Travel Agent - October 1, 2007 - (Page 90)

NEWS IMPACT Commission Cuts, Hurricanes and New Cruise Brands COMMISSION CUTTING STRIKES THE WRONG CHORD among travel agents, cruise lines concentrate on their European business, while closer to home we’re keeping fingers crossed that hurricane season has leveled its last puff. The waters of the cruise industry never seem to make for smooth sailing for too long, and Carnival’s announcement silencing commissions on the air portion of cruise bookings, while not causing a conflagration, has steamed many travel agents and elicited a swift denunciation by ASTA. Did we not learn anything from the 1976 hit movie Network? Travel agents are mad as hell and, if the cruise lines aren’t careful, they may not take it anymore. One thing travel agents and the cruise lines can agree on is that hurricane season is a real pain in the “aft.” Ships dodging storms, agents studying up on meteorology—isn’t booking travel enough? Now they have to moonlight? One thing looks certain: Ships won’t be calling on Puerto Costa Maya for a while, all because of a hurricane named Dean. Carnival said it won’t be back to the Mexican cruise port until at least 2009, while the port, called Majahual, is repaired. Royal Caribbean may follow suit. CRUISE Meanwhile, in Europe One place where the cruise lines don’t have hurricane worry is Europe, and two of the biggest lines are setting up shop in the Old World. Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean have announced altogether new brands in the region, with Carnival going Spanish, Royal Caribbean French. Carnival’s brand, Iberocruceros, will operate three ships, while Royal Caribbean’s new brand, CDF Croisieres de France, will sail its first ship in May, the 376-passenger Blue de France. She was formerly known as HapagLloyd’s Europa and Douglas Ward gave her the highest rating of any ship at sea in his Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2006. Makes you wonder what else we Americans can export to Europe, doesn’t it? Sticking to Europe (because that’s where all the new ships are being built) expect to see some new entries coming out quicker than you can say “Muster Drill.” Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Gem just completed its sea trials and is ready for its debut this month. The ship was built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. Meanwhile, Cunard awaits the delivery of its newest liner, Queen Victoria, being built in Italy. The 90,000-ton vessel will debut in December, just in time for the holiday season. —DAVID EISEN HEARD ON THE STREET WE HEAR THAT TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL & TOWER CHICAGO (www.trumpchi Picasso Headed to India LOS ANGELES—Picasso Travel has soft-launched its new tour product, Ports of India by EXCLUSIVE cagohotel.com) welcomes its first guests December 1. Set at the original site of the Chicago Sun-Times building, the 92-story, 825-unit condominium-hotel project marks Trump’s biggest project to date. Opening rates (December to March 31, 2008) start at $355. Contact Director of Attaché Services Rose Dizon (rdizon@trumphotels.com). CONNECTING YOU For breaking news, visit www.travelagent central.com. Picasso Travel in partnership with Kuoni Travel. This is the first time Picasso Travel has offered programs to India. “In listening to travel agents and past clients, and asking them where they wanted to go next, we saw there was a lot of demand for India,” says Virginia J. Chaves, director, global tour operations Nordique Tours, SwissMade Tours, Splendida Italia, Ports of India and Picasso Tours & Cruises. The debut tours are one-night components to Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Chennai that can be combined to create multi-day itineraries. “We’re launching with exciting pricing—agents who know India will recognize how incredibly good these prices are,” says Chaves. For example, the one-night Mumbai tour starts from $155 and includes one-night accommodation, breakfast buffet and roundtrip airport/hotel transfers in a private, airconditioned car. Ports of India will grow to offer full-program escorted tours. A brochure will become available this month, timed to coincide with a schedule of October road shows across the country. Interested agents can contact Chaves at virginia@picassotravel. com or call 888-INDIA-49. —MARK ROGERS 90 | TravelAgent October 1, 2007 http://www.trumpchicagohotel.com http://www.trumpchicagohotel.com http://www.travelagentcentral.com http://www.travelagentcentral.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - October 1, 2007

Online Now From the Editor From the Publisher Contributors Caribbena: Porta Caribe, Puerto Rico, an Unspoiled Retreat Carribbean Deals Mexico: Insider Tips: Hotels, Dining and Shopping in Cancun Mexico Deals Las Vegas: Tell Clients About Day Trips Into the Great Outdoors Europe: Budapest: Off-Season Promotions Pacific/Asia: Korea Expands its Offerings Seoul Primer: All the Info You Need For a Smooth Trip Pacific/Asia Deals Hawaii: Captivating Kauai: Enhanced Resorts, Natural Beauty Cruises: Building Revenue with Themed Cruises Cruise Deals Hotels: London: The Lanesborough’s New Guest Rooms Tours: Gutsy Women Travel’s New Morocco Itinerary Tour Deals Spas: Escape to Tranquility: Three Spa Havens Spa Deals Cover Story: Donna Flora Agent Profile Podcasts Offer a New Way to Give Your Clients Added Value Car Rental Navigation 101: Shift Profits into High Gear with These Tips Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Cruise: Commission Cutting, Hurricanes Pitch Colombia, Impress Your Clients Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism New Alaska Products for Families In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Classified Marketplace Trendwatch

Travel Agent - October 1, 2007

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