Home-Based Travel Agent - July 2008 - (Page 20)

News Tourism Outlet Travel agents have a new booking portal to work with: Tourism Outlet (www.tourism outlet.com) is a worldwide platform that allows travel agencies to create packages more easily. Hotels place their available rooms on Tourism Outlet’s website, which tour operators can browse and use to make bookings. The hotels can be shopped and compared on the same page, allowing for an easier overview and less time wasted going from site to site. Agents must register and pay a yearly fee of $60.Within 24 hours, a username and password will be sent. After that, they only need to log in to search available rooms around the world. There are no additional fees or commissions.This site is available only to hoteliers and tour operators/travel agencies. If your agency’s information changes, it can be corrected on the TO database. Tour operators cannot view competitors, only hotels, an d h o teliers can only v iew tour o perator data. For more information, e-mail info@tourism outlet.com. ASTA Launches Salary Comparison Tool The American Society of Travel Agents INDUSTRY FOR THE AGENT Tools to Use and NEST FEST ‘08 Two new interactive tools and a conference help agents keep up with industry developments agency owners and managers keep their employees up with current salary levels, as well as determining where potential employees fall in salary rankings. Individual agents can use it to determine if they are earning salaries comparable to their peers in their region. The tool breaks up salaries into four categories, from new agents just starting out to managers, with and without sales responsibilities. The search can then be refined further to specify a home-based agency, to more closely match the desired search results. Agents do not need to be members of ASTA to use this tool. Visit www.asta. org/education and click on “Salary Tool” on the left-hand menu. NEST FEST ‘08 From November 13 to 16, home-based agents can book themselves into the Occidental Grand Xcaret in Mexico for NEST FEST ’08. NEST (The Network of Entrepreneurs Selling Travel) (www. jointhenest.com) recently announced its agenda and speaker lineup for the fourth annual conference. In-depth workshops will be offered on the full line of NEST products, technology and services. There will be an opportunity to network at the preferred supplier trade show, and the Golden Egg Awards will be presented to the top-producing NEST agents at a blanco—a whiteattire party. In addition, NEST is offering a two-night pre-event fam to Cancun and the Mayan Riviera, with stays at either the Paradisus Riveria Cancun or the Excellence Riveria Cancun, sponsored by Travel Impressions. The $109 fee per person includes registration, all seminars, all materials, a welcome cocktail party, a private beach party and the award ceremony dinner. Numerous speakers will be offering agents advice and insight about how to run their businesses more successfully. The lineup includes author, professional speaker and trainer Stuart Ellis-Myers, a hit at last year’s NEST FEST. He speaks about overcoming Tourette syndrome to become an internationally known and respected speaker on communication leadership, sales and customer relationship management practices. Nolan Burris, president and chief visioneer of Future Proof Travel Solutions, will focus on teaching businesspeople to use computers to their advantage. Nancy Friedman is president of the Telephone Doctor and has been selected as one of the 25 Most Influential Business Women in St. Louis. She will be speaking on customer service and communication skills. For more information about NEST FEST ’08, NEST agents can contact Rosemary Sarkis at 888-245-NEST, ext. 3007, or e-mail rsarkis@jointhenest.com. To find out more about NEST or to join, agents can visit www.jointhenest.com or contact Andrew Wainer at awainer@jointhenest. HB com or 888-245-NEST, ext. 3008. (ASTA) (www.asta.org) is launching a new online interactive salary tool that allows agents to compare their salaries to those of others in the industry. This tool can help 20 Home-BasedTravelAgent JULY /AUG US T 2008 http://www.tourismoutlet.com http://www.tourismoutlet.com http://www.asta.org http://www.asta.org/education http://www.asta.org/education http://www.jointhenest.com http://www.jointhenest.com http://www.asta.org http://www.jointhenest.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home-Based Travel Agent - July 2008

Home Based Travel Agent - July 2008 Contents Editor's Note Publisher's Note Your Lifeline Agent Spotlight New Technology Industry News Hot Deals Tips for a Smooth Trip Agent Symposium Hotels For the Traveler - Destinations - Mexico For the Agent - Destinations - Mexico For the Traveler - Destinations - Dubai For the Agent - Destinations - Dubai Thailand For the Traveler - Cruise For the Agent - Cruise For the Traveler - Tours For the Agent - Tours New Products

Home-Based Travel Agent - July 2008

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