The Freddie Mercury Tour in Montreux, Switzerland, was one of those things that at first impression seems displaced. While traveling I am constantly encountering things that seem out of place. Everything is everywhere now. I bought a scarf in Switzerland. For me, it’s a souvenir from Switzerland because that’s where I bought it. But it’s not really Swiss, except that it’s warm wool and perfect for wearing around your neck in the mountains. It’s a Scottish tartan plaid. And it was made in China.

I love a good idea for growing your travel business—and this week I came across two. I was doing what I like to do best, talking to smart travel advisors, this time at the Signature annual conference in Las Vegas. I’m working on a story about what advisors are planning to do differently in 2025, so I’ve been asking attendees here what they’re up to.

I’ll include a few of those stories in a future column. But the one I heard from Amy Westerman and Dave Hoffman, of The Curated Travel Collection, was so good it deserves a story all its own. And the tips on growing your Facebook ranking made me want to marry AI guru Kha Ly so I could have his tech support 24 x 7.

Like all the best stories, Amy and Dave’s begins in a bar, where Amy got to chatting and “swapping stories” with another customer, as travel advisors are wont to do Read the rest of this entry »

The Tauck Rhine River Connoisseur river cruise that I recently joined included an optional (but included) tour of the Charlie Chaplin home and museum in Vevey, Switzerland, between Montreux and Lausanne, where Chaplin lived during the last period of his life. It’s called Chaplin’s World. Visiting the home and museum was an amazing experience. It revealed to me much more of the genius of that great early film innovator than I had known before.

The museum itself, apart from its subject, was an amazing achievement. Known as The Studio, it was a huge structure, like a large warehouse, packed with fascinating, room-sized displays showing various aspects of Chaplin’s life and career. Many of them included full-sized mannequins, or perhaps they should be called full-color sculptures of some of the main figures of Chaplin’s life

There’s an interesting new luxury option in the UK next summer, as Belmond rolls out its newest sleeper train, The Britannic Explorer.

Debuting in July 2025, the train offers fine British gastronomy, an onboard wellness suite and exclusive access to unique sites as they ride the rails on a leisurely journey through the British countryside. Its 18 cabins include three Grand Suites and 15 Suites.

The train’s “elegant interiors with unmistakable British charm” are being designed by London-based Albion Nord, while its menu is being created by Chef Simon Rogan, whose restaurants (including L’Enclume) hold eight Michelin stars and two Michelin Green stars. The afternoon tea, lunch and dinner menus will highlight seasonal, sustainable ingredients, sourced locally to showcase Britain’s diverse regions.

The Britannic Explorer will depart London, offering three different three-night journeys through Cornwall, The Lake District and Wales. Optional guided excursions in each destination include a private tour and dinner at Hauser & Wirth Somerset and on-site restaurant Da Costa, guided hikes through Wales, wild swimming in the Lake district and a visit to Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens in Cornwall. In the evening, passengers can mingle in the train’s botanically-inspired Bar.

Guests also can combine routes, pairing The Cornwall or Lake District routes, which run from Friday to Monday, with a Wales trip from Monday to Thursday. And Belmond’s boutique hotel, The Cadogan, just 20 minutes from London’s Victoria station, can offer a seamless pre- or post-rail stay. For those traveling through the Cotswolds on the Lake District route, the Britannic Explorer offers an exclusive stop at the Michelin two-star manor house hotel and restaurant, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, A Belmond Hotel, Oxfordshire.

Gary Franklin, Belmond’s Vice President of Trains and Cruises, said the train will “further enhance Belmond’s global portfolio of market-leading luxury rail experiences. The Britannic Explorer offers something truly unique; an opportunity to discover the rugged Cornish coastline to Snowdonia’s untamed National Park and the vast expanses of the Lake District like never before.”

Belmond’s fleet of luxury trains also includes the British Pullman in England and the Royal Scotsman in Scotland.

A three-night itinerary, including excursions, meals, wine and alcoholic beverages on board the Britannic Explorer starts at £11,000 based on a double cabin. For more information or to book, visit the web page here.

It’s hard to write a news column, even one specifically about travel news, without acknowledging last week’s Big Event. It greatly overshadows most other events, and to ignore it would be to have a very large elephant in the room.

I don’t, however, want to rehash any political issues and I don’t think many others do either at the moment. The presidential election is over. The tension that builds towards that major turning point every four years is dispersed. We have a brief reprieve from the political battles that have gripped the nation all year. We can take a breath, get some good RnR, and get ready for whatever comes next. One matter in which there may be some consensus in this proverbially divided nation is that it’s a relief that that’s over Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s turn the clock back to when we were ten-years old.  If you asked the majority of men today how they met their first girlfriend, they would typically share a similar story.

In most cases, a young boy is introduced to his first girlfriend in the 5th grade at the age of ten.  The reason I know this is because that’s the age we realize that women exist.  Until that point, it was all about basketball, football and baseball. (I’m generalizing.) Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve never met a cruise I didn’t like. On a yacht that holds 35 or a megaship with 6,000, shaking across the Drake to Antarctica or drifting through the Caribbean, I’m happy to eat chicken and salad if the pickings are slim, or sit by the pool with a book if there’s nothing to do. As long as there’s sea air, a balcony and a cup of coffee, I’m in.

I was fine with ignoring the mixed reviews I’ve heard and read about MSC, which range from five-star raves to absolute pans, from both travel advisors I trust and posts on social media. I wanted to give MSC a try and see for myself. So we booked a quick five-night Caribbean trip out of Port Canaveral and brought along a couple of friends for a long weekend in the sun.

Viking this week placed a bet on the Middle East, officially naming two new river ships, the Viking Hathor and the Viking Sobek, in Luxor, Egypt.

Following its cost-conscious tradition, Viking repurposed the design of the existing Viking Aton and Viking Osiris, following the pattern exactly in these two new ships. All four vessels will carry a maximum of  82 guests in 41 staterooms, on a 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.

Despite troubles in the Middle East, the neutral Egypt expects about 15.3 million tourists in 2024, up 5% over 2023, according to Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy. And it’s a fascinating destination for tourists. Just this week, an Egyptian-American mission unearthed a 4,000-year-old tomb near the Temple of Hatshepsut on the West Bank of the Nile in Luxor.

Viking’s itinerary begins with three nights in Cairo and a flight to Luxor before the eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile, including visits to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings, plus excursions to the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the temples at Abu Simbel and the High Dam in Aswan, and a village elementary school.

Guests can add Pre and Post Extensions, such as a five-day British Collections of Ancient Egypt extension that begins in London, where guests will visit the British Museum’s Egyptian Collection before it opens to the general public, and then the collection of Egyptian antiquities in the home and personal museum of Sir John Soane.

Viking plans to add four more ships—growing its Nile fleet to 10 altogether—over the next two years. Viking Amun and Viking Thoth will debut in 2025, and Viking Sekhmet and Viking Ptah in 2026.

PRESS RELEASE FROM AVANTI DESTINATIONS

New E-Brochure Features Seven Vacations, 21 Hotels and Resorts, 26 Tours and Experiences To Customize for Unique Winter Getaways

Portland, OR, November 4, 2024 – To inspire advisors to recommend independent travel to warm overseas destinations during the winter months of October through March, custom FIT tour operator Avanti Destinations has launched Read the rest of this entry »

KHM Travel Group began their journey as a host agency in the travel industry with a small, family-owned business. Now, they have a team of over 70 in a multi-office complex. These days they work to support over 5,000 independent home-based travel agents with unlimited support, one-on-one coaching, educational events, group travel support, and the in-house client management system called myTravelCRM. They have also offered marketing advice to Advisors mostly including boot camps and group camp events, basic marketing essentials, and regular updates via newsletters and blogs. Now, in a recent press release, they have announced an increase in what they offer in regards to marketing a travel agency. Read the rest of this entry »

Guilford, CT—November 1, 2024—American Cruise Lines is pleased to announce that it has signed contracts with Chesapeake Shipbuilding for 4 more new ships, bringing the Line’s total orderbook with Chesapeake to 10 ships over the next 3 years. All the newbuilds are expressly for the U.S. cruise market; the fastest growing segment of the river cruise industry. American Cruise Lines has been a trailblazer in that market for more than 50 years and will operate 21 small ships around the country next year. Read the rest of this entry »

I have been writing articles like this for what seems like an eternity. In fact, I think I have penned close to 3000 articles since I began writing for TRO. If nothing else, you know by now that I look at marketing and sales from a different angle. One thing I can say for certain. The older I get, which means the more experienced I get, the easier it gets.

I have found along the way that sometimes we insist on shooting ourselves in the foot.  We complicate Read the rest of this entry »

(Of course, we know there are two sides to every story. This is the “con” side. For the many reasons some travel advisors do choose to sell air, see “Earning an Extra $50K: Travel Advisors Who Sell Air Say It’s Worth the Effort | Travel Research Online.”)

Liability issues. Time wasted. Late night calls. And the new DOT ruling about refunds that takes effect this week just adds one more reason to the litany of why many travel advisors hate to sell airline tickets.

“Selling air? Don’t.” That’s the succinct advice from Rich Greenway, owner of Greenway Travel Group-Dream Vacations. And he is not alone. Read the rest of this entry »

As airfares continue to rise, travelers are seeking ways to maximize their experiences by extending their stays in their chosen destination. Award-winning luxury river cruise line AmaWaterways is catering to this trend with its 14-night “Grand River Cruises,” combining some of Europe’s most popular itineraries into a single voyage. The 2025 season sees three new combinations – Grand Seine & Bordeaux, Grand Seine & Rhône and Grand Rhine & Dutch Canals, adding to the existing Magnificent Europe and Grand Danube. Read the rest of this entry »

PRESS RELEASE FROM TRAVELSMG

A New Era of Collaboration in Travel

(Boston, MA – October 30, 2024) European Travel Agent Forum (ETAF), an exclusive B2B event connecting North America’s top-performing Travel Agents with Europe’s leading vacation destinations and providers, recently concluded with strong optimism for a surge in business engagement.

Produced by Travel Show Marketing Group (TravelSMG), an independent event organizer catering to the Travel Agent market and in conjunction with the government of Terceira Island, this exclusive event took place throughout Terceira Island in the Azores of Portugal from October 16 – 20, 2024.

Agents in attendance were held to stringent standards during the event’s vetting process, adding to the overall level of productivity and ROI. ETAF’s hosted program model guarantees that only top-tier Travel Agents participate, ensuring their full engagement and commitment to the industry partnerships established.

The forum brought together over 250 travel agents, industry leaders, and tourism professionals from across Europe to explore the future of travel in a rapidly evolving market. Alongside strong participation from European suppliers, the event also drew in business and technology solution partners from across the globe. In total, representatives from over 20 countries were in attendance.

“TravelSMG is committed to empowering Travel Agents and fostering collaboration across the industry,” said Jim Cloonan, President at TravelSMG. “The European Travel Agent Forum has set the stage for meaningful dialogue and partnerships that will shape the future of travel across Europe.”

Agents in attendance had the opportunity to network with peers and industry leaders, fostering collaborations that will drive innovation and growth within the travel sector. They took part in unique experiences throughout the island to support their destination knowledge. Feedback from participants highlighted the value of the forum in creating connections, generating new ideas, and reinvigorating a drive for success.

Travel Agents and Suppliers took part in mutual interest appointments, generating nearly 3,500 connections. In addition to these formal business meetings, the educational program focused on the Azorean culture along with presentations from Kensington Tours, Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection European Resorts, Sagres Vacations and aliveXperiences. With a complete focus on European inbound holidays, the event offered opportunities for Travel Agents to gain in-depth knowledge while forging critical relationships with Suppliers across Europe.

The event also featured an exhibition showcasing the latest hotels and services from leading travel brands throughout the Azores, providing Agents with tools to enhance their offerings to the islands and better serve their clients.

Looking ahead, TravelSMG will announce plans soon for the 2025 European Travel Agent Forum.

ABOUT TRAVEL SHOW MARKETING GROUP

Travel Show Marketing Group (TravelSMG) is an independent organization offering solutions that drive success in the B2B leisure vacation market. Since 2009 TravelSMG has partnered with thousands of tourism clients to engage and empower the North American Travel Agent community through education, networking, and global experiences. Their diverse range of engagement solutions includes large-scale trade shows, specialized niche-focused events, and a comprehensive suite of digital opportunities. All of their solutions work together to help their Supplier Partners enhance their visibility among Travel Sellers. For more information on TravelSMG and their full suite of events, visit www.TravelSMG.com .

It’s difficult to imagine Abu Dhabi before oil was discovered in the 1960s. Once a small community known for fishing and pearl diving, Abu Dhabi now sprouts from the deserts and stretches to the sky with heights previously unrecorded by humans. The extreme wealth of this city has also brought luxury beyond the standard. Let’s dive into Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates and UNESCO City of Music.

Even in an AI world, competition for really smart, knowledgeable and experienced travel advisors is stiffer than ever—not just among high-end customers but apparently among host agencies as well. At its annual conference last week, Avoya Travel Network announced upgrades to the commissions it will be paying its independent advisors (IAs)—and a $5,000 sign-on bonus to newcomers bringing in a book of business of their own.

Avoya traditionally has paid its advisors 30% of the commission on bookings obtained through its Avoya Live lead program, or 80% on bookings of their personal customers. Last year, it began testing an Elite 100 program that raised commissions with preferred suppliers to 100% on bookings of personal clients. Read the rest of this entry »

PRESS RELEASE FROM OUTSIDE AGENTS

Jacksonville, FL, October 22, 2024 – OutsideAgents.com, America’s premier host travel agency, recently held its annual conference at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina and onboard Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas. With a theme of Turn Passion Into Profit, over 500 participants were in attendance for the eight-day event including member agents, preferred vendor representatives, industry leaders, and OutsideAgents.com staff. Read the rest of this entry »

People often ask me where I get my ideas from for future articles. After penning over 2500 articles, I too find myself scratching my head at times. The answer, however, is quite simple. I live my life while paying attention to my surroundings. Life itself is a constant saga (article) unfolding as the days, weeks, months and years expeditiously fly by.

Strangely enough, today’s reminder comes to you via the Clark Gym’s Sauna Box in Cooperstown, NY. I recently found myself chatting with a man who Read the rest of this entry »

Madeira, an enchanting island nestled in the Atlantic Ocean, is a haven where nature’s majesty and human history create a captivating tapestry. Known for its steep, dramatic mountains and verdant valleys, this Portuguese archipelago offers visitors a glimpse into a world of natural beauty and cultural richness.

The island’s capital, Funchal, is a city alive with history and modern vibrance. Located off the northeastern shores of Africa, Madeira benefits from a subtropical climate ideal for lush landscapes and diverse ecological life. Funchal is renowned for its historic old town, with slanted streets dating back to the 15th century, booming with quaint markets, and squares echoing a bygone era.

AmaWaterways, the first major river cruise line to navigate the Magdalena River in Colombia, shared its latest updates in preparation for the inaugural sailing of its first ship in Colombia, AmaMagdalena, set for 2025. The company is focused on enhancing the luxury cruising experience along this river, a new destination for river cruising, ensuring guests enjoy authentic and enriching connections to the region’s culture and heritage. Read the rest of this entry »