| December 8, 2008 | News for travel agents |
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| Business and Industry Watch |  |  |
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- Travel industry starts to embrace layaway plans
Popular for decades before credit cards took hold, the financing strategy of layaway plans is making a comeback in the travel industry as well as other industries. Travel companies of all sizes, from the international hotel giant Hyatt Hotels and Resorts to the small travel agency Personal Travel, are offering layaway plans for consumers. The plans, however, come with expenses and risks. Chicago Tribune/Tribune Newspapers
(12/8)      
 | IDE: Become a FUNDI Specialist
Invest in your business by becoming a South African expert at the IDE on March 8-11, 2009! You can complete the Fundi Tourism Expert certification program and start generating new leads in this growing market. Learn more about the many educational opportunities at ASTA's International Destination Expo. Register today. |
| Energy Observer | | |
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- More cruise lines end fuel surcharges
Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruises said they will no longer collect fuel surcharges on 2009 bookings and those cruisers who have already paid the fee will receive an onboard credit. Carnival Corp. has made a similar announcement. All three cruise lines cited the rapid decline in oil prices as they announced the change. USA TODAY/Cruise Log Blog
(12/5)
- Analyst: Gasoline could fall to $1 a gallon
Gulf Oil and Cumberland Farms CEO Joe Petrowski and a Merrill Lynch analyst said Thursday that gasoline prices may drop as low as $1 per gallon next year if oil prices drop to as low as $20 a barrel. "There is a better than 25% probability that we'll see [gas] go as low as $1 a gallon sometime after the first of the year," Petrowski said. Convenience Store News
(12/8)
| Trends and Technology | | |
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- Survey: Travel demand will continue, especially among wealthy
Travel service providers who focus on affluent travelers will likely have an easier time than those who cater to other travelers, according to a survey co-written by the Travel Industry Association and Ypartnership. "Many travel service suppliers are questioning if there is sufficient life left in the marketplace to continue to invest in advertising and related efforts given the recent turmoil in the financial markets," said Peter C. Yesawhich, chairman and CEO of Ypartnership. "The answer is a definitive yes based on our tracking of prevailing customer sentiment, but increasingly from a more upscale demographic group." Travel Trade
(12/5)
- Column: Value of escorted tours becomes more evident
Marc Kazlauskas, president of Insight Vacations, explains his philosophy regarding the value of escorted touring, specifically tours in Europe, through seven frequently asked questions and answers. For example, Kazlauskas addresses the exchange rate between the dollar and pound and discusses how travelers can minimize their expenses. He also talks about the flexibility that escorted tour operators now offer as compared with the strict schedules of yesteryear. TravelPulse
(12/8)
| Consumer Travel News | | |
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- Sweden's land of midnight sun offers amazing heli-skiing
Located more than 130 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Riksgransen, Sweden, is all about heli-skiing -- at least until the midnight sun finally falls below the horizon. "It's become a bit of a legendary place for the Swedes," said Torkel Karoliussen, a champion Norwegian telemark skier. "The season doesn't really start until March, and it's best in May, and you can ski under the midnight sun in June." NYTimes.com
(12/7)
| Regulatory and Legislative | | |
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- TSA backs away from Registered Traveler program
The Transportation Security Administration originally designed the Registered Traveler program to provide assurance that program participants are not involved in terrorist activities. However, the program has become a way for those willing to pay for it to skip to the front of the security line. The TSA has withdrawn its involvement in the program, which has prompted significant criticism. "It was a very stupid idea in the first place," said Michael Boyd, president of the aviation consulting firm Boyd Group International. "A background check means nothing. Remember that most of the 9/11 hijackers had no record and would have passed a background check." Travel Weekly
(12/5)
- Survey: Americans give aviation security high rating
The airport security process may not be perfect, but 70% of Americans say the government is doing a good or excellent job of protecting air travelers, according to a new survey. The poll found that federal agencies with direct contact with the public generally get better ratings. "I thought we were up there with the IRS as the hated organization," said Don Thomas, a Transportation Security Administration screener at Orlando International Airport in Florida. USA TODAY
(12/8)
| Best Practices | | |
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- Preserve strategic expenditures during tough economic times
Strategic expenditures, aimed at supplementing traditional capital and operational expenditure categories, can help companies enhance and preserve their strategic initiatives, this article notes. Cordoning off strategic expenditures from other categories of spending is crucial to ensuring that these funds aren't tapped into for other purposes during tough economic times. Harvard Business Review
(12/2008)
| ASTA Spotlight | | |
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ASTA international travel agency members: Register associates for $125
As an International Travel Agency Member, strengthen your global connection to travel agents by registering your employees as an International Travel Associate of ASTA. Associate members may participate in local events, attend THETRADESHOW and ASTA's International Destination Expo, receive a listing on ASTA's Web site and much more. Develop contacts and see your sales improve. Get more information here, or e-mail bmills@asta.org.
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ASTA in USA Today
ASTA's latest TravelSense.org ad is expected to run today in USA Today promoting the use of travel agents. The ad points consumers to TravelSense.org to find their local ASTA travel agent and encourages them to be sure to use an agent for their next trip. "No matter how many questions, you need only one answer: your travel agent," says the ad.
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