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What are the most pressing issues facing travel advisors in 2024?

Just when you thought you’d seen everything imaginable on Instagram, one woman comes along and defies all expectations. Ever seen a professional musical theatre actor-turned-travel advisor? Well, there’s one out there, alright, and she’s attracting plenty of attention with her cleverly written original lyrics about the world of travel, which she flawlessly sets to the tune of famous songs.

New tech is making it easier to be a travel advisor. (Photo Credit: LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe)

TTC Tour Brands has added Celtic travel expert Brendan Vacations to the Travel Advisor Portal (TAP).Advisors can now book all guided itineraries across the TTC Tour Brands portfolio—including Trafalgar, Contiki, Costsaver, Insight Vacations, Luxury Gold and Brendan Vacations—using one convenient portal.With TAP, advisors can book itineraries with flights and insurance, pre- and post-nights, pre-paid gratuities and discounts for each client’s booking. They can also access downloadable itineraries and invoices, make additional payments, find transfer details and complete a client’s registration on their behalf."With spring nearly in the air and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations top of mind, the Celtic selling season is in full bloom which is why we’re delighted to let our travel partners know they may conveniently access Brendan’s guided itineraries through the TAP portal," Guy Young, Chief Engagement Officer at TTC Tour Brands, said in a statement."Our number one priority for advisors is ensuring all the tools and support are easily accessible to make working with TTC Tour Brands as seamless and effective as possible."Advisors can visit agents.ttc.com/login to access Brendan Vacations’ guided itineraries for booking on TAP.

An announcement this week from American Airlines created widespread concern and confusion in the travel advisor community. Once again, as with the NDC fare roll-out, we have a half-baked, significant policy change released to the marketplace without fully thinking through the ramifications or fully communicating specifically how advisors would be impacted.

Envoyage Logo. (Photo Credit: Flight Centre Travel Group)

Travel advisors are invited to join ALG Vacations for an enlightening live webinar on Monday, March 4 at 2 p.m. ET.The webinar is free to attend for qualified travel professionals and includes the chance to win a free three-night stay at the award-winning all-inclusive UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya.Moderated by Northstar Travel Group's EVP of Marketing and Partnerships, Mary Pat Sullivan, the virtual event will feature insights from Jacki Marks, Global Head of Trade Brands, as well as Mike Ehlers, Vice President, Groups, and Jim Tedesco, Vice President, Sales.The trio will break down ALG Vacations' implementation of key initiatives designed to continue driving demand for advisors by letting travelers know advisors are the only way to go.Attendees will get the latest details regarding new events, including ALGV Pros on the Go featuring two mega FAM trips in Cancun, Mexico and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in 2024.Advisors will also learn about enhanced groups technology to make planning easier, ALGV's Amstar transformation and new product launches, including in the lucrative luxury segment.Click here to register for next month's ALG Vacations webinar.

Unlike many in the hospitality and tourism space, who spend their career working solely in one particular facet of the business, I have been fortunate and have been able to change verticals several times. At ICON Park, it was attractions and restaurants; at Universal Parks, it was resort hotels and theme parks; as a board member at the Grand Canyon Resort, I helped promote an area of extreme natural wonder.

This article originally appeared in the February issue of AGENTatHOME magazine. Subscribe here to receive your free copy each month.

This article originally appeared in the February issue of AGENTatHOME magazine. Subscribe here to receive your free copy each month.

The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) has submitted comments to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), which would prohibit unfair or deceptive practices relating to fees for goods or services.Focusing specifically on junk fees often charged by hotels and other short-term lodging services that result in a misleading total cost, ASTA expressed support for transparency."As an advocate for not only travel agencies and individual advisors but also the millions of consumers who rely on our members’ services, ASTA believes that the rule as proposed would greatly benefit consumers of hotel and other short-term lodging services, and it is in that context that ASTA has the greatest interest in the proposed rulemaking," the organization said in a letter signed by Peter N. Lobasso, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, ASTA."While charging mandatory resort fees has come under greater scrutiny in recent years, up until now predominantly by regulators and enforcement agencies at the state level, the practice remains common in the industry.""Moreover, the manner in which resort fees, also alternatively referred to by hoteliers as 'amenity fees' or 'destination fees,' among other terms commonly used, are disclosed to consumers is highly inconsistent," ASTA added. "And, as many hotel properties are independently owned and operated franchises, there is little uniformity in this regard even among hotels doing business under the same brand name."The organization is calling for uniform application of the full disclosure obligation."ASTA strongly believes that all consumers, regardless of where or how they choose to book their travel, have a right to expect that hotels, as well as OTAs, short-term rental intermediaries and other distributors of lodging services, provide complete pricing information, exclusive of any Government Charges, upfront in a transparent manner to permit meaningful comparison shopping. Moreover, we are of the opinion that the full disclosure obligation should apply uniformly irrespective of the distribution channel or medium used by the consumer when booking a hotel room."ASTA also asked for clarity regarding proposed penalty provisions in the context of intermediated transactions."As a matter of fairness, we believe intermediaries that reasonably rely on erroneous information provided by the entity charging the fee should be relieved of liability for the error. To that end, ASTA respectfully requests that the Final Rule include either an outright exemption or a 'safe harbor' mechanism to protect an innocent third-party seller from enforcement action in this scenario."

The new year is right around the corner. Are you ready to have a successful year? 

Travel advisors have voted for the year's best hotels and resorts. Curious to see which ones are their favorites?

Full-service luxury villa company Rental Escapes, specializing in unparalleled villa rentals worldwide has launched its 'Give Thanks' promotion to express gratitude to travel advisors for their unwavering loyalty and support.

Innovative host agency Avoya Travel recently wrapped up its inaugural ‘Million Dollar Showcase’ for independent agencies (IAs) of the Avoya Network that have logged $1 million or more in sales this year. This new event was created to not only celebrate some of its high-earning agencies by rolling out the VIP treatment, but also to better cater to the needs of its high-earning IAs through one-on-one engagement with supplier reps, and personal and professional development workshops.

Leading luxury line Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) just announced the rollout of a comprehensive new co-branding tool called Regent Connect as an investment in its travel agency partners to help bolster their businesses.

Travel advisors who book Xcaret hotels or parks can earn benefits by registering with the Xcaret Rewards México, LATAM and Europa loyalty program, which can lead to free nights at an Xcaret hotel or gift cards.