|  | | Kauai
| | The concept of traveling alone recently came up in conversation. My dinner companion said she had a friend who had just booked a solo 10-day trip to Kauai in Hawaii, hoping to disconnect from the stress of daily life and reconnect with nature. | |  |
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| Patricia Bannister
| | Home-Based Travel Agent | | Not to say that most home-based agents' home offices are uninspired, but the spaces usually aren't anything to write home about either. However, we might throw that idea out the window after hearing about Patricia Bannister's office. The owner of Bannister Travel in Senatobia, MS, lives in a converted old country store. If that wasn't unconventional enough, her office, which is another building on the property, is decorated outside like a Caribbean beach. |
| | Selling the Luxury Market
| | Home-Based Travel Agent | | Even in difficult economic times, there is a segment of the market that will always be looking for a luxurious vacation. Finding those prospects and selling them on a trip can mean big commissions for the agent and a potential long-term relationship with a recession-proof client. According to data released at the American Express Publishing Luxury Summit 2008, there are now more than 9 million people in the U.S. with a net worth of $1 million or more. And, like everyone else, those people need vacations. |
| | Jennifer Kruse
| | Home-Based Travel Agent | | Jennifer Kruse comes from a large family. While she was growing up, exotic and expensive vacations were pretty much out of the question. This didn't, however, deter the Westchester County, NY-based owner of Journeys Travel from creating lasting memories. "The journeys we did take focused on time well spent together," she says. "I think this is why family travel hits so close to home for me." These trips included visits to the Jersey Shore each summer with extended family in crowded accommodations and exploring the college towns of older siblings during fall drop-off and spring pickup, as well as an educational excursion to Williamsburg, VA. |
| | Financing Your Business in Tough Times
| | Home-Based Travel Agent | | Just 18 months ago, home equity lines of credit were a solid source of business expansion financing or emergency cash flow for small businesses. Rates were advantageous, and such bank loans—using a home as collateral—were relatively simple to secure. Today, that option has vanished for many home-based agencies. |
| | Charging Fees
| | Home-Based Travel Agent | | Nowadays, agents are practically forced to charge fees for their services. The easy scapegoat for this—and rightfully so—is the airline industry. Once the airlines cut commissions in 1995, many travel agents implemented a fee structure for their services. |
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| | |  | | Tools for Tough Economic Times
With the current state of the economy, consumers are naturally becoming more budget-conscious. This is the perfect opportunity for home-based agents to reach out to customers with special offers and discounts for local travel packages. | | Holiday Bargains
Celebrating in Phoenix. Travelers heading for Arizona for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah or Christmas can stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix, which is offering a $199 Home for the Holidays rate, available between November 21 and 30, and again from December 19 to January 3, 2009. | |
Discovering Kauai
The Kaua'i Marriott Resort & Beach Club (www.kauaimarriott.com) is on Kalapaki Beach and adjacent to the 800-acre Kaua'i Lagoons Golf Club. The resort's Ocean View Rooms are popular. These are in the Kahili Tower, offering panoramic views of the pool, beach and Ha'upu Mountains. Ocean View Rooms on the 10th and 11th floors have particularly expansive views. | | Ecuador's Time to Shine
The biggest news from TravelMart Latin America's opening ceremony in Quito came from a speech delivered by the president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa Delgado. | | Selling the Luxury Market
Even in difficult economic times, there is a segment of the market that will always be looking for a luxurious vacation. Finding those prospects and selling them on a trip can mean big commissions for the agent and a potential long-term relationship with a recession-proof client. According to data released at the American Express Publishing Luxury Summit 2008, there are now more than 9 million people in the U.S. with a net worth of $1 million or more. And, like everyone else, those people need vacations. | |
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| | | |  | | Thrills in Ecuador
I was hundreds of feet above the ground, upside down on a zip-line, blood rushing to my head, adrenaline pumping through my veins and all I could think was, "Is this really happening?" | | The Lap of Luxury
Enjoy the finer things in life? Then check out the inclusive value and pampering perks of a luxury ocean cruise. Big and small alike, luxury cruise lines are fielding new themed cruises, product inclusions, customized experiences and enhanced culinary and wine programs. If you're a premium cruise traveler, perhaps it's time to step up to luxury. Or, if you've opted for a luxury resort vacation in the past, you might want to head to sea. | | Kauai
The concept of traveling alone recently came up in conversation. My dinner companion said she had a friend who had just booked a solo 10-day trip to Kauai in Hawaii, hoping to disconnect from the stress of daily life and reconnect with nature. | | Always in Season
Some people just prefer the diversity of four seasons. There is definitely something to be said for a crisp fall afternoon when dashes of deep crimson and caramel paint the landscape; the stillness in the air after a winter snowstorm, when, it seems, the whole world is covered by a cozy white blanket; the first day of spring, when lightweight jackets replace winter coats; and summer, when flip flops and sandals tend to go with every outfit. As great as all this might be, it is still good to know that some parts of the country have a rather immutable presence in comparison. South Florida is one of those places. | | Shopping in Marseille
The mere mention of Provence evokes images of a lush, lavender-filled countryside and lots of fresh, beautiful food. The fact is that Provence is a region—part of the administrative region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azure—that encompasses a variety of cities, from verdant hill villages to rocky port towns. One of the latter is Marseille. | |
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