Archive for the ‘Travel and Leisure’ Category
A Trip to Nauvoo – Travel Back to 1845
I recently had the opportunity to travel to a small town in Illinois call Nauvoo. Actually, Nauvoo used to be the largest city in the state until Chicago surpassed it around 1840. Though my trip lasted two days I was pleasantly surprised at the rich culture and activities that were available. We stayed in the Woodruff Hotel, a popular Nauvoo landmark, and I truly felt like I had traveled back in time. I would recommend this experience to all my friends and family. Below are a few of my experiences.
Wagon Tour
Yep they have horse-drawn wagon rides for the family available throughout the day. Best of all they are free. They are guided and the tour guides are very knowledgeable. The tour takes you around Old Nauvoo, which is a part of the city that has been recreated to appear as the actual city did some 160 years prior. You can also walk around and go in some of the buildings, but I recommend the wagon.
The Family Living Center
At the Family Living Center there are daily demonstrations of everyday life in the 1800′s. They show you how every day items were made such as candles, rope, bread, and even barrels. After visiting this exhibit you will be extremely grateful for everything you have.
Nauvoo Mormon Temple
This is one of the most pristine and elegant buildings I have ever seen. Though the current temple is a recreation of the original, the temple was first built in the 1840′s, they have some original pieces of the first and the craftsmanship is amazing, a must see.
The Nauvoo Pageant
Unfortunately I was unable to attend this because it is only available in the summer. However, what I have heard about it makes me want to come back to see this. For about 4 months during the summer kids from all over the country come and stay in Nauvoo to participate in the pageant. All the music is original and the acting is professional. The pageant commemorates the trials and tribulations experienced by the early settlers of Nauvoo. It is outdoors and seems like a rather fun activity to watch during the cool summer nights. If you plan on coming to this I would recommend booking your hotel in Nauvoo pretty early because apparently it gets pretty crowded during the summer.
I hope that you will be a little more interested in stepping outside the box and visiting the historic town. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
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Australian Ski Holiday Packages
From luxurious ski and spa specials to discount backpacker deals, there is an Australian holiday ski package for almost any budget.
Falls Creek
Victoria’s largest alpine resort, Falls Creek is surrounded by the Bogong High Plains and Alpine National Park. With more than ninety runs, thirty-seven miles of cross-country trails and some of the best freestyle terrain parks in Australia, Falls Creek has something for every skill level. Those looking for a challenge, can test their skills on one of the steepest and most difficult black diamonds in the country, Mt McKay. For novice skiers, the Wombat Ramble is the longest beginner run in Australia.
Depending on your budget, there are a number of holiday specials to choose from, including the Summit Ridge Alpine Lodge White Space Package. One of the most luxurious resorts in the area, Summit Ridge offers direct access to the slopes, allowing guests to ski in and ski out. Starting at $836 AU, as of 2010, the three night package includes accommodations in a Mezzanine Suite, three dinners and three breakfasts, lift tickets, group lessons and ski, or board rental.
Mt Buller Ski Resort
With more than 740 acres of skiable land, three terrain parks, a half-pipe and an ultra cross course, Mt Buller Ski Resort is a playground for snow enthusiasts located just three hours from Melbourne. Other mountain activities include two toboggan areas, six miles of cross-country skiing, backcountry snowshoeing, snow-tubing and scenic chairlift rides. After a long day on the ski slopes, head to Mt Buller Village at the base of the mountain and enjoy more than thirty bars and restaurants.
For those on a budget, the Wild Weekend package includes two nights of backpackers accommodations and a two-day unlimited lift pass, for $305 AU a person, as of 2010. You can also treat yourself to five nights in a luxurious hotel, complimentary breakfast, daily unlimited adult lift ticket and five days of free ski and snowboard rentals, starting at $844 a person.
Perisher
Australia’s largest ski resort, with seven mountain peeks, Perisher comprises four ski areas, Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Blue Cow Mountain and Guthega. With more than 3,000 acres of skiable terrain, forty-seven lifts, four terrain parks, a superpipe, a rider X course, sixty-two miles of cross-country trails and Club Penguin Tube Town, Perisher offers nonstop outdoor entertainment for the entire family. If you’re looking for something different, every Wednesday in July and August, enjoy night skiing and fireworks a the top of Front Valley.
First time skiers can take advantage of the First Timer Super Saver package which includes five nights accommodation, lift tickets, daily ski lessons and free ski and snowboard rentals, starting at $820 a person, as of 2010. For deluxe accommodations, choose the mid-season special at the Guthega Alpine Inn, where guests can enjoy four nights at the ski in and ski out resort, daily breakfast, three course dinners, snow transfers and ski and snowboard waxing.
Top 3 Travel Trends For Today’s Travel Agent
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
~~Mahatma Gandhi~~
1869-1948, Preeminent leader of Indian nationalism
Trend #1 – The Internet
Everybody knows that the internet has changed virtually everything… especially the Travel Industry. Online giants like Hotels.com, Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz have revolutionized travel. Even Travel Agents & Agencies are booking online while the general public searches and buys their own vacations online. In fact, it’s estimated that 82% of all travel is now being booked online. Travel is one of the most researched topics on the internet… and also the most profitable.
The internet is simple, seamless and the perfect medium for the travel industry. We just point, click, and pack our bags. Before the internet, however, an agent’s bread & butter was commissions earned with business travelers… predominantly flights. American Airlines was the first to pull the plug on paying commissions on flight purchases as the internet started coming into its own and more business travelers were finding better deals online.
Since 1997 well over 200,000 agencies went out of business. Over 1 million travel agents lost their jobs to the internet. That number grew after 9/11. The days of brick & mortar very quickly got taken over by click & order, making for a far more efficient system. However, those very few agents & agencies that could foresee the positive impact the internet could have for them, jumped right into the explosive opportunity that the internet introduced, to maintain as much of their client base as possible. Very few, a decade ago, opted to go with the flow of change. Today, everyone understands that the internet is here to stay. When we are adaptable to change, we flourish… and profit.
Because of the internet, the online travel agent is also home-based. Because of the tremendous opportunity, continuous industry growth, and #1 industry training, today’s travel agent is your mother, cousin, aunt, neighbour, best friend, etc. and earning 60-100% of the vendors commission. It’s for everyone.
Trend #2 – Word-of-Mouth Marketing
Word-of-mouth marketing has been and always will be the best way to market anything. Statistics prove that 80% of all vacations (most anything really) are taken because of a recommendation from a friend, family member or co-worker. Think about the last time you came home from a vacation. Did you keep it a secret? No way! We talk about it for 2 months before leaving and talk about it for 2 months after we get back! And we show everyone pictures and videos! And we recommend the destination and hotel to everyone (or not) and tell them where we bought our terrific deal!
Familiarization trips (FAMs) play a huge part in word-of-mouth marketing. The only way for agents to really learn about what they sell is to experience it first hand. FAMs are put together by cruise lines, hotel chains and destinations worldwide. They usually include accommodation, tours, meals, shows, transportation, etc. Prices are slashed making it affordable for agents to travel multiple times a year… VIP!. The vendors roll out the proverbial red carpet for agents when they arrive. They’re given the most exclusive experience possible because vendors know that when agents return home… they’re going to talk about it!
The average person will purchase his vacation online at retail, once a year.
Agents will travel multiple times a year, all over the world as far and wide as they want to go, for pennies on the dollar. For this, FAMs continue to be one of the major perks today for agents in the industry.
Which takes us to…
Trend #3 – Home Based Business
Travel students, Baby Boomers and everyone in between are bringing travel home!
Leading agencies smart enough to follow the internet trend, have gone online and now offer just about anyone the opportunity to be professionally trained to operate and sell travel from home!! Woohoo!! That’s right! YOU can sell travel from the comfort of your own home and get paid!
Doesn’t it make sense that if you’re going to travel anyway (especially as much as the Boomers), that you buy it from yourself and get paid? Or get paid commissions on the trips your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers are taking already? Of course! Most people will do business with someone they know & trust. You may as well be that person, right?
Agencies quickly caught on to the franchise phenomena online and have opened up the opportunity to just about anyone with a valuable work ethic who is willing to learn. Coupled with word-of-mouth marketing… you’ve got a winning combination! The more knowledgeable you become, the more perks, FAMs, FREE trips, upgrades, etc, become available to you… cha-ching!
I’ve been selling travel for years. Everyone who knows me knows that I’m a travel industry professional. For more than two decades I’ve been asked “How did you come by this work?”
But I also get asked, “What’s the best place to go for our honeymoon?” or “Can you recommend a Caribbean cruise itinerary?” or “What hotel should we stay at in the Mayan Riviera?”
Hey, it’s not rocket science!! If I have the answers and I can get paid for the sale… Hello??
The internet made it possible for me to have my own online agency and benefit even more from the extraordinary perks available to travel professionals! Being online means I don’t really even have to be home. Because my business is online, I am accessible to the world, 365 days of the year, 24/7! Friends and family can book all by themselves while I’m hiking with my dog! I can even book flights or all-inclusive vacations right from my BlackBerry!! WOW! So my home-based travel business is really my mobile travel services!! Super cool!!
We must not forget the amazing benefits that come with owning a business from home as well!
Aside from the obvious travel perks, just about every family vacation now becomes a FAM. As professionals, when we take a few minutes to inspect and ask questions about the accommodations, tours, restaurants that we ourselves are experiencing while on vacation, we’re really educating ourselves for our customers. So our personal vacation now becomes classified as a business trip… and an expense that we can write off! Super cool, again!