| December 6, 2007 | News for travel agents |
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| Business and Industry Watch |  |  |
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- AAA alters rating guidelines to reflect current trends
With input from hotel inspectors and key tourism representatives, AAA has updated its diamond rating guidelines, effective immediately. "The travel industry is constantly changing," said Michael Petrone of AAA. "AAA inspectors evaluate more than 60,000 lodgings and restaurants each year and are in a unique position to recognize and validate trends as they occur." American City Business Journals/Orlando
(12/5)      
- Official historian restores Old Havana
Eusebio Leal Spengler, the official historian of Havana, has restored and rebuilt more than 300 landmark buildings in the Cuban city to the benefit of tourists interested in the area's unique atmosphere. Old Havana was once filled with dark cobblestone streets and decaying buildings, but now its streets rival world-class cities for their beauty and cleanliness. International Herald Tribune
(12/6)
| Trends and Technology | | |
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- ASTA report shows fewer agencies have online booking engines
ASTA's Technology and Web Usage Report shows that most travel agencies use basic technology on a day-to-day basis, use the Internet for research and have their own Web sites. However, the percentage of agencies that responded who have online booking engines was down nearly 10%. TravelPulse
(12/5)
| Home-Based Agent Update | | |
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- Experts offer agents tips on booking memorable spa trips
As the spa industry continues to boom, savvy travel agents are learning how to connect their clients with a spa that will exceed expectations. This Home-Based Travel Agent article offers tips from experts about questions agents should ask clients, doing spa site inspections and understanding the difference between various types of spas. Home-Based Travel Agent
(12/2007)
| Consumer Travel News | | |
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- Motorcycle tour offers different view of China
An 11-day motorcycle tour offered by Edelweiss Bike Travel of Austria follows China's Silk Road and takes participants from sea level to 13,400 feet. Starting in the exotic if run-down city of Kashgar, the tour offers an insight into the Asian country that Westerners generally don't get. Los Angeles Times
(11/30)
- Georgia's St. Simons casts a spell
The romantic ambiance of St. Simons, an island off the coast of Georgia, has not been lost on its visitors. Novelist Eugenia Price wrote in her book "St. Simons Memoir," "I had crisscrossed the entire country numerous times, I had loved many other spots I'd seen, but the spell of St. Simons Island did not let me go." Delta Sky Magazine
(12/2007)
| Regulatory and Legislative | | |
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- Travel industry groups criticize TSA Secure Flight plan
The Transportation Security Administration is receiving criticisms about its Secure Flight proposal from airlines, associations, including ASTA, and other travel industry groups. For example, a filing from Sabre Holdings Corp. said: "Neither travel agents nor airlines should be required to be customer service representatives for the federal government, especially where the requirement constitutes an unquantified, but very real, unfunded mandate." Management.travel
(12/5)
- DHS: Land/sea phase of WHTI to be implemented as planned
The Department of Homeland Security said it plans to stay on schedule with the implementation of the next phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. Starting Jan. 31, the DHS will require travelers to provide proof of citizenship at U.S. seaports of entry and land borders. Travel Weekly
(12/5)
- Regulators say auctions may ease delays in New York
An auction system could help ease delays at New York City's airports, regulators say. Requiring carriers to bid for takeoff and landing slots would create financial incentives for carriers to use fewer planes or shift flights to off-peak hours. Bloomberg1
(12/5)
| Best Practices | | |
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- Build customer relations before, after deal
Companies within the service industry can build strong customer relationships with practices such as planning and discussing a customer's needs before they arrive. And on the other end of the transaction, when the customer checks out, the exit should be considered a new beginning and a chance to review how the transaction went and how it could be improved next time. CEO Strategist
(12/3)
| ASTA Spotlight | | |
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RSS feeds keep you up to date with ASTA
You can now subscribe to RSS feeds on ASTA.org. RSS, which stands for Really Simple Syndication, is an easy way to keep up with your favorite news and information. An RSS feed contains headlines, summaries and links to full press releases, member alerts and other content on ASTA.org. Although most people do not use a browser to view RSS feeds, you should download an RSS reader. An RSS reader will keep you updated, as long as the reader is running on your computer, with any updates that occur.
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Special holiday pricing on Specialist Courses
Give yourself a gift this holiday season by learning something new to expand your client base and profits. Courses include: Jordan Specialist, Family Specialist, Mature Adult Specialist, Cuba Specialist, Niche Specialists, Travel Marketing Specialist, USA Travel Expert, and North American Rail Specialist. With discounts on these in-depth courses you will gain more knowledge, more sales -- all at your own pace from the convenience of your home. Get your course today for as low as $29! Get full course information and purchase here. Offer ends Jan. 2.
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| | Recent ASTA SmartBrief Issues:
- Wednesday, December 05, 2007
- Tuesday, December 04, 2007
- Monday, December 03, 2007
- Friday, November 30, 2007
- Thursday, November 29, 2007
| | | Lead Editor: Ashley McMaster
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