Just last week I had a great reminder about the importance of patience and how limits can be tested.  To set up the story, it's best if I share that my travel agency isn't my full-time job, so I generally work evenings and Saturdays on client proposals, bookings, education, etc.  I received a call on a Tuesday evening and was unable to answer so I sent it to voicemail.  Then, I received another call.  Then one more.  I stopped what I was doing and listened to the voicemail aware that none of my clients were traveling at that time so it shouldn't be a last minute emergency, but was curious as to what the urgency was for three calls in a row.  It was a…

This was a chapter headline in a book I recently picked up at an airport book store. The title of the book was "Happiness... It Is Never Too Late."

What does being "happy" have to do with marketing? Just about everything.

I have often suggested during seminars that in a country that has so much and is filled with people who have so much to offer, there is an over abundance of unhappy…

by Elizabeth Cody
Tuesday July 28, 2015

The French Riviera has always been the quintessential idea of a relaxing European vacation: beaches, crumbling castles, and exquisite culture and art. That legacy continues on today in villages like Antibes, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Éze, and Monte Carlo. Let ShoreTrips guide you to the most breathtaking views of the Mediterranean, perfume-laden rose gardens, and to artistic inspiration itself.

by Elizabeth Cody
Tuesday July 28, 2015

Guilin is widely known by locals and tourists alike as one of the most stunning and picturesque regions in all of China. Children's books call it "the best under heaven" and politicians introduced foreign dignitaries to China as their pride and joy. The city is surrounded by two rivers, four lakes, and large Karst mountains, and is favored for its fresh, clean air compared to larger Chinese cities. Guilin has kept up with the more contemporary cities like Beijing and Xi'an with a vibrant array of nightlife.

The only remnant of the original Song-dynasty fortress is the City Wall…

I can't believe it was 26 years ago that I got my first job in the travel industry. My parents had just returned from a big trip overseas booked through Austravel and noticed they were advertising for an administrative assistant in their Bristol, UK office. We always traveled a lot as a family and it seemed like a good fit for a young 18 year old just starting out in her career. I applied, got the job, and never looked back! I quickly moved into their ticketing department and spent a year there, but always yearned to be more involved with the customers and the process of planning their holidays. I moved into sales and was hooked. I enjoyed sharing my experiences with potential travelers and also loved the travel that we got to experience…