Home Based Travel Agent - November 2008 - (Page 19)

NE W have a solid understanding of the relationship between revenue sources and cost structures, service and sales goals, focused marketing and business strategies.” The course is interactive in that, where appropriate, it links to tools found on ASTA.org—such as the Financial Benchmarking and Salary tools—and encourages agents to input the data requested as they work through the course so that, when complete, they will have actionable data. Once completed, travel agents will be able to chart their agency’s progress against industry benchmarks; develop an income statement, balance sheet and key financial ratios; forecast profitability by using financial forecasting tools; assess their agency’s staffing needs; develop a simple marketing plan; and write a successful business plan. For more information, visit www.asta. org/education. Azamara Offers Agents Direct Access for Booking Cruises Azamara Cruises (www.azamaracruises. com) has enhanced its offerings for travel agents who use various electronic systems for booking cruises. Azamara bookings were originally made via Celebrity Cruises’ systems, but Azamara has completed a project to separate Azamara Cruises from Celebrity, simplifying and streamlining its cruise-booking process. “As the Azamara experience itself has evolved over the past year, so has the Azamara booking experience that we offer our travel agent partners,” says Dondra Ritzenthaler, Azamara’s senior vice president of FOR THE AGENT sales. “Previously, Azamara’s ships were listed within Celebrity’s fleet, but now they stand alone.This makes for more seamless and rapid access to Azamara’s cruise offerings.” The systems include a variety of thirdparty booking tools that offer travel agents the ability to view real-time pricing, browse inventory and make and modify reservations at any time of day or night. These include the company’s popular proprietary tools, CruisingPower.com and CruiseMatch, as well as industry-wide systems Sabre CruiseDirector, Sabre Cruises, Amadeus Cruise, Galileo LeisureShopper, Travelport Cruise & Tour and Revelex, to name a few. Azamara Cruises offers itineraries to Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and the Panama Canal. —Michael Browne WE’VE WON ‘BEST CARIBBEAN SPA’ SO WHY DON’T WE CALL OURSELVES A SPA? The BodyHoliday in St. Lucia is the first resort in the world to combine all the pleasure of an active beach vacation with body treats designed to relax and revitalise body and mind. It’s the ultimate R&R antidote to the fast pace of life today. Forty acres of tropical gardens on a stunning beach provide everything our guests need to get themselves into ideal physical and mental balance. A spa that has been named ‘Best In The Caribbean’ three years running offers a complete holistic programme of rejuvenation. This is complemented with land and sea sports, including golf on a championship course where we pay the green fees. Four restaurants, including the fabled TAO, show the way to temptation. Accommodation is truly first class. We promise to make your clients feel more beautiful and more alive than ever before. To find out more call 1 800 544 2883. THREE YEARS RUNNING. the bodyholiday www.thebodyholiday.com LeSPORT THE WORLD’S FIRST WELLNESS HOLIDAY. NOVEM B ER 2008 Home-BasedTravelAgent 19 http://www.asta.org/education http://www.asta.org/education http://www.azamaracruises.com http://www.azamaracruises.com http://www.CruisingPower.com http://www.thebodyholiday.com http://www.thebodyholiday.com

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Home Based Travel Agent - November 2008 Contents Editor’s Note Publisher’s Note Your Lifeline Agent Spotlight New Technology Industry News Hot Deals Cultural Tourism Luxury Hotels For the Traveler: Luxury For the Agent: Luxury For the Traveler: Latin America For the Agent: Latin America Hawaii For the Traveler: Provence For the Agent: Provence For the Traveler: Florida For the Agent: Florida Home-Based Agent Expo New Products

Home Based Travel Agent - November 2008

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