Paul Biasco, Skift
Adventure travel is a booming niche that many agencies would be wise to take on. Given the trends for retirees to live longer and healthier lives and for millennials to search for unique experiences, this segment of the travel market is just getting started.
1 month ago
Maria Lenhart, Skift
As one travel advisor told us about the Costco and state tax proposal flaps: “The little guys can fight back.”
1 month ago
Maria Lenhart, Skift
A recent Today Show segment touting Costco Travel is riling ASTA, as are Four Seasons ads on Facebook promising perks for direct bookings. Travel advisors are irked as well, but are finding ways to hold their own.
1 month ago
Maria Lenhart, Skift
As states look for new sources of tax revenue in the service-driven economy, businesses like travel agencies are viewed as likely targets. Part of the problem is ignorance among legislators of how agencies operate and why added taxes would be devastating for many.
1 month ago
Maria Lenhart, Skift
Overtourism is becoming a bigger problem for popular destinations, having a negative impact on local communities as well as on the visitor experience. Travel advisors can help the situation by suggesting alternatives to crowded places and times to take trips.
1 month ago
Allan Leibowitz, Skift
While everyone has heard horror stories of overcrowded destinations, hostile locals, and lining up for hours for a glimpse of a tourist attraction, travel advisors are still faced with requests to visit the world’s most popular places. They have a dilemma: Do they make the booking or risk losing the business by recommending alternatives?
2 months ago
Maria Lenhart, Skift
Express Travel, a travel agency serving a largely Hispanic customer base, has built an extensive clientele over the past 30 years. Relationships, community involvement, and intimate awareness of how its clients like to travel have a lot to do with its success.
2 months ago
Maria Lenhart, Skift
The announced closures of the Mexico Tourism Board offices make little sense to travel advisors who sell the destination. Already challenged to convince some clients about the destination's safety, they say the timing couldn't be worse.
2 months ago
Maria Lenhart, Skift
Running a home-based travel agency is not without its challenges, including isolation, getting motivated, and keeping work and personal life from colliding. Fortunately, there is plenty of support, including from industry peers, to help the process.
2 months ago
Maria Lenhart, Skift
The dissolution of the Mexico Tourism Board means that travel advisors and others involved in the selling and marketing of Mexico have lost a major resource. With safety perception issues still dogging Mexico, the timing couldn’t be worse — for the destination and advisors alike.
2 months ago
Maria Lenhart, Skift
Virgin Voyage's decision to charge high fares that include gratuities, premium dining, and other onboard features means higher earning potential for travel advisors. That's because advisors often lose out when cruise lines offer cheap fares, and then make up for it with onboard, non-commissionable charges.
2 months ago
Allan Leibowitz, Skift
Survey findings about a healthy luxury travel market in Australia demonstrate significant and lucrative opportunities for travel advisors who can meet clients’ lofty expectations while still delivering value.
2 months ago