NEST,
the Network of Entrepreneurs Selling Travel, and the National
Association of Commissioned Travel Agents (NACTA) teamed with
Globus and Royal Caribbean to present a series of workshops for
home-based retailers. Called the Home Based Success Series, the
workshops will focus on product information, insider group tips,
effective and cost-efficient group sales, marketing strategies and
Web and technology resources. The three-hour sessions will be
launched in August and expanded in 2006. Upcoming workshops are
Aug. 15 in San Diego; Aug. 16 in Orange County, Calif.; Aug. 17 in
Dallas; Aug. 18 in Houston; and Aug. 19 in Chicago. The focus of
the August series is selling groups.
IT'S A
GOLDEN opportunity to invest in the future, according to
Joanie Ogg, president of NACTA. "This series will offer agents
serious selling strategies to use on their road to success as a
home-based travel professional." Stuart Cohen, senior vice
president of NEST, predicted the workshops would sell out. The
August events cost $15 per agent. For details on locations and to
reserve a space, go to http://65.17.222.55/success_series.htm.
EDUCATION
UPDATE: Thirty-three travel agents completed the
requirements for their Level 1 Travel Sales Certification (TSC)
designation, said Cruise Agent Only, a Fort Lauderdale-based
educational organization. The agents constitute the third
graduating class of Cruise Agent Only, ’s Cruise
University. The event took place on the MCS Lirica. During the
onboard event, Sherry Hine of the Travel Institute instructed
agents in the destination specialist program for the Caribbean as
well as the lifestyle course for weddings and honeymoons. It was
the first time that the Travel Institute presented these programs
aboard a cruise ship, administered the test on-site and presented
the agents with their certificates of graduation prior to
debarkation.
THE TRAVEL
SALES CERTIFICATION program combines seminars by
well-known presenters, an actual cruise experience and a series of
exams that assure that participants have learned important concepts
that they can apply to their businesses. It is open to traditional
agents at brick-and-mortar retailers and home-based sellers of
travel. Cruise Agent Only is a travel agent organization that helps
U.S. and Canadian travel agents increase their travel knowledge as
well as their sales skills. Travel agents interested in learning
more about the TSC or making reservations for Cruise University can
contact Cruise Agent Only at (954) 491-2269 or visit www.cruiseagentonly.com.
FAM OF THE
WEEK
Argentina
Departure: Aug. 31 from Miami to Buenos
Aires via American Airlines.
Length: Seven nights.
Sponsor: Tara Tours, Miami Springs,
Fla.
Cost:
$1,699 per person, double. Includes roundtrip air, accommodations,
daily breakfast, some other meals, sightseeing entrance fees and
transfers.
Trip: Spends four
nights in Buenos Aires and three nights in Calafate.