AMERICA'S
VACATION CENTER, the San Diego-based host agency, will
move its headquarters next month to Vista, Calif. The agency said
it is increasing its support and executive staff and has outgrown
its current location. "With customer demand continuing to
dramatically increase, AVC is committed to add more independent
travel professionals to our network," said Van Anderson,
co-president. He added that the move "will open doors to additional
opportunities to expand in North America and beyond." AVC earlier
announced it would open a support office in South Florida by the
end of this year.
CRUISEONE, the franchise operator, and
Cruises Inc., a host agency, both based in Fort Lauderdale, named
travel and cruise industry veteran Steven Hattem vice president of
marketing. Hattem will be responsible for developing and executing
strategic marketing plans, online strategies and business
development activities to increase brand awareness and cruise sales
among consumers via the CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. distribution
networks. Both entities are owned by World Travel
Holdings.
TRAVELER
INSIGHTS: The smaller the financial investment and
distance traveled for a trip, the more inclined travelers are to
purchase their travel online, according to a report by
PhoCusWright, a travel marketing and research firm. It said $6 out
of every $10 spent on weekend travel was purchased online vs. less
than $3 out of every $10 for a weeklong vacation. According to
PhoCusWright, long weekend trips (defined as a three-night stay
away from home) are now the most popular type of leisure travel. Of
those who buy travel online, almost two-thirds say that general
search engines influence where they purchase their travel and what
they book. According to the report, more than seven in 10 online
travelers indicated that it is a Web site's use of video, pictures
and online maps that most influence the method of purchase for
leisure travel.
THROUGH THE
PORT HOLE: Royal Caribbean will deploy its Mariner of the
Seas to Los Angeles beginning February 2009. The ship will offer
six-night sailings to the Mexican Riviera from its Los Angeles
homeport, calling at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto
Vallarta.
FAM OF THE
WEEK
Fiji
Trip: Sails around the Fiji Islands
visiting various destinations, depending on the cruise itinerary
selected.
Departures: Weekly through March 31,
ranging in length from three to seven days, on the Fiji Princess,
Yasawa Princess, Mystique Princess or Nanuya Princess, depending on
length of cruise and itinerary selected.
Sponsor: Blue Lagoon Cruises, Lautoka, Fiji
Islands.
Cost: Five itineraries are offered, priced
from about $80 to $216 per person, double.
Noteworthy: Rates are for lowest-deck
accommodations with upgrades, subject to availability, at $99
additional per person, per deck. Companions are
eligible.
Contact: E-mail: [email protected]; Web: www.bluelagooncruises.com for itineraries.
Home-Based
Agent Editor: Donna Tunney
Phone: (508) 221-3674
[email protected]
For promotional
opportunities in the E-letters, contact [email protected].