Travel Agent Professional Jan 2014

Travel Agent Professional January 2014 Issue 27

Full Steam Ahead

By Paull Tickner

1

J

anuary

64

Attached at The Hip

66

Full Steam Ahead

10

Becoming Highly Recommended

By­Scott­Koepf Vice­President­of­Sales­Avoya­Travel/American­Express

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By­Paull­Tickner

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By­Cindy­Bertram Cindy's­Inside­Cruise­&­Travel­Track,­LLC

Showcase Avoya Travel .................................................16 Expedia CruiseShipCenters .......................14 National Car Rental.......................................15 Well-Being Travel .........................................13 January 2014 Issue 27

Ad Index

Full Steam Ahead

Cover Art: Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways

Auto Europe .................................IFC

HostTravelAgency.com ...................5

Avoya Travel/American Express.....17

Royal Caribbean Line....................BC

Britain Greatdays.............................3

Travelsavers.....................................9

Travel Agent Professional

2014

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TAP

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Travel Agent Professional January 2014 Issue 27

Travel Agent Professional P.O. Box 120198 Staten Island, NY 10312 E-mail: info@travelagentprofessional.com Phone: 718.360.3153

Joel M. Abels

Legend In the Travel Industry April 1927 to January 2007

Ann M. Hoek Publisher/Creative Design ann@travelagentprofessional.com Bonnie Walling Editor Bonnie@travelagentprofessional.com Alan Cohen Vice President Marketing Alan@travelagentprofessional.com

Meet Our Editorial Board Rusty Pickett, ECC Shellback Cruises www.shellbackcruises.com Les-Lee Roland Owner of The Package Deal Scott Koepf Vice President of Sales Avoya Travel/ America’s Vacation Center www.joinavoya.com/default.cfm?ref=11583 Sherry Laskin, ACC Travel Writer/NACTA Webinar Moderator www.cruisemaven.com Paull Tickner, Creator of Special Interest Britain pjtickner@yahoo.co.uk www.greatdays.co.uk Cindy Bertram, Cindy’s Inside Cruise & Travel Track, LLC cindybert@att.net Sue Shapiro, President Shapiro Travel Resources sue.shapiro@gmail.com www.shapirotravelresources.com This online magazine is dedicated to the memory of Joel Abels, Travel Trade's editor and publisher. Joel and his life's work may be gone, but with your help it can live on.

Travel Agent Professional has its roots in Home Based Trade, the first magazine of its kind, started by Joel Abels in 2004. Joel and Lenore Abels ran Travel Trade for nearly half a century – it was started by her grandfather, John S. Lewis, and her father, Sidney Lewis, in 1929, and they took the publication over after her grandfather’s passing.

Under Joel’s direction, the company grew to be one of the travel agent industry’s leading publications, reaching more than 45,000 agents throughout North America. It spawned a famous series of trade shows and three monthly magazines – Cruise Trade, Tour Trade and Home Based Trade.

The Abels also garnered enormous respect – Joel received the Neal Award, called “the Pulitzer Prize of the business press,” for his hard-hitting editorials.

On a personal note, after working with Joel for over a decade and staying with him until the end, I grew to truly care for and respect the man.

He was like a second father to me. Joel was old school, he stood by his word and believed in his work. There will never be another.

While nobody can replace this industry legend, we’re hoping that this new publication, which reunites the original Home Based Trade editorial board, will be able to carry on his passion for travel and those who sell it.

Ann M. Hoek The­opinions­expressed­in­these­columns­are­solely­those­of­the­authors­and­do not­necessarily­reflect­the­views­of­Travel­Agent­Professional.

January 2014

Welcome to the exciting world of Special Interest Britain, which will help you to identify, develop and convert untapped sources of new business into high yield, customised groups, both large and small.

We’re the experts you’ve been looking for if your niche markets include: •

Girls Getaways

•

3-6 night itineraries to London, Bath & the Cotswolds; quilting, embroidery and needlework.

•

Garden clubs; herb, rose and other specialist societies; Master Gardeners; flower arrangers.

•

Regular and specialist bookstores for murder/mystery; friends of libraries; English teachers.

The Performing Arts

•

Fund raisers for friends of the theatre, symphony, and opera; Gilbert and Sullivan societies.

The Visual Arts

•

Museums and art galleries; watercolour painters; continuing education college.

Christian Heritage

•

Episcopal, Baptist, Catholic, Methodist and Presbyterian choirs and congregations.

Family travel

•

Tailor made itineraries to London and the countryside.

Pre and post cruise extensions

•

Add-ons for Southampton, Dover and Harwich arrivals and departures

Gardens, Stately Homes and Castles Literary Britain

The Great Outdoors

Golf, cycling, walking, steam train enthusiasts.

For over 35 years, we’ve been gaining EXPERIENCE through designing and operating often complex tailor made programmes and we have acquired an almost encyclopedic KNOWLEDGE of Britain, both on and off the beaten track. We also have a very long list of UK/Ireland CONNECTIONS who deliver those special touches to your chosen itineraries, and some GREAT RATES thanks to our handling over 80,000 passengers each year.

Our tours carry three distinctive hall marks: •

They TRAVEL LESS so that your customers can SEE MORE

•

Are often for SMALL GROUPS of 15-20 people

•

Are enhanced by memorable VALUE ADDED EXPERIENCES

As everything we do is designed to meet your client’s interests, time frame and budget, let’s start talking about how we can help you to harness the potential from your chosen niche market(s).

For further information please email: pjtickner@yahoo.co.uk

Greatdays UK Incoming

where travel agents ALWAYS come first Offices in London and Manchester, Great Britain Tel: +44 161 928 9286 Fax: +44 161 928 9911 www.greatdays.co.uk

Attached at

4 By Scott

Loyalty. In some ways, we all con-

The Hip

Koepf

sider it the holy grail of customer relations.

Many naysayers claim it no longer exists and to pursue it is as futile as pursuing, well, the Holy Grail. However, I think we should join Monty Python and any others who still believe it is an attainable prize on the quest for customer loyalty!

How do know when we truly have the loyalty of a client? Is it when they book with us over a period of years? Is it when they refer to you as “my travel agent?” Or could we define it by an old cliché description of an extraordinary connection and relationship – “You and your client are attached at the hip!”

I am not sure of the origin of this reference but was reminded of it when watching a musical about conjoined twins who are truly physically attached at the hip. Side Show is a slightly dark look at the lives of these twins and their desires for relationships. In some ways, those desires are what travel agents need to pursue in the quest for loyalty. In truth though it may be that the client is actually the one in pursuit of a deep relationship with you, but just doesn’t know it yet!

Most consumers today are not sure what travel agents do or if they even still exist.

However, they are probably yearning for someone to save them hours of research time, provide expert consultation, to customize their vacations to their very personal needs and be available before, during and after their trip for peace of mind.

You know that describes you, the most wonderful travel agent in the world, but still, potential clients still lament, like a song in the show: Who­will­ever­call­to­say­I­love­you?

Send­me­flowers­or­a­telegram?

Who­could­proudly­stand­beside­me?

Who­will­love­me­as­I­am?

This powerful ballad cries out for the right person who, in the context of this article, will not just sell travel to them but know them, guide them and yes, love them as they are!

Scott Koepf VP of Sales Avoya Travel/American Express www.JoinAvoya.com

Sometimes when I hear conversations about loyalty, they tend to be infused with comments like, “They are not loyal,” “They’re only interested in price” and “They will go elsewhere for almost no reason.” It seems, therefore, that the customers’ lack of loyalty is because “they don’t get it.”

I beg to differ.

Well, actually I don’t think I need to beg at all, as I believe loyalty is 100% up to you!

What are you doing to ensure that your clients will stay with you through thick or thin? Do you provide service and knowledge so spectacular that your clients are like barkers at a Side Show bringing more customers under your tent? Are you so in tune with what your clients really want out of their vacations that simply can’t risk leaving you? If you are a travel agent of extraordinary value then you will earn extraordinary loyalty so that you and your clients will be singing this duet: I­will­never­leave­you I­will­never­go­away We­were­meant­to­share­each­moment Beside­you­is­where­I­will­stay, For­I­will­never­leave­you!

January 2014

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6 B y P a u l l

Full Steam Ahead

T i c k n e r

I’m always on the lookout for niche markets which enterprising travel agents can conver t into an air/land sale wor th at least $30,000.

If you take the time to do the research, you’ll find untapped sources all over the place and YOU are the only people who are capable of conver ting them into memorable and profitable U.K. travel experiences.

Paull Tickner has been designing and operating niche travel programmes for the UK and Ireland for over 30 years.

For more information email him at pjtickner@yahoo.co.uk

January 2014

7

Examples include: Dozens of orchid societies who would enjoy a visit to

fore capable of generating a small group of 15-20 in

the annual Orchid and Botanical Art Show staged

their own right. Others will have smaller member-

every April by the Royal Horticultural Society;

ships and you may need to bring together two or three of them to create enough interest in a cus-

Theatres that stage Shakespeare productions and fes-

tomised tour.

tivals who might fancy a U.K. tour during the 2014 celebrations of the Bard’s 450th anniversary.

With plenty of castles, stately homes and gardens to work, with you’ll be able to grow the numbers by

Railroad museums offer another rich niche for you to

ensuring that there’s enough interest for wives and

check out. Take a look at www.railwaymuseums.org

partners.

where you’ll discover contact details for another Aladdin’s Cave of worthwhile prospects.

With clear evidence of a sizable market that’s not a million miles away from where you live and where

Some of the museums will be quite large and there-

you may already have contacts, take a look at (continued on page 8)

Travel Agent Professional

8 www.heritagerailways.com, where you will see eye-

on the Volks Electric Railway in Brighton which will

catching examples of remarkable heritage railways,

finish with fish and chips on the Palace Pier;

railway centres and museums here in the U.K. (I’ve also found details of dozens of streetcar and trolley

A scenic run on the North Yorkshire Railway, special

museums at www.dctrolley.org/othermuseums.htm -

tours of the National Railway Museums in Shildon

but more on them in a moment.)

and in the ancient Viking city of York, tasting visits to local breweries, a pub supper and York’s renowned

Largely concentrated in England and Wales, every

Ghost Tour;

one of them offers a wide range of unique experiences. Some are in beautiful settings like the

The Cotswolds, where in addition to privately owned

Snowdonia National Park in North Wales, the North

stately homes and gardens, pub lunches and English

Yorkshire Moors, the Cotswolds or among the rolling

afternoon teas there are special rides on the Severn

hills of Kent and Sussex. Others show off their indus-

Valley Railway, the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire

trial heritage in places like Shildon in northeast

Railway and the North Gloucestershire Railway, as

England, Birmingham in the heart of England and in

well as a few hours at the Didcot Railway Centre;

Swindon due west of London.

A close encounter with the narrow gauge Great Little Common to all of them are the wine and dine trains,

Trains in North Wales where I can add the historic

footplate experiences and behind the scenes value

castle at Conwy and Caernarfon, wonderful gardens

added opportunities that make the 3,000- to 6,000-

at Bodnant and the Italianate village at Portmeirion, a

mile journey to our shores so worthwhile and totally

step back in time on the Isle of Anglesey, an evening

unforgettable.

with a Welsh Male Voice Choir and a medieval banquet in Ruthin Castle.

To avoid spending endless hours travelling from place to place, you need to create itineraries that enable

Harking back to those with a nostalgic interest in

your clients to travel less and see more of the places

trolleys and streetcars, think about an itinerary that

that really interest them (which I can help you with).

brings together the horse drawn trams in Douglas on the Isle of Man, tram rides along the Blackpool

If you take a look at the map on the Heritage Railways

Promenade, a closer look at the modern system in

Web site, some very obvious concentrations of excel-

Manchester and a VIP day at the National Tramway

lence jump out at you. Some examples focus on:

Museum at Crich in Derbyshire.

The southeast, where I can bring together the

Take a close look at the Web sites I’ve identified as

Bluebell Railway, the narrow gauge Romney, Hythe

there may be a source of untapped potential close to

and Dymchurch Railway, the Kent and East Sussex

where you live. Check your customer base because

Railway, 13th century Hever Castle, fairytale Leeds

you may already have clients who’d be delighted to

Castle, spectacular Canterbury Cathedral and a ride

help you to promote a U.K. tour for their friends.

January 2014

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10

Becoming

C i n d y B e r t r a m

In today’s business world, it’s not “one size fits all” when it comes to successful marketing. Social media and leveraging word of mouth are key tactics to use as far as marketing effor ts. But what’s even more critical?

How do you not just make a list of “recommended” travel agents, but instead be at the top of the list – the “go to person” who is “highly recommended?”

By Cindy Bertram Cindy's Inside Cruise & Travel Track, LLC

Think About How

First

You Recommend

, consider how you make your own buying decisions. Chances are it didn’t come about

because you happened to see an advertisement. More than likely, it came about as a result of someone who provided you with a word of mouth recommendation. And with social media connecting people with thoughts and opinions, word-of-mouth (also referred to as WOM) is even more powerful. Latest statistics by Nielsen note that 92% of consumers today by a service or product due to a recommendation made by word of mouth.

January 2014

11

Highly Recommended The Power of Someone Who Helped

You Solve a Problem

I’ve found it’s easy to recommend people who have

dealership, and honestly, I was afraid of what they

helped me solve a problem. A quick example — I’m

might charge me.

pretty handy when it comes to things around my house, as well as a few things on my car, but am also

The business and person who solved my problem?

smart enough to realize I can’t do everything.

Brian, who works at an Auto Zone (a car parts retail chain) in my area. I ran over to Auto Zone, bought

Just a month ago on a cold winter Saturday evening,

the bulb as well as bulb grease, and then Brian

a front side headlight burned out on my car. I know

installed it for me, at no extra charge. It wasn’t the

that changing a car headlight doesn’t just involve

easiest of installations (tight fit) but Brian got it done

opening the hood and changing the light. I didn’t

in no time. Will I recommend Auto Zone, as well as

want to wait until Monday to take it in to the car

Brian, to everyone I know? Of course!

How & Why People Recommend You In the travel industry, we provide escapes and experiences and help people create memories for a lifetime.

But the role of travel agent professionals is even more important, because we’re also problem solvers.

During the first part of January, the intense snowfall, arctic blasts and subzero temperatures (50 degrees below zero when wind chill was factored in) resulted in Chicago airports being closed, hundreds of flight cancellations and delays in travel plans. Despite these challenges, the travel agent professionals I know (as well as others) still managed to get clients rebooked, and also got special travel plans pulled back together.

One was for a honeymoon that got delayed for a week and a half due to airport closures. Margie, a travel colleague, had booked this couple’s honeymoon months ago. She worked every angle to pull this honeymoon trip back together for them. (continued on page 12)

Travel Agent Professional

12 Thanks to the excellent relationship the agency has with the tour company,

they’ll be sharing it with friends and family via different avenues of social media.

their account/sales manager was more than happy to provide a few more extras for the couple. So despite the

For Margie, it wasn’t just a matter of doing her job.

unexpected delay, this will still feel like a honeymoon and

Margie went through the extraordinary efforts

not just a vacation for this couple.

because she truly and genuinely cares — she is a stellar example of being a true professional, as are her

Does Margie probably have a client for life? Yes. And

colleagues.

will these clients highly recommend her? Yes, and

Insights from Paul Rand & His Book

Highly Recommended

This is where becoming “highly recommended” begins.

These include seven key things that a social business should look like. Focusing on the fundamentals along

One of the best, most cutting-edge books around is

with making sure the business drills down to each

Highly Recommended, by Paul Rand, CEO and president

individual relationship and using the “less is more”

of Zocalo Group. Rand is the founder of one of the most

approach are critical.

successful social marketing and digital firms and is also a leader when it comes to word-of-mouth marketing.

Also, Rand notes that participation is required – businesses need to remain active and engaged in a mean-

Paul Rand gave a presentation this past fall at the

ingful, real way. Then he mentions businesses need to

Chicago Social Media Week, and I had the pleasure of

continually improve, as well as continually evolve,

meeting and hearing him speak. He talked a bit about

adapt and respond. Rand mentions, “Highly recom-

the “Science of Being Social Proof.”

mended businesses are businesses first and social second.” Finally, there is a need for “call to action.” As

For instance, Paul mentioned that 91% of consumers

Rand explains, “Highly recommended businesses act of

make a recommendation after having a positive expe-

the information they gather and continually integrate it

rience with a particular brand. He also noted that

into new product plans as functionality allows.”

49% of people say they make a recommendation because “they want to help a person out that they make a recommendation to.”

The Perfect Fits for Travel Professionals Finding advocates to be our “cheerleaders” really

Rand provides terrific examples and gives some great

goes back to focusing on our clients, and their needs

tips throughout his book. Towards the end of Highly

along with performing those ‘miracle worker,” behind-

Recommended, Rand covers “What a Highly

the-scenes tasks when needed. But it’s also making

Recommended Business Looks Like.”

sure that our genuineness, as well as sharing those stories. also evolves. Incorporating the suggestions

January 2014

Showcase

Well-Being Travel Announces

Its Speaker Line Up For Next Month’s Inaugural Well-Being Travel Symposium

With 2014 serving as a year of health and wellness, Well-Being Travel is working with experts in the field to lead educational sessions at the first-ever Well-Being Travel Symposium next month in Las Vegas. The two day conference, taking place February 18th and 19th at the MGM Grand, will bring travel sellers together with leaders in the health and wellness field to discuss the growing trends in wellness travel and the opportunities for travel professionals to sell it. Attendees can expect to hear from industry experts, hotel executives, spa directors and suppliers, with highlights including:

•

•

Anne Marie Moebes, Executive Vice Leading spa directors including Shannon President of Well-Being Travel will provide an Stringert of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, insightful overview on what wellness travel is Laura Tuerck of Canyon Ranch SpaClub Inside exactly and where it’s going in the future. the Venetian and Palazzo, Blake Feeney of Red Rock Casino & Spa and Becky Leuluai of Trump Anne Dimon, Publisher/Editor, Travel To International Hotel, Las Vegas will give an Wellness Inc., will discuss what consumers are update on new spa products and treatments in looking for in wellness vacations and the the marketplace, consumer spa trends and share opportunities for travel sellers to leverage that. strategies for selling spa travel.

• •

Mia Kyricos, Chief Brand Officer of Spafinder Wellness and Board Member, Global Spa & Wellness Summit will share research findings on wellness tourism and results from the Spa Finder 365 Travel Agent survey.

“We sought out the very best speakers in the industry to lead the educational sessions of our inaugural Well-Being Travel Symposium,” says Anne Marie Moebes, Executive Vice President of Well-Being Travel. “We’re very excited to bring travel sellers a thought-provoking proDr. Stowe Shoemaker, Dean of the William gram that will give them a competitive edge in F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, selling health and wellness vacations.”

UNLV will lead a dynamic session about how hospitality meets health and wellness.

•

For more information and to register, visit www.wellnesstravelsymposium.com Travel Agent Professional

Showcase

Write Your Success Story with Expedia CruiseShipCenters

Now is the perfect time to improve your sales skills. Expedia CruiseShipCenters makes sure you’re ready for the New Year with these top 3 selling strategies:

1) Build You as a Brand

Remind customers that they're not just booking with some large travel company, they're booking with YOU. We provide many marketing tools for our agents, including personalized direct mail and email newsletters. Each of our Vacation Consultants also has their own Customizable Personal Website complete with their photo, contact details and "About Me" page.

2) Ask the Right Questions

All 4,000 of our Vacation Consultants are provided with the exclusive sales training program — The Navigators Approach. This program teaches our consultants to listen to their clients and ask more thoughtful questions to truly determine which destination, cruise line, or hotel is right for them. New or experienced agents alike benefit from the interactive learning modules, on-demand webinars, online video library, and the support of their local Franchise Partner.

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Expedia CruiseShipCenters’ popular promotions and 2,000+ guaranteed group sailings with Expedia® Exclusive Staterooms helps our agents provide even more value for their clients! With Expedia® Extras like onboard cash credits, prepaid gratuities, and free airfare — your customers will be glad they booked with you.

Join our webinar to find out how you can leverage our award-winning marketing, a 100+ Partner Support team, and the power of the #1 brand in travel as an Expedia CruiseShipCenters Vacation Consultant. RSVP now for an upcoming webinar or choose the session to the top right that best suits your schedule.

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January 2014

Showcase National’s Emerald Club Makes Earning Rewards as Easy as “One Two Free” Club Members Can Earn Free* Rental Days by Renting Vehicles, Participating in Bonus Activities

National Car Rental, the Official Rental Car of the PGA of America, and the PGA today announced the launch of the National Car Rental PGA ProAm Series at the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show. Keegan Bradley, the winner of the 2011 PGA Championship, and his father, PGA Professional Mark Bradley, will serve as ambassadors for the Series. The father-son team will also promote the National "Go Like A Pro" mobile experience, a customized, golf-themed tour bus that will travel to events throughout the ProAm Series.

National has created the ProAm Series to help further the PGA's mission to grow interest and participation in the game of golf at local levels by, for the first time, linking together 82 new and existing amateur tournaments across the 41 PGA of America Sections nationwide. The series will run February through October, and one of the 82 winning teams will be randomly selected to receive a VIP golf experience with Keegan and Mark Bradley.

The National Car Rental PGA ProAm Series will be supported by print, social media and digital marketing campaigns, featuring Keegan Bradley.

"Many of our business travel customers have a passion for the game of golf, so we wanted to create a tournament series that would draw excitement and participation nationwide among amateur golfers at the local level," said Rob Connors, assistant vice president of brand marketing, National Car Rental. "Also, as an Official Partner of the PGA of America, one of our goals for the ProAm is to celebrate the hard work and talents of the PGA membership. We are thrilled that Keegan and Mark Bradley will be working with us to spotlight the efforts of local PGA Professionals across the country."

National's "Go Like A Pro" mobile experience will be managed by IMG Live and will provide on-site activities for golf fans at select ProAm Series tournaments and events. The traveling tour bus will feature state-of-the-art Trackman swing analysis, allowing participants the opportunity to see how their swing compares with Keegan's, some of the golf industry's newest demo clubs, a club re-regripping service, and a Keegan Bradley replica golf bag. Mark Bradley will lend his years of experience as a PGA Professional by offering participants online golf tips for common swing flaws at www.pga.com/nationalcargolf.

"The National Car Rental PGA ProAm Series provides an exciting opportunity for PGA Professionals and thousands of amateur golfers across the country to experience high-profile events at the grassroots level," said PGA President Ted Bishop. "We are delighted to partner with National Car Rental and are pleased to have the support of the father-son PGA Professional team of Keegan and Mark Bradley."

"Practically all my life I've been proud that my father is a PGA Professional," said Keegan Bradley. "Now I'm really excited to partner with National Car Rental and be a part of the effort that he and 27,000 teaching pros are making to grow the game on such a massive scale."

Keegan Bradley is currently ranked 22nd in the official World Golf Ranking, while Mark is the PGA director of instruction at Jackson Hole (Wyo.) Golf and Tennis Club.

National is the Official Rental Car of the PGA Championship and the Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, and an Official Partner of the 2014 Ryder Cup. Additionally, National is the title sponsor of the National Car Rental PGA Assistant Championship.

For more information about the National Car Rental PGA ProAm Series, please visit www.pga.com/nationalcargolf. Beginning March 1, fans can follow the Series on Instagram and Twitter @NationalCarGolf and participate in the conversation using #proamseries.

Travel Agent Professional

Showcase

Avoya Travel Founding Family Celebrates 50th Anniversary in Travel Business 2014 Marks Milestone Year for Anderson Family and Avoya Travel Avoya Travel®, an American Express Travel Representative and one of the world’s leading travel companies, today announced it is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the company’s founders, the Anderson family, first entering into the travel business.

Avoya’s founders, Pal and Pat Anderson, began the family’s career in the travel business when they purchased a Hawaiian tour company in 1964. When they moved to the mainland with their children, Brad and Van, they opened brick and mortar travel agencies throughout San Diego County and grew a successful business over several decades. By seizing opportunities for change throughout the last decade, the family has evolved their business model into Avoya Travel.

Now, three generations of Andersons work in the family business and are helping travelers and travel entrepreneurs to be more successful than ever before.

“Our company has expanded significantly over the years and our family’s and company’s core values of integrity and professionalism remain steadfast,” said Brad Anderson, Co-President of Avoya Travel. “We are proud of the heritage our parents created 50 years ago and we are confident that the

L to R: Bethany Anderson and fiancé Ian Walter; Megan and Michael Anderson; Lynn and Jeff Anderson and their sons Ethan and Jacob; Brad Anderson; Pat and Pal Anderson; Alyssa Etheridge, David Anderson (behind Alyssa), Van Anderson and Tracy McSorley; Sheila Anderson-Etheridge holding daughter Stella, and husband Patrick Etheridge holding daughter Jolie.

next 50 years will be even better for Avoya Travel and our network of Independent Agencies.”

With the Andersons and nearly 150 Avoya leadership and support team members working in partnership with the Avoya network of Independent Agencies and preferred supplier partners, Avoya’s award-winning business model has forever changed how travelers buy cruises and vacations, and the way travel professionals connect with customers.

“We have leveraged the opportunities each decade has presented to create the business model we have today and are committed to innovation for the future,” said Van Anderson, Co-

President of Avoya Travel. “We are continuing our parents’ dream and love for the travel business by growing Avoya Travel and creating opportunities for others.”

Avoya is hosting a celebratory gala to commemorate the career of Pal and Pat Anderson and their family on January 15, in Carlsbad, California. Event attendees include travel industry leaders, senior executives from Avoya’s supplier partners, and Avoya’s top producing Independent Agencies. The day will include an open house at Avoya’s support office, workshop sessions led by Avoya, Google, and Operation America Cares, and a formal cocktail party and dinner celebrating the Anderson family.

Travel agency owners and experienced professionals interested in growing their businesses should contact Avoya Travel at 800-521-2597 or visit www.JoinAvoya.com. Travelers interested in booking their next vacation with Avoya Travel, should call 800-753-1463 or visit www.AvoyaTravel.com.

January 2014

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