TravelAge West Magazine

Cruise lines are redefining themselves by ditching the term “cruise” to attract new travelers. Brands like Virgin Voyages and Four Seasons Yachts are leading this shift, aiming to refresh the ocean travel experience. Dive into how this trend is reshaping the industry here: https://bit.ly/4fF0YN7

Many travel advisors are noticing that Americans are traveling less because of financial concerns — but that they are also prioritizing travel despite the effect it may have on finances. See below for stats from a recent study that might help you understand what consumers are doing, and learn more here: https://bit.ly/46LKsqv

🚨 Attention Travel Advisors! 🚨 Scammers are getting more sophisticated, targeting agencies with elaborate schemes that can leave you financially liable, according to travel industry lawyer Jeffrey Ment. Learn how to spot these scams and defend your business—click here to read more: https://bit.ly/4dlpT6l

After Disney unveiled its Genie+ system for theme parks, some guests were confused and frustrated. Recognizing a need for more resources, Kirsten Andrade of Favorite Grampy Travels leveraged her agency’s expertise to create the first-ever consumer-facing Genie Masterclass to comprehensively teach the system, leading to increased sales and new loyal followers. Because of this effort, she was honored with the Trendsetter Award for Best Targeted Marketing Idea. Learn more about her success, along with the other winners this year, here: https://bit.ly/467I8tM

TravelAge West created a new "Saving the Day" Trendsetter Award this year to recognize an advisor who goes the extra mile. This year, that advisor is Ann Demers of Dream Vacations/Best Travel Partners. When her clients left their travel documents at home, Demers hopped on a plane from Rochester, New York, to Orlando, Florida, to hand-deliver them herself. Learn more about her success here: https://bit.ly/467I8tM

This year, TravelAge West’s Upward Bound: Rock Star Advisor Under 40 Trendsetter Award goes to Jordana Izzo of Travelmation. Izzo created the Accessible Travel Certification, a program that covers how to market accessible travel to clients, what qualifying questions to ask suppliers, and which vendors to call when you need assistance in specific situations. Read more about her journey, along with the other Trendsetter winners', here: https://bit.ly/467I8tM

Nikki Hendrix, founder and CEO of Favorite Grampy Travels, received this year’s Trendsetter Award for Best Use of Social Media for her network of 10 themed Facebook groups, the largest of which boasts memberships of 212,000 and 237,000, respectively. These online communities are a haven for nurturing client relationships, sharing positive information and promoting a culture of kindness. Read her story, along with the other winners' from this year, here: https://bit.ly/467I8tM

TravelAge West’s annual Trendsetter Awards recognize trailblazing travel advisors in the industry. This year, Jessica Malerman and Nicole Rivera of Marvelous Mouse Travels take home the Best Group Booking Effort award for their phenomenal work on the “In My Cruise Era” sailing for Swifties. Read more about their accomplishment, along with the other winners this year, here: https://bit.ly/467I8tM

Jenn Lee returns to Humans of Travel as the president of Vacation Planners, the just-launched franchise division of Travel Planners International. Hear her talk all about her new role, along with sharing past career highlights and stories from her childhood, at the . Or, find Humans of Travel wherever you listen to podcasts.

Asian destinations like Thailand and Japan are seeing the biggest jump in year-over-year tourism — and cooler destinations like Iceland and Sweden are heating up in popularity. Read more about the latest trends here: https://bit.ly/3L8VjRv

Travel Advisor Contest! Share What You Love About Alaska Cruises to Win a Trip.

The beautiful scenery, wildlife spotting, adventurous excursions — all are reasons to LOVE Alaska cruises. Let us know your favorite part about sailing in this stunning region with the hashtag to be entered to win an Alaskan Holland America sailing.

Full contest details here. https://bit.ly/4cpGuWe

The contest closes July 15, so enter now!

Expedition cruises are evolving beyond the realm of the fearless adventurer. Explore cultural gems, hidden history and incredible cuisine, all from the comfort of a luxurious ship. Discover this new wave of adventure travel here: https://bit.ly/4eoTP2V

Adventure travel isn’t just for thrill-seekers anymore. In our latest cover story, learn how travel advisors are redefining this niche to suit all types of clients. Join the excitement here: https://bit.ly/3yW0tNR

Let's alter to: Unsure if election season will impact your clients' travel plans? You're not alone. Some travelers wait it out, others don't hold back. Click the link below to read industry insights on how elections affect vacations (spoiler: it's complicated).

https://bit.ly/3JYSh1A

For , every search, click, and review builds your business’s online reputation and turns curious clicks into loyal clients. Learn how to use these digital stamps of approval to skyrocket your visibility and credibility to potential travelers here: https://bit.ly/4adUDUQ

🎉 ✈️ May is Travel Advisor Appreciation Month, and the perks are pouring in from your favorite travel suppliers! From winning luxury stays and river cruises to earning bonus commissions and gift cards — this month is all about celebrating those who continue to propel the industry forward. Dive into the full list of prizes here: https://bit.ly/3wbVE21

TravelAge West is proud to present the 2024 Trendsetter Award finalists! These talented advisors will be celebrated at the star-studded WAVE Awards Gala held in Los Angeles on June 13. Join us in congratulating them and learn more about the awards here: https://bit.ly/44o1lXd 🏆 🥳

Top Selling Points for Booking Luxury Vacation Villas!

Booking a villa can mean a special, unforgettable vacation experience for clients — as well as the opportunity for great commissions for travel advisors. And nobody does a luxury villa vacation better than Villas of Distinction. In this interview between Steve Lassman, Vice President of Villas of Distinction, and Ken Shapiro, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of TravelAge West, Lassman discusses the benefits of villa rentals for clients and advisors; some of the common misconceptions of villa vacations and how to overcome them; identifying the right type of clients for this experience; and much more.

Watch the full video here:

Sponsored Video: Top Selling Points for Booking Luxury Vacation Villas Booking a villa can mean a special, unforgettable vacation experience for clients — as well as the opportunity for great commissions for travel advisors. And nobody does a luxury villa vacation better than Villas of Distinction. In this interview between Steve Lassman, Vice President of Villas of ...

✨Voting for the WAVE Awards is officially open! ✨ Let us know which supplier YOU think should be honored for excellence in the travel industry. Find the ballot here: https://bit.ly/43IP8Mp

Dive into the rhythm of Jamaica, inspired by ‘Bob Marley: One Love’. From cultural tours to themed hotel packages, immerse yourself in the singer’s legacy. Find the full guide here: https://bit.ly/4cvolHn

Last call, trendsetters! 📢 Only 24 hours left to showcase your amazing travel business and be recognized for the superstar that you are. ✨ Tag someone who you think should apply and find the application here: https://bit.ly/42xYH08

What constitutes a “group” of travelers can be as small as just one family unit — or as large as several hundred strangers. And all members come with their own preferences, comfort zones and travel motivators. From a travel advisor’s perspective, planning a trip that takes into account the needs of all the members may seem like a daunting task. But with a few simple tips and tricks, booking groups can reap truly massive rewards. Learn all about the latest trends in group travel — and how to make commission when booking it — in our latest cover story, by Managing Editor Emma Weissmann, here: https://bit.ly/4bCNRtK

If you or someone you know is a travel advisor who has had exceptional business in the last year: STOP SCROLLING. It’s time to apply for a Trendsetter award! Swipe for details on the award, what this year’s categories are and contest rules. Stay tuned for next week as we dive into each category and find the application here: https://bit.ly/42xYH08 ✨ 🏆

If you’re looking for Mickey magic in 2024, you’ve come to the right place. From the Lunar New Year to the Festival of Holidays, Disneyland has unveiled its entire event calendar for the year—making it easier than ever to plan your visit and catch exclusive celebrations. Swipe for a sneak peek, and head to https://bit.ly/3Ojmxqm to view the full calendar of events. 🪄🎡

Mexico’s aviation scene is ever-evolving, with the relaunch of Mexicana Airlines, an upgraded FAA safety rating and three new airports. What do these changes mean for travelers? The FAA rating facilitates will increase U.S. airlift, new airports in Tulum and Costalegre will improve accessibility, and Mexicana’s return adds competition — potentially offering more flight choices. Find all the details of these upgrades here: https://bit.ly/3StpCqA

Think there’s just one way to be a travel advisor? There are actually four distinct business models, all with their own pros and cons. We evaluate each of the four — hosted, independent, employee and franchise — for new travel sellers and those looking to switch it up. Find the full story here: https://bit.ly/3u5rex9