SKI SEASON IS
HERE, and so is the Travel Institutes latest addition to
its series of Lifestyle Specialist courses: skiing. With an eye
toward making the niche easier to sell, the course covers all types
of skiing, ski trip characteristics, destinations and ski resorts,
marketing strategies, selling tips and various resources. It also
reveals statistics that travel professionals can use to reach this
affluent market and secure a share of this growing industry, the
institute said.
THE
INSTITUTE offers two levels of Lifestyle Specialist
designations. By preparing for and passing a standardized test,
travel professionals will earn a specialist designation for that
niche. Those specialists then have an opportunity to become a
certified specialist by demonstrating advanced knowledge through
relevant business experience in that segment. Certified lifestyle
specialists are featured prominently on the Travel Institutes Web
site. According to Maureen Kennedy, executive vice president and
general manager of the Travel Institute, because skiers are twice
as likely to come from affluent households than the general
population, its definitely a niche worth pursuing. Those wishing to
enroll can visit www.thetravelinstitute.com.
TOUR
DESK: Delta Vacations expanded its Caribbean product line
with the addition of air-inclusive packages to Antigua and
Barbados. Antigua programs go on sale Dec. 31 for travel beginning
Jan. 4; Barbados programs went on sale in early November for travel
beginning Dec. 8. The increase brings to 13 the number of
destinations served by Delta Vacations. All packages pay up to 15%
commission. For details or to book, call
(800) 654-6559 or visit www.deltavacations.com.
FAM OF THE
WEEK
Portugal
Departures: Every Monday
in December from New York or Los Angeles to Lisbon via British
Airways.
Length: Seven
nights.
Sponsor: Tours
Specialists, Palm Harbor, Fla.
Cost: $1,750 from New
York or $1,850 from Los Angeles, per person, double. Includes
roundtrip air, accommodations, some meals, sightseeing and
transfers.
Trip: Visits Abrantes,
Alvor, Algarve, Evora, Fatima and Lisbon.
Noteworthy: Companions
are eligible. Air from other gateways is available.
Contact: (800) 223-7552
or (727) 784-8588; fax: (727) 784-7520; e-mail: [email protected].
CORRECTION: Vacation.com members looking
for more details on the consortiums incentive program with Globus,
can log on to www.agentnet.com. An incorrect link was listed in the
Nov. 28 Home-Based Agent E-letter.