TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

C.O.S.T.A. TEACHES AGENTS TO SELL

Costa Cruises offers online sales training academy; agents can earn up to 3% additional commission by graduating

Since May, Costa Cruises has been offering an online sales training academy for North American travel professionals. The Costa Online Sales Training Academy (C.O.S.T.A.) has already seen more than 400 travel agents earn their degree after studying seven in-depth chapters covering everything from Costa’s 60 years of history to today’s present fleet of 12 ships with five on order. Travel agents will follow a series of chapters ending with a five-question quiz on the subjects they study. Subjects begin in Chapter One with a general overview on Costa and its 60-year history, fleet and itinerary. Read on for more information and how to sign up for online training. [Full text and pictures]

MARITIME AGENTS ON TOP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

New Hampshire plays host to Maritime Travel agents from June 7-11, 2008; agents visit peak of Mt. Washington and more

Maritime Travel agents 'on top of the world' at Mt. Washington

New Hampshire’s Canadian representative Chris Ryall, escorted 8 Maritime Travel agents around the state June 7-11th highlighted by a winding and exhilarating (some agents couldn’t look down!) ride up Mt. Washington – the highest point in all of New England at 6,288 feet and the world record for the highest surface windspeed ever recorded at 231 mph or 372 km/hr on April 12, 1934. Agents above are pictured at Mt. Washington. For more details about the FAM, continue reading. [Full text and pictures]

SUNQUEST SURVEYS AGENTS

Complete the Sunquest Survey and have a chance to win a $1,000 travel gift certificate and more prizes

Sunquest wants to hear from its travel agent partners about how they are doing. What are they doing right? What needs to be improved? Have a say by filling out their latest survey. As a thank you for taking the time to help Sunquest “find ways to be the best company to work with”, everyone who completes the survey will be automatically entered in a chance to win either a $1,000 travel gift certificate or 1 of 3 sets of Samsonite luggage valued at $615 each. To participate in the survey and to be entered in the draw, visit sunquestagent.ca within the next 3 weeks, and complete the survey by July 11th at the latest. A French version of the survey is also available. Surveys from sister companies Holiday House and Network, as well as Encore CruiseEscapes will also be coming soon at networkagent.ca and encorecruiseescapesagent.ca in the next few weeks.

EL AL’S LOYALTY PLAN

Canadians can register for the Matmid Club and receive retroactive flight credits
EL AL Israel Airways is offering Canadians a chance to claim retroactive flight credits when joining the Matmid Club program. Effective immediately, there is free registration for the Matmid Club via the EL AL website. The special is valid from June 18, 2008 until August 30, 2008. Register free for the Matmid Club at elal.co.il/CanadaFreeEnroll.

KID FREE OFFER TO DISNEY ENDS SOON

Nolitours free dining plan and kids fly free Walt Disney World Resort offer to end soon

Nolitours would like to remind travel agents that the Walt Disney World Resort offer ends June 22, 2008. One child flies free when booking a Disney vacation with Nolitours and travelers will also receive a free Disney dining plan. Child flies free offer is available for bookings made by June 22, 2008 for travel Fridays and Saturdays May 2 – June 20 and August 30 – October 25, 2008. One child flies free (ages 3-9) wen traveling with two paying adults staying at a Disney Resort Hotel, child pays taxes only. [Full text and pictures]

WHAT’S NEW IN HAWAII

This summer features new air routes, hotel renovations and more

The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau has several updates on the ‘Islands of Aloha’ this summer, including additional routes, hotel renovations and more. Here are some of the highlights. Recently, two of Hawaii’s cities have been ranked in the top ten list of U.S. Destinations by travellers at TripAdvisor – Poipu, Kauai and Lahaina, Maui. In addition, Stephen Leatherman, also known as ‘Dr. Beach’, has recognized Hanalei Beach, Kauai the #2 beach in the U.S. and Hamoa Beach, Maui as seventh. With regards to transportation, United Airlines has entered a new codeshare agreement with Hawaiian Airlines. Delta Airlines has also started flying from LAX to Kauai and Hawaii's Big Island. Read on for more. [Full text and pictures]

CSTAR PUSHES FOR FEDS TO REGULATE ALL-IN PRICING

Air advertising policies should be regulated on the federal level, all airlines made to comply, says press release
CSTAR says that the “unlevel playing field of air advertising regulations is a red herring” and “is in the complete control of air carriers.” The organization has written to all members of the Standing Committee on Transport as of June 16, 2008 to address the issues of confusion on air advertising policies. CSTAR acknowledges that only Ontario and Quebec travel agencies have provincial regulations that require all-in pricing, but notes that travel agency pricing and advertising policies can “also be dictated by the airlines themselves.” [Full text and pictures]

US AIRLINES CONSIDER MORE JOB CUTS

Airlines in United States weigh more jobs cuts, fees to offset fuel
Canadian Press

Southwest still expects growth this year

Airlines executives in the Untied States are continuing to cut jobs and consider new fees on passengers as they battle high fuel prices that could result in record losses. Executives from United Airlines gave more details on plans to shed up to 1,600 salaried jobs at an investors' conference in New York on Wednesday. Chief financial officer Jake Brace said United will also cut union jobs - pilots, flight attendants and mechanics - once the airline draws up a scaled-back flying schedule for fall and winter. [Full text and pictures]