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Scott Koepf Vice President of Sales Avoya Travel/ American Express www.JoinAvoya.com	Five Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes
	Even if you are not familiar with the musical Rent, you have probably heard the signature song from this revolutionary rock musical. 525,600 minutes are in a year and, as the song goes on, it questions how do we measure the value of that time? We all know that time management is a continuing challenge, but it may be the most important skill for success in any career. There are many experts who now think the term "time management" is actually passé, as we can't really manage time at all. We all have access to the same number of minutes in a year and so that number can't actually be managed. However, what we do with those minutes and the decisions we make in how to make best use of those minutes will be what separates us from each other and our goals or desires. Even the terminology of "balancing our time" is considered wrong these days. Most of us have been taught to balance our priorities and our time between work, family, friends, fun and more. The simple truth is that those areas will never be in balance. For most of us, we spend more time working than we do with our family. Yet, a recent survey found that over 90% of people said family was their first priority. So, if family is our top priority, but work is our top time user, then if our goal is balance, we would be considered failures. I don't think that is the right conclusion and I agree that the word balance is not the right term for how we spend our 525,600 minutes. Trying to balance time spent to priorities will not only be an exercise in futility, but also will cause depression. As we begin a new year and many of us make resolutions (such as to stop procrastinating!), now is the time to set the best way to determine how you want to spend your time. I will once again rely on the lyrics to this beautiful song, as it asks what the "measure" of a year is. Is it the things we do, the places we go, the sales we make, the achievement of our goals? Those are all important and can certainly be a part of your plan, but the real important measurement of the time you spent is, just like the song says, LOVE! For those of you who think I am too over the top here and way too sentimental, then consider this tough love! When all is said and done, love is the main thing we should strive for as the legacy of our own 525,600 minutes. But this is not all emotional blabbering, as it applies to our businesses and how we spend time there. If we spend all of our minutes processing transactions and crossing items off of our To Do lists, then the end result may not bring the true achievements you want. You are in the travel business, but actually you are in the people business. If your focus is on loving your clients, then they will love you in return, and all of the sales and business goals will follow from there. *So sing these lyrics below and ask yourself, as you set your resolutions, how to measure your year.* 525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee. In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life? How about love? How about love? How about love? Measure in love. Seasons of love. Comments

Great Deal! Don't miss out!

Sunshine Travel is pleased to announce 2012 China Leisure Tour Packages for any of following destinations (Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou & Guilin)

7 Days/6 Nights Tour Package is for

$299 (per person double)
Guaranteed departure based on 2 passengers on any of date you choose.

Package service includes:

Private round trip airport/hotel transfers with guide & vehicle service. 6 nights high-end resort hotel accommodation with daily buffet breakfast. Morning Tai-Chi class lessons.
Optional daily sightseeing tour transfer with guide & vehicle service. (Entry ticket to site visit & lunch is not included and optional.)

Please visit our web for detail info: www.chinaasiatour.com

Auto

Auto Europe Car Rental Recommendations Before
You Leave For Europe (part 3)

April 19, 2012: Auto Europe, a leader in worldwide car rental services, has compiled a set of recommendations that should be on your checklist for your next trip to Europe. These travel tips cover aspects for before, after and during your car rental experience. Below is the final set of suggestions for being prepared once you have arrived back from your trip. (continue)

Auto Europe Car Rental Recommendations Before
You Leave For Europe (part 2)

Auto Europe, a leader in worldwide car rental services, has compiled a set of recommendations that should be on your checklist for your next trip to Europe. These travel tips cover aspects for before, after and during your car rental experience. Below is the second set of suggestions for being prepared once you have arrived at the car rental location. (continue)

Auto Europe Car Rental Recommendations Before

You Leave For Europe

Auto Europe, a leader in worldwide car rental services, is compiling a set of recommendations that should be on your checklist for your next trip to Europe. These travel tips cover aspects for before, after and during your car rental experience. Below are the first suggestions on being prepared before you rent a car. (continue)

Auto Europe: New mandatory ruling for automobiles in France

Auto Europe, a leader in worldwide car rental services, is prepared to service their clients with the new ruling in France requiring mandatory breathalyzers in all passenger vehicles. (continue)

Host Agencies

Amadeus and Expedia sign multi-year agreement in North America

MADRID, April 19, 2012 – Amadeus, a leading travel technology provider and transaction processor for the global travel and tourism industry, and Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE), the world's largest online travel company, today announced they have signed a multi-year content and technology agreement for North America. (continue)

Sales Tip #11:

Build Your Professional Brand
Create a Lasting Impression
with These 3 Tips

One of the best ways to maintain a customer database full of people who want to hear from you, book with you and send referrals to you is to build a strong and professional brand. Each travel agent has their own personal brand, and it's important to make sure that you take advantage of yours!: (continue)

Travelsavers And Network Of Entrepreneurs Selling Travel (Nest)
Introduce New Customer Loyalty Program

April 2012: Travel Club, a new complimentary customer loyalty program for clients of TRAVELSAVERS and NEST travel professionals has just launched. The benefits of the program are two fold: (continue)

American Marketing Group

Launches Family Lifestyle Campaign

April 2012: American Marketing Group continues to expand upon its award-winning lifestyle direct mail program with a new family-themed campaign, available to licensed travel professionals of TRAVELSAVERS and NEST (continue)

Steven Thompson, CEO
Of Johns Hopkins Medicine International, Will Address "Well-Being And Medical Travel Conference"

March 28, 2012 (Oyster Bay, NY) – It was announced today that Steven J. Thompson, MBA, Chief Executive Officer for Johns Hopkins Medicine International, will address the constituents at the "Well-Being and Medical Travel Conference 2012." (wellbeingtravelconference). (continue)

Patient Travelers Give Candid Recaps at "Well-Being & Medica Travel Conference 2012"

A specially assembled panel of patient travelers will candidly discuss their experiences in traveling abroad for medical and dental procedures at the upcoming "Well-Being and Medical Travel Conference 2012." (continue)

Trafalgar and Virgin Atlantic Host
The Sales and Service Team of American Marketing Group's

Trafalgar and Virgin Atlantic recently hosted American Marketing Group's sales and service team on a four day FAM in London. The whirlwind tour of the world-class city incorporated all of the most renowned sites. (continue)

"Best of the Best Globe Award"

Avoya Travel™/American Express® has been awarded an American Express Vacations 2011 'Best of the Best Globe Award'... (continue)

"Well-Being & Medica Travel Conference 2012" GIVEAWAY

Any one who registers by April 15 will be entered to win an ultra-pampering personal spa package at the Centre for Well-Being at the 5-star Phoenician luxury resort. A $300 value, the prize-winning package includes a choice of two 50-minute spa services...(continue)

20% Growth for ExpediaCruiseShipCenters

Expedia CruiseShipCenters has entered its 25th year in business in good stride with 2011 sales figures showing a remarkable 20% growth over the previous year! (continue)

"Well-Being & Medica Travel Conference 2012"

The "Well-Being and Medical Travel Conference 2012" -- which will take place on June 20-21, 2012 at The Phoenician luxury resort in Scottsdale, Arizona... (continue)

Sandals honored Avoya Travel/ American Express

'Best of the Best, Western' for the company's dedication to outstanding customer service and creating exceptional vacation experiences for Sandals Resorts' guests. (continue)

NCL Honors Avoya Travel With Top Travel Award

Avoya Travel™/American Express®, one of the leading travel companies in North America and beyond, today announced that Norwegian Cruise Line has presented the company with its 2011 'Home-Based Agency of the Year' award. (continue)

OASIS Reports Record
Growth in 2011

OASIS, www.OasisAgent.com, a leader in the development of programs for home based independent travel agents, reports another year of record growth. (continue)

TRAVELSAVERS Partner Services &
Analog Analytics Team Up to Provide

TRAVELSAVERS Partner Services, a new American Marketing Group company, has won the account as the exclusive travel provider for Analog Analytics' Bigger Better Deal™ solution. (continue)

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Joel M. Abels • Rusty Pickett • Scott Koepf• Cruising • Airline • Europe • Hotels • Luxury Cruising • Paull Tickner • Mitchel J. Schlesinger • Sherry Laskin • Les-Lee Roland • Mary Brutscher • Sue Shapiro

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This website is dedicated to the memory of Joel M. Abels
"HE CREATED A VOICE, NOT JUST AN ECHO"