Travel Agent - October 15, 2007 - (Page 12)

FROM THE PUBLISHER A STAR is Born ONE OF THE SMARTEST THINGS THAT TRAVEL PRODUCT MARKETERS CAN DO IS ACKNOWLEDGE AND SHOWCASE THEIR SUPERSTAR TRAVEL AGENTS. Everyone loves a little recognition, a pat on the back that says “great job, keep up the good work.” It’s especially impactful when that supplier makes the extra effort to showcase their stars, put them up on a pedestal in front of their peers and let them feel like heroes. Sandals Pulls Out All the Stops to Salute Agents One particular company that does this in what I consider a truly unique overthe-top way is Sandals & Beaches Resorts. In a brilliant move, six years ago Butch Stewart initiated his STAR Awards (Sandals Travel Agency Recognition) to formally recognize their top agents throughout the world. For many years, Travel Agent has been the major sponsor of the STAR Awards Celebration, and we are pleased to return this month to support their sixth annual event in St. Lucia. What I am most impressed with about this awards program is that it is anything but simple lip service. Butch and his team fete their stars during an entire weekend at one of their properties. Aside from productive meetings, networking and discussions, they host one of the greatest parties I’ve ever attended in the Caribbean. It’s a fun and formal affair with agents dressed to the nines, while enjoying a poolside Caribbean feast and dancing all night to the legendary Byron Lee and the Dragonaires. Kevin Froemming, president of Unique Vacations, sums up the point of these awards perfectly: “We need the agents’ support—you’re the centerpiece of our distribution system.” Amen, brother. Our cover story in this issue is about Sandals and the Stewart family’s impact on tourism in the Caribbean. Having created one of the most well-known and award-winning hotel brands in the world, Butch is passing the torch to the second generation of Stewarts, with son Adam the recently named CEO and daughter Jaime, managing director of Royal Plantation, Ocho Rios. Read all about what the future holds for this tourism dynasty in the making and their plans for Sandals & Beaches. Group Publisher Kerry Cannon on safari in South Africa Rewarding Creativity Another terrific award coming from the Caribbean is the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Renee DiGiulio-Naismith Caribbean Creativity in — KEVIN FROEMMING Travel Awards. Now in its third year, this award seeks to identify, showcase and reward those travel agents who think outside the box when booking their clients to the Caribbean. With five categories (bridal/romance, meetings/groups, eco/adventure, niche/special interest and individual/R&R), this award is brilliant in that the point of it is to share creativity and best practices among Caribbean-selling agents. The awards will be presented this month in Puerto Rico at the Caribbean Tourism Conference, with the results published next month in Travel Agent. Has your agency been singled out as a superstar? Let us know about it so we can tell the rest of our community. Success breeds success. CONNECTING YOU For ideas and resources from Kerry Cannon, visit www. travelagentcentral.com/publetter 12 | TravelAgent October 15, 2007 “ “We need the agents’ support—you’re the centerpiece of our distribution system.” KERRY J. CANNON, JR. GROUP PUBLISHER http://www.travelagentcentral.com/publetter http://www.travelagentcentral.com/publetter

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - October 15, 2007

Travel Agent - October 15, 2007 Online Now Contents From the Editor From the Publisher Contributors Europe Central & South America Special Supplement: Ski University Pacific/Asia Las Vegas Caribbean Romantic Getaway and Honeymoon Packages Jamaica’s New Minister of Tourism Talks About the Country’s Future Special Package Deals Cruises Hotels Ski Multi-Generational Travel Tours Cover Story: Luxe Life of the Stewart Clan Business Operations - Agent Profile Technology Transportation The Industry - Agenda Caribbean News PATA Travel Mart ITME Report Latest Cruise and Hotel News Travel Week In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Classified Marketplace Trendwatch

Travel Agent - October 15, 2007

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