HOME-BASED
RETAILERS sell more cruises than any other travel product,
and more than half have their own Web sites and book suppliers
direct without using host agencies. These were among the findings
revealed in a survey of at-homes in North America conducted by the
Outside Sales Support Network. Fifty-five percent of 1,826
respondents said they book direct. Of that group, 47% use a CLIA
number, 24% percent use an IATA number, 18% percent have their own
Travel Retailers Universal Enumeration (TRUE) code offered by OSSN
and 11% percent use other types of booking numbers. The survey
found that 46% ended 2006 with sales of more than $100,000, and
that (25% broke through the $250,000 mark. See all of the results
at www.ossn.com/ossn_survey/2006yearendsurveyjan07/index.html.
ASTA
implemented its new membership structure and rolled out a new logo,
revised slogan and revised mission and vision statements.
Independent agents can join for $200 per year. ASTA replaced its
previous slogan, "Without a travel agent, you are on your own,"
with "Without an ASTA travel agent, you are on your own." Its
simplified mission statement reads: "ASTA's mission is to
facilitate the business of selling travel through effective
representation, shared knowledge and the enhancement of
professionalism." Check out the details at www.astanet.com.
ONLINE
VACATION CENTER HOLDINGS, an aggregator of diversified
vacation sellers, acquired certain assets of SmartTraveler.com, a home-based travel seller and
Internet media company. Online Vacation Center bought two online
consumer travel newsletters from SmartTraveler.com as well as its
home-based travel agent business. The purchase was made for a
combination of cash and Online Vacation Center's common
stock.
IN YOUR
POCKET: Hilton Hotels Corp. expanded its centralized
commission processing to its properties within Hilton's
International Division. Agents now will receive one payment for all
bookings for participating Hilton hotels.
FAM OF THE
WEEK
Germany/France
Trip: A river cruise departing Mainz,
Germany, with stops in Cochem, Koblenz, Mannheim, Rudesheim, Speyer
and Worms, Germany; and Strasbourg, France.
Departure: May 27 from Mainz, cruise
only.
Length: Seven nights aboard the Peter
Deilmann Heidelberg.
Sponsor: Europeanbarging,
Houston.
Cost: $1,799 per person, double, for main
deck accommodations or $2,099 for the upper deck. Includes all
meals, wine with dinner, five sightseeing excursions and fuel and
port taxes.
Noteworthy: Companions and group leaders are
eligible at the same rate.
Contact: (888) 869-7907; e-mail: [email protected]; Web: www.europeanbarging.com/famtrips.htm.
Home-Based
Agent Editor: Donna Tunney
Phone: (508) 221-3674
[email protected]
For promotional
opportunities in the E-letters, contact [email protected].