Better Product Training for 2011

After reading up on Travel Agent's exclusive roundtable with cruise industry executives, reader and travel agent Karen Dawson of Southlake Travel contacted us to shares scenarios she believes are missed opportunities in training.

I read with great interest your article with several cruise line executives regarding the agency community…. however, it made me crazy. I think they are missing a huge opportunity because, in my opinion, their focus is solely on the PRODUCT, PRODUCT, PRODUCT. And when the sales don’t materialize as expected, then the big push is on for “Sales Training.” Surely we need to teach the agents “how to close the sale.”

The missing factor that I see in every webinar, presentation, workshop is that the cruise lines fail to teach “how do I find the customers to buy this product?” As a result, the agents walk out of those presentations as, as Bob Dickinson used to say, “good order takers.” So if a customer calls wanting to go that destination or sail on that cruise line, by gosh the agent can sell it. But they are not given the simple tools of how to recognize a great client for that product. And it’s not a case of marketing here, with more e-mails and more direct mail, etc.

It’s more to teach the agents how to recognize the potential client for those one-on-one conversations they will have…  at their next Chamber of Commerce luncheon, their next networking event, their next wine-tasting event, etc. From there, they start formulating groups of people that might be interested in that destination or product, too. Let’s give the agents the confidence of matching these great products with great prospects.

How simple would it be to take five minutes at the end of a training session and say “Let’s brainstorm here…who would be a good client or group to sail on this ship, or destination?”  And have the agents write down at least five people they think might be a good prospect. This is not rocket science.

I can tell you the agents are hungry to sell the cruise lines products, but all they hear about is more balconies,  butler service and new duvets; they all start sounding alike after awhile.

 

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Touching Down for A Cruise in Adelaide

 

A view of Adelaide from the air

 

I officially take back all my snarky comments about the angled beds in Qantas’ business class. I slept like a log for most of the 14-hour Los Angeles-to-Sydney flight, which is helping the jet lag significantly. Oh, and the PJs they handed out onboard probably helped, too, even though they’re huge on me. (I’m not even five feet tall, and they gave me a large. Can’t complain, because they’re wonderfully comfortable, but still…I look pretty ridiculous.)

Getting lots of sleep certainly helped keep me calm when we landed, ‘cause even early in the morning, getting through customs and quarantine at Sydney Airport takes a surprising amount of time. Happily, Qantas handed out express cards to get us through a bit faster (if we met certain criteria), so that made things easier. Still, the one good thing about early-morning landings is the relative ease of clearing customs; no idea why it took so long this morning.

Another thing to know about Sydney Airport: Even among the same airline, domestic and international departures are at different terminals. This means that if, like me, you arrive on an international flight, you have to clear security and re-check luggage in the international terminal, and then take a shuttle over to the domestic terminal. Be sure to leave your clients enough time to do that if booking them a connecting flight via Sydney.

 

An exterior shot of the Murray Princess cruise ship

 

I was met at the Adelaide Airport by Robbi Cooter-Tims of the South Australian Tourism Commission and Len Whittaker from Captain Cook Cruises, who drove me about 90 minutes or so outside of Adelaide to the Murray River, where I’ll be spending the night on the Murray Princess. My stateroom is small, but comfortably cozy, and most importantly, the shower was nice and hot. After more than 24 hours to get here, a hot shower was sorely needed.

 

A cozy room on the Murray Princess

 

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Kirk Cassels' Weekly Wrap of User Comments: January 18-22

Every week, I peruse the comments and do my best to say something witty or entertaining about them while tying them in to pop culture references or travel industry topics. But this week is a different. For travel professionals, among many others in various industries, the past week has not been the most uplifting in regards to news. Reports on the earthquakes in Haiti, as well as in the Cayman Islands, continue to saturate the airwaves and web with saddening images and stories. Please keep texting "Haiti" to 9099 and searching for ways you can help those who need support in rebuilding their lives and homes.

With that being said, let's take a quick look at other topics that are on the minds of readers.

What's In A Name?

For more than a year, we've been releasing reports on Disney's plans to build a family-oriented resort in Hawaii. This week, the entertainment and resort giant finally named that new resort, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawaii. But as many in the industry get excited about this new selling point, one reader, named unclepat, is not as enthused, writing:

It seems that Disney hasn't done a good job of embracing the Hawaiian culture and using a name that identifies or closely resembles their resort, surrounding area or experience.
According to Hawaiian dictionary au.lani means
n. Messenger of a chief. Rare.
One would hope that this global giant would be more aka mai (smart) when it comes to embracing the local people and culture to create a true sense of place.

I guess unclepat feels Disney's naming is arrogant? unclepat, if you're reading this (or if anyone in concurrence with unclepat is), can you shed some more light as to why the name of the resort is not so aka mai?

Versus Over Viceroy Anguilla

When our own Joe Pike profiled the Viceroy Anguilla property in the Caribbean last September, a reader named Freddie Elmon posted the following shorly thereafter:

Viceroy Anguilla is a dump. This is simply a reprint of a press release written by the developer. The place is way behind schedule and will not be fully open in November.  Virgil Napier is a jerk. There are NO sunrise views at Viceroy and Barnes Bay is a tiny strip of sand and is the main beach for this resort. Their restaurants will be empty as they are too big to ever be full. They are nasty people and have hired one Anguillian for every 10 foreigners they employ. They are bad for Anguilla and will fail in short order.

I wasn't around to add my two cents on the comment becase I was on my honeymoon at the time. However, it appears another reader has recently visited the story to share her own point of views. Ashley Metz posted:

Wow! What a ridiculous comment from Freddie Elmon. He obviously has a hidden agenda by posting this comment. I have been to Viceroy Anguilla personally and can state without hesitation this is one of the most beautiful and luxurious resorts not only in the Caribbean, but possibly the world. How he or anyone else can say otherwise is quite absurd. They are employing hundreds of Anguillan's and providing a substantial tax base for the island. The villa I stayed in was fabulous. The food was amazing and the location was serene. Please don't listen to this man's jaded comments, as he obviously has a hidden agenda.

Pike is currently attending the Sundance Film Festival so he can't shed any light right now and neither can I since I've never been to Anguilla. So, for those of you familiar with the island or the property, please add your take on the matter. As of now, we have one pro and one con for the property. Who's going to be the tie-breaker?

While we're on the topic of Viceroy, it appears another one of the company's properties is receiving some not-so-friendly revies. Commenting on the news that the Viceroy Hotel Group is taking over L'Ermitage Beverly Hills, reader gtd writes:

Shame really. Fine hotel; probably won't be a great fit for the neighbors either.

What's the deal with the neighbors that they won't be so happy? Elaborate please.

Time to Talk Traverus

Traverus is rapidly becoming as controversial a company as YTB or JoyStar. You may recall a reader named Jimmy Plymouth posting a comment on a recent weekly wrap about Traverus, to which I responded last week. It appears Jimmy was not satisfied with what I had to say. So he returned to the original story to share the following:

I served my country, I went to school and became a chef. $40,000 for a piece of paper that says I'm Certified to cook.
I have two children, do you know how much time cooks/chefs spend in the kitchen?
I've had the privalege to date two "TTA" and trust me all I heard were complaints. And after working a "hard day" at the office they come home tired. What kind of life is that?
I changed my career thanks to TraVerus, and the things I've learned using the Network Marketing aka Word of Mouth aka People to People method open my eyes to "the Corporation" way of life.
In my opinion, if you aren't in network marketing your a slave! You've been brainwashed into believing that someday all that hard work will pay off.
The Truth Will Set Us Free!
http://MoneyMakingDads.com
Good Men Net-Working Together!

I don't think anyone would try to discredit Jimmy for his work, nor dare dishonor him after his service to our country. Most readers have been very anti-Traverus, and Jimmy is obviously a supporter of the company. I greatly value his input as I belive opposing voices help foster dialogue that can hopefully clear the air on this issue, which does not seem to be going away anytime soon. Jimmy, thanks for coming back to share. Hope to hear more from you and hope your job searches are going well.

Cut By Carnival?

A 16-month old story about Carnival Cruise Lines' travel agent forum with executives recently received a bold and unhappy complaint by one reader. Let's cut to the chase and take a look. Mary Levin wrote:

COURTESY CALLS TO AGENCY SHOULD BE GIVEN WHEN GROUP SPACE IS BEING CALLED WHEN MINIMUN DEPOSITS ARE IN ACCOUNT, NOT JUST TO CANCEL AND THE AGENT HAD NOT RECEIVED A CALL. MY GROUP WAS CUT FOR JULY 18, 2010, ON THE PRIDE AND THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME... WITH OUT NOTICE AND I AM ANGRY. NO ONE GIVES A HOOT. I NEED ASSISTANCE TO RETAIN THE PRICE ...4 OUT OF 8 CABINS WERE CANCELLED AND THE CLIENT CAN'T UNDERSTAND...NEW RULES SHOULD BE THAT $250.00 DEPOSIT SHOULD BE GIVEN AT ALL TIMES IN THE INITIAL CONTRACT. I HAVE BEEN DOING BUSINESS FOR 35 YRS ROYAL TRAVEL PLANNERS....TANYE'JOHNSON'S GROUP... THIS IS A WEDDING PARTY AND SHE IS FUMMING. HER RELATIVE GAVE AN AGENCY JUST 125.00 DEPOSIT AND THEY WERE NOT CUT...WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED...

So a wedding, a cruise and a vacation were ruined for consumers as an agent's desire for courtesy and professionalism is shunned, right? Is that what I'm seeing here? I'm very sorry to hear about this, Mary. I hope someone that reads the site can help you out. It's a shame to hear about this news, particulary on the heals of Carnival's preparations for travel agent webinars to aid agents. Perhaps the webinars are a good opportunity to address the issue?

No matter what the issue may be, don't forget to check in with AgentNation as often as you can. Plentiful travel professionals (in addition to our editors) are meeting there daily to network about anything from the best places to visit to how to find the best dude ranch for family reunions. Log in now. And if you haven't signed up yet, don't wait any longer.

Until next week...

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Kirk Cassels' Weekly Wrap of User Comments: January 11-15

I'll bet you it would be easier to find more people who have been successful with Traverus than it is to find those who haven't.
I know, I know, it's just marketing right? You pick the hottest topics to try and attract attention to your blog. I should try it sometimes.
Are you a Hater or what, people need income, Corporations are laying off, and you try to come up with the silliest thing you can to try and cause confusion.
What's your suggestion? Got any Job Openings?

Jimmy Plymouth - Travel Agent reader commenting on last week's wrap.

It's been a while since a reader posted a comment directed toward me here at this weekly blog, and I already got one in for 2010! I always appreciate feedback etc so I'd like to respond to Jimmy piece by piece.

I'll bet you it would be easier to find more people who have been successful with Traverus than it is to find those who haven't.
I agree that searching for people who have benefited from working for/with Traverus would produce a good amount to counter those who have not. I don't search for either party but it appears someone from one side came here to talk about it.

I know, I know, it's just marketing right? You pick the hottest topics to try and attract attention to your blog. I should try it sometimes.
You could say marketing is involved. These days, everything needs a little business development to generate extra income in a tough economy. I bring up the hottest topics brought up here at TravelAgentCentral.com to gauge interest from other readers or interested parties and see if the conversation can become a more developed discussion. If in passing I happen to mention, allude or correlate something I find interesting (be it a sci-fi movie mirroring competition between human travel agents and OTAs or what not) it's all because that's what's on my mind. As far as attracting attention to the blog? Let me just say that I hope everyone has a magnificent weekend and Martin Luther King Jr. day that avoids the current tension between Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno and NBC over "The Tonight Show," the political hubbub of the Massachusetts Senate race, and the drama over Lane Kiffin leaving the University of Tennessee Volunteers football team (once led by Peyton Manning, whose team, the Indianapolis Colts, will play the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL Playoffs with hopes for another Super Bowl). And while you're at it, check out the latest hit to come out of American Idol:

 

Are you a Hater or what, people need income, Corporations are laying off, and you try to come up with the silliest thing you can to try and cause confusion.
I am certainly not a hater and don't think I came across as one if you look at what I wrote regarding the commentary on Traverus. After a reader named Blake shared his/her experience in leaving Traverus in the comments section of the story, I asked if he/she (or anyone else metaphorically, I guess) could share more for anyone involved with Traverus. Ok, so I did say "It's great to see that [Blake] got out in time," but that's because he/she was glad to be out and I enjoy knowing that readers are happy. I'm not sure where I am trying to be silly regarding Traverus. And when I am being silly, so to speak, I'm not trying to cause confusion. The whole purpose of this weekly column is to get people talking about issues that matter to them. And as for haters, it looks like reader nlj65 is a hater, at least of MLMs, when writing:
Bottom line, the MLM concept sucks... sell a legitimate project and stop looking to build off of the backs of other people with all the empty hype.... I HATE MLM's...

Will you respond to him, Jimmy?

What's your suggestion? Got any Job Openings?
I can see that employment is an issue to you, and I don't blame you and would like to help. The official Questex policy on jobs as of now is

Our open positions can be found on HotJobs, Craigslist, mediabistro, Monster, and many other jobs sites. Please e-mail resume, cover letter, and salary requirements to jobs@questex.com. Due to the large volume of resumes, we cannot take unsolicited phone calls regarding our open positions.

I actually found the description for my current position at one of the above mentioned sites, but found said site by going through www.indeed.com. If you are looking for a job, I suggest going there as the website is a search engine of job sites. You find jobs, and you find other job sites to search. Best of luck, Jimmy. I'd be glad to take a look at your resume if you want to e-mail me at kcassels@questex.com and perhaps I can pass it to the right people. I'm not being silly when I say that.

Speaking of not being silly, I hope everyone has made taken the time to keep Haiti in their thoughts and prayers or, even better, taken action to help. Friends and I have been texting "Haiti" to 9099, which sends $10 worth of Red Cross International relief to the country. You can think of other ways to help by reading Michael Browne's piece on helping Haiti, Joe Pike's call for voluntourism and checking out the links in our initial report on the earthquake.

When you're done (take your time), please continue reading to see the wrap of this week's user comments:

 

Crazy for Cougars

The new and exciting cougar cruise was our biggest story of 2009, and it's on track to maintain the title for 2010. After Carnival  decided not to carry on the trend after its ground-breaking, first-ever international cougar cruise took place last summer, Royal Caribbean came along to pick it up fast. While some cats may be excited about this news, some of our readers are offended and/or disheartened. Take Jerry Vaughn, for example, who wrote:
What a blatant display of hypocrisy. If someone organized cruises for older men looking to hook up with younger women and called it "Lions Cruise" and called the younger women "kittens" (i.e. Cougars and Cubs), the outrage would be enormous and feminists would be howling to no end. For Royal Caribbean to put its stamp of approval on "Cougars" cruises so older ladies can prowl for younger men is offensive.

Meanwhile, justin is a tad more concise yet as profound, saying:
Sad. Whatever happened to couples growing old... TOGETHER?

Commenting on the initial report on the matter, jeff added a noteworthy two cents, stating:
There is a much older name for Cougar; not fit for print; but they have always existed. The older name fits them better.

I see Jerry's point on the hypocrisy and don't disagree about there being a double standard. Still, sex sells. No matter how much outrage there may be over it, I don't think this trend is going away anytime soon. Justin, I hope to tell you decades from now about the old and gray adventures me and my wife are having. She's an older woman, too. But four months my senior certainly doesn't qualify her as a cougar. As for Jeff, I know what old word you are referring to: sabertooth!

More Tourism, More Problems?

While attending the 2010 Caribbean Marketplace this week, Joe Pike broke the news that Bonaire will open its first U.S. brand hotel and is planning some more flights to the island. That's good news for agents, right? It's not for RandyP, who wrote:
First it was too many cruise ships for the ecosystem and non-existent waste handling. Now a big-box hotel and more pollution.
It won't be much longer before "Diver's Paradise" becomes yet another third world toilet that hosts the pod people.
It is truly a shame.

Paul half-agrees with RandyP, saying
I look at the addition of a new direct flight as good news. The addition of a 120-room Hilton, not so much. An island that has no formal sewage solution does not need another big complex.

As an travel professional, what are your thoughts on new properties in and flights to Bonaire?

Your Weekly YTB Fix

Maybe I was wrong earlier when I wrote that the cougar cruise is on track to be the biggest story of 2010. I forgot about YTB. The rage goes on over this company. I need not explain. Just tank a gander at the comments below, posted on George Dooley's piece about the company's latest trouble, and all directed at a reader named Peter:

JJ
Peter is typical of those in YTB. Call everyone names. Deflect from the real debate. This is part of the reason why TTA's are upset with YTB. They can't play nice. They tell us we're jealous and call us dinosaurs. They tell us they are taking over & putting us out of business. They name call. They can't debate the issues at all. SEC filings don't lie. Personally, I would like to see them go away. They have conned way too many people out of their hard earned money.

knowthefacts
You're the idiot Peter because you just don't get it. They can't run too much longer fool!
Your Six-Figure Ring Earners have either left or the ones who stayed incomes are 1/5 of what they where..meaning your 500k earners are at $100k or less and haven't left because their loyal which is a great quality but costly when you're just blind.
Travel is a highly duplicable industry therefore COMPETITION is high and PROFITS are low! The trillions are there but will be spread amongst millions which gives you pennies!

Doug
Peter;
While I appreciate your passion and I understand your frustration that regardless of how many times Council has been thrown out regarding this case they nevertheless feel the need to "defend their position over and over again" (And over - and over - a-a-and over.)
Please just stick with the facts - and refrain from the name calling.
Your voice would have been much better served (and understood) about selling $425 million in Travel as apposed to $122 million in Internet Business Centers in 2008 if the words "idiots" and "dolts" were removed from comment.
I do however agree...this third attempt to move back into proceedings it's a real stretch - especially after reading all the filings in their entirety along with the response from the Court. After having an "ungainly monster" rolled up and whacked over my head I would be far more cautious about submitting current arguments that "don't pass muster".]

(...silenty eating potato chips and watching in amusement...)

As Peter, JJ and company continue their dialogue, why not join in yourself on YTB or maybe something different here at TravelAgentCentral.com, or get more involved with other agents at AgentNation, the only social community online for all types of travel agents. We've alrady been off to a busy start for 2010. Don't feel like talking there? That's fine. You can always tweet us at our Twitter page or post something on our Facebook page. We'll connect. Until then...

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Kirk Cassels' Weekly Wrap of User Comments: January 4-8

Happy Frozen New Year to all! Wherever you are, I hope it's nowhere near the below 20 degree temperatures we've had in New York at times. Whether through the grapevine, on Facebook or elsewhere, I've heard plenty of friends, friends of friends, colleagues, friends of colleauges, and, finally, colleagues of friends, complain about the 40 degrees in Orlando and I empathize, but don't sympathize. Just the other night I was outdoors when the wind chill and "feels like" factors were below zero. But it was worth it. Let's dive right on in to the first comments of the year.

New Year, Same Old YTB & Traverus

YTB

Just because I sounded off on one of the people who get over-crazed about YTB doesn't mean I'm going to leave them out of the lineup forever. George Dooley wrote his first report on the company for the year, which included some insight from John Frenaye. That insight has been addressed by one reader, Peter, who wrote:

Frenaye is an idiot and so is the Legal Team who can't grasp that the "lions share of the income derived" does not require payment in order to participate.
YTB sold 5 times that amount in TRAVEL but derived $27m from $425m in travel sales.
Do you dolts actually think this pipe dream of a suit is going any further than it did the first two times?
Good luck with that.

It doesn't suprise me that an outraged reader has reverted to childish name calling. Peter, I can't tell if your point about the money made has anything to do with the manner in which it was made by who. Plus, if this suit goes as far as the one in California, YTB may have some paying to do, poopypants.

Traverus

For nearly a year now, a Dooley piece that questioned the operations of TraVerus Travel Network has received a lot of comments (one we even had to remove due to court order). But the latest appears of great significance as it is, apparently, by a former employee named Blake, who shared:

I was a Regional Executive with TraVerus about to go National. I had recruited many, many people and things were looking great...the things changed!! The AG stepped-in and instructed TraVerus to make changes or shut-down! Products were introduced and became mandatory to purchase. TraVerus became what I hated the most about the MLM industry, just another Lotion & Potion company with very little travel being sold! Glad I got out when I did even though I had a huge downline!!

It's great to see that you got out in time, Blake. Do you have any advice for anyone affected by the company or wish to hear from others like you? Post something below, I'll get you connected.

Return to Cruise Rebating

In the last weekly wrap, not the yearly wrap, agents were at the high point of discussing whether cruise rebating got better or worse or stayed the same in 2009. Carrying the the conversation into 2010 is Denise, who offers her opinion and a potential solution, stating:

All the cuise lines should eliminate the ability to rebate which would force us all to play on a level playing field. For a small online agency, competing directly with VTG and Smart Cruiser, it is difficult to not offer discounts.

I'm no expert on this matter, but it seems that Denise's idea in eliminating all rebating may create an "only the strong survive" environment among agents. Is that what travel professionals want?

Paws Before Passengers

One of the sweeter stories of 2009 was Pet Airways, the airline for animal travelers only. It comes as no surprise that people are still talking about it in 2010. Pat Griswold wrote:

This is a great service for pet owners and I would imagine these pets will get service than their humans will get with the regular airlines.

I am sure those pets get the best experience anyone could wish for. After all, your "business" is cleaned up by someone else as you walk away. Most pets deserve that, like this golden retriever that saved one of its owners from a cougar in Canada.

By the way, Pat, did you get a chance to see Clark Griswold this holiday season? If so, I hope it was better than some of his past Christmas experiences.

A "Super" Comment

If you ask me, in all honesty, the Cruise Lines International Association launching a new website is not the most exciting story to discuss. But I'm just a web journalist, not a Super Bowl quarterback like Tom Brady, who apparently took time from his busy schedule of leading the New England Patriots to the playoffs and being the husband of Giselle Bündchen to share his enthusiasm, saying:

CLIA is reaching more millions of cruise consumers with this new web site www.cruising.org and 16,000 CLIA travel agents on a regular basis. It is very user friendly and a useful cruise reference tool for the industry, agent, and family, couple, or group who are planning their next cruise vacation.

Tom, thanks so much for stopping by. Please continue reading this page every day instead of your playbook. Please browse our site every day instead of practicing (you need to rest those ribs anyway). Not only do we want your support and interest, I don't want you to be at your best this weekend. Why? Check the link above where I said the time I was outdoors was "worth it."

Speaking of CLIA, the other day we showcased an ongoing discussion by agents about whether it was better to go through a host agency or not regarding CLIA. It just goes to show that AgentNation is the place for travel professionals to network on anything from business tips to operations questions. If you haven't signed up yet, do so today and find out what you've been missing.

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Kirk Cassels' Weekly Wrap of User Comments: December 14-18

As much as I would like to say this will be the last Weekly Wrap column of the year, in part to the upcoming Christmas and New Year's holidays making for short work weeks, the fact remains that there was such a plethora of intriguing comments posted since I started this column back in June that A Yearly Wrap is certainly in the works. So, note to readers, you only have a few more days to share your wackiest, zaniest, and most profound statements here at TravelAgentCentral.com if you want to make that list. Otherwise, you're just another target on a day-by-day basis. So let's wrap up this week.

Apparently, U.S. Beaches are Lame

In the spirit of Memorial Day weekend marking the symbolic start of summer, we published a story late last May about Dr. Beach's top 10 beaches for 2009. Now, almost seven months later, a reader named Murray chimes in about the list and the headlin that accompanied it, saying:

You don't think that "Top 10 US Beaches" would be a better title? I only want to know where the REAL Top Beaches are.

Murray has a point about the headline. Perhaps "Top U.S. Beaches" (note the periods) would have been more specific (and more effective for our Search Enginge Optimization). However, I would like to know, in Murray's opinion, what constitutes a "real" beach. While I was working for Dan's Papers and the Montauk Pioneer almost 10 years ago, I had the fortune to spend plenty of time at the third best beach in the list (Coopers Beach, Southampton, NY) as well as the sixth best (Main Beach, East Hampton, NY). These places seemed pretty real to me. Both have nearly-white sand and are popular among locals and visitors. Surfers and bodyboarders have their territory, swimmers have their space, and sun bathers have easy access to public bathrooms and an expansive parking lot. Also, the lifeguards were always kind enough to let you know the water temp and sea condidtions if you call them up. So Murray, and anyone else who wants to speak out on this, what is not real enough about these two, or any other beach?

In the interest of sharing other beaches that have made our lists, here's the list of the most dangerous beaches in the world, here's the list of the best city beaches in the world, and here's the list of the best dog-friendly beaches. Hopefully, some of these live up to Murray's high standards.

Another Cuba Comment

As you recall my citing last week, we received a fair amount of comments on Joe Pike's story on his visit to Cuba (available in our print edition next week!) and fortunately Joe picked up the baton for me to address the comments himself. One of the commenters Joe addressed was J August. Who has since returned to original story to post a direct response to a comment made by another reader. J August posted:

Hey Mark Mc, dunno where you've been getting your information but please quote your sources, what you describe is not the Cuba I have seen.

With his first comment, August nearly stole my heart with the use of the word "hooey." But now he/she is asking one reader to cite sources when he /she didn't cite any when sharing his/her opinion. What gives, J? Do you think the rules don't apply to you? Oh wait, there aren't really any rules on the Internet. Still, there's some hypocrisy in his demands. And, just for the record, here is what Marc Mc orginially wrote:

Learn about Cuba? What? This agent knows all I need to know about Cuba - enough to never recommend it to any of my clients. Could you recommend a destination where you are advised to bring your own toilet paper? Where you might not have electricity 24 hours a day? Where the only citizens you will see smiling are those whose raft is ready to set sail for the Keys? The only thing that is acurate about this story is that a five star "resort" in Cuba maybe equal to a three star in the US. That is a gross understatement. I don't need to know ANYTHING else about this country that I have not known thru history and current events. No thanks. This agent will not be recommending or booking Cuba.

How did Joe respond to these comments himself? Check it out here.

Home-Based Is NOT A Dirty Word

Last Friday, Michael Browne engaged our independent readers in a conversation with a column inquiring about how home-based agents feel about not working in an office or brick-and-mortar agency. Two agents shared their story to shed some light.

Karen Quinn wrote:
When I began my home-based agency in 1990, I didn't mention I was home based, as it was seen as unprofessional. I still do not advertise as such. However, I do have a lovely home office, and I do meet with clients in my home office. Most are quite impressed with the professionalism of my business. In fact, many express how ideal my set up is.

Rich Walton said:
Home-based may be seen by some as being unprofessional. I have operated a CruiseOne franchise out of my home for 15 years and meet with customers at my home office at their leisure. Most often I can take care of issues or questions over the phone, but I am always available to meet at any hour.
I am also a wedding photographer. I have met with customers out my home for 30 years in this business. In fact, it is accepted that most wedding photographers do work out of their home studios. Photography clients recognize the advantages of a home-based enterprise: low overhead saves them money, easy parking and a come-as-as-you-are mentality. There is no pressure in this setting. Folks can relax, ask questions and not be disurbed by people waiting in line to speak with an agent or by the noise of other conversations going on around them.
Mostly, I believe the modern customer wants good advice and a good price, without waiting. If the home office can provide this, the customer will buy!

In short, I believe that you should be proud of what you do if it brings something postive to others lives while benefiting your own. Although I'm no travel professional, I hope my word means something on that account.

Rebating IS A Dirty Word

When we posted a poll last week asking agents if they felt cruise rebating was getting better or worse or staying the same in 2009, we received more than 100 votes as well as a storm of comments. In fact, we received enough juicy comments (including ones comparing cruise rebating to being a thief or a prostitute) to create a web-exclusive story to showcase what has been said. With the exception of a few votes and only one comment defending cruise rebating, it appears the phrase is not looked at favorably in the industry. Just click through the links above to see for yourself, because listing them (again) would take up valuable space and time. But before you do that, there are three comments that were posted in the last 72 hours that are of interest.

One appears to be directly from a supplier. Noting our story in which we addressed the comments, Mimi Weisband of Crystal Cruises had this to share:

Crystal Cruises has a strict no-rebating policy.
We will apply stiff commission penalties to any agency found to be offering consumers any kind of cash rebate, discount, payment in kind or in any other manner, a Crystal cruise fare below Crystal Cruises’ published savings rate.
Under the new policy, agencies may continue to offer value-added, non-cash amenities including Crystal shipboard spending credits, provided that the total value of the amenities does not exceed 8 percent of the cruise revenue – the line’s lowest published fare less applicable Crystal discounts. Additionally, amenities offered or granted by a Group and a member agency of the Group must be combined so as not to exceed the 8 percent limit. Under the policy, gift cards or certificates having a cash value, such as a retail or credit gift card, are not permitted.
We want to provide travel agents the confidence to sell our product based on the value of the product and one's ability to sell.

It's always great to hear from suppliers. So thank you Mimi for joining the discussion for agents to get your line's perspective.

The other two comments on the matter were shared by agents.

Joy Feinstein posted:
The client who looks for rebates is not the client you want. Lookfor any available amenities to enhance their experiences, but maintain a level playing field. That's the honorable thing to do.

Kim Johnson wrote:
When you have 10-year clients who have found smartcruiser.com or affordable tours.com (selling Globus) that blatently rebate 10% and more --and the vendors do nothing about it-- you either have to match and work for 2-5% commsn or lose the clients forever. Even loyal past clients don't care what kind of svc you have given if they can save hundreds of dollars. The best you can do is tell your clients about the heavy rebaters who are now out of business/bankrupt. Even then, most clients only see $$$ and are willing to risk a ruined vacation. It's a shame vendors don't retract overrides from those who advertise rebated prices.

I'm going to be honest with you. This story has become as big as the lack of knowledge I have on the cruise industry that I cannot add much light here. So instead of wasting your time with my two cents, how about you share yours here in the weekly wrap, here in the original poll, here in the story about the comments and poll, or even here in a forum on AgentNation, the only social community online for all types of travel professionals. You can also hit us up on our Facebook page or on our Twitter page. Whatever is easiest for you is fine with us. We just want to hear from you. Talk to you soon, my friends.

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Kirk Cassels' Weekly Wrap of User Comments: December 7-11

It's below freezing in New York City today for the first time since the first quarter of 2009, and temperatures breached the 60-degree mark just last week. If I were an activist, or perhaps if I were just active, I'd be up in arms about the climate summit in Copenhagen this week as I wonder why I am sweating one day (in December) before freezing the next.

Instead, there's been other questions occupying my mind, such as, "how the hell did the Pittsburgh Steelers (last year's Super Bowl champions) lose to the Cleveland Browns (coached by a man who was fortunately let go from my New York Jets) last night?" and "will James Cameron's Avatar live up to the hype when it comes out next week?" The fact that the film merges three major elements from Cameron's best films (aliens, machines and super soldiers) into one screening, leads me to believe that I'll be satisfied enough.

 

Also on my mind, of course, is what the readers of TravelAgentCentral.com have been saying during the past week. Most have been talking about what one can assume most travel professionals would enjoy discussing: Caribbean islands, Mexico beaches, cruises, making money, and, of course... YTB! Yes, they're back. Lets' take a look.

Why More YTB?

We came so close to going a full month without mentioning YTB in the weekly wrap, but you can't appreciate the holiday spriti without a grinch. Not to say that I consider a reader named Jeff a grinch, but what he posted as a response to JJ's comment on a lawsuit against YTB in Illinois may damper his mood, as well as Tracy's. Jeff wrote:

JJ: Seems your GED advice applies equally to "real" travel agents; read Tracy's comments. Sue the CTC she is, also is English impaired.

Ah, that sweet, sweet buzz of banter and babble that doesn't address an issue but gets personal. I almost missed it, much like someone who once lived near an airport must miss the sound of planes taking off and landing after they move into a new home.

Addressing Antigua Again

Last week, I cited a comment made by a reader named pellucid about the crime rate on the island of Antigua. The comment was posted on a Luxury Travel Expo report about Antigua's promotion of its luxury product. This week, a reader who chose the name of Good Luck responded to pellucid's comment, stating:

Antigua is a beautiful island with so much to offer...sadly in a tourism-based economy it's going to take a lot more than a few decent PR hits to entice visitors from abroad to go and spend. Frugality and conservation are power-words in everyone's vocab these days ....and as pellucid so inaccurately pointed out, there are a lot of negative incidents that paint a terrible picture of this island paradise. Addressing domestic issues first, then showing your best face to the rest of the world would be you're greatest asset right now ANU... I've got unconditional love for you, but the rest of the world needs to be reminded of what a gem you truly are...

Good Luck, whoever you are, those are some pretty words. Sounds like Renee DeSuza, and the rest of the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Tourism could use your talents in promoting the island. What do you say? Shall we make some calls?

Pike Does Me A Solid

Recently, we published a story by Joe Pike about his visit to Cuba because, although the story is not released in print until later, we just could not wait to see how readers would respond... and respond they did. J August was the first to spout of, writing:

What a pile of hooey, whoever wrote it spent more time on the internet than in Cuba.
Majority of rooms are not in Northern Havana and there are 1.5 golf courses in all of Cuba, one 9 hole in Havana and one 18 hole in Varadero and Hemingway hung out at the Floridita

Pike obviously took the opportunity to retort the comments made by J August and a few others, and I can't thank him enough not only for taking some time off my hands but for engaging the audience further with his responsive piece. I could cut and paste it all for you hear but, as you just read, I enjoy taking time off my hands. So read his original report on Cuba here and catch his response to comments here, where you can see others have shared their opinion as well.

Is Anyone Here A Marine Biologist?

Staying on the topic of our Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America editor, another Pike report this week was on Cancun's beach recovery project, which will add tons of sand to the destination's shores. Sounds like a good idea, right? Not according to Andrew Seligman, who posted:

According to recent reports, by changing the shapes of the sand structures they risk the destruction of coral reefs and disruption of other marine life.

My brother was a biology major at Duke University and he concentrated somewhat in marine biology. So I'll check in with him to get his take and fill Andrew and Joe in about it later. But until then I can't say whether I think this beach project in Cancun is good or bad for the local habitat. But I will see that it seems like so many other environmental issues in that one solution may spawn another problem. For instance, solar power sounds like a fabulous idea for renewable energy that is eco-friendly. But mass usage would require tons of water, which could certainly intensify drought fears. On a lighter note, did anyone get my "Seinfeld" reference in the sub-headline?

 

What's Your Opinion on Cruise Rebates?

We asked our readers if they thought cruise rebating was getting better or worse, or staying the same in 2009 and as several voted, one shared their two cents. Azzouz Amirouche shared:

We only do it when we have to match a price. Most of the time we have the best price and amenities anyway thanks to our wonderful consortium, Signature travel network!

A nice enorsement for your consortium, Azzouz (BTW feel free to give your consortium a shoutout via comment here). As of now, the majority of voters appear cruise rebating is getting worse. Anyone disagree? Anyone agree but want to add some detail and clarity?

Words to Work by in 2010

As is to be expected, Ruthanne Terrero recently shared some encouraging words and sound advice for agents who are anxious to shrug off the rough patches that were in 2009 and look toward promising times in 2010. Her advice on setting a 2010 strategy struck a chord with one Dilworth E Daley, who commented:

I fully agree with all the words stated here. I will follow whats said here also.

Dilworth, I am sure Ruthanne appreciates your feedback. Please let us know about the success you find after following what was said. You can share it with us here, you can e-mail me at kcassels@questex.com, and you can share it with all of your peers at AgentNation, the online social community for all types of travel agents. While you're there, you can share some other tips of the trade with your peers and get some in return.

Until next week...

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Kirk Cassels' Weekly Wrap of User Comments: November 16-20

Since the last time we last chatted, I've been a pretty busy guy. On Thursday, November 12 (my brother Sean Cassels' birthday— sorry buddy but I had to be somewhere), I flew down to Aruba and stayed at the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino while covering Hyatt's Travel Agent Awards. Yes, I was in Aruba but it wasn't like I was splashing around in the Caribbean Sea the whole time. I took a property tour, seen in the video below, and am still working on my follow-up for the next print edition of Travel Agent.

Upon my return, I had to perform my civil duty by participating in the justice squad... that is attend jury duty for two days. Fortunately, being married to a legal marketer and the offspring of a doctor and nurse gave the lawyers plenty of reason to excuse me from a medical malpractice case (Attention patient: next time try medical tourism).

Now back in the chilly Northeast and away from near sequestration, I see that this whole Twilight New Moon is the big deal this weekend, Sarah Palin's book tour is mainstream media's dream come true, and professional sports should change the label on marijuana from recreational drug to performance enhancer as Cy Young-winner Tim Lincecum has been busted for possession of pot (not too long after Michael Phelps was caught smoking after winning eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics).

But as exhilarating as brawling teenage vampires and werewolves, former vice presidential candidates, and hippy athletes may be, we've got other topics to discuss here this week, so let's take a look.

Hate Them, Can't Leave Them

George Dooley's feature piece on airline fees and how they may lead to more disaster in the industry broached familiar territory for travel agents and their clients. One reader, John, shares a recent experience he had and touches on it to iterate his take on where airline baggage fees are leading us, saying:

I was on a flight a few weeks ago when a small passenger was trying to put a large heavy bag in the overhead bin. She lost control of it and injured another passenger who was seated under that spot. If she had been allowed to check that bag for free, the other passenger would not have been injured. I can see what is coming - weigh the passenger and all the bags and charge accordingly. That way everyone is paying their fare share. Run the airlines like a freight company - it cost so much per pound to transport from point A to point B. Charge what it actually costs, plus 15 percent profit and everyone will be happy.  Then the airlines can compete again on who has the best meals and best service.

I have to disagree with John's point that everyone will be happy. Something tells me only new problems would arise (especially for agents getting phone calls from clients complaining that they cannot board and that they feel fat). Meanwhile, he could be right about treating passengers like cargo. After all, United Airlines is implementing a pay-more-to-fly-if-you-are-fat policy while Ryanair customers are heavily in favor of a "fat tax" for obese passengers.

Stuck Between A Terminal & A Jetway

Continuing with the air travel and passenger theme, I'd like to address a comment made by Katy about the best airports for getting stranded. She asks:

Being a travel agent, this info will be helpful when choosing connection cities for my clients. Would you be able to expandy on this list and tell us more?

Katy, glad to help. For starters, click through the related story link about the 10 best and worst airports for sleeping, where you'll get more informatio about other airports.

From my personal experience, I can name two airports and one terminal where I've been stuck for awhile and was not destroyed by the experience. Chicago's O'Hare airport may be famous for delays, but its easy access to public transportation to the center of the city and back was quite convenient when I had a five-hour layover there back in 2004. With 90-minutes of roundtrip travel time, I was able to enter the Windy City and grab a beer while watching Bears fans throw a conniption over one Rex Grossman.

Meanwhile, as much as I understand many would not want to visit Philadelphia (I lived there for two years), it's airport is also easily accessible/departable via the city thanks to public transportation.

Finally, as much as New York's JFK is a living hell for some, JetBlue's Terminal 5 is pretty kick-ass. The free Wifi, array of shops and dining, the salon (in which I have not yet partaken but have heard good things) and the proximity of bar service near all gates was quite ideal as I journeyed to Aruba last week (granted the Bloody Mary the bartender comped me to bring on the plane my have slanted my judgment here).

But I am just on person, and I am not an agent, so what say you readers? Can you help Katy and I expand on this list of airports where it's not so bad to get stuck?

American Airlines, Anxiety & Angst

There were two stories we recently published that invovled American Airlines (AA) which received some interesting comments. This first was about the ongoing tussle between AA and Virgin Atlantic over Japan Airlines (JAL). I have no opinion on the matter, so I'm steering clear of who I would say is right or wrong in this situation. But it appears an AA employee, going by the name Ryan M, felt the need to state his company's case on the matter, writing:

Once again, Virgin’s comments are long on accusations and rhetoric and short on the facts. American is opposed to a Delta-Japan Airlines (JAL) tie-up for the same reason we are confident our transatlantic immunity application will be approved: to preserve and enhance competition.
SkyTeam with a Delta-JAL combination would account for nearly 60 percent of U.S.-Tokyo passengers, as opposed to oneworld’s approximate 44 percent share of U.S.-London passengers. AA and British Airways only account for about 40 percent of U.S.-U.K. traffic, whereas Delta-JAL would consolidate the positions of the two largest U.S.-Japan carriers with more than 60 percent share of U.S.-Japan passengers, leaving oneworld with just a 6 percent share.
The bottom line is we’re aiming to level the playing field for alliance competition in the transatlantic market and to prevent an unlevel field for alliance competition from evolving in the transpacific.

Ryan, it's an honor having your eyes perusing our site. I am not taking sides here, but I'll say I had a pleasant experience flying AA from New York to San Juan, Puerto Rico and then over to St. Thomas for my recent honeymoon before flying back from St. Thomas to Miami and then back up to New York (and yes, the Miami airport deserves its placement in the top five airports for getting stranded mentioned above), so if you want to help me out with another flight sometime I'd be very happy. I've never flown Virgin, if that helps persuade you :)

Another commentator had some curious words to share about AA, but they were not in defense of the airline nor about its competition with other carriers. This time, it was about the recent announcement that ARC and AA are going to develop a dupicate ID tool to avoid mishaps with overbooking flights. Sounds like an interesting idea, but for NYC Travel Agent it sounds a little Orwelian, sharing:

I'm very curious on how a fool-proof system will be created to make matches on duplicate bookings?Something tells me they will use their access to now-required APIS & Secure Flight data in order to create the cross-check ...legal use? Privacy matters?

I think something being so publicized and, hopefully, regulated could avoid trouble related to NYC Travel Agent's concerns, but I'm not industry expert and the only type of law I am adept at is communicaiton law (say whatever you want as long as it's true). Privacy concerns will never go away. Hardcore liberals accuse the government of using security as a reason to invade privacy whereas hardcore conservatives say healthcare reform will contribute to the removal of our civil liberties. But I think NYC Travel Agent is right in raising this issue right away. Does anyone else share his concern or, perhaps, think he/she is getting too paranoid like Mel Gibson in Conspiracy Theory?

What's In A Word?

Hurricane Ida has come and gone and seems to have been the worst of the season. It sadly killed hundreds in El Salvador before disrupting many cruise itineraries in the Gulf Coast region near Florida and Alabama. Our own Dave Eisen wrote about the subject, choosing "Hurricane Ida Wreaks Havoc Along Gulf Coast" as the headline, and one reader did not agree on the choice of verb and adjective. Paul Graber, commented:

I think the headline is sending out the wrong message.

Because Paul neglected to share what in the headline was wrong and what he thinks a better message would have been, it's not easy to answer this statement precisely. On one hand, I think anyone who was on those cruise ships or about to embark would consider trip cancelation and storm-battling havoc. On the other hand, when places like Panama City report that the storm left them "unscathed," then perhaps the headline was a tad dramatic. Still go you to read it though, right?

Crucon Cruise: Good or Bad?

In the last weekly wrap, I addressed Maria Jones' critical comments on the company and asked readers to reply in agreement with or in contrast against Ms. Jones. Peter Blank answered the call, stating:

I have found Leana and CruCon customer service to be responsive and especially quick to apply price reductions.

Thank you Peter for chiming in. We now have one for and one against the company, so who is going to jump in and be the tiebreacker in this rubber match of comments? Anyone? Anybody? Bueller?

BTW, YTB

Guess who's back?! Don't be surprised, YTB remains one of the more highly-contested topics of conversation round these parts of the Internet. So when Dooley reported on the company's third-quarter earnings (or lack thereof?), it was only a matter of moments for someone to chime in. And that someone was Jay, who asked:

Will someone please pull the plug on this scam?

It may take awhile Jay. Despite YTB's court troubles in California as well as in Illinois, it is likely not going away anytime soon. Fallout from court settlements can take forever (I know from experience as I await word on what's happening after Tishman Speyer lost its appeal of a class action lawsuit over rent stabilization in Stuyvesant Town neighborhood). Best of luck to all of us, eh?

Beauty Queen Babble

No, we're not talking about Sarah Palin's stint as a beauty queen contestant nor are we talking about Carrie Prejean's little display on Larry King, we are talking about Miss Texas USA Brooke Daniels. We have mentioned her a few times before as a result of her attendance at the Miss Spain contest in Cancun, and some people are ANGRY! Check the comments for yourself, because this latest one, posted by someonewhoknows, just has me confused:

I don't understand how people can judge from afar???? I wonder what they thought about the stockers who were obviously watching them the whole time.....you are just sad girls who dont have lifes!! Btw thier mother is beautiful and far from preggers!

I think someonewhoknows means stalkers, not stockers. That aside, as amusing as I find this I am confused as to a story can elicit such raw emotion from some commentators, which then only spawn more craziness. But I'm not going to complain, it makes this part of me week that more interesting. Anyone else want to throw some turpentine on this brush fire?

Thanks to the Thanksgiving holiday, I won't be writing the Weekly Wrap next week so we'll be in touch again later in the month. Until then, don't forget to keep these conversations and topics of discussion going in real time at AgentNation, the only social community online that is for all kinds of travel agents and professionals. Log in and/or sign up today.

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Kirk Cassels' Weekly Wrap of User Comments: September 14 - 18

This week was filled with angry behavior in the media. Serena Williams flipped out at a line judge (threatening to shove a ball down her throat), Roger Federer— usually a calm guy— was actually heard cursing on camera, and, of course, there's Kanye West's erruption at the Video Music Awards.

One would think that with the excrutiating heat of summer now behind us that people would be chilling out. Guess not. Though, fortunately, our readers seem to be keeping a cool head when sharing their opinions. Let's check them out.

Happy Times at Happy Places

We'll start with the most positive comment this week. When Travel Agent recently profiled Ecuador as an increasingly popular eco-tourism destination, the story appeared to strick a chord with one John Edwards, who wrote:

We went to the Galapagos Islands non-stop service into Guayaquil, Ecuador, we had the opportunity to visit the Historic Park which we found it very interesting and we love the structure of its ancient park, we spent three days on this beautiful coastal city of Guayaquil then we took our flight into the Islands and found the most unique experience ever in our life, this islands are magic and we have the opportunity to be face to face with mother's nature, awesome experience.

I assume this is not the John Edwards who ran for President and had an affair while his wife battled breast cancer. So, in that case, it's great to hear someone enjoying the fruits of the destination. However, if it is indeed that same John Edwards, I would like to know if he took that trip with his wife or mistress?

Keep the Kids Informed

Oasis of the Seas could very well be most highly-anticipated cruise ship to enter the industry in quite some time. It will have features never seen before on other ships, one of which is a nursery at sea for infants and toddlers, according to our report. But a reader, Diane Garrison, begs to differ, commenting:

Oasis does not have the first nursery. Disney has had a nursery at see since it first began sailing. They have increased the size twice and I believe they accept children three months old.

So, fellow readers and users, what is your take? Is Oasis the first to produce a nursery at sea or has Disney been ahead of the game the whole time? Throw us a bone, please.

Clean California Cruise Ports Sought

Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale, and New York City are popular places on the East Coast from where travelers take cruises to the Caribbean and beyond, and it appears as if the West Coast is getting a little jealous. Two months ago, we reported that there's a chance that Los Angeles may get a billion-dollar cruise terminal sometime in the future, and it has excited some of our readers— particularly bfraz, who posted:

The Port should be involved in establishing better accommodations for the influx of cruisers - current choices in San Pedro are mostly dumps.

I've never been to San Pedro, so I can neither agree nor disagree with bfraz. In fact, I've never even heard of the San Pedro cruise port, and I was born in California. Perhaps that lack of awareness of the port is a testament that it may in fact be a dump. With that in mind, California would definitely need a cruise terminal in the City of Angels. Meanwhile, even if San Pedro is not a dump, an extra port to generate travel and stimulate the economy could be a fantastic thing.

Grinding Gears through Economic Woes

Not sure if you heard, but there's a recession going on and everyone is doing all they can to keep their heads above water until it seeps away. Agents face challenges in a lack of demand as many are holding back on vacations. But that apparently isn't the only major problem. Readers Joanne and Dave shared some insight into how commissions on cruises are affecting their business during the economic downturn.

DAVE wrote:
THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL AND IT ISN'T PRETTY, ALL THE CONSORTIUM'S AND ITS MEMBERS NEED TO TEACH THE CRUISE LINES A LESSON AND LET THEM KNOW IF THEY KEEP RAISING OUR NON COMMISSIONABLES AND DIRECT MARKET OUR CLIENTS WHOM HAVE SAILED WITH THEM, WE WILL TURN THE FIRST TIME CRUISER INTO A LAND TRAVELER. IF WE DON'T STICK TOGETHER SOON IT WILL BE TOO LATE. THE CRUISE LINES ARE NOT OUR FRIENDS.

Joanne added:
Case in point....I booked clients on a transpacific 15 day cruise this spring. Total price $4900....my commission $117. Of course on a long voyage my clients expect that I will gift them with wine for dinner or spa service. Subtract that expense from my earnings. Now something is really wrong with that picture!

Considering that cruises are supposed to be one of the best products from which agents can earn their dough, this is some disturbing news— especially considering reports we've been filing that cruise vacations are the best value for consumers. With that in mind, I agree with Joanne that something is wrong with the picture. If the best travel options for vacationers during a recession are cruises, and if agents are having trouble profitting from said cruises, what's going on?

I'd like to hear from more agents on this issue, as the recession does not appear to be going away anytime soon.

Feel free to post your comments here or upgrade your discussion at AgentNation, the only online social community for all types of travel agents. Log in or sign up now.

Until next week...
 

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Kirk Cassels' Weekly Wrap of User Comments August 10-14

video

The heat is getting to the masses in politics, sports, and entertainment. Vitriolic arguments about health care at town halls have flooded the airwaves and web, the Red Sox brawled with the Tigers (I think because they're bitter about getting swept by the Yankees but that's my New York subjectivity), and OMG John and Kate got into argument last night and the police showed up. Theses scuffles are, to me, only semi-exciting in comparison to the showdown going down in District 9 this weekend.

As you could expect, there's been some tussling going on here at TravelAgentCentral, especially if multilevel marketing companies and Joystar are involved. But we'll get to that in a moment.

Vivá La Mexico!

From the H1N1/swine flu outbreak to gang violence, Mexico has had a rough going in the tourism industry this year. But fortunately many in the industry still have faith in the destination— as evidenced in a comment posted by Andrew Paul on Joe Pike's story on how the country is regaining ground. He wrote:
Great collection of articles. It's good to see Mexico may be through the worst - even though most of the bad news was hype.

Joe is actually in Cancun right now, so let's hope he brings back some good news with him.

They're Not Like Us!

As you may have noticed, I enjoy citing obscure cinematic references with any chance I get. An easy one has been comparing the competition between travel agents and companies like Orbitz or Expedia etc to the ongoing battles between humans in machines in such franchises as Terminator and Transformers. But I think I'm exhausting that shtick plenty. So, as Lisa Sweet shares her opinion on a report that online travel agencies are showing an increase in leisure travel demand, I'll stick to the subject. She wrote:
Those are NOT Travel Agencies! Priceline, Expedia and Orbitz! Those are the dimiz of real Travel Agencies who have real knowledge and experience! Those are just the "Walmarts" of the travel industry, trying to put real Travel Agents and Travel Agencies out of business with their less than truthful advertising and embellished promises! They are making the travel economy worse, not better as people find out they get no help, their hotels they booked are not like the pictures, or close to where they thought, and they can't change their air easily as promise! Gives the travel industry a bad name.......especially, calling them Travel Agencies, when they are definitely NOT! Please do not associate them with our name!

We've used the term online travel agency, or OTA for short, in many instances on this site (like here) and have so with concerted effort to separate them from real travel agents. It may get confusing to the laymen or outsider of the travel industry, so I understand Lisa's concern. However, I think she, and you reading this, should check out some good news regarding these evil machines: George Dooley's report on how consumers are leaving the Internet for humans when it comes to booking travel.

I Don't Like Him!

In June, David Eisen reported that former Disney Cruise President Thomas McAlpin will lead Residensea Ltd as the new CEO. A month and a few weeks later, someone had something to say about that. Daizy wrote:
Tom is arrogant and didn't make it any further than Director at Royal Caribbean and only four years as President at Disney. Good luck ResidenSea!

I know nothing about McAlpin, so I cannot say whether I think Daizy is being harsh or not. However, if this Daizy is anything like Daisy de la Hoya from the recent realty TV show train-wreck "Daisy of Love" then I must admit I don't trust her in judgment in men.

As I have now embarrassed myself by admitting I watched that show, I will fill in those of you who are not in the loop on what I mean. Daisy de la Hoya tried to win the heart of former Poison frontman Brett Michaels in season two of "Rock of Love." She lost to a woman that Brett dated for a few months before ditching so he could have a third season of hooking up with drunk groupies and make some money off of it. So she got her own show and was the one choosing a new mate. In the end, she choose an unemployed, aspiring musician who lived with his father until getting kicked out. His name is Christopher Lee but she affectionately called him "London." The first night of the show, London drank until blacking out and passing out. He then left the show because Daisy bothered him. But then he came back and bothered everyone, and she still chose him because he was what she wants, though admittedly not what she needs. So I think you get the point now. And if you don't, go to vh1.com and look the show up. I think you'll concur.

The Usual Suspects

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like here at Travel Agent to go through a week in which someone did NOT take the time to post a comment about YTB, Joystar or alleged multilevel marketing companies. Actually no I don't, because that will never happen.  But I'm leaving YTB alone this week, as it seems there may be a new name to throw in the mix.

After reading about the latest bankruptcy news about Joystar and how some agents may get their money back, Joyce raised a flag about Global Travel, saying:
Now that Joystar i out when will they look into Global Travel. You can buy an Iata card from them for $16.00 talk about card mills this is the biggest. I have several friends who bought cards from them aand get the benefits I do. Something is wrong with this picture.

This sounds like an investigation for George Dooley. So Joyce, I'll shoot him a note on the subject. Maybe Dooley will get an opinion from John Frenaye on the matter, who has been the subject of conversation here on TravelAgentCentral as well.

Earlier in the year, Dooley interviewed Frenaye about the dangers of multilevel marketing companies and card mills, and the story got several comments from the months of February through April. The conversation had since died down until, this week, reader Carol addressed John directly, asking:
For john Frenaye: you stated you knew many host agencys that charge no fee to join and no website fee with a 80% split. Could you please email me a list. I am all over that one.

John, I know you read this site because I have posted your submitted comments personally (unless someone is pretending to be you, which I doubt). Carol didn't include her e-mail, so unfortunately you cannot contact her directly. So, if you can, come on back and share the list she requests, or at least get in touch with her either here or perhaps on AgentNation, the only social community for all types of travel agents. Can you help out?

As always, keep the comments coming here or in real time at AgentNation. We love hearing from you, and I love watching the words fly.

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