Western River Expeditions is planning a July 20 to 23 Girlfriend’s Getaway plus two-, four- and six-day summer-long adventures on the 100-mile stretch of the Colorado River called Cataract Canyon in Utah. All programs include rafting and hiking in Canyonlands National Park with explorations of Native American culture and 30 world-class white water rapids, camping equipment including cots, meals, guides and return air from Lake Powell back to Moab, Utah, where the trips begin.
Ideal for mothers and daughters, groups of friends and solo travelers, the Girlfriend’s Getaway includes daily yoga and optional massage. The rate is $1,205 per adult, including scenic return flight to Moab. The two-day Cataract Express designed for those challenged with busy schedules offers a 100-mile adventure via motorized raft at $695 per person ages 12 and up, run weekly through early July. Cataract Classic engages guests for four days of rafting and three nights of deluxe camping on the banks of the river and a little more time for side canyon exploration at $1,150 per person and $995 per youth ages 10 to 15, run weekly through August. The six-day Cataract Ranch/Raft includes two nights at Sorrel River Ranch with an off-road Hummer safari and optional horseback ride in advance of a four-day river adventure at $1,730 per person and $1,560 for ages 10 to 15, run weekly through August.
Brandon Lake, vice president of Western River Expeditions, said Cataract Canyon offers comparable beauty and whitewater excitement, with more affordable multiple-day trip options and better last-minute availability than the company’s already-sold-out excursions through the Grand Canyon (with one exception -- a few spaces remain available for the Grand Canyon six-day trip on Aug. 25). He said that while Cataract Canyon bookings are up nearly 30 percent this year with waiting lists on some departure dates; however there are still a number of prime departures available.
Western River Expeditions is an adventure travel company headquartered in Salt Lake City, with operations and offices in Moab, Utah, and Fredonia, Ariz. Western River Expeditions, providing Grand Canyon rafting, Utah rafting, and Idaho rafting trips, was founded in 1961 by Colorado River rafting pioneer Jack Currey. Today it pursues a “guiding green” philosophy and belongs to some of the top environmentally conscious organizations in the world: Grand Canyon River Outfitters Association, American Rivers, Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics, Utah Rivers Council, America Outdoors, and National River Cleanup Week. For more information, call 866-904-1160 or visit http://www.westernriver.com/.
Learn how to become a travel agent. Free travel agent School. Open your own on line travel agency.
Go to http://homebasedtravelagents.org/
Learn How to Become A Travel Agent... Open your own Home Based Travel Agency
Friday
Travel Agent Booking Bonus
The Kapalua Villas, which recently joined the Outrigger Condominium Collection, is offering a $50 travel agent booking bonus for all five-night-minimum stays at The Kapalua Villas Gold standard units. Agents also earn Outrigger Specialist benefits, and guests receive amenities through the Outrigger Specialist travel agent loyalty program. For more information, call 800-688-7444 or visit http://www.outriggercondos.com/.
Free Travel Agent Course. Learn how to become a travel agent and open your own online travel agency.
Go to http://homebasedtravelagents.org/
Free Travel Agent Course. Learn how to become a travel agent and open your own online travel agency.
Go to http://homebasedtravelagents.org/
Thursday
MEMORIAL Day Salute
It is the VETERAN, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble. It is the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the VETERAN, not the politician, Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the VETERAN who salutes the Flag,
It is the VETERAN who serves under the Flag.
I'd be EXTREMELY proud if this reached as many as possible. We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve.
God Bless them all!!!
Todays Color alert is Red,White and Blue
Travel Agent Website Upgrade
AARC Host Agency has added New Exciting Enhancements to the cruise search on our agents websites.
In our ongoing effort to respond to agent requests and needs, we have expanded and upgraded the search and results display pages in cruise search. We have expanded the search filter, added a date/calendar feature and are presenting the search results in a much more "agent friendly" manner.
Here are a few of the changes to the quick search:
Search by departure date. Enter the exact departure date you want to find, or use the calendar. You can also choose to find cruises that are departing up to 7 days before or after the departure date you choose.
Search by departure port. Find cruises leaving form a specific departure port listed by country.
Search for a specific supplier. A drop down box listing your preferred cruise lines will display.
Search by Cruise Ship. If you select a cruise line, the drop down will display that lines ships only. If you do not select a cruise line, all ship names will drop down.
New Search Results Page: we recognize that you, as agents, did not need all the "sales fluff" that we display for consumers. So we now will present the offer results in a Grip format for a quicker, easier review of all supplier results.
"Grid" style display on search results page. Includes categories like date, ship name, port, specials, from price all of which can be sorted to meet your specific search criteria.
More offers displayed per page. Previously each results page showed 10 offers, the new grid display shows 20 offers per page.
Show all dates for an offer. Previously the results page showed the details for only the lowest priced departure that matched your criteria, now you can choose to show all departure dates for your result.
Departure Port more prominently displayed. Now in the grid style results, the departure port is shown without having to click in to more details.
Refine your search has been expanded. Now in the grid style results, you can refine your search by Departure Port, Destination, Supplier, or Ship.
Free Travel School. Learn how to become a travel agent and open your own online travel agency.
Go to http://homebasedtravelagents.org/
In our ongoing effort to respond to agent requests and needs, we have expanded and upgraded the search and results display pages in cruise search. We have expanded the search filter, added a date/calendar feature and are presenting the search results in a much more "agent friendly" manner.
Here are a few of the changes to the quick search:
Search by departure date. Enter the exact departure date you want to find, or use the calendar. You can also choose to find cruises that are departing up to 7 days before or after the departure date you choose.
Search by departure port. Find cruises leaving form a specific departure port listed by country.
Search for a specific supplier. A drop down box listing your preferred cruise lines will display.
Search by Cruise Ship. If you select a cruise line, the drop down will display that lines ships only. If you do not select a cruise line, all ship names will drop down.
New Search Results Page: we recognize that you, as agents, did not need all the "sales fluff" that we display for consumers. So we now will present the offer results in a Grip format for a quicker, easier review of all supplier results.
"Grid" style display on search results page. Includes categories like date, ship name, port, specials, from price all of which can be sorted to meet your specific search criteria.
More offers displayed per page. Previously each results page showed 10 offers, the new grid display shows 20 offers per page.
Show all dates for an offer. Previously the results page showed the details for only the lowest priced departure that matched your criteria, now you can choose to show all departure dates for your result.
Departure Port more prominently displayed. Now in the grid style results, the departure port is shown without having to click in to more details.
Refine your search has been expanded. Now in the grid style results, you can refine your search by Departure Port, Destination, Supplier, or Ship.
Free Travel School. Learn how to become a travel agent and open your own online travel agency.
Go to http://homebasedtravelagents.org/
Wednesday
What Google Local can do for your Travel Agency
“I want to be on the first page of Google.”
One of our most requested tasks is hoe to get travel agents’ websites to rank number one for search terms like “cruises.” They don’t usually like to hear our answer to that request.
Despite all the SPAM you see promising to get your site to the first page of Google, the honest truth is that it is REALLY REALLY hard to rank number one for “cruises.” But, you do have the ability to rank well for some other search terms.
Think locally for a minute.
Think about all the potential customers you have in your town who don’t know about you yet. Think about what their first step is going to be to find a travel agent. That’s right, they are going to go straight to Google and type in “Travel Agent, ______ (your town and/or state here)” or “Cruise Travel Agent, ______ (your town and/or state here)”.
There is no reason why your agency shouldn’t be ranking in the top ten for that specific local search term. Registering your agency with Google Local Business is your first step to ensuring your rightful place on the first page of Google. Here’s how you do it:
1. Go to the Google Local Business Center and login with your google account (if you don’t have one yet, sign up – it’s free)
2.Click on Add New Business
3.Enter in business information, choose Travel Agency as your main category
4.Click on Add Listing
5.Enter in Hours, add photos, select payment options, and add any additional information
6.Select validation preference (PLEASE NOTE: phone call verification will only work if an actual human answers the phone. No automated systems!) and click on Finish
Once your verification has been completed (either via a phone call or postcard), your local business and website will be successfully registered with Google. Give the search bots a couple weeks to crawl the web and you should start seeing your agency’s rank improve when you search for “Travel Agent, ______”. or“Cruise Travel Agent, ______ (your town and/or state here)”.
Free Travel Agent School. Learn how to become a travel agent and open your own online travel agency. Go to http://homebasedtravelagents.org/
One of our most requested tasks is hoe to get travel agents’ websites to rank number one for search terms like “cruises.” They don’t usually like to hear our answer to that request.
Despite all the SPAM you see promising to get your site to the first page of Google, the honest truth is that it is REALLY REALLY hard to rank number one for “cruises.” But, you do have the ability to rank well for some other search terms.
Think locally for a minute.
Think about all the potential customers you have in your town who don’t know about you yet. Think about what their first step is going to be to find a travel agent. That’s right, they are going to go straight to Google and type in “Travel Agent, ______ (your town and/or state here)” or “Cruise Travel Agent, ______ (your town and/or state here)”.
There is no reason why your agency shouldn’t be ranking in the top ten for that specific local search term. Registering your agency with Google Local Business is your first step to ensuring your rightful place on the first page of Google. Here’s how you do it:
1. Go to the Google Local Business Center and login with your google account (if you don’t have one yet, sign up – it’s free)
2.Click on Add New Business
3.Enter in business information, choose Travel Agency as your main category
4.Click on Add Listing
5.Enter in Hours, add photos, select payment options, and add any additional information
6.Select validation preference (PLEASE NOTE: phone call verification will only work if an actual human answers the phone. No automated systems!) and click on Finish
Once your verification has been completed (either via a phone call or postcard), your local business and website will be successfully registered with Google. Give the search bots a couple weeks to crawl the web and you should start seeing your agency’s rank improve when you search for “Travel Agent, ______”. or“Cruise Travel Agent, ______ (your town and/or state here)”.
Free Travel Agent School. Learn how to become a travel agent and open your own online travel agency. Go to http://homebasedtravelagents.org/
Tuesday
Email Marketing Tips
Want to keep your marketing emails out of spam folders?
Here's a few tips:
Avoid using "Free" in the subject line — use "Complimentary" or "Bonus" instead
Avoid sending emails that are just one big image.
Avoid using all caps in your messages.
Avoid using multiple exclamation points at the end of a sentence.
Include your company name as the first page of the subject line.
Free travel agent school. Learn how to become a travel agent and open your own onlie travel agency.
http://homebasedtravelagents.org/
Here's a few tips:
Avoid using "Free" in the subject line — use "Complimentary" or "Bonus" instead
Avoid sending emails that are just one big image.
Avoid using all caps in your messages.
Avoid using multiple exclamation points at the end of a sentence.
Include your company name as the first page of the subject line.
Free travel agent school. Learn how to become a travel agent and open your own onlie travel agency.
http://homebasedtravelagents.org/
Thursday
Letters to clients
Here are two letters you should consider sending to clients or potential clients:
10 Ways to Plan a Perfect Vacation
1. Ask yourself what you really want out of this trip. Is it relaxation only or will you be bored after one night at a remote island resort?
2. Are you truly exhausted from your job? Do you need rest and relaxation? If so, a cultural jaunt to three cities in seven days is not right for you at this time.
3. Do you have a dream destination in mind? Is it based on real facts or is it based on your fantasies of what you hope this place will be like? You might be letting yourself down if you’re just keeping your fingers crossed that a place will be fabulous.
4. Is your dream trip based on the fact that your neighbor, sister, co-worker just came back from there and you’re just a tad envious? If you’re paying big bucks for your vacation, go where you want to go; don’t make your selection based on what you want to brag about at the country club.
5. Sort through all the deals that are out there with skepticism. Be sure you’re getting a great room and not some tiny hole in the wall overlooking the dumpsters in the parking lot because you’re paying just $99 a night. Believe me, those rooms really do exist.
Opt instead for the deals that include free breakfasts, transfers from the airport and a room upgrade. Those add ons have real value and may be worth the $50 or $100 more you spend per night.
6. Consider reserving a room on a Concierge or Club floor. For a bit extra, this amenity will likely provide you with free breakfast, Afternoon Tea and cocktails in the evening, as well as a service that’s dedicated to making you feel comfortable. These perks also have value if you’re traveling with a child whose dining habits tend toward small portions, or, if you yourself are a grazer and like a little drink now and then.
7. Be wary of some of the photos you see online of the hotel you’re interested in. A telephoto lens can make a tiny room look large in cyberspace.
8. Be aware of added fees and taxes. Some cities have tariffs that add nearly 20 percent per night onto a room bill. Certain hotels have resorts fees starting at $15 a day that include services that are matter of fact, such as using towels by the pool and picking up the phone to make a local call, in other words, stuff that should be included in your room rate to begin with.
9. Read customer reviews on sites like TripAdvisor but take them with a grain of salt. Some information can give you tremendous insight but other tidbits may be generated from a single bad moment at a hotel.
10. In the end, go to a trusted travel agent. They can provide information based on the fact that they’ve actually been there. They can tell you if a fabulous hotel is located across from a disco that will generate a lot of noise at 3 a.m. or if a resort with a famous name is resting on its laurels and hasn’t been renovated for 20 years. They can also get you excellent upgrades and help you sort through all of the deals that are out there. Don’t leave your precious vacation time to fate. Get the services of an expert, as you would with an attorney or accountant.
(Provide your information here)
Here’s another:
Tired of booking online? I’m here to help:
Dear_________________
You may not have read recent articles in the press about how useful a good travel agent can be. The Los Angeles Times just published a column, noting that “Travel consultants are like having a knowledgeable friend along…these travel guns aim to make sure you have a deeper, richer experience tailored to your tastes and interests…. Many specialists use their depth and breadth of knowledge and create a detailed itinerary for you that becomes a playbook for your vacation.”
(http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/travel-consultants-h-5074)
The New York Times recently published an article citing how some consumers have gotten burned using online travel agencies and are now turning to real, live agents who can help them save time and money when booking a trip. (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/business/04frustrate.html?_r=3&ref=business)
CNN.com posted a follow-up story on how online travel sites are flooded with overwhelming options, all claiming the best deals. “Extra fees nestled into the fine print amid blaring advertisements. Pounding 16 digits into the telephone after you've booked the wrong flight before finally getting a human voice.” (http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/08/12/travel.agent.comeback).
These three articles indicate that the time is right to return to the practice of using a travel agent, and I’m here to help.
I specialize in (fill in here).
Some dream trips I’ve created for clients include (fill in here).
Let me assist you in crafting your next vacation, I promise to use all of my knowledge, skill and industry contracts to make it your most special trip ever.
(fill in contact info here).
Learn how to become a travel agent. Free travel agent school.
http://homebasedtravelagents.org/
10 Ways to Plan a Perfect Vacation
1. Ask yourself what you really want out of this trip. Is it relaxation only or will you be bored after one night at a remote island resort?
2. Are you truly exhausted from your job? Do you need rest and relaxation? If so, a cultural jaunt to three cities in seven days is not right for you at this time.
3. Do you have a dream destination in mind? Is it based on real facts or is it based on your fantasies of what you hope this place will be like? You might be letting yourself down if you’re just keeping your fingers crossed that a place will be fabulous.
4. Is your dream trip based on the fact that your neighbor, sister, co-worker just came back from there and you’re just a tad envious? If you’re paying big bucks for your vacation, go where you want to go; don’t make your selection based on what you want to brag about at the country club.
5. Sort through all the deals that are out there with skepticism. Be sure you’re getting a great room and not some tiny hole in the wall overlooking the dumpsters in the parking lot because you’re paying just $99 a night. Believe me, those rooms really do exist.
Opt instead for the deals that include free breakfasts, transfers from the airport and a room upgrade. Those add ons have real value and may be worth the $50 or $100 more you spend per night.
6. Consider reserving a room on a Concierge or Club floor. For a bit extra, this amenity will likely provide you with free breakfast, Afternoon Tea and cocktails in the evening, as well as a service that’s dedicated to making you feel comfortable. These perks also have value if you’re traveling with a child whose dining habits tend toward small portions, or, if you yourself are a grazer and like a little drink now and then.
7. Be wary of some of the photos you see online of the hotel you’re interested in. A telephoto lens can make a tiny room look large in cyberspace.
8. Be aware of added fees and taxes. Some cities have tariffs that add nearly 20 percent per night onto a room bill. Certain hotels have resorts fees starting at $15 a day that include services that are matter of fact, such as using towels by the pool and picking up the phone to make a local call, in other words, stuff that should be included in your room rate to begin with.
9. Read customer reviews on sites like TripAdvisor but take them with a grain of salt. Some information can give you tremendous insight but other tidbits may be generated from a single bad moment at a hotel.
10. In the end, go to a trusted travel agent. They can provide information based on the fact that they’ve actually been there. They can tell you if a fabulous hotel is located across from a disco that will generate a lot of noise at 3 a.m. or if a resort with a famous name is resting on its laurels and hasn’t been renovated for 20 years. They can also get you excellent upgrades and help you sort through all of the deals that are out there. Don’t leave your precious vacation time to fate. Get the services of an expert, as you would with an attorney or accountant.
(Provide your information here)
Here’s another:
Tired of booking online? I’m here to help:
Dear_________________
You may not have read recent articles in the press about how useful a good travel agent can be. The Los Angeles Times just published a column, noting that “Travel consultants are like having a knowledgeable friend along…these travel guns aim to make sure you have a deeper, richer experience tailored to your tastes and interests…. Many specialists use their depth and breadth of knowledge and create a detailed itinerary for you that becomes a playbook for your vacation.”
(http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/travel-consultants-h-5074)
The New York Times recently published an article citing how some consumers have gotten burned using online travel agencies and are now turning to real, live agents who can help them save time and money when booking a trip. (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/business/04frustrate.html?_r=3&ref=business)
CNN.com posted a follow-up story on how online travel sites are flooded with overwhelming options, all claiming the best deals. “Extra fees nestled into the fine print amid blaring advertisements. Pounding 16 digits into the telephone after you've booked the wrong flight before finally getting a human voice.” (http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/08/12/travel.agent.comeback).
These three articles indicate that the time is right to return to the practice of using a travel agent, and I’m here to help.
I specialize in (fill in here).
Some dream trips I’ve created for clients include (fill in here).
Let me assist you in crafting your next vacation, I promise to use all of my knowledge, skill and industry contracts to make it your most special trip ever.
(fill in contact info here).
Learn how to become a travel agent. Free travel agent school.
http://homebasedtravelagents.org/
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