FEATHERING THE NEST: Eighteen industry suppliers
have finalized, or are in the last stages of finalizing, preferred
supplier agreements with the NEST, or Network of Entrepreneurs
Selling Travel, Stuart Cohen, senior vice president of the
marketing organization for independent and home-based agents, told
TravelWeekly.com. The NEST, based Oyster Bay, N.Y., was created in
March for at-home travel sellers who are not affiliated with a host
agency. "We are recruiting agents who book direct with suppliers,
using their CLIA or IATA ID numbers," Stuart said.
MOST OF THE MAJOR cruise lines have signed on,
including Carnival, Princess, Windstar, Norwegian, Oceania, Orient
Lines, Holland America and Viking River Cruises. Tour operators
include Globus & Cosmos, Brennan Vacations, City Escapes,
Universal Vacations and Trafalgar. Port Promotions and Travel
Insured also signed on as preferred suppliers. Stuart said an
additional dozen travel companies are negotiating to become
preferreds. Information about Stuart's organization can be found on
line at www.jointhenest.com.
THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY is on the verge of a
worldwide recovery, according to Travel Industry Association
president and CEO William Norman. "Given the key indicators, it is
a fair thing to say that for the first time in four years we are
projecting a recovery," he said. "In terms of business travel,
there has been a four-year decline. However, this year, for the
first time since 2001, we are going to see an uptick of 4.2% in
business travel. We are projecting a growth rate in the inbound
market of 5% in 2004." Norman also announced he plans to retire
from his TIA post at the end of the year.
HOST AGENCY SPOTLIGHT
TeamCosta
7084 Miramar Road
San Diego, Calif. 92121
(800) 910-3013, ext. 171
In business since: 1983
Web site address:www.teamcosta.com
Annual sales: $10 million
Cost to join: $299 to $399 annual fee
Industry affiliations: Nacta, ASTA, CLIA,
Iatan
Commission split: 70% to agent
DATEBOOK: Travel Weekly and its sister
publication, TravelAge West, are co-sponsoring the Leisure Travel
Summit, a conference and trade show set for June 11 and 12 at the
Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, Calif. The trade show will
feature an estimated 200 supplier exhibitors. Participating
suppliers will offer special incentives that are available
exclusively to attending agents, and seminars will be offered by a
variety of suppliers and educational institutions. The price for
the conference is $89. For additional information, visit www.leisuretravelsummit.com or call (866)
310-6572.
FAM OF THE WEEK
British Columbia
Departures: Through May 31 and from Aug. 29 to Sept. 19
from Vancouver to Ucluelet via charter air.
Length: Two nights.
Sponsor: Independent Travel Makers, Mossyrock,
Wash.
Cost: $265 per person, double. Includes roundtrip
air, accommodations, two guided fishing trips and use of fishing
gear.
Trip: Conducts halibut fishing trips at Ucluelet
aboard deep-sea cruisers.
Noteworthy: Add $50 per person for Friday and
Saturday packages. Rates are $235 per person, triple, and $225 per
person, quad. Meals, fishing license and gratuities are not
included.
Contact: (800) 553-4108; fax: (360) 983-8600.