SECRETS OF
SUCCESS: Tom Ogg, owner of www.homebasedtravelagent.com, will be a featured
seminar speaker at this year's Cruise-A-Thon, being held in Seattle
June 1 to 4. Ogg said he'll share his secrets for turning his
"hobby" Web site into "a money machine churning out a six-figure
income." Called "How to Turn Your Web Site into a Money Machine,"
Ogg's seminar will focus on content, maximizing conversion ratios
and understanding affiliate opportunities, among others. Ogg said
his program "is not for the faint of heart." Details about the
event are online at www.ttshows.com. Ogg has been an industry player for
many years. He is the husband of Joanie Ogg, who heads the National
Association of Commissioned Travel Agents.
HELPING THE
BIG EASY: Vacation.com members planning to attend the
network's International Conference and Trade Show in New Orleans
from June 27 to July 1 can help restore one of the city's historic
sites, near Jackson Square. The network said it selected New
Orleans as the site of its conference to show support for the city
that was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. On the morning of
June 27, Vacation.com members will team with Tourism Cares, the
charitable offshoot of the National Tour Association and the U.S.
Tour Operators Association, to assist in the restoration project.
Meanwhile, a special fund has been set up enabling members to make
donations to the city's restoration. Contributions can be sent to
Vacation.com, 1650 King Street, Suite 450, Alexandria, Va., 22314.
All checks must be made payable to Tourism Cares. To register
online for the conference or learn more about it, visit www.AgentNet.com and
click on "training."
THE TRAVEL
INSTITUTE, the Wellesley, Mass.-based educational entity,
is rolling out new member benefits including monthly white papers
on timely topics; a series of teleconference sessions presented by
leading industry experts; and members-only discussion boards
allowing the sharing of best practices. In addition, a 5% discount
on Travel Institute programs and courses has been increased to 10%
and a new members-only newsletter will debut this month. "By adding
these benefits for 2007, we are looking to attract a new group of
travel professionals to add to our thousands of current members,"
said Pat Gagnon, director of program development. For more
information about membership, visit www.thetravelinstitute.com.
AT-HOME
AGENTS in Pennsylvania might want to keep an eye on
legislation filed by state Rep. Scott Petri, who has sponsored a
bill that would require the state's travel sellers to obtain a
license, pass a test, sign up for ongoing education and contribute
to a consumer compensation fund. Although the legislation aims to
designate individuals as "licensed travel agents," it would make it
illegal for a company to sell or offer to sell travel unless the
managers and employees who have a role in selling travel are
licensed. If the proposal becomes law, there would be a two-year
hiatus before existing travel agents would have to successfully
complete the required examination.
FAM OF THE
WEEK
Thailand
Trip: Three nights in Bangkok and five
nights in Chiang Mai.
Departures: April 9 and May 1 from Los
Angeles to Bangkok via EVA Airways.
Length: Eight nights.
Sponsor: FT Tours, Los Angeles.
Cost: $1,568 per person, double. Includes
air, room, most meals, sightseeing and transfers.
Noteworthy: A land-only version is
available for $848 per person, double. The companion rate is $445;
single supplement is $475. Air upgrades are available for $395.
Add-ons from other cities are available. Optional extensions to
various points in Thailand also can be arranged.
Contact: (800) 350-0487, Ext. 33; e-mail:
[email protected]; Web: www.ft-tours.com/agents.
Home-Based
Agent Editor: Donna Tunney
Phone: (508) 221-3674
[email protected]
For promotional
opportunities in the E-letters, contact [email protected].