Luxury destination weddings and honeymoons continue to evolve in their style as the bride and groom raise the bar on their expectations.
For destination weddings, couples are planning more customized experiences for their guests, and the planning is beginning earlier and earlier. Read more in the Luxury Destination Weddings and Honeymoons Focus Series!
Mexico’s beaches resort areas are perennially popular with honeymooners — and rightfully so. However, newlyweds these days may be looking for something more experiential in addition to the romance of sun, sand and sea. Read the Focus Series to learn more!
Learn how selling group travel in today’s travel landscape will not only be profitable but will help you grow and diversify your business!
5 Days, 5 Emails, 25 Lessons on sales mapping, business efficacy, identifying new niches and suppliers as well as preparing for industry disruptors and capitalizing on upcoming trends. By day five, you'll lay the groundwork to expand your book of business by Q2.
Here are some of the best and brightest new hotel options that should appeal to your Europe-bound luxury travel clients, especially repeat visitors seeking a change of venue.
Here are some more fun and exciting things to do for Jamaica-bound couples, bridal parties, and pre-wedding bachelor/bachelorette getaways — with an emphasis on action, adventure and adrenalin.
Over the course of five days, we'll send you snackable lessons on prospecting, sales positioning and streamlining the sales process as well as expert tips from romance travel pros. Register today!
As an industry expert, you know that Europe continues to be one of the most popular vacation spots for your clients. As a result of high demand, overtourism has become a concern in the top-visited cities. Combat the crowds by suggesting alternate destinations that check all the boxes for an ideal European getaway. We’re here to help, starting with Catalonia! In our latest five-day email course, we’ll go beyond Barcelona and explore how the entire region of Catalonia—one of the most diverse destinations in the world—can help you increase your European revenue.
This 5 day email course will help you learn how to tap into the growing wellness travel industry. Each day you’ll receive a lesson to your inbox chock full of market intelligence, sales insights and insider information—all geared at helping you grow your wellness travel sales.
Among international areas or regions that U.S. vacationers are interested in visiting during the next two years, the Caribbean is second only to Europe. Returning visitors, in particular, should be interested in the many significant tourism developments in the Caribbean over the past several months. Read the Focus Series to see what's new in the Caribbean!
If you haven't heard, European rail travel is quickly becoming the next big niche. Learn how to create more immersive European journeys and grow your repeat bookings to Europe in 5 days. Sign up for the email course to learn the ins and outs of planning and selling Europe rail travel—one of the most immersive, flexible and convenient ways to embark on a multi-country journey.
Interest in visiting Pacific Mexico’s two most popular tourism regions, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta, is up a tick this year over 2018, with Millennials leading the charge. See what's new in the Focus Series!
As the industry sails through the second half of 2019, we take a look at what’s new, what’s next and what’s trending for the cruise industry and agents who sell ocean cruises.
For 2019, what’s new under the African sun isn’t just safaris and wildlife, although those are certainly at the top of the list, but also new experiences, unique destinations and innovative spins on locales. See what's new in the Focus Series!
This five-day email course is designed to help you grow your UK bookings beyond London. With new direct flight routes and a unique culture, history and heritage, Manchester is one of the most exciting places to visit in the UK right now.
Year after year, Italy has consistently remained the European country generating the most interest among U.S. vacationers. If you have clients who are planning to visit Italy and are looking for insider insights, here are some tips and recommendations.
Beaches and sun-and-fun activities are a given along Quintana Roo’s Caribbean coast. What makes this region truly appealing, however — especially, but not exclusively, for families — is its wealth of natural and historical attractions, from Cancun and Cozumel and along Riviera Maya all the way south to Tulum and beyond. Read more in the Focus Series!
Sign up for our 5-day email sales course to navigate the growing oceangoing small-ship cruise market. You’ll learn the need-to-know trends to help you identify prospects and confidently sell the niche. Plus, sales-focused lessons designed to help you accelerate or launch your small ship business.
If you’re like us, you’re excited by the record-breaking growth that Las Vegas has achieved the last couple of years. Whether your clients are embarking on an epic girls getaway or spring break with the family and everything in between, you want to make sure their stay is as exciting as the Strip and we’re here to help make that happen. Take the Venetian Specialist Course today!
Year after year in survey after survey, London lands at or near the top of favorite European cities to visit. There is no shortage of well-known, popular attractions, from Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London and iconic museums and theaters to Piccadilly Circus, the Coca-Cola London Eye and shopping at Harrods and Carnaby Street. Read all about what's new in the Focus Series!
Barceló Hotel Group admires and appreciates the tireless work that travel advisors do, day in and day out. That’s why we’ve created a new loyalty program to make your jobs easier and increase your bottom line. Say hello to Barceló Pro Rewards. It’s simple. It’s informative. And it’s packed with perks.
River cruise popularity is soaring and is currently one of the hottest trends in the cruise industry. Here are some of the latest ship, itinerary and personnel developments on the river cruise fronts for 2019 and beyond.
It’s looking like a banner year for Saint Lucia. This year, it will be celebrating its 40th year of independence, the Saint Lucia Jazz Festival will be produced in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center, and 2018 saw a 2.2 percent increase in global visitor arrivals. Here’s a snapshot of what travelers can expect this year. Read all about what's new in the Focus Series!
In 2018, Las Vegas, for the fourth consecutive year, welcomed more than 42 million visitors, according to the city’s convention and visitors authority (LVCVA). See what's new in Las Vegas for 2019 in the Focus Series.
From new favorites to old standbys, there are plenty of options for families looking to book a vacation at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico. Read the Focus Series to find out more!
Here are some of the latest developments that should be of interest to your Florida-bound clients.
Nothing is as hot as expedition cruising, especially among luxury travelers, multiple advisors tell us emphatically. Simply put, travelers are clamoring for adventure experiences, more active, in-depth exploration and more voyages to such far-flung destinations as the Northeast Passage, Antarctica, remote islands in the South Pacific, The Kimberley in Australia, the Indian Ocean region, exotic African or lesser-known Latin American ports, or the Galapagos Islands. And it’s a trend that shows no signs of abating. Read the Focus Series to find out more!
When choosing a hotel to stay at, an all-inclusive option is a determining factor for half of U.S. vacationers. Read all about all-inclusives in the Focus Series!
We know you have choices when it comes to small-ship, ultra-luxury cruises. This training course is designed to help you see why PONANT, a favorite among luxury travelers in Europe for over 30 years, is on course to become a leading choice among U.S. travelers.
Here is a small sampling of places where married couples can symbolically tie the knot all over again in a simple or as elaborate a way as they choose. If your clients have a favorite island, destination or resort, chances are that with a minimum of research you’ll be able to find a blissful package or deal there to suit them.
We’ve created this training program to show you how our diverse collection of nine luxury hotels are the very definition of elegance—stylish yet tasteful, classic yet sophisticated—and suited to every taste, from families to couples to groups to adventurers.
While each property is unique in its attributes and distinctive in its personality, every hotel will welcome your clients with the same warm hospitality and truly authentic Caribbean experiences.
Luxury destination weddings and honeymoons continue to evolve in their style as the bride and groom raise the bar on their expectations.
For destination weddings, couples are planning more customized experiences for their guests, and the planning is beginning earlier and earlier. Read more in the Luxury Destination Weddings and Honeymoons Focus Series!
Focus on Mexico and you’ll see a destination weddings and honeymoons superstar. The reasons are plentiful. It’s a great value, especially with today’s strong dollar-to-peso exchange rate. It’s close to the U.S., with airlift continually on the upswing. Scenic settings provide romantic backdrops that include beaches, jungles, mountains and deserts. And the country’s rich culture maintains ties to ancient roots and puts a premium on hospitality. Read the Focus Series to find out more!
Reports from various sources indicate that Jamaica continues to be one of the most popular destinations for American couples planning to be wed outside the United States. The island nation hosted about 5,000 destination weddings last year alone. With most marriages in the U.S. falling within the Millennial demographic, we reached out to several 30-and-under travel advisors to get their take on Jamaica as a destination, as well their resort recommendations for weddings and honeymoons.
In the pages ahead you’ll find more of what makes Jamaica a popular wedding and honeymoon destination, including accommodations news, adventures for couples to share and more.
The Caribbean has a wealth of attributes that can inspire or amplify romance. Whether your couples are planning a destination wedding, a honeymoon, anniversary celebration or simply a romantic getaway, there are plenty of hotels to meet their needs. Read on to help you find your clients a place to stay that they will fall in love with.
We asked Millennial travel advisors to tell us about any unique hotels they’ve visited that they feel fit in very well with their locale. Perhaps not surprisingly, most of their Europe accommodation choices fall into the luxury category. Here is a sampling.
Like you, our clients look to us for the unique and authentic. Localized, immersive experiences aren’t just terms we added to our sales materials a couple of years ago. To us, unique and authentic aren’t a marketing strategy. For over 40 years, we’ve created distinctive hotels and resorts that capture the spirit of the destinations we are proud to call home. We strive to harmonize with each property’s local culture and environment–it’s the reason we got into the game. To pay homage to our communities. To connect through curiosity. To experience high touch, hand-crafted hospitality. Take the Noble House Hotels & Resorts course today!
Hawaii is rich with resorts, activities and sites well suited for romance travelers. From honeymoons, weddings or even just a getaway for two, the naturally breathtaking views of the islands provide a picturesque backdrop for lovers. Here are some recent developments on that front.
The diversity of Pacific Mexico sells itself. Natural beauty, varied ecosystems, rich culture and history have all made distinctive marks on the coast. The mountains meet the ocean in Pacific Mexico. And in Baja California Sur, they meet the desert as well. Read all about it in the Mexico Pacific Coast 2018 Focus Series!
As cruise selling agents sail into the second half of 2018, the horizon is clear for robust cruise sales. But the cruise seascape always brings swells and bigger waves too. Being proactive in your sales game and knowing what opportunities to tap are critical for retailers. Here are key trends and events to watch through the end of 2018 and beyond.
With an increase in visitors, new air routes, and exhilarating hotel and lodge development, it’s a good time to recommend travel to East and Southern Africa to clients. Travel to the Middle East has held steady over the last four years, thanks in part to a stronger than average interest by Millennials, with Matures (born before 1946) not far behind. Discover what's new in these destinations in the Africa & The Middle East Focus Series.
It’s no secret that the consumer has changed in terms of what they want from a trip. Today’s traveler no longer wants to feel like a tourist, like a stranger in a strange town. The desire these days is to fit in like a local and to take part in activities that convey the emotion of what it would be like to live in the place they’re visiting. Or, at the very least, to feel like a very privileged guest who has been granted access to see the sights in a most respectful way. Here are some take-aways from a recent Tour Operator Roundtable we conducted that should help you sell your services to Millennials and other experiential travelers.
The St. Vincent and The Grenadines E-Learning Program aims to give you all the information you need for a sublime island experience, and we hope to do so by immersing you in the character, culture and flavor of our places and people.
From Paris to Provence, Brittany to Bordeaux, there are accommodations in France to suit every client’s wants and needs. Discover what's new in the Focus Series!
This course will provide you with the necessary knowledge to book this successful brand that has been catering to couples and romance for more than 35 years. At all four Jamaican oceanfront resorts—two in Ocho Rios and two in Negril, guests will find virtually everything included.
For clients planning to take their first family vacation outside the continental United States, especially those living on or near the East Coast, the Caribbean offers many advantages. For starters, flight times are shorter; even the southernmost islands are only three hours from Miami. Read all about updates in the Caribbean in the Focus Series!
River cruising is a hot commodity for travel advisors desiring to increase earnings. Discover what's new in river cruising in the Focus Series!
Year after year in survey after survey, London lands in the top three of favorite European cities to visit, jockeying for position with Paris and Rome. Among the advantages the British capital has over its French and Italian counterparts, especially with first time transatlantic travelers, is a shorter flight time and, beyond some delightful differences in some word meanings, no language barrier. And, of course, there is no shortage of iconic attractions, from Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London to the Coca-Cola London Eye, shopping at Harrods, and the West End theaters, where “Hamilton“ and “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” are the hottest tickets. Read more in the London 2018 Focus Series!
From the Panhandle to the Keys, Florida is dotted with a great number and variety of family-friendly hotels and resorts. In addition to amenities for all ages, they are convenient to fun activities, be it a great beach, a theme park, a wildlife reserve or other adventures. Here are some of the most recent developments on the Sunshine State’s accommodations front for you to share with your multi-generational clients.
Become a Certified Switzerland Travel Expert
The North America version of the Switzerland Travel Academy consists of core and specialization modules.
Core modules
Core modules (4 + News from Switzerland) cover what you need to know about Switzerland and inform you on the latest events and experiences in Switzerland.
Basic and practical knowledge: This module is about the country’s geography, languages and cultures, customs and traditions, and important practical information.
How to travel to and within Switzerland: In this module, you will learn about Switzerland's transportation system, also known as the Swiss Travel System, which, precise like a Swiss watch, connects even the most remote places by train, bus, and boat.
You will become familiar with how to travel to and within Switzerland, learn about the numerous means of transportation, and understand the different ticket options.
Last but not least, you will discover the best scenic routes to transform a journey through the country into a unique experience.
Switzerland in 3, 5 or 10 days: Discover Switzerland’s must-sees and learn how to combine them into packages and itineraries, creating the perfect Swiss experience that suits your clients’ needs and wants.
Must-know for North American travel professionals: This is a market-specific module that provides important information relevant for North American clients.
Learn about Switzerland Tourism contact points in North America, flights from North America to Switzerland, passport & visa regulations, tour operators (both outbound and incoming), and much more.
News from Switzerland 2018: This module presents the most important Swiss events, openings, and projects occurring in 2018 and is updated every year. Discover on what your clients cannot absolutely miss out!
Completion time for core modules: about 3 hours.
Specialization modules
Specialization modules offer a deeper focus on different topics and provide insights in touristic experiences, knowledge on a specific topic of interest connected with Switzerland Tourism’s partners, segments or campaigns.
Completion time of each module: about 40 minutes.
Certification
The process of certification is easy and free:
Pass the final exam on the core modules to graduate as a Switzerland Travel Expert.
You will receive the certificate that is valid until December of the following year.
Every year, stay informed and renew your certificate by taking the exam of the updated “News from Switzerland” module.
After passing the core modules exams, you can continue your training to receive specialization certificates: choose the specialization module you are interested in, pass the exam and receive the certificate.
