Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - (Page 59) (not Globus’ trade list) to poll agents about how satisfied they were with specific tour companies. Nesbit says 78 percent of agents responded “very satisfied” in reference to Globus, which ranked highest of any tour operator. Other tour firms posted 43 to 75 percent satisfaction ratings. Similarly, when the agents were asked which escorted tour operator they recommended most to clients, 54 percent cited Globus, vs. 2 to 10 percent for other tour companies. As for trade satisfaction with commissions, Nesbit says 67 percent of agents said they were very satisfied with Globus’ commission, vs. 43 to 51 percent of agents when talking about other tour firms. What’s new for the company in 2009? “We did research with travelers and travel agents to recreate the European panorama or grand tour of Europe,” says Nesbit. “It’s coming out in October” for the Globus brand. Vignettes are 14 days or fewer, and typically involve two- to three-night stays in multiple cities. The journeys focus on fewer countries, a relaxed pace, lots of leisure time and heavy use of trains. The four new Vignettes include “The Best of Italy and France”; “Europe’s Golden Coast,” from Rome to Madrid; “Highlights of Italy and Eastern Europe,” from Rome to Berlin; and “Enchanting Europe,” with visits to the UK, France, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands. Continuing to Grow More than 90 percent of all Globus’ guests surveyed at vacation’s end say they intend to re- turn on another Globus vacation. Not surprisingly, Globus recently launched two new tours for repeaters. “Italy is so popular that travelers now want to come back and experience particular regions in depth,” says Nesbit. The new tours are “Umbria’s Treasures” and “Northern Italy’s Highlights and Cinque Terre.” When Nesbit began working for Globus a decade ago, the average guest age was 66; today that’s dropped to about 58, due to increased family and specialty travel, including religious travel and culinary/wine programs. After three consecutive years of increased religious package sales, Globus has unveiled two new religionfocused vacations to Israel and Italy for 2009. To satisfy today’s travelers seeking more flexible arrangements, Globus’ Monograms brand was introduced several years ago. “It’s really an evolution of packaging,” says Steve Born, the company’s vice president of marketing and customer care. “We parlay all of our experience, all the logistical support, the hotels, our buying power, our infrastructure and human support in destinations worldwide. But we do that without following a [tour] itinerary.” Still, this is a relatively tough year for consumers. Fortunately, “the exotic destinations that are not based on the euro are doing very well this year,” notes Nesbit. “We’re having a record year in South America.” To spur additional sales, Globus recently removed the single supplement on 11 new land itineraries, saving solo travelers up to $550, and a new collection of low-season travel packages is delivering 20 to 50 percent savings. Born says agents might benefit from the company’s many marketing tools and training, including customized postcards or webinars. In addition, a “first-timer kit” is designed to help the trade sell a tour or river cruise to the novice customer. For agent-related information on the Globus family of brands, visit www.globus familypartner.com. Although the company’s offerings have expanded, its corporate mission remains much the same as it was at its founding. “We want to help people with logistics big and small, and to help them discover their destination,” stresses Born. “We want to share our expertise and [deliver the] logistics. That’s the same idea, but it’s taken on a whole new scope.” Globus is also diversifying. Over the years, “Globus has been very heavily into Europe, very heavily into escorted travel and that’s changing,” says Nesbit. “Five years from now, I think it will be more balanced. The exotic destinations, the river cruising, Monograms and specialty products all will be a bigger piece of what we do. We’ve taken huge leaps and we’ll do more.” I CONNECTING YOU For more information on tours and the best tour operators in the business, visit www.travelagentcentral. com/tours-tour-operators Interested? Request #017. http://www.globusfamilypartner.com http://www.globusfamilypartner.com http://www.travelagentcentral.com/tours-tour-operators http://www.travelagentcentral.com/tours-tour-operators http://www.vacationexpress.net
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 Online Now Contents From the Editor Africa Europe Pacific/Asia Hawaii Las Vegas Australia Alaska Central & South America Adventures by Disney comes to Costa Rica Caribbean Cruises Cover Story: Have Food? Will Travel Air Consolidators Hotels Tours Gay & Lesbian Travel Agent Profile Bidding for Business Agenda Caribbean Update India Attacting More U.S. Travelers Fuel Prices Cost Royal Caribbean Jobs ASTA Celebrates Victory Over Airlines Agent Access Classified Marketplace In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - (Page Coverwrap1) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - (Page Coverwrap2) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 (Page Cover1) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 (Page Cover2) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 (Page 1) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Online Now (Page 2) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Online Now (Page 3) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Contents (Page 4) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Contents (Page 5) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Contents (Page 6) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Contents (Page 7) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 8) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 9) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 10) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 11) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 12) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 13) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Africa (Page 14) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Africa (Page 15) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Africa (Page 16) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Africa (Page 17) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Europe (Page 18) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Europe (Page 19) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Europe (Page 20) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Europe (Page 21) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Europe (Page 22) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Europe (Page 23) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 24) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 25) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 26) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 27) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Hawaii (Page 28) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Hawaii (Page 29) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Hawaii (Page 30) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Hawaii (Page 31) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 32) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 33) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 34) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 35) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Australia (Page 36) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Australia (Page 37) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Alaska (Page 38) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Alaska (Page 39) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Central & South America (Page 40) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Central & South America (Page 41) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Adventures by Disney comes to Costa Rica (Page 42) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Adventures by Disney comes to Costa Rica (Page 43) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 44) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 45) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 46) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 47) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cruises (Page 48) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cruises (Page 49) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cover Story: Have Food? Will Travel (Page 50) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cover Story: Have Food? Will Travel (Page 51) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cover Story: Have Food? Will Travel (Page 52) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cover Story: Have Food? Will Travel (Page 53) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cover Story: Have Food? Will Travel (Page 54) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cover Story: Have Food? Will Travel (Page 55) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Air Consolidators (Page 56) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Hotels (Page 57) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Tours (Page 58) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Tours (Page 59) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Gay & Lesbian Travel (Page 60) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Gay & Lesbian Travel (Page 61) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Profile (Page 62) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Profile (Page 63) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Bidding for Business (Page 64) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agenda (Page 65) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Caribbean Update (Page 66) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - India Attacting More U.S. Travelers (Page 67) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Fuel Prices Cost Royal Caribbean Jobs (Page 68) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - ASTA Celebrates Victory Over Airlines (Page 69) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - ASTA Celebrates Victory Over Airlines (Page 70) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 71) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 72) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 73) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 74) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 75) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 76) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Classified Marketplace (Page 77) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - In the Spotlight (Page 78) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - In the Spotlight (Page 79) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page 80) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page Cover3) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page Cover4) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page Coverwrap3) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page Coverwrap4)
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