-for-profit group designed to incorporate products from local businesses in its supply chain.

Orlando visitors will have a new transportation option starting this week, as the highly awaited Brightline train finally begins service from Miami Airport and other points in south Florida.

Beginning on Friday, the bright-yellow trains will carry passengers from Central Miami to Terminal C in Orlando International Airport in just over three hours, at speeds up to 130 mph. There will be 16 round trips per day, with hourly departures. Passengers also will able to connect to West Palm Beach, Aventura, Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale.

Tickets from Miami to Orlando range in price from $79 for Smart service to $270 for Premium service. They can be bought at Brightline stations or at gobrightline.com. Discounts are available for children through the age of 12, students, and groups of four or more.

Citing “incredible enthusiasm” for the service, Brightline president Patrick Goddard encouraged holiday season visitors to “check calendars, make plans, visit our website or app and reserve a seat now.”

Meanwhile, Brightline Holdings CEO Mike Reininger said the railroad is looking at Tampa as a potential destination, and the company already has bought land in Cocoa, near Port Canaveral.

Kind Traveler, the socially conscious booking platform, has launched a new program to empower travelers to positively impact the communities they visit.

Following a six-month global pilot that raised $73,000 in donations for seven charities, the new Every Stay Gives Back (ESGB) program has fully launched, and now includes 30 hotels and 17 charities in 19 destinations.

Following the principles of responsible tourism, 100% of the proceeds of the program will be donated directly to participating local charities, whether the client books through the hotel or through a third party.

The program makes it easy for guests “to plant native trees in Hawaii, support wildlife rehabilitation efforts on Catalina Island, fund local schools in Belize, Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica, and much more,” said Jessica Blotter, Kind Traveler’s CEO.

ESGB is a formalized third-party giving program where a portion of every guest stay is donated to a local charity designated by the hotel. Travelers also are given suggestions of other ways they can get involved and help local communities. Kind Traveler verifies and tracks the monthly donations and makes it easy for hotel and destination partners to communicate their initiatives to guests and stakeholders.

Kind Traveler has a portfolio of more than 350 hotel, destination and charity partners in 25 countries.

Virgin Voyages has indefinitely delayed the launch of its fourth ship, Brilliant Lady, citing staffing, supply chain and construction issues.

Brilliant Lady was supposed to set sail in December; but Virgin now has canceled its two festive inaugural sailings, a five-day roundtrip Christmas cruise from Miami and a seven-day New Year’s Eve from Miami, and its regular sailings from San Juan in January, March and April and the April 20 repositioning cruise from the Caribbean to Europe. No firm start date is being announced at this time.

Sailors, as Virgin calls its guests, can switch to similar itineraries on Scarlet Lady or Valiant Lady. Virgin likely also will offer refunds to those who wish to cancel altogether, though it has not yet announced what the policy will be.

The delay follows in the steps of Scarlet Lady and Resilient Lady, both of which also were delayed.