FARMINGDALE, NY (Dec. 8, 2011) – All About Honeymoons & Destination Weddings (www.allabouthoneymoons.com) was honored recently by Travel Impressions (http://www.TravelImpressions.com), one of the country’s largest tour operators selling destinations worldwide, with a “Best of the Best Globe Award” which is given to top performing agencies and consortia partners. All About Honeymoons & Destination Weddings received the award at Travel Impressions 16th annual “Best of the Best” gala event, held Nov. 30 – Dec. 3, 2011 at the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach in Cancún, Mexico.
“Best of the Best” honors are bestowed on a limited number of agencies that are top producers for Travel Impressions, and that are considered to be its best partners.
“We are honored to receive the Travel Impressions’ Best of the Best Globe Award,” said Greg Strobach, Founder and CEO. “We are committed to providing our clients with the very best vacation experience and working with Travel Impressions ensures a high level of customer satisfaction.”
In attendance at the Best of the Best four-day event from All About Honeymoons & Destination Weddings were Greg and Nancy Strobach and Robin and April Spelman. They were able to hear an industry update from Travel Impressions’ President and CEO Steve Gorga as well as participate in round table networking sessions with attending suppliers. A golf tournament and spa pampering at the Coral Beach Gem Spa were also offered.
There were many sponsored events and activities including a welcome dinner hosted by the Cancún Convention & Visitors Bureau and The Riviera Maya Destination Marketing Office, a dinner reception on the second evening sponsored by the Dominican Republic Ministry of TOURISM, and the gala cocktail reception hosted by Mexican Tourism Board.
A performance by The Village People, best known for the disco hits YMCA, Macho Man and In the Navy, was a highlight of the “Best of the Best” gala celebration.
In the spirit of holiday giving, All About Honeymoons & Destination Weddings participated in Travel Impressions charity program by donating a variety of school supplies to the Palace Resorts Foundation’s Education Committee for distribution to school children in Cancún.
Travel Impressions
Founded in 1974, Travel Impressions is one of the nation’s largest leisure tour operators and a wholly owned subsidiary of American Express. The company offers FIT vacations to over 200 destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America, Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, Dubai, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, the Islands of Tahiti, Canada, Hawaii and the Continental U.S., and features more than 2,800 resorts, hotels and luxury villas. Travel Impressions has received multiple industry awards for outstanding customer service, best overall operations, best technology, most knowledgeable reservations staff and leading marketing materials – all dedicated to better serving travel agents and their clients.
All about Honeymoons, based inDenver,Coloradospecializes in making dreams come true by consulting with their clients individually and offering their clients what today’s couples are looking for, “Service”. Then, All About Honeymoons & Destination Weddings, experienced “Romance Travel Consultants” customize a honeymoon or destination wedding package tailored for these discerning clients. Their unique business model also, offers follow-on travel with full service leisure options through the life-time of their clients and their clients Families.
Currently there are more than 100 Franchise locations across the United States. All About Honeymoons is one of the fastest growing franchises in the country as noted in many franchise and business publications, including Franchise Times and the Denver Business Journal.
For more information about All About Honeymoons & Destination Weddings, call Robin Spelman at (303) 753-1217 or email: robins@allabouthoneymoons.com.
If you’re interested in a business that’s truly innovative and unique, fun to operate, and affordable to launch, then All About Honeymoons & Destination Weddings is perfect for you! Our business model is simple and easy to start. No prior travel experience is required. We will teach you everything you need to know and have a great support system to help you be successful with your very own business. You can work from home or a retail location. You can even travel the world and still operate this exciting and fun business from your mobile office. I encourage you to visit our website at www.aahfranchise.com We have franchises available in just about every state in the US and are looking for highly motivated self starters to join our Team of Professionals who like to have fun travelling the world! We provide an excellent service for our clients who are planning the most romantic trip of their lives. If you have what it takes to join our Team, then call me now at (800) 813-9557 to see if your area is open. Some great franchise territories available include: Raliegh-Duram, NCCharleston, SCOrlando, FLPhiladelphia, PA
Dallas, TX
Miami, FL
Tampa, FL
And many others, call for details…
We also, offer Bridal Store Owners an opportunity to add this terrific franchise to their store fronts with very special deals just for you!
Call me today at 800.813.9557 to set up a personal no obligation online web presentation to see if this is the opportunity for you.
To request our Franchise Disclosure Document or more information, click here.
Call me today to get started on one of the fastest growing franchise opportunities in North America at phone: (800)813-9557. The call is free!
Bridal Store Owners, have you thought about adding “Romance Travel” to your business? If not you may want to consider it. You already have the brides coming into your store, why not sell them the honeymoon or destination wedding of their dreams while you benefit greatly from the sale.
An All About Honeymoons & Destination Weddings franchise can provide you a significant increase in your revenues with very little increase in expenses. We will train you and/or your staff on everything you need to take advantage of this nearly ressession proof and highly profitable niche. Nearly 96% of all married couples will take a honeymoon and since they are buying their wedding gown and accessories from your store, you can make money on the travel portion as well. Call today and find out how you can provide a one-stop shop in your bridal store by calling 800.813.9557 or visit our website at www.bridalstoresolutions.com. You will be glad you did!
travel troubleshooter
by Christopher Elliott
Posted: 08/01/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT
Risky bookings nearly botched a honeymoon in scenic Costa Rica. A waterfall in the tropical forest near the Arenal Volcano is shown here.Q: About a month ago, I took advantage of a Travelocity e-mail fare alert for a flight from Minneapolis to Costa Rica. The deal seemed too good to be true: $230 round trip on US Airways.
I booked the flight for my September honeymoon and then went to a website and bid on our accommodations, which I also booked.
A few days ago, US Airways notified me that it had dropped a connecting flight to Costa Rica, and that our only option was a full refund.
I checked the ticket prices to Costa Rica and found that they had tripled. I felt like I was a victim of a bait-and- switch.
I called US Airways, which offered to fly us to Costa Rica a day after we were supposed to leave. But it would involve an overnight stay in Charlotte, which the airline was unwilling to pay for.
I understand that airlines have flight schedule changes, but I also feel that it is their choice and that if they choose to do so, they should be responsible for the consequences. Is there anything you can do? — Doug Miller, Shorewood, Minn.
A: US Airways shouldn’t have canceled your flight. But if it did, it should have offered an alternative flight that suited your schedule, rather than leaving you high and dry for the most important vacation of your life.
Did the carrier and its online travel agent, Travelocity, engage in a bait-and-switch? I can see how you would think so. But flight schedules change constantly, and your rights are outlined under US Airways’ contract of carriage, the legal agreement between you and the airline.
Section 8.2 of the contract describes your rights in the event US Airways is unable to accommodate you. Basically, you have the right to a refund, or a flight of the airline’s choosing — but nothing more.
While Travelocity and US Airways did all of this by the book, I can understand why you would be disappointed. I mean, it’s your honeymoon.
About your reservations … you booked a too-good- to-be-true special and bid on your accommodations for your honeymoon. Don’t you think that’s a little risky? I always recommend working with a qualified travel agent who specializes in honeymoons, because you don’t want anything to go wrong on this vacation. This is no time to cut corners.
But let’s take the honeymoonout of the equation, and assume it was a summer vacation. Between US Airways, with its “customer commitment” and Travelocity, with its “guarantee,” I just think this could have been handled better.
A brief, politely written appeal to US Airways would have been my first choice to get this resolved. Phoning the airline probably wasn’t the most effective way to fix this. I’m surprised Travelocity just passed along the airline’s decision without trying to do more, but in the end I think this was a case for US Airways to resolve.
I contacted the airline on your behalf, and it offered you a $75 voucher to cover your hotel bill during your layover in Charlotte.
Christopher Elliott is the ombudsman for National Geographic Traveler magazine. You can read more travel tips on his blog, elliott.org or e-mail him at celliott@ngs.org.
Where to draw the line on Priceline
By Darren Garnick / The Working Stiff
Wednesday, August 4, 2010 – Updated Darren Garnick’s Working Stiff column runs every Wednesday.
The first few seconds of my recent Washington, D.C., business trip represented my hotel fantasy. By “mistake,” I was assigned a cavernous suite with a conference table and anteroom to entertain clients. I could amuse myself by pretending that I was way more important than I actually am.
Just one problem: Where the heck was the bed?
My bubble burst when I realized I was experiencing the hotel equivalent of sitting at the kiddie Thanksgiving table. The pull-out sofa was for me.
I called the front desk and naively asked if I could be switched to a “real bed.” The L’Enfant Plaza Hotel bills itself as “among the most popular downtown D.C. hotels for business,” and a “convenient connection to prestigious local companies, government agencies, and the hallowed halls of Congress.”
There was no way they would stick me on a futon.
“You’re not the only one,” the desk clerk said, making the metal bar in my back sound hip and trendy. He offered me a free breakfast. I scoffed and requested dinner instead. They gave me a $50 restaurant credit and I sheepishly admitted to myself that I’ll stomach any indignity for a “free” steak.
The hotel moved me to a real room the next day and all was forgiven. I rationalized that I saved a lot of money by booking through Priceline.com – paying $100 a night compared to the $319 “best available” rate.
But I did wonder: When clerks see “Priceline” next to your reservation, do they earmark you for the room with the leaky faucet?
Following one night of blissful sleep, my last evening was interrupted at 1 a.m. by a constant vibration of the bed and lamps in the room. When unplugging everything didn’t stop the problem, I called the front desk and politely asked if I was in a special room where the bed was supposed to vibrate. The maintenance guy diagnosed the cause as a motor on the roof, which was directly above me. He said there was no way he would sleep in the room.
Packing up everything I owned in the middle of the night wasn’t going to score the L’Enfant any “10s” on their customer satisfaction survey. But I wanted more than emotional retaliation; I wanted a refund for Refugee Night.
No deal, the desk clerk said, again citing Priceline as the reason. There’s “nothing” they can do about prepaid reservations. Official policy, you know.
After the weekend, I called the hotel back and identified myself as a business writer. I asked if a vibrating room at 1 a.m. didn’t qualify for a refund, were there any circumstances that did? I also asked if Priceline guests were given last priority when assigning rooms.
“Unfortunately, we are sometimes forced to do it,” said front office manager Mirtala Vargas. “We are very specific with (Priceline). We don’t guarantee the room type.”
Vargas told me that the Priceline system specifically booked me a “parlor room,” hotel lingo for improvised sleeping quarters when there is 100 percent occupancy.
But Priceline insists it never buys parlor rooms for their “Name Your Own Price” reservations.
“Contractually, what the hotel is required to give you is a room that comfortably accommodates two adults,” Priceline spokesperson Brian Ek said. “We do not consider a parlor room acceptable.”
My request for a refund was retroactively granted. But beyond my malnourished wallet, the bigger picture is that Priceline promises to place you in an alternate hotel if you are ever asked to crash on a couch, sleeping bag, hammock or inflatable mattress.
Priceline pitchman William Shatner wouldn’t tolerate getting kicked out of bed and neither should you.
The Working Stiff column runs every Wednesday. Check out the Stiff blog at www.bostonherald.com/blogs/workingStiff/
Posted: June 13, 2010 – 12:35amPhotos
Photo by Tyler Jackson
By M.C. Finotti
When Tonya Jackson and Chris Williams look at each other, they see their past and future all rolled into one.
Tonya and Chris graduated from First Coast High School in 1994, and although they were each aware of the other during high school, they barely talked.
“She was a mean little thing,” said Chris, now 34, a general contractor for Safety Contractors Inc., a highway construction company.
“And he always dated those dainty little cheerleader type of girls,” said Tonya, now 33 and a paralegal at law firm Morgan & Morgan.
After high school, Chris went to the University of Florida and Tonya got married, moved away and had a baby. Later single, she returned to Jacksonville to restart her life and reconnect with high school friends, including Chris’ older brother (an old friend) and other folks who also happened to know Chris.
One night in 2008, Tonya found herself at Dick’s Wings on the Southside with a girlfriend who called Chris and invited him to join them. Chris and Tonya became fast friends.
“One thing soon led to another, and we started dating,” said Chris. “We tried to keep it secret for a while, because we didn’t know where it would go, but everyone soon found out.”
Chris fell in love with Tonya’s confidence and assertiveness. She’s far different from anyone he’s dated before, he said.
“Basically, she’s a female version of me,” said Chris. “In this relationship, we both wear the pants.”
Tonya and Chris said “I do” April 18 under a stone gazebo at the Beaches Resort in Negril, Jamaica. They opted for a destination wedding because they realized it would cost less than a big wedding at home. Eleven family members, including Tonya’s 15-year-old son, joined them for their beachside ceremony and luau reception.
“We didn’t have to do anything but tell her the day and the time we wanted to marry,” Tonya said. They didn’t have to pay her, either – her wholesalers took care of that. Shawnee booked everything from airplane tickets to hair appointments at the resort.
Meantime, Tonya says it’s fine to have a spouse who reminds her of her high school days. But really, when she looks at Chris, she sees her future.
“He’s absolutely wonderful,” Tonya said. “He’s more than anyone could have asked for.”
If you or someone you know has an interesting love story that led to the altar recently, e-mail features@jacksonville.com and include a wedding picture.
June 10, 2010 By: George Dooley TravelAgentCentral 0
Gone are the days of the spouses of doctors, CPAs and lawyers being the buyers of retail travel shops, Bob Sweeney, president of Innovative Travel Acquisitions reports on the changes underway in retail travel. Today’s agency buyers are far more diverse, but share a common belief in the value of travel agencies and their profit potential, Sweeney says.
“Over the past few months we have received serious inquiries from two executives that have left GDS vendors, a barter corporation, an upscale social media website, a network for the military, a media group, a London-based tour operator, a corporate housing business, an insurance housing business, a medical research company, two human resource directors of fortune 500 companies, an immigration law firm and three corporate executives that where tired of the pink slip environment,” Sweeney said.
Among the recently completed transactions by Sweeney’s brokerage is the sale of Plaza Travel of Florida to a Venezuelan travel company. Also recently sold is the Perspective Travel of Warren, NJ, Fugazy Travel of Asheville, NC and Just to Travel in Bridgeport, PA, Sweeney says. This brings the number of done deals to 529 completed transactions since ITA was founded in 1991.
“These buyers are providing our sellers with great exit strategy options,” Sweeney says, noting the resilience of travel agencies. “These buyers need locations and agents that are open to any GDS system. Long term the retail industry has taken a huge hit since the ’70s and ’80s when airlines were paying 10 percent on all tickets and there were 30,000 locations across the U.S. Today there are approximately 10,000 full service headquarters locations.
“The use of travel agents is rebounding nicely as the stranding of thousands because of the European ash situation has really highlighted the value of a solid travel agent,” Sweeney continued. “Priceline’s stock has dropped 100 points in the past month and Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) transaction numbers for the last four months of 2010 see agents share up 12 percent. This is the best available indicator of the pulse of the travel industry. I am confident of a sustained economic recovery and believe the ageing of agency owners is a major reason for selling an agency.”
Sweeney’s tips for sellers include using a expert to represent you in selling your business; not limiting your buying pool; keeping the negotiation confidential and having a CPA prepare monthly income statements a year prior to listing in order to have a good, clean offering package for buyers.
Sweeney also urges sellers to keep their emotions in check when selling an agency. “The basic question for owners is if you want to write checks or receive one!” he said.
