Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - (Page 6) FROM THE EDITOR TravelAgent VICE PRESIDENT—CONTENT/ RUTHANNE TERRERO, CTC 212-895-8423, rterrero@questex.com CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 EDITORIAL DIRECTOR MANAGING EDITOR ing opportunities. One or two programs alone more than pay the annual fee.” Linda Kahn-Ferrell is another Signature fan. A member for 20 years, she says that “Signature is constantly keeping the agents up to date with technology and customer service. They are like a big sister or brother.” Liane Lance echoed the family feel. As a member of SeaMaster Cruises, she says, “I get wonderful support from both our corporate structure as well as fellow franchise owners. We are a ‘family’ and we look out for each other and help each other, and our corporate folks live to make us successful selling cruise travel.” Along those same lines, Donna Dykstra feels that for her, a small association works well. “I am with Results! I was previously with a ‘mega’ consortia and I must say wow, what a difference.” Mark DeGonda is another happy member: “The relationship with Results! Travel has been invaluable. Exceptional marketing tools, webinar class training, vendor relations, communication on market trends and advanced business techniques training in addition to the relationships built with Results! staff and members.” MICHAEL BROWNE 212-895-8251, mbrowne@questex.com WEB ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR KIRK CASSELS, 212-895-8424 kcassels@questex.com EDITORIAL SENIOR EDITOR MARK ROGERS 818-788-4890, fax 818-788-4403, mrogers@questex.com (Hawaii and Pacific/Asia) SENIOR EDITOR JOE PIKE 212-895-8286, jpike@questex.com (Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda; Mexico, Central and South America) SENIOR EDITOR DAVID EISEN 212-895-8436, deisen@questex.com (Cruises and Hotels) SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR SUSAN J. YOUNG 813-412-8157, travlsusan@aol.com (Cruises and Tour Operators) SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR GEORGE DOOLEY (Retail Operations, Technology, Transportation and Tour Operators) STORY EDITOR MACKENZIE ALLISON 212-895-8288, mallison@questex.com (Florida, Africa, Agent Insider) STORY EDITOR JENA TESSE FOX 212-895-8287, jfox@questex.com (Deals, Calendar of Events) Value of Relationships Amanda Klimak of Largay Travel feels that Virtuoso offers her agency a strong value proposition, particularly in the luxury sector: “The Virtuoso network empowers me and my entire organization to offer our clients the best experiences and most value possible,” she says. “The relationships that are built within the Virtuoso network far surpass anything we could do on our own and the network gives us the tools we need to succeed. I truly believe that there is no network in our industry that supports the luxury travel advisor and agency any better.” Dave Leck says that Vacation.com’s Engagement program “allows agencies to participate in national and regional promotions by providing material at a significant savings. And, the development of EZCruise and EZGuider will ultimately allow agencies to quickly access and book preferred wholesalers. [Steve] Tracas and company are at the forefront of program development!” Merrie Ligon, a self-described industry “warrior” of 40 years, has spent the past 11 years as a full-time home-based agent. “I joined Vacation.com when I established my homebased operation and have never looked back,” she says. “They have a great direct-mail program that costs me pennies and minimum time involvement compared to doing it on my own. They seem to have great support for one another and the agent’s position in the industry. We all need to feel the support of others, especially in the current economic climate.” How do you feel about your consortium? Join the dialogue at www.TravelAgentCentral.com/consortia/rate-your-consortium12856 and speak out!! RUTHANNE TERRERO, CTC VICE PRESIDENT–CONTENT/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR 6 | TravelAgent March 2, 2009 CONTRIBUTING EDITORS GLENN HAUSSMAN LINDSAY LAMBERT EDITORIAL OFFICES 757 Third Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10017 212-895-8218 EDITORIAL FAX ART ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR DEBBIE SHEEHAN, 212-895-8429 ALBA N. NEGRÓN-DIAZ, 212-895-8427 DESIGNER PHOTO COORDINATOR BOGDAN MIGULSKI, 212-895-8428 MELISSA BUESING, 212-895-8256 PRODUCTION PRODUCTION DIRECTOR PRODUCTION MANAGER PRODUCTION ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION FAX MARILYN HIRIS, 212-895-8439 SARAH B. ROSS, 212-895-8440 JILL ROTANELLI, 212-895-8444 212-895-8215 CIRCULATION DIRECTOR, AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT HEIDI SPANGLER, 216-706-3705 For subscription inquiries, please call 866-344-1315. Please send address changes to: Travel Agent Magazine, PO Box 1267 Skokie, IL 60076-8267. For classifieds, contact Christina Rasmussen, 212-895-8267 or Bradley Levine, 216-706-3796. For reprints, e-mail travelagent@reprintbuyer.com or call 800-290-5460, ext. 100. For current single copy, back issues or CD-ROM, call 866-344-1315. Outside the US, please phone 847-763-9594. Travel Agent Magazine does not verify any claims or other information appearing in any of the advertisements contained in the publication, and cannot take any responsibility for any losses or other damages incurred by readers in reliance on such content. Travel Agent Magazine welcomes unsolicited articles, manuscripts, photographs, illustrations and other materials, but cannot be held responsible for their safekeeping or return. Questex Media Group, Inc. provides certain customer contact data (such as customers’ names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses) to third parties who wish to promote relevant products, services and other opportunities which may be of interest to you. If you do not want Questex Media Group, Inc. to make your contact information available to third parties for marketing purposes, call toll-free 866-344-1315 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT and a customer-service representative will assist you in removing your name from Questex’s lists. Outside the U.S., call 847-763-9594. http://www.Vacation.com http://www.Vacation.com http://www.TravelAgentCentral.com/consortia/rate-your-consortium-12856 http://www.TravelAgentCentral.com/consortia/rate-your-consortium-12856
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 Contents From the Editor From the Publisher Alaska Europe Las Vegas Central & South America Caribbean, The Bahamas & Bermuda Cruises Hot Hotels Agent Access Advertising Index Editorial Index Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 (Page Cover1) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 (Page Cover2) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 (Page 1) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Contents (Page 2) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Contents (Page 3) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 4) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 5) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 6) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 7) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - From the Publisher (Page 8) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - From the Publisher (Page 9) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Alaska (Page 10) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Alaska (Page 11) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Alaska (Page 12) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Alaska (Page 13) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Alaska (Page 14) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Alaska (Page 15) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Europe (Page 16) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Europe (Page 17) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Las Vegas (Page 18) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Las Vegas (Page 19) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Las Vegas (Page 20) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Las Vegas (Page 21) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Central & South America (Page 22) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Central & South America (Page 23) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Central & South America (Page 24) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Central & South America (Page 25) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Caribbean, The Bahamas & Bermuda (Page 26) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Caribbean, The Bahamas & Bermuda (Page 27) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Caribbean, The Bahamas & Bermuda (Page 28) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Caribbean, The Bahamas & Bermuda (Page 29) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Caribbean, The Bahamas & Bermuda (Page 30) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Caribbean, The Bahamas & Bermuda (Page 31) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Cruises (Page 32) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Cruises (Page 33) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Cruises (Page 34) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Cruises (Page 35) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Cruises (Page 36) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Cruises (Page 37) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Hot Hotels (Page 38) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Hot Hotels (Page 39) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Hot Hotels (Page 40) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Hot Hotels (Page 41) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Hot Hotels (Page 42) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Hot Hotels (Page 43) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Agent Access (Page 44) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Agent Access (Page 45) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Agent Access (Page 46) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Agent Access (Page 47) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Editorial Index (Page 48) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Editorial Index (Page Cover3) Travel Agent - March 2, 2009 - Editorial Index (Page Cover4)
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