I could definitely grab your attention by citing a handful of today’s headlines dealing with world of politics, dangerous weather situations, sports upsets, education reforms, city mayhem, juvenile delinquency and crime in our schools and on our streets. Let it suffice to say that we are living in unsettling times, and from my vantage point, there is no sign of immediate relief.

My question to you is, "Is it time for you to throw in the towel?" Are you ready to raise your hands and surrender? Has the visual of a passenger’s butt-crack being manhandled off a jet airplane represent the last straw? Have you seen, heard, and witnessed enough? We are surely being…

Founded in 2004, Vacations By Rail is dedicated to the belief that the journey to a destination should be just as important and exciting as the destination itself. The company strives to give clients the journey and destinations they desire..

As North America’s leading supplier of train travel and vacations, offering the largest selection of train trips, escorted rail tours, luxury train journeys, and custom train tours to destinations all over the world, Vacations By Rail is a trusted authority in the train travel space. Their commitment to first-class customer service keeps them ahead of the curve. Dedicated rail specialists share their in-depth product knowledge and first-hand rail experience to assist travel agents in planning a rail vacation best suited to their client’s needs …

by Catherine Heeg
Thursday April 27, 2017

What would you do if you worked in a brick and mortar storefront business and your walk-in traffic dropped by 50%?  Yikes, you’d probably be thinking about moving or advertising, right?

Well, as a travel, tourism or hospitality pro, moving is probably not in the cards.  So that leaves advertising.  Now that organic social reaching is dropping quicker than you can say ‘travel’ (some estimate a 50% drop year over year), we need to power up our social ad…

I have been fortunate to have spent most of my career as an agent, agency owner, and in consortia management. But as a former cruise line sales executive, I also have the luxury of the supplier perspective on many subjects that affects travel professionals every day.

Some years ago, while the owner of a successful cruise agency, I was interviewed by a major travel industry trade publication for my opinion, on what was and is still a very sensitive subject. The question put forth was “Do you believe that cruise lines should continue to grow their direct business channel?” My answer might surprise you. I responded, “Yes, absolutely."

The reason, while not a popular one, remains as valid today as it did then. Cruise lines (and other…