| November 4, 2009 | News for travel agents |
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| Business and Industry Watch |  | |
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- Disney wins approval to build theme park in Shanghai
The Chinese government has approved a request from the Walt Disney Co. and its Shanghai partners to build a theme park in the country's richest city. The project is expected to cost several billion dollars. Disney has been talking about building a Shanghai park for more than a decade. "It gives Disney an opportunity to monetize its brand without necessarily having to produce filmed content," said David Bank, an RBC Capital Markets analyst. Bloomberg
(11/4)
     
- Egencia predicts rise in air ticket prices in 2010
Egencia recently released its 2010 Corporate Travel Forecast and Hotel Negotiability Index, which found that the average price of airline tickets in most leading Northern American markets for business travel will likely increase next year. Some cities, such as San Diego, Phoenix and Seattle, will see significant hikes in air ticket prices, according to the index. Meanwhile, average daily hotel rates in the same destinations are expected to decline by up to 5%, Egencia said. BTNOnline.com
(11/3)
- Theft prompts airport to consider reinstating bag checks
The Phoenix police have discovered a stash of nearly 1,000 stolen bags in a home about 35 miles from Sky Harbor International Airport. Detectives searched the home after airport surveillance cameras showed Keith King removing bags from the luggage-claim area, just weeks after he was issued a misdemeanor citation for the same crime. Though Sky Harbor officials say baggage theft is "a rare occurrence," they will consider reinstating routine bag checks that were suspended several years ago in a cost-cutting move. The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)
(11/4)
| Trends and Technology | | |
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- More business travelers take 1-day trips to save money
Business travelers are increasingly turning overnight work trips into one long day of travel to save money as well as time. Some travelers are even taking the one-day jaunts on trans-Atlantic trips. Richard Job of the Flight Centre, said he's talked to executives who fly from Vancouver, B.C., to London and back in the same day. "That's something new to them in the last six to 12 months," Job said. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
(11/4)
- Column: Agents need to put networking skills to work online
Columnist Nolan Burris explains how Facebook and the other social-networking sites are just the 21st century's updated version of Tupperware parties. Burris says it's time for travel agents to get online, make some friends, get involved and, eventually, sell some travel. He also offers guidelines for what not to do online. "Blatantly promoting yourself will quickly become boring and annoying to your network and you'll likely just be ignored," Burris writes. Travel Research Online
(11/4)
- Column: Reaching affluent travelers takes a little know-how
Larry Pimentel, president and CEO of Azamara Cruises, explains how travel agents can reach out to affluent consumers. He says that wealthy travelers should not be pigeonholed but that there are proven methods of communication. For example, word of mouth is an extremely important communication method for this group. "Quite simply you need to tell everyone you know what makes you an invaluable resource for offering travel consulting services to affluent consumers," Pimentel writes. TravelPulse
(11/3)
| Consumer Travel News | | |
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- Mexico's Mayan Riviera offers sun, sand, sea and history
The Caribbean is a lovely destination for sun worshippers, but for those interested in a little more culture and history along with the sun, sand and sea, Mexico's Mayan Riviera is the place to be. Mexico's coastline along the Caribbean features turquoise seas, brilliant sandy beaches as well as Mayan history, culture and cuisine. The Times (London)
(10/30)
- Singapore's thirst for cocktails breeds new kind of bar
The Dempsey Hill neighborhood has become ground zero for Singapore's new breed of bars and clubs, which have become increasingly popular as the city's interest in cocktails continues to grow. The Dempsey Hill area was previously filled with army barracks and tropical jungle, but new restaurants, bars and nightclubs have proliferated, giving the place a laid-back, al fresco vibe. The New York Times
(11/1)
| Regulatory and Legislative | | |
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- Government lifts travel ban on people with HIV/AIDS
The Centers for Disease Control said the U.S. will no longer prevent people with HIV/AIDS from receiving a visa or entering the U.S. The change will take effect early next year, according to the CDC. HIV/AIDS has been on the list of communicable diseases that prevent people from entering the U.S. since 1987. Travel Weekly
(11/3)
| Best Practices | | |
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| | Register Now for ASTA's IDE
Qualified travel agents and journalists who register now for IDE 2010 in Istanbul, Turkey (April 19 -22, 2010) will be eligible to receive a complimentary four-night hotel package at one of six 'category five' hotels. Turkish Airlines is also offering 2010 delegates who are flying from the United States (New York or Chicago) a special fare of $400 to Istanbul (excludes taxes). Register now. | |
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| ASTA Spotlight | | |
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A vital look at ASTA's government and industry affairs activities
ASTA monitors and tracks legislative, regulatory, trade and public-affairs issues affecting the travel agent industry. This keeps the industry and its players in a strong position to capitalize on political connections and resulting legislation and capitalize on other opportunities that reinforce agents' economic and business development. This can only be accomplished through the actions of savvy government and industry affairs efforts. Join Paul Ruden, ASTA's senior vice president of Legal and Industry Affairs, and Colin Tooze, vice president of Government Affairs, and John Pittman, vice president of Industry Affairs and Market Research, on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m. EST as they cover the range of activities that have been taking place in your association. Register here on ASTA.org.
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