Podcast Number 236

Leslie Straughan from the New Orleans Convention and Visitor’s Bureau joins Barry and Lorene to talk about New Orleans and travel agents.  If you are booking a cruises embarking from New Orleans you will want to contact the New Orleans Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.  The Convention and Visitor’s Bureau offers pre and post cruise tours of New Orleans that pay commissions to travel agents.  Plus you will receive coupons and discounts from the New Orleans Convention and Visitor’s Bureau that add value to your services for your clients.  Listen in to learn more about New Orleans and fam trips for travel agents.

You can contact Leslie at 800-748-8695 Extension 5018, or visit www.neworleanscvb.com.

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A Russian designed super jet is expected to give a boost to regional airport service.

Billions for high speed rail but what about our 50 year old air traffic control system?

Keep up with us on Twitter.com Lorene’s Twitter name is lorener, Barry’s Twitter name is kantzb

If you are the early adopter type, join us on Google Wave. Search for “travel agent” and you will find the Travel Sellers’ Wave.

Check out Lorenes travel agent website at www.sharptonguedconsulting.com.

Thank you for listening to the Home Based Travel Agent Podcast. You can email me at barry@hometravelagent.net or email Lorene at sharptongued@mac.com.

Nick Hollywood
“Deep Henderson” (mp3)
from “White Mink : Black Cotton (Electro Swing vs Speakeasy Jazz)”
(Freshly Squeezed Music)

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Podcast Number 235

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Jeff Adam of AAT Kings tours joins Barry and Lorene in the co-hosted segment to talk about Australia and the AAT King webinars. Jeff encourages travel agents to sign up for the webinars and become educated about Australia and about the tours you can offer your clients. Send Jeff an email to join their email list and sign up for the webinars. Jeff’s email is jeff.adam@aatking.com. And you can check out their website at www.aatking.com.

TRAVEL NEWS

British Holiday Inn offers human bed warmers!

Tips on keeping your New Year’s resolution

Visit us on Facebook – Barry at http://www.facebook.com/barry.kantz, and Lorene at http://www.facebook.com/lorener.

Keep up with us on Twitter.com Lorene’s Twitter name is lorener, Barry’s Twitter name is kantzb

If you are the early adopter type, join us on Google Wave. Search for “travel agent” and you will find the Travel Sellers’ Wave.

Check out Lorenes travel agent website at www.sharptonguedconsulting.com.

Thank you for listening to the Home Based Travel Agent Podcast. You can email me at barry@hometravelagent.net or email Lorene at sharptongued@mac.com.

Lemon
“Lets Go! BIKINI” (mp3)
from “Eclectrik”
(Freshly Squeezed Music)

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Podcast Number 234

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Kathleen Kavanaugh joins Barry and Lorene in the co-hosted segment. Kathleen is the home based travel agent channel manager for the Globus Family of Brands. Kathleen describes a new product call Monogram. Monogram offers simplified booking for pre and post cruise trips. Monogram has a great commission structure for travel agents. Plus you can earn commission on air fare if you book your client’s flights through Monogram.

You can find training on the new Monogram product at http://www.globusfamilypartners.com. You can contact Kathleen at the website, http://www.globusathome.com.

Travel News

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines continues scheduled stops in Haiti – delivering relief supplies.

Visit us on Facebook – Barry at http://www.facebook.com/barry.kantz, and Lorene at http://www.facebook.com/lorener.

Keep up with us on Twitter.com Lorene’s Twitter name is lorener, Barry’s Twitter name is kantzb

If you are the early adopter type, join us on Google Wave. Search for “travel agent” and you will find the Travel Sellers’ Wave.

Check out Lorenes travel agent website at www.sharptonguedconsulting.com.

Thank you for listening to the Home Based Travel Agent Podcast. You can email me at barry@hometravelagent.net or email Lorene at sharptongued@mac.com.

Shilts
“Mrs Magic” (mp3)
from “A Hat Trick from HeadBoppin”
(ARTizen Records)

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Podcast Number 233

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The largest cruise ship on earth is the subject of this show’s co-hosted segment. Deb Gronski of Harrison Avenue Travel had the opportunity to take a fam trip on the Oasis of the Seas shortly after the ship’s maiden voyage. Deb describes the seven neighborhoods on the ship and talks about the intimate feel of the ship despit its size. Deb shares some tips about booking clients for a cruise on this magnificent ship.

You can learn more and see Deb’s photos on Facebook. Simply search for Harrison Avenue Travel on Facebook and become a fan.

Travel News

Travel Leader’s 2010 Travel Survey

Visit us on Facebook – Barry at http://www.facebook.com/barry.kantz, and Lorene at http://www.facebook.com/lorener.

Keep up with us on Twitter.com Lorene’s Twitter name is lorener, Barry’s Twitter name is kantzb

If you are the early adopter type, join us on Google Wave. Search for “travel agent” and you will find the Travel Sellers’ Wave.

Check out Lorenes travel agent website at www.sharptonguedconsulting.com.

Thank you for listening to the Home Based Travel Agent Podcast. You can email me at barry@hometravelagent.net or email Lorene at sharptongued@mac.com.

The Phenomenal Handclap Band
“15 to 20 (feat. Lady Tigra)” (mp3)
from “The Phenomenal Handclap Band”
(Friendly Fire Recordings)

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Podcast Number 232

Mike Davies returns to the Home Based Travel Agent Show to talk about his recent river boat cruise in China. Mike goes into exquisite detail about what you will see, experience and taste when you take a river boat cruise in China. This show is a “must listen” if you have given thought to experiencing China, or if you have clients interested in traveling to China.

You can visit Mike’s websites at www.riverdiscounts.com, or more on Asia at www.asiarivercruising.com.  You can reach Mike at mike@riverdiscounts.com.

Travel News

The website www.nearmyairport.com can guide your clients to essential services near their arrival airports.

Learn more about cruising at Cruise Line Fans.

Visit us on Facebook – Barry at http://www.facebook.com/barry.kantz, and Lorene at http://www.facebook.com/lorener.

Keep up with us on Twitter.com Lorene’s Twitter name is lorener, Barry’s Twitter name is kantzb

If you are the early adopter type, join us on Google Wave. Search for “travel agent” and you will find the Travel Sellers’ Wave.

Check out Lorenes travel agent website at www.sharptonguedconsulting.com.

Thank you for listening to the Home Based Travel Agent Podcast. You can email me at barry@hometravelagent.net or email Lorene at sharptongued@mac.com.

Paquito D’Rivera
“Who’s Smoking?” (mp3)
from “Who’s Smoking?”
(Candid Productions)

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We recently stayed at a Kimpton Hotel in Boston, the Hotel Marlowe. We enjoyed our stay so much we planned our next trip around a stay at the Hotel Epic, a Kimpton Hotel in Miami.

The Hotel Epic was an important part of our vacation plans. But, Key West was our ultimate vacation goal. Our plan was to fly into Fort Lauderdale, drive to Miami and spend the first two days of our trip at the Hotel Epic. Our next stop on the trip was The Pier House Hotel in Key West. We planned to spend three days at the Pier House. The Hotel Epic was on our itinerary to finish off the last two days of our vacation.

As we began our vacation everything did not go as planned. Our plane leave Grand Rapids was more than an hour late. I called the Hotel Epic to let them know we would be a late arrival. I was surprised when I connected with a Hotel Epic employee who told me that they were not accepting guests.

Okay, what the hell does that mean. The Epic is not accepting guests – but we have reservations. The Hotel Epic employee told me they were having water problems. She went on to say that we should come to the Epic and pick up a letter and a voucher. The letter allowed us to stay one night free at the Four Seasons Hotel in Miami and get the second night at a substantially reduced rate. In addition to the deal at the Four Seasons, the Epic representative told us we will receive a voucher for a free night at the Hotel Epic. This amounted to hundreds of dollars of savings for our Florida trip.

Fast forward to our return trip to Miami. We called to see if the Epic was accepting guests. We were told they were not accepting guests. Their expected date for accepting guests was not until after the holidays. The Hotel Epic employee explained we will get a voucher for a free night at the Epic, a free night at the Four Seasons and a reduced rate for the our second night at the Four Seasons. Again, we were looking at a savings of several hundreds of dollars.

So, what was the problem with the Hotel Epic? When we called the hotel we were told it was a water problem. The Miami Herald reported the Hotel Epic was at the center of a Legionnaire’s disease investigation. Here is a link to the story – http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/1388234.html.

If you read the story you will see the link between the Legionnaire’s Disease and the Hotel Epic is weak. The Hotel Epic is taking all the necessary precautions to protect their guests even though the Center for Disease Control says the link to the Legionnaire’s Disease and the Hotel Epic is weak. The Hotel Epic is playing it safe to the tune of $200,000 per day.

The Hotel Epic is taking care of the guests who booked a stay during this time by giving them great deals at competing hotels, plus vouchers for future stays.

I think the Kimpton Hotel, the Hotel Epic is doing all it can do to insure the safety of its guests, plus it is going out of its way to make sure it guests who’ve booked rooms during this challenging time are taken care of.

I’m still looking forward to my next stay at a Kimpton Hotel.

Podcast Number 231

Lorene describes her experience at the recent Luxury Expo in Las Vegas.  Learn about suppliers and training opportunities available at these Expos.  You will want to listen to this show if you’ve never been to a Luxury Expo and want to learn what they are all about.  Barry and Lorene also talk about the guests we will have on the show over the first couple of months of the new year.

Travel News

British Airways flight attendants plan walkout on December 22nd.

A sensitive TSA screening manual is posted on the web.

Midwest Airlines and Frontier expand their destinations by 63 locations.

Visit us on Facebook – Barry at http://www.facebook.com/barry.kantz, and Lorene at http://www.facebook.com/lorener.

Keep up with us on Twitter.com Lorene’s Twitter name is lorener, Barry’s Twitter name is kantzb

If you are the early adopter type, join us on Google Wave. Search for “travel agent” and you will find the Travel Sellers’ Wave.

Check out Lorenes travel agent website at www.sharptonguedconsulting.com.

Thank you for listening to the Home Based Travel Agent Podcast. You can email me at barry@hometravelagent.net or email Lorene at sharptongued@mac.com.

Duke Ellington
“Jingle Bells” (mp3)
from “Holiday Lounge – The Christmas Remixes”
(Christmas Chill)

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Podcast Number 230

River boat cruising has a lot to offer in a vacation for your clients. Mike Davies of www.riverdiscounts.com joins Barry and Lorene to discuss the state of river boat cruising today. Mike explains why selling river cruises can offer more for the travel agent than selling traditional cruises.

Barry describes his recent stay at the Hotel Marlowe, a Kimpton Hotel.  I would like to thank Cali Lewis of Geek Brief TV for turning me on to the Kimpton Hotels.

Fire up on the Agent2Agent Forum. Stop by and ask questions about the travel business or contribute your answers to questions.

Visit us on Facebook – Barry at http://www.facebook.com/barry.kantz, and Lorene at http://www.facebook.com/lorener.

Keep up with us on Twitter.com Lorene’s Twitter name is lorener, Barry’s Twitter name is kantzb

If you are the early adopter type, join us on Google Wave.  Search for “travel agent” and you will find the Travel Sellers’ Wave.

Check out Lorenes travel agent website at www.sharptonguedconsulting.com.

Thank you for listening to the Home Based Travel Agent Podcast. You can email me at barry@hometravelagent.net or email Lorene at sharptongued@mac.com

Carol Duboc
“Sunny” (mp3)
from “All Of You”
(Gold Note Music, Inc.)

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Podcast Number 229

Lorene talks about her experiences as she traveled from town to town on a Danube river boat cruise. She describes some the sights, the food and the coffee along the way.

Lorene and Barry talk about Google Wave at the end of the co-hosted segment. Google Wave may revolutionize social media and the way we collaborate.  Sign up for a Google Wave account and check out our Travel Sellers’ Wave.  Send Lorene an email at her Gmail account, lorenerATgmail.com if you would like an invite to Google Wave.

If you want to learn more about Google Wave, I suggest a three dollar e-book, “Getting Started With Google Wave” from O’reilly.

TRAVEL NEWS

Hotel Rates Decline 8.9% in 2009 and expected to decline again in 2010.

Travel Market Report – a new publication for sellers of retail travel.

Fire up on the Agent2Agent Forum. Stop by and ask questions about the travel business or contribute your answers to questions.

Visit us on Facebook – Barry at http://www.facebook.com/barry.kantz, and Lorene at http://www.facebook.com/lorener.

Keep up with us on Twitter.com Lorene’s Twitter name is lorener, Barry’s Twitter name is kantzb

Check out Lorenes travel agent website at www.sharptonguedconsulting.com.

Thank you for listening to the Home Based Travel Agent Podcast. You can email me at barry@hometravelagent.net or email Lorene at sharptongued@mac.com

Fly My Pretties
“Heavy Weather” (mp3)
from “A Story (Part 1)”
(LOOP)

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Podcast Number 228 REPOST

The media file in the original post for this podcast had an error making it an empty file. I discovered the problem shortly after I posted the show. I corrected the problem within a couple of hours after the show was posted. But, many listeners received the blank file in their pod catchers. Therefore, I am re-posting the show. I apologize to our listeners for the inconvenience.

Lorene recently returned from a riverboat cruise down the Danube. Lorene talks about her experience with the company providing the cruise, Avalon Waterways. Lorene relates many positive experiences with Avalon and describes in detail her experience aboard the river boat cruise.

TRAVEL NEWS

Check out this You Tube video of the Oasis of the Seas passing under Denmark’s Great Belt Bridge. The smoke stacks pass under the bridge with a few inches of clearance.

Fire up on the Agent2Agent Forum. Stop by and ask questions about the travel business or contribute your answers to questions. Gary Ebels is soliciting input on the forum about host agencies. If you contribute a posting you may be in line to win a prize!

Visit us on Facebook – Barry at http://www.facebook.com/barry.kantz, and Lorene at http://www.facebook.com/lorener.

Keep up with us on Twitter.com Lorene’s Twitter name is lorener, Barry’s Twitter name is kantzb

Check out Lorenes travel agent website at www.sharptonguedconsulting.com.

Thank you for listening to the Home Based Travel Agent Podcast. You can email me at barry@hometravelagent.net or email Lorene at sharptongued@mac.com

Fly My Pretties
“Down to the Sea” (mp3)
from “A Story (Part 1)”
(LOOP)

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