CHECKING IN
WITH: Geoff Millar. Advance bookings for summer travel are
running 30% ahead of this time last year for Millar, president of
Ultimate All-Inclusive Travel. The home-based agency, in Patagonia,
Ariz., is a member of NEST, the Network for Entrepreneurs Selling
Travel. People booking for this summer are tending to stress value
over price, with more people booking into more upscale resorts. We
have noticed an increase in family reunion vacations, with most
coming in at $30,000 to $40,000, he said.
THE TOP DESTINATION for Millars clientele is the
Riviera Maya area of Mexico, south of Cancun, with Jamaica coming
in a close second. he said. Also, Millar is seeing an increased
interest in Central America, particularly Costa Rica. Millars focus
market is upscale, all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the
Caribbean, and he predicted his overall business will grow at
around 60% for the year. The agent credited his Web presence with
generating sales of about $2.5 million this year.
VACATION.COM added a seminar on luxury travel to
the event list at its seventh annual International Conference &
Trade Show, taking place at the Walt Disney World Dolphin in
Orlando, Fla. June 8 to 12. The seminar, set for Saturday, June 11,
is called Luxury Travel: Your Passport to Profit, and will be
hosted by Bruce Tepper, vice president of Joselyn, Tepper &
Associates. Its designed to help member agents target affluent
travelers and capture an increasing share of the market segment.
Conference details are on line at www.AgentNet.com.
DATEBOOK
OSSN President Gary Fee will address the networks Puerto
Rico chapter tomorrow night, May 10, 7:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn
in San Juan. Members will hear Fee talk about working with host
agencies, communications and marketing tools, fam opportunities and
other topics. For details, e-mail [email protected].
FAM OF THE WEEK
Anguilla
Dates valid: Through Dec. 21 for overnight stays.
Sponsor: Arawak Beach Inn, Island Harbour Beach,
Anguilla.
Cost: Through April 2, rates start at $97.50 per
night, 50% off rack. From April 3 through Dec. 21, discounted rates
start at $80 per night. Rates are based on availability and
blackout dates apply.
Contact: (877) 4-ARAWAK or e-mail: [email protected].