A
MAJORITY of OSSN members, 73%, said 2007 was a good year
for business and even more, 77%, are expecting 2008 to be
financially rewarding as well. That's according to OSSN's annual
member survey, which was released last week. Other notable stats
from the survey:
" 42% use the TRUE
card (provided by OSSN) for identification within the industry, 30%
have a CLIA card and 4% percent are ARC-accredited.
" 54% of respondents
charge a service fee for selling air tickets, 21% percent charge
for an FIT booking, 13% charge for tours and 9% charge for
cruises.
" Cruises account for
the lion's share of bookings for OSSN members, 53%. Tours follow at
30%.
" The highest
percentage of members, 30%, said their travel sales are between
$10,000 and $50,000 per year. The second-highest percentage, 21%,
reported annual sales of between $50,000 and $100,000. Just 4% said
their annual sales are $1 million or higher.
AMERICA'S
VACATION CENTER launched a portal on its Web site that
gives its home-based agents and independent affiliates
direct-booking access to tour and vacation-package inventory.
Michael Anderson, AVC's vice president of development, said the new
Vacation Explorer Beta, an enhancement to AVC's Agent Power
desktop, will simplify the tour-booking process for its travel
sellers by providing live inventory. Agent Power integrates leads
for travelers looking for agent help, booking tools, commission
tracking, and customer relationship management tools. In other news
from AVC, the agency was inducted into the Classic Vacations'
Million Dollar Club for achieving $1 million in sales from August
1, 2006 to July 31, 2007.
TRAVEL
COUNSELLORS, the global host agency with more than 850
full-time agents and more than $430 million in annual sales, is
expanding its U.S. management team. Managing director Steve Byrne
announced a change in title for Peter Rasmussen, from general
manager to president for North America, Travel Counsellors USA. At
the same time, Rasmussen announced the addition of travel industry
veteran Darya Camacci as senior vice president of operations USA,
Travel Counsellors. Camacci spent the last nine years with
AutoEurope, most recently as senior vice president of sales. She
also has worked in both the tour and lodging industry as well as
owned and managed her own New Jersey-based travel agency, Duke's
Travel, which hosted independent travel professionals.
DATEBOOK: The OSSN Cincinnati Chapter will
meet Feb. 13, at 6:30 p.m. for a presentation by Costa Cruises. The
chapter will welcome OSSN agents as well as non-members at the Blue
Goose Sports Cafe (11060 Reading Road, Sharonville). Beverly Brean
of Costa Cruises will discuss the line's current itineraries and
ships as well as sales tips to help the agents expand their cruise
sales. Agents should RSVP via e-mail to [email protected] or phone (513)
752-0723.
FAM OF THE
WEEK
Ireland
Trip: Visits Cork, Kinsale, Kenmare,
Killarney, Adare and Bunratty. Marching in a St. Patrick's Day
parade in Killarney is a highlight of the trip.
Departure: March 15 from Cork, land
only.
Length: Seven nights.
Sponsor: In Quest of the Classics,
Escondido, Calif.
Cost: $796 per person, double. Includes
accommodations, some meals, sightseeing, entertainment and land
transportation.
Noteworthy: Companions are eligible for the
same rate.
Contact: (800) 227-1393; e-mail: [email protected]; Web:
www.iqotc.com
and click on Study Tours.
Home-Based
Agent Editor: Donna Tunney
Phone: (508) 221-3674
[email protected]
For promotional
opportunities in the E-letters, contact [email protected].