KSL Travel Show January 25, 2009

KSL Travel Show by Douglas Wren
January 25, 2009 – Sunday noon – 2pm MST


Airline Fees: Two sites that I think are great for comparing airline fees.
http://rickseaney.com/domestic-airline-fee-chart-2/
Rick Seaney (pronounced See knee) is one of the original founders and the CEO of farecompare.com.
http://www.smartertravel.com/blogs/today-in-travel/airline-fees-the-ultimate-guide.html?id=2623262 from this link you can download the latest PDF version of airline fees brought to you by SmarterTravel, Airfarewatchdog, and SeatGuru.

Why use a Travel Agent/Travel professional? An experience this weekend reminded me again why a travel professional working for you is the best decision you can make when planning a trip. When booking a last minute trip for three business professionals from Philadelphia to Dubai I found that British Airways would provide the best connections and value for business class travel. The problem I encountered was seat assignments. I could book three business class spaces, but no seats were available for selection until 24 hours in advance. As they were traveling on a Saturday night, I planned on being home on Friday night making their seat assignments via the internet. Sure enough on Friday night at 23 hours and 59 minutes before departure, I was logged on to the British Airways website, making the seat assignments my clients had requested. Unfortunately I ran into technical difficulties and ended up calling British Airways for assistance. After 30 minutes on the phone, I was informed they could not help with seat assignments, only via the web going through the entire check-in process could seats be made. I went back to the Airlines website and researched their seat assignment policy and found out, “First class passengers customers can choose their seat at the time of booking and change at any time until they have checked in.” I called back and 25 minutes later, I was speaking with a supervisor pleading my case. Well, it all worked out after about an hour and 15 minutes total time on a Friday night. My Point is, get a travel agent, who cares about your trip, as much as you do. Start a business relationship with them and be loyal, they will go the extra mile!

The Good ole days are back! This Sunday there is an 8 page spread in the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune from Morris Murdock Travel. Amy Ochoa of Morris Murdock will be in Studio at 12:15pm sharing inside information on the 13th annual Morris Murdock Travel Show at the South Towne Expo Center from January 30-31st. Listen to the Pod cast for information how to get a free pass.

Tips for cruising on a budget – Make a budget!!!!
http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel%2Dbudget%2Dcalculator/


American Express Agents Report Trends for 2009 Fri Jan 09 2009, by Travel Trade Staff American Express Travel specialists say their top travel trends for 2009 include the continued growth of special interest and niche travel, climate travel and solo travel, as well as some patterns emerging from the economic downturn.
These include:
"Second City Travel" - Visiting smaller, lesser-known cities can yield a more affordable, though equally enriching, vacation experience, according to the Amex agents. For example, visiting Birmingham, England instead of London; or vacationing in Calgary, instead of Toronto.
"Tried and True Travel" - Travelers are expected to return to destinations that they know and love in greater numbers, because, according to Amex, it is a safe way to ensure an enjoyable vacation, and it allows travelers to explore destinations more thoughtfully, while giving them a true sense of costs.
"Closer to Home" Travel - Expanding beyond this year's "staycation" trend, travelers are expected to seek "closer to home" and affordable alternatives to overseas destinations. For example, visiting Montreal, instead of Paris.
Vacation Home Rentals Support Multigenerational Travel - Vacation home rentals and villas that offer multigenerational families a "home away from home" experience while on vacation, will continue to gain popularity, according to Amex.
Value Vacations Expected to Grow - Value oriented vacations, such as all-inclusive resorts and cruise lines that continue to expand their offerings, will become more appealing to travelers who had not considered them in the past.
For example, travel agents indicated that travelers are taking advantage of their American Express Membership Rewards program points, including the Pay With Points feature that allows cardmembers enrolled in the program to use points toward all or part of their trip while avoiding holiday blackout dates and seat restrictions.
Other trends indicating that some consumers are moving forward with their travel plans, regardless of the economy, are:
"Climate Sightseeing" - A growing number of travelers are moved to visit destinations threatened by climate change such as the Galapagos, Machu Picchu, Alaska and Canada's Churchill, an area where polar bears are threatened by extinction.
"Authentic Travel" and "Niche Tours" - According to American Express travel agents, demand for vacations driven by special interests will continue to rise in 2009. Among these, agents named both "authentic travel" - experiencing a destination more intensely through longer stays and deep cultural immersion; and niche tours - where groups of people with like-minded interests travel together.
"Solo Travel" - Travel agents expect to see a rise in solo travel due to lifestyle factors, and the rising age of couples getting married.
- Article from Travel Trade http://www.traveltrade.com/news_article.htm?id=4983&p=news_archive.htm?tab=industry#

New Ports of Call for Cruisers in 2009….. http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/travel/2009/01/11/2009-01-11_the_news_on_cruises_for_2009_lots_of_new.html

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