Travel Agent Professional

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	Scott Koepf Vice President of Sales Avoya Travel/American Express www.JoinAvoya.com

You Can Always Count on Me! One of the most creative and fun musicals I have seen was 'City of Angels'. It is not produced often now as it takes some very complicated set pieces as a fictional story (in black and white) melds with real life (in color). Throughout the musical there is a tension between fantasy and reality that I think we can all understand but one song in particular could be heralded as the Travel Agents Lament. In the show she is bemoaning her love life but as the lyrics below indicate it is easy to hear these words come from a travel agent as she toils through another day: If you need a gal to go without salary and work too hard You can always count on me Though my kind of game will die out like the dinosaurs You can always count on me Faithful and true as a Saint Bernard I'm loyal to the Nth degree You can always count on me! Just like this character, we can create a self-fulfilling prophecy by what we believe and repeat. In other words if you believe that while you are loyal and true you will never make much money and that you are doomed then it will come true! For years I have heard about how our industry needs more young people. No question that is true but what is interesting is all of the discussions as to why young people are not coming into our industry and how to solve the problem. Well, to quote a cartoon character from long ago, "We have met the enemy, and it is us!" Now I know I am generalizing but with the rare exception, when I am at trade shows and visiting agents the take away from the conversations is that being a travel agent is fraught with headaches, greatly unappreciated and severely underpaid. I challenge you to change your tune! When I do have a conversation with a travel agent who loves what they do and is well paid I am reminded just how easily we could recruit the next generation. Unfortunately there are not enough positive agents singing the praises of this business so take this as a challenge to focus on the excitement and opportunity retail travel really has. Remember that fantasy can become reality through a positive attitude and diligent pursuit of the results you dream about. If you nodded your head when you read the lyrics above I hope it was because of the loyalty described and that your clients can indeed count on you. If you related more to the lack of salary and the same fate as the dinosaurs, you may need an attitude check and a whole new song to sing! There is no doubt that a great travel agent is someone who can sing 'you can always count on me' but you need to know that you can provide that loyalty and make a good living without fear of extinction. Actually your goal should be to get your clients to sing another song from this show back to you on a regular basis: I'm nothing without you Without you I lack what it takes You are the singular person I need With you by my side, there's no better guide Without you, I'm nothing at all!
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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"