The Travel Industry News - Editorial Archives

July 15, 2001

TALK ABOUT OVERHEAD...

Did you know that during any given hour the average number of people flying ‘overhead’ here in the United States is 61,000?

The $500,000 question is...How many different airfares did that 61,000 pay?? AND...the $1 million question (you have no lifelines!)...How many would be over your head if all the flights had left on time???

Orbitz, Expedia etc etc ...what’s a poor travel agent to do?

If you read the July 1 issue of TIN, I hope you read the Pleasant Hawaiian insert that pointed out that after they had spent considerable time recently on Orbitz...they found that in most cases the airfares offered were not competitive...AMAZING! Pleasant also suggested...and this is a good idea...that TAs encourage clients to explore Orbitz, but to check with them before making the booking. Why? Well, you may lose some, but if you come up with better fares the first couple of times they check with you, chances are you have a ‘regular’. Hey, we also have to assume that the client believes that their time is worth something!

What makes people think that if airlines can’t get their flights off the ground on a timely fashion...they can provide the latest AND best fares available ( with no bias ) on ALL airlines ? They can’t!

MEANWHILE...many agencies inform us that they are doing fine and even more tell us that they believe that they are working ‘smarter’ now. In case you don’t believe we talk to many agencies, Bond Marketing still physically calls on between 60 and 80 agencies each month, as well as the emails and phone calls we receive. Oh, yes we also manage to get to a ‘travel’ function now and then...just to keep up.

The mail still flows across our desks from a wide assortment of travel folks and our faithful advertisers continue to keep faith with TIN. I’ve said it before (most things I guess!), but if you see it in TIN you know that the company still believes in the Travel Agency distribution system.

Maybe you noticed...but I don’t get a whole lot of support from the ‘Domestic’ airlines...they sure loved me when I was the ‘Travel Editor’ at the Seattle PI though, and I’m still the same lovable person! WHAT ARE the current trends?

What is the travel agent down the road selling that you’re not? Well chances are unless they have a ‘niche’ ( trains, eco travel, incentive, golf, theatre etc) they sell more..or less..the same as you.

In this year of ‘Unrest’ in various corners of the world, a certain process of elimination has taken place. Some travelers bow to the winds of caution...some to a poor knowledge of geography... and now oft times, to increasing prices set against an uncertain economy.

Yes certain destinations are just a plain hard sell even if there are many ‘bargains’ available to these lands with the ‘strange sounding names’

CRUISE sales appear frequently on our reports...BUT...with the increased capacity available, some of these sales are not exactly bringing in ‘the Big Bucks’. We know that lower prices produce ..or should.. more sales, but more sales mean more work and sometimes for only the same commission that higher prices once produced. Avoiding the ‘low cost Cruise’ syndrome are the ‘SMALL’ ships AND they are gaining in popularity with the traveling public, certainly with the discriminating traveling public.

AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND continue to do well out there, while THAI AIRWAYS reports excellent results to their corner of the world. Sales to South America continue to rise steadily..but slowly. I do believe that some people’s understanding of Central America and South America is clouded and that any sign of trouble “down there” means the whole place should be avoided...that’s a shame for there is a lot to offer in this region.

EUROPE is on the rise again after a rather long ‘hic-cup’. Europe Express reports that although individual travel has remained steady, group biz has increased 20%...safety in numbers I guess. The airlines and other wholesalers tell TIN that sales have picked up recently, AND there are good bargains to be found. OF COURSE...Vegas and Hawaii continue unabated...although increased air availability to Hawaii would make it even better.

Don’t forget the USA and Canada in your rush to sell the ‘exotic’. They represent a good potential alternative money maker from the travelers who just aren’t sure they should adventure abroad this year. It may be worth switching some of your efforts and marketing dollars to attract not only current clients...but new ones.

Certainly some ‘Cruise Companies’ cater to this potential market AND while ‘New England in the Fall’ is something that everyone talks about, relatively few from this region do it.

There are a number of US wholesalers offering excellent ‘Domestic’ packages which also represent worthwhile commissions. Don’t forget trains...their popularity is definitely on the increase.

POSSIBILITIES:

BC FERRIES & COAST RESORT HOTELS have combines to offer flexible packages allowing visitors to discover BC’s beautiful coast. Call West Coast at 1-888-252-4454/web www.coasthotels.com OR BC Ferries at 1-(250)386-3431/web www.bcferries.com

CLIPPER NAVIGATION operator of ‘Victoria Clippers’ and ‘Victoria Vacations’ has launched a ‘Travel Agents Friendly Interactive Web Site’. Visit www.clippervacations.com PLEASE NOTE...if you have not booked ‘Clipper’ during the past 14 months you should call for assistance (206)812-2100 or 1-877-679-1650 WINDJAMMER CRUISES...a great vacation...To receive their 52 page color brochure for 2001 call 1-800-327-2602.

AMTRAK commemorates its 30th anniversary by offering a 30% discount fare to more than 500 destinations.

FROM Spokane WA....the MONTANA DAYLIGHT TOUR TRAIN is offering 5 day/4 night packages. Call 1-800-579-7245 or visit web at www.montanarailtours.com

THOUGHT FOR JULY: THE TRUTH IN 13 WORDS.... ‘Inside every older person is a younger person...wondering what the hell happened?’

David (Ageless) Bond

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