Paris offers so many opportunities for river cruisers. You can hop on a barge and cruise the Oise (or the many other regional canals and rivers). You can cruise the Seine or make your way by fast train (about two hours from Paris) to Bordeaux or Lyon for river cruises through beautiful wine country on the Rhone, Garonne and Dordogne. You can even get to Amsterdam or Basel, both about three hours by fast train, for Rhine river cruises. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s been three days of presentations on travel marketing—from defining your market to branding and using social media to creating raving fans—at the TravelPro Marketing Summit this week. And it’s no surprise that I’ve come away with a few good ideas I can’t wait to try out.

When experts talk about a subject they love, you can’t help but get excited. and this second online Travel Pro Summit is clearly a labor of love by travel advisor Tiffany Elberfeld and the speakers she recruited Read the rest of this entry »

Luxury expeditions are a hot item for 2025, and PONANT has met the challenge by adding 18 new itineraries plus nine exclusive polar experiences in its new catalog, and promising at least one excursion in every port of call.

Ponant sailings next year will include Northern Europe and the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, Asia, Oceania & Polynesia, and nine polar itineraries aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s only luxury icebreaker. Several of the new itineraries include shoulder-season sailings to popular destinations including the Mediterranean and the Aegean.

The newest itineraries include a 12-day Mediterranean Heritage and Archaeological Sites that visits Greece, Italy, Malta, Tunisia, Algeria, and Spain, April 23-May 4; an 8-day Europe Autumn in the Aegean Sea to Greece in September and October; The Fascinating Nature of Melanesia, including the Kei Islands, the Raja Ampat Islands, and the remote Banda archipelago, from September 10–21; and the 8-day Secular Treasures in the Land of the Rising Sun from Osaka to Kobe, April 5-12.

The polar itineraries will take guests as well as naturalists, historians and photo ambassadors to the ice floes of Baffin Bay and Disko Bay; to Ammassalik and the Blosseville Coast, whose ice cap extends to the North Pole; ashore to meet with two Greenlandic communities; and to an all-new port of call, Corner Brook on Newfoundland.

A unique journey, the 12-night Encounter with the Last Guardians of the North Pole, sailing April 5-17, will allow travelers to interact with local communities and explore Greenland’s ice sheet with hunters from the Inuit community. José Sarica, expedition experience director, and Mathieu Tsingrilaras, staff captain on the Ponant fleet, will join French polar expert Nicolas Dubreuil for this scouting expedition, with the goal of developing new polar activities in collaboration with “the last guardians of the pole.”

This trip includes a four-day visit to Kullorsuaq, where guests will stay overnight with locals or in expedition tents on the ice, and participate in village life through dog-sled rides, traditional Inuit kayak outings, snowshoe hikes, snorkeling in a wetsuit, and a night in an Inuit tent to explore Nunanutaat, remote areas reachable by dog sled.

Today’s article is going to skip any sign of marketing mumbo-jumbo and cut right to the chase.

Here are six key qualities that are essential to success:

• Sincerity
• Personal Integrity
• Humility
• Courtesy
• Wisdom
• Charity

Read the rest of this entry »

Last week, we discussed how to prepare for a shift in the travel industry as many are shaking off that post-COVID travel bug. In today’s competitive travel industry, personalized service has become a key differentiator for travel pros seeking to build loyalty and ensure repeat business. As travelers have many options, travel professionals must emphasize bespoke experiences to maintain their edge. Here are some thoughts! Read the rest of this entry »

It’s June, traditionally one of the slowest months in the travel business. But there’s never a dull moment when you own a small business—and many travel advisors report they have plenty of homework to do over their summer vacation.

At Boutique Travel Advisors, co-founder Angela Rice is trying to tackle what she sees as one of the biggest issues facing both travel agency owners and independent contractors: working so hard during Wave season, but then having to wait months to see the cash flow Read the rest of this entry »

Disney Cruise Line shared details of its 2025 schedule this week, including plans to homeport three ships in Port Canaveral, as Disney Treasure debuts this winter and joins Disney Wish, while Disney Magic and Disney Fantasy take turns there.

Two more new ships will join the fleet in 2025. Disney Wish will get a sister, Disney Destiny, and Disney Adventure will head for Asia, where it will homeport in Singapore in early 2025.

Disney Treasure will sail seven-night Caribbean sailings, while Wish sails three- and four-night Bahamas trips.

Disney Magic will be in Port Canaveral for the summer months and into September and October, then head to Puerto Rico for a series of seven-night Caribbean sailings, and then on to Galveston, Texas, for four- to seven-night western Caribbean trips through May 2026.

Disney Fantasy will sail four- and five-night itineraries out of Port Canaveral from November 2025 through May 2026.

Disney Dream will sail from its new home in Port Everglades on three- to five-night Bahamas itineraries through May 2026.

Disney Wonder will spend the summer of 2025 in Alaska before heading Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific in late 2025 and then homeporting in San Diego beginning in March 2026 for three- and four-night Mexican Riviera sailings.

Bookings for the new itineraries open to the public June 28, with earlier dates available for the line’s variety of club-level members, but details can already be found on disneycruise.com.

Also this week, Disney shared that its Castaway Cay private island in the Bahamas has brought in $220 million in dividends from DCL Island Development since 2014, though it does not share figures on how much revenue was generated. The island debuted in July 1998 as the first private island to allow ships to dock directly at the shore, so guests did not need tenders to come ashore. Disney’s CFO Hugh Johnston said on its second quarter earnings call last month that “the cruise business, frankly, is one that has an enormous number of opportunities for us over time. And that is why we’re leaning more heavily into that business.” It is no exaggeration.

It should come as no surprise that Gina Bang is having some serious impact on Avanti Destinations. It’s as if her name was a literal description of her effect on the Portland, Oregon-based travel wholesaler.

Since she was promoted last January to chief sales and marketing officer, she has expanded, restructured and reignited Avanti’s sales team. She’s been cleaning out the cobwebs of the system and making things run more smoothly.

Ms. Bang has been with Avanti for 21 years. She’s worked all over the company and knows how things work. She has great people skills and has been inspiring the team, which then inspires its respective travel advisor customers in each sales region Read the rest of this entry »

A trial program by the US State Department will allow a limited number of travelers to renew their passport online and get a new one in six to eight weeks.

Beginning on Wednesday, June 19, a beta test of the online process will open seven days a week at 1 p.m. Eastern time. The system will accept a limited number of applications each day and then close. But the number of applications accepted each day will grow over time, as the system proves effective, the State Department promises.

The online system is not meant to expedite the processing of passports and it will not be faster than mail-in applications, except for the time saved in the mail.

To be eligible, travelers must be applying for a passport renewal, and not their first passport. Applicants must be 25 or older and have a passport issued between 2009 and 2015 that was valid for 10 years at the time of issuance; live in the United States; and pay with a valid credit card.

Users of the online option cannot update biographical information such as their name, gender, or date of birth.

For more information or to apply, go to  Renew my Passport Online (state.gov).

On a sunny morning in 2019, I read that Dress Barn would be closing. To be honest, it meant absolutely nothing to me. It was my wife who let out a quiet scream of concern, “I have a few sweaters and tops from Dressbarn that I absolutely love.”

The article reminded me that this establishment has (had) been in business for over 50 years. The culprit came as no surprise. Online shopping and Amazon in particular as well as a well-known discounter known for their red target were the primary culprits.

I have been known to be seen strolling aimlessly down an aisle or two of Targets on a Saturday morning, and I am a Prime Member of Amazon. I toss no dispersions in either direction. That is not my message today Read the rest of this entry »

As the world gradually recovers from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the travel industry faces new challenges. The surge of “revenge travel,” where travelers were eager to make up for lost time, is beginning to wane. For travel professionals, it is essential to adapt to these changes and prepare for a potential shift in demand. The post-COVID travel boom may not last, but travel agents can continue to thrive with the right strategies. Here are some actionable marketing and sales suggestions to help you stay profitable in this evolving market. Read the rest of this entry »

Living with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity poses significant challenges. Individuals affected by the autoimmune disorder often find it difficult to enjoy travel due to fear of gluten exposure and other potentially serious health implications. The collaboration between AmaWaterways and Celiac Cruise has already delivered amazing European itineraries and adventures, offering dedicated 100-percent gluten-free ships and experiences for guests sailing the Danube and Seine rivers. Read the rest of this entry »

There’s a lot more to Puerto Rico than San Juan—and there’s a lot more to being a successful travel advisor than just sales skills. So when my Facebook friends Nina Sherman and Hema Khan suggested that I spend a week with them and 20 travel advisors on a CCRA fam trip on the Island of Enchantment, I was in.

Next year, 2025, will be the 100^th anniversary of the founding of Tauck, and at this major milestone the tour operator is taking a serious look at its concept of group touring. Historically, the Tauck tour might have carried as many as 40 in a group. That was more or less the capacity of the standard touring motorcoach Read the rest of this entry »

Nestled in the Jiangsu province of eastern China, Suzhou stands as a captivating destination that weaves together the threads of ancient history, cultural richness, and natural beauty. Often referred to as the “Venice of the East,” this enchanting city has long been celebrated for its classical gardens, thriving silk industry, and intricate network of canals that grace its landscape

When a stick doesn’t work, reach for a carrot—and apparently that’s the smart new approach to its travel-agency partners at American Airlines. The carrier has followed up the recall of its highly unpopular NDC booking strategy by promising to pay 10% commission on NDC-enabled bookings of Main Plus, Main Select, and Flagship Business Plus ticket bundles through the third quarter of 2024.

Main Plus NDC bundles include a Main Cabin Extra or preferred seat and a checked bag. Main Select offer refundable fares, same-day flight changes, priority boarding, priority check-in and a choice of any seat in the main cabin at the time of booking, including Main Cabin Extra. Flagship Business Plus includes a business-class seat, access to a private check-in area, expedited security screening, Flagship First dining in a Flagship Lounge and a free third checked bag.

The news comes as a welcome bow to the role of travel advisors in the industry. Just two weeks ago, AA’s CEO Robert Isom canceled a set of proposed procedural changes that would have denied frequent-traveler points to travelers on bookings not made by preferred travel agencies through the NDC direct channel. In a quarterly call on May 29, Isom acknowledged that the changes—meant to push travelers and travel agencies to use direct channels instead of GDSs—had resulted in falling revenues and forced a cut in AA’s profit forecast.

By the next day, Vasu Raja, author of the stick approach, was gone—and Isom apparently already was reaching out to travel advisors, instead offering commissions to reward those who showed support.

The business travel blog The Beat first broke the story that several travel agencies, all of whom requested anonymity per their contracts with AA, received a memo from American Airlines introducing the program on May 30. It will last through the third quarter of 2024.

In honor of Father’s Day, and/or the issues fatherhood often brings up, the founders of The Journeymen Collective suggest that the best way to deal with and release the stressors in our lives—or to bond with your Dad?—may well be a luxury guided magic mushroom retreat in the mountains outside Vancouver.

Rob Grover and Gary Logan have hosted “entrepreneurs, CEOs, athletes, performers, couples, and small groups invested in the highest level of personal development and self-discovery,” they say, and have 60 years of experience in spiritual and metaphysical training, executive level mindset coaching, energetic healing modalities, and Alexander Technique lessons.

They offer online and support calls to prepare guests for programs that utilize psilocybin as a way to achieve self-growth in a trusted, safe, and luxurious setting.

For more information visit: https://www.thejourneymencollective.com/.

Lea Diele, CTIE, vice president of education for Travel Leaders Network, was named the 2024 recipient of The Travel Institute’s Educational Excellence Award. This annual award recognizes organizations and individuals demonstrating a significant, ongoing commitment to providing comprehensive education for travel professionals Read the rest of this entry »

For those who might be unfamiliar with America’s pastime, the position closest to the first baseman in the game of baseball is the second baseman. The defensive distance between these two players is usually no more than 30 feet. Furthermore, the game itself consists of throwing, running, catching, and hitting. One is usually gifted a baseball glove at age 5. This is normally when youngsters are introduced to the game Read the rest of this entry »

Last week’s cautionary tale about travel advisor Debi King, who was put off an Oceania World Cruise in the Seychelles for “soliciting business” onboard the ship, resulted in lots of comments from travel advisors, most of them on Oceania’s side.

“Everyone” knows it’s prohibited, many said; there’s nothing new here (though no one could remember a case of it actually happening). And yet, my email and Facebook pages quickly were flooded with stories from travel advisors who themselves were solicited on board various ships, or who felt their clients were solicited by the cruise lines themselves.

“It’s too bad Oceania declined to comment on what occurred, as it is a missed opportunity for them,” says Sean Mouttet. “Their input could provide Read the rest of this entry »

AmaWaterways announced two new river ships launching in 2026: AmaKaia will AmaDara on the Mekong River and AmaSofia will sail Europe’s Rhine and Danube Rivers Read the rest of this entry »