Add your Photo to your Profile

To add your photo to your profile:

1. Sign-in

2. Go to your dashboard (my system takes me directly to the dashboard when I sign-in)

3. On the right hand side of the screen you will see the grey profile picture

4. Click on the 3^rd option from the top “Edit Photo”

5. The default is “From your computer”. If you have a stored photo on your computer then click on the Browse button. If you have a photo on the web, then change the option to “From the web” and type in the url.

6. Choose the directory and file from your computer and click on “Open”

7. Your photo should appear

8. Scroll to the bottom on the screen and click on “Save Profile”

9. Return to the dashboard and view your photo or go to the blog to read all the fun and exciting entries

Let me know if you have any problems

A Perfect Gift for those Staycation Clients!

Weekends Away Without Leaving Home - the Ultimate World Party Theme Book by the editors of Conari Press $15.95

I first saw this book at Brookstone over at SFO Airport and I encountered it again this weekend while trolling through some of the off-price stores which I won't name since I've picked up every copy for the agency. Here's the description from the back cover which certainly enticed me...

"Craving a beach vacation in Thailand? A trip through the Italian countryside? A weekend rendezvous in Paris? Weekends Away Without Leaving Home takes you around the world - all from the comfort of your home.

Filled with inspiring suggestions from decorations to set the scene, books to read, movies to watch, music to get you in the mood, and recipes for a complete meal, each chapter can be used to create a range of celebrations. Equal parts historical and cultural guidebook, cookbook and party planner, Weekends Away Without Leaving Home will turn you into the ultimate armchair traveler."

Browsing through the pages, it looks like a fun read and would certainly motivate your staycationers to think about doing some real travel.

Big Five Tours with White Glove Service

When I received a box yesterday from the post office, I was surprised to receive a box of chocolate & greetings from Big Five Tours. It brings back all the good memories that I have experienced with Big Five.Now that I have worked with Big Five, I have nothing but good things to say. From day one, reservation agent Tatiana did a great job in putting the itinerary together. She was knowledgeable, experienced, and patient. She was so nice to work with. When my clients missed their flights, everyone panicked. Luckly Tatiana was able to change and to renew the itinerary. That was very impressive!Another impressive thing about working with Big Five was their 24-hour White Glove Service™ guest assistance. I was surprised to get my clients updated traveling information while the clients were already on their journey. No other tour operator gives such services. This gaves me a sense of relief knowing they were enjoying their trip. My clients gave an excellent review upon return of their trip. Moreover, I received a thank you email from their President for the booking. Big Five did surpassed my expectations and I am ready to work with them again. They definitely inspired me. We should all follow their business model to serve our clients.Try to work with Big Five. You'll be rewarded with exceptional service. http://www.bigfive.com/

Tauck Connections creates an impressive marketing piece!

I get so many things crossing my desk on a daily basis but rarely do I see such a marvelous piece of marketing! This large oversized piece entitled Tauck Connections - Inside Tauck for Friends and Family 2010 has a very attractive cover using overlays of actual client photos in various destinations.

Inside the front cover is a photo and greeting form their CEO Daniel Mahar with the following quotation from Samuel Johnson "Poetry is when you make new things familiar and familiar things new". How very appropriate as this is exactly what we do when we sell destinations! For sure that's how this wholesaler has managed to stay in business for 85 years.

Following pages include a section on what's new for 2010 i.e. Israel, family riverboat cruise, Le Boreal, etc. enhanced w/ photos, a historical timeline of 85 years and all the milestones that brought about, Tauck family travels which described the tours the Tauck family took themselves w/3 generations in tow, a section highlighting some of their top tour directors, Inside Tauck describing what it's like to work in-house to make every detail of your clients' trip fall perfectly in place, Gems from client comment cards, Miles of Smiles featuring guest, photos w/ short descriptions i.e. one couple had 2 side by side photos from their honeymoon 40 years ago at the Piazza San Marco and one taken recently at the same spot in exactly the same pose 40 years later, Yellow Roads of Europe, Exotic Life Changing Journeys, North America, European River Cruising, Small Ship Cruising, MBridges, Culturious, etc.

One of the sections that really jumped out at me was the Making of a Tour - the Tauck Formula which is 1) Craft an Authentic, Life-Enriching Experience 2) Make it Hassle-Free 3) Create Value 4) Include Learning 5) Deliver Quality 6) Add an Element of Surprise which really says it all. Back cover has their photo contest winners.

I'm going to bring this piece to our next few functions and I'd really like everyone to look at it. Once you understand the company, I think it should be an easy sell! Agents who have sold Tauck have their own copies.

Another Praise for Viking River Cruises

I too want to praise Viking River Cruises. My loyal client had gone on line and found a great price for a Viking Cruise in Europe. The online company had put a hold on a cabin awaiting credit card payment. My Loyal Client called me and asked if I could get the same deal that he wanted to book with me. I matched it minus $40. My client after realizing that the difference was not enough to trust an online company with all the many details and services I could provide him wanted to book with me. So I called Viking River Cruises and they had to have the online company release the cabin on hold so my client could rebook through my Agency. Viking called the online company and my client and had a three way converstion.
The cabin held was the only one my client could book as the ship was completly sold out and that cabin had cleared the waitlist. I was very impressed.
P.S. The only reason he had put cabin on hold as it was the last one availible
and had been waitlist and taken from group space.