on my mind ❖
On My Mind jeff gayduk
❖ jeff gayduk
Ready…Set
Vol. 21, No. 6 December 2011 Editorial & Advertising Office
621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406 Willowbrook, IL 60527 P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 info@ptmgroups.com
Publisher – Jeffrey Gayduk jeff@ptmgroups.com
Managing Editor – Randy Mink
randy@ptmgroups.com
Senior Editor – John Kloster john@ptmgroups.com
I DON’T KNOW ABOUT you, but time passes too quickly in my world. Maybe it’s our super-busy office, maybe it’s my super-busy home life (three kids and an over-stimulated Rhodesian Ridgeback will do that to you!), but it seems like just yesterday we were welcoming 2011, and here we are closing the books on this year. December’s the time to reflect on our achievements of the past year and set the table for what’s next. I don’t know how your business was in ’11, but if you’re like most, it was fair to middling. What can you take away from this year that will help you grow in 2012? What successful tours are you able to duplicate? What new sales or marketing strategies did you put in place that netted measurable results? Any new operational efficiencies help you run smoother trips? Take stock of these wins so they become a habit. And if 2011 wasn’t all you wanted it to be, now is the time to work on your game plan. Where did you fall short? Products – Marketing – Operational Inefficiencies? Now is not the time to blame external factors like gas prices, a weak economy or aging travelers. I travel through airports and they’re jammedpacked with customers. Cruise ships are at record capacity. If your people aren’t traveling, let’s go out and get new people. Despite macro-economic and publishing trends that say otherwise, we accomplished a lot this year. Among our undertakings were a redesign of the LeisureGroupTravel.com website, 6 December 2011
a relaunch of our entire online directory platform, two new religious publications, product improvements in all of our niche markets – reunions, students and sports - and a serious headstart on a major social networking initiative (check out www.Facebook.com/GroupUniversity). But all this didn’t happen overnight. Our plan was set in motion over a decade ago, and despite two recessions, a massive shift in media buying patterns and shifting group markets, we have persevered by stacking our wins and adjusting our strategy as needed. This Industry Forecast edition of Leisure Group Travel is designed to help you right your ship on a course to success. Travel association leaders provide insider knowledge on what’s in store for their members next year. Noted experiential travel guru Joe Veneto provides insight on how to develop this aspect of your business. Our own Lance Harrell talks technology as it relates to student travel, and cruise columnist Cindy Bertram reports on exciting trends in the burgeoning river cruise industry. No one knows for sure what next year will bring, but the best we can do is prepare for success. Spend some time with this special edition of Leisure Group Travel and set your business on a path of prosperity in 2012. Happy Holidays,
Senior Editor – Elana Andersen elana@ptmgroups.com
Senior Editor – Dave Bodle dave@ptmgroups.com
Senior Editor – Carol Smith carols.csmith@gmail.com
Director, Design & Production – Robert Wyszkowski rob@ptmgroups.com
Regional Sales Managers Illinois – Jim McCurdy
P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 jim@ptmgroups.com
Northeast & Eastern Midwest/Canada – Harry Peck P 440.334.7928 • F 630.794.0652 harry@ptmgroups.com
Mid Atlantic – Ellen Klesta
P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 ellen@ptmgroups.com
Southeast/West Coast – Cheryl Rash
P 563.613.3068 • F 815.225.5274 cheryl@ptmgroups.com
Southern – Dolores Ridout P/F 281.762.9546 dolores@ptmgroups.com Florida & Caribbean – Prof Inc. P 813.286.8299 • F 813.287.0651 jimg@ptmgroups.com The publisher accepts unsolicited editorial matter, as well as advertising, but assumes no responsibility for statements made by advertisers or contributors. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information published, but the publisher makes no warranty that listings are free of error. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited photos, slides or manuscripts.
Leisure Group Travel (ISSN-1531-1406) is published bi-monthly by Premier Tourism Marketing, Inc. 621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406, Willowbrook, IL 60527. The magazine is distributed free of charge to qualified tour operators, travel agents, group leaders, bank travel clubs and other travel organizations. Other travel-related suppliers may subscribe at the reduced rate of $12.00 per year. The regular subscription price for all others is $18.00 per year. Single copies are $4.95 each.
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Premier Tourism Marketing, Inc. P.O. Box 609, Palos Heights, IL 60463
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Jeff Gayduk, Publisher Jeff@ptmgroups.com
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