shop talk | agents COMING UP:
36 In the know 36 Helping hand 38 Work rights
38 Focus on 40 10 ways to... 42 Profile
IN THE KNOW
Distractions happen in every industry but perhaps more so in the world of travel agents, says Kari Thomas, president of Will Travel
I’VE READ DOZENS of time saving tips and have good intention of putting them into practice but then travel agent life gets in the way. You might be in the midst of ‘marketing time’ but the phone rings and it’s one of your best clients whose flight was just cancelled on the way to their cruise. This is not a five-minute fix and I don’t know
about you but I’m not going to tell Mrs. VIP: “Sorry, now is my marketing time slot, you’ll have to wait.” You can choose not to answer but then what service would you be providing? The nature of the travel world and the emergency issues that arise are time management disrupters. Time saving tricks may work for some but I’m sure most time management gurus have never worked in a travel agency. It’s not only emergencies but also the normal travel agency world that disrupts the day. You’re in the middle of ‘e-mail reading’
time when Mrs. Smith walks in without an appointment. “I want to get away next week. What can you offer?” There goes the reading slot. You
help Mrs. Smith and then up pops your social media reminder to plan posts when Joe from ABC Cruise Line swings by. Now this is one case where you can say: “Sorry Joe, I didn’t know you were coming in. Can we make an appointment?” But you just booked Mrs. Smith on ABC Cruise
Line and could really use some help because she wasn’t happy with her last vacation, and you really want to go above and beyond this time. So you put aside
the social media and work with Joe. Even this story has been interrupted a few times with pressing issues. I’d really love to know if any of my fellow travel agents have any time saving tips that actually work.
HELPINGHAND
n ARC PRODUCTS: Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) has launched its City Pair Report, a market-level analysis of an origin and destination (O&D) airport pair. For $250, customers receive a report that includes 16 charts with key metrics, including airfares, cabin class, length of stay, carrier capacity and performance by airline. ARC said the City Pair Report was a direct
result of discussions within its Corporate Travel Advisory Board where members voiced the need for a cost-effective and efficient O&D report that presented airline-specific data at a market level. The reports draw from ARC’s airline ticket data repository, which includes 900,000 different O&D airport pairs dating back five years. City Pair Report consolidates data for a 15-month period ending 90 days before the report request. By providing market benchmarking data,
ARC said City Pair Report will equip business travel buyers with the insights needed to enhance their travel program strategy, prepare for supplier conversations, incorporate into executive briefs, fine-tune travel policies and uncover potential cost savings. “This new product was conceived by
AGENT OFFERS
n THE ST LUCIA TOURIST BOARD has partnered with several hotels and attractions to offer agents discounted rates through Nov. 30. Agents will receive coupons for discounted island activities and can also book reduced airfares on partnering airlines. Agents should email travelagents@
stlucia.org and quote ‘St. Lucia Agent Months (SLAM)’. T: 800 456 3984.
stlucianow.com
n NTABA AFRICAN SAFARIS is inviting agents on an eight- night tour of South Africa, departing Nov. 6, from $3,375 per person, double, spending one night in Johannesburg and Stellenbosch, and two nights each in Pilanesberg National Park, Kruger National Park and Cape Town. Price includes accommodation, transfers, most meals and activities. E:
info@ntabatours.com
n ABACO BEACH RESORT & BOAT HARBOUR MARINA in the Bahamas is inviting agents with a valid IATAN card for overnight stays for $99 per room, per night. Agents who book clients into a superior oceanfront room for a minimum of three nights receive a $50 bonus. Agents should mention ‘IATAN Booking Program’ when booking. T: 954 414 9602.
abacobeachresort.com
corporate travel buyers for corporate travel buyers,” said Doug Mangold, ARC’s managing director of product. “At ARC, we understand the challenges and complexities of managing a corporate travel program, but the data that we have can provide unmatched insight into market level performance.” ARC has also launched a new mobile app
called Better My Trip that enables agency customers to buy airline ancillary services. Air Canada will be the first airline to make its products available on the app later this year, with passengers able to purchase preferred seating, advance seat selection, advance meal purchase, trip-interruption protection and lounge passes.
arccorp.com
36 | ASTAnetwork | fall 2015
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