Scott Tomer was in town a couple weeks ago and I had a chance to sit down with him in a small group setting the night before the Saturday training. One of the other members of the group asked the question “Why don’t we [YTB] hand out more travel awards at Convention?”

What Scott told us, was the idea of Travel Awards did come up for Friday’s afternoon General Session at this years Convention. If you recall, Friday afternoon unleashed the industries best commission contracts and benefits in the industry, the upgrades for “Steals and Deals” and the enhanced Great Escapes packages for both Travel Store owners, and clients. With Friday afternoon dedicated to Travel it just made sense to offer Travel Awards. However, when they called the travel leaders in our company to ask if they would be at Convention, every one of them said “Yes, I’ll be at Funshine.”

The “Convention” our travel leaders were talking about begins today at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center. Funshine provides two days of seminars and a trade show floor with some 60 or 70 suppliers who are soliciting their products and services for your clients next vacation.

Funshine will also hold a General Session tonight to hand out awards for our travel leaders who have produced significant travel sales. There will be other upgrades and announcements; one of which is a new “skin” with additional features which you can get a feel for from with our Golf site. (Sorry, couldn’t hold back on this one, but since it’s already live…what the heck.)

The trade show floor of course is free, and those of us who have completed the Marc Mancini’s E-Campus series of courses also receive a complimentary upgrade to all the seminars offered by our preferred suppliers. (We also get to call ourselves “Travel Agents” and are upgraded to a 75% commission contract without quotas after completing the E-Campus courses.)

Here is a list I was able to obtain from the Home Office of the seminars and descriptions.

American Destinations
“Significantly grow your YTB Business with Educational Student Travel” Content for beginners and experienced agents alike.
ADI specializes in all-inclusive, multi-day group tour packages with an emphasis on Educational Student Travel.  YOU can have a hand in shaping our Nation’s youth and work toward your YTB $5,000 Matching Travel Commission Bonus!

Carnival Cruise Lines
(Friday) “Getting Started Selling Cruises – What you really need to know” – Beginner
(Saturday) “Super Sales with Carnival Cruise Lines” – This all-inclusive seminar will touch on the keys to great success selling cruises.  It’s a must attend event! – All levels are encouraged and welcome!

CCRA
“What’s new with CCRA”   This seminar speaks to those mostly already familiar with their product but they would love to include anyone wanting to learn more about who they are.
We will show you how to book hotels and other services – make more money and save time!

CLIA
“Cruise Vacations: an Introduction” This seminar is 3 hours and worth 15 CLIA credits once you have passed the test.

Collette Vacations
“How to make the most money in Travel Today!” For all levels of experience.
Deluxe escorted tours to all 7 continents, door to door transportation from the passenger’s home to the airport.  Our unmatched cancellation waiver protects your passenger.

Costa Cruise Lines
“Have you seen Costa lately?”  For both beginner and experienced agents.
Costa, Europe’s number one cruise line, offers an experience that is delightfully different in service and cruise.  In an atmosphere filled with love, laughter and La Dolce Vita.

Globus Family of Brands
“Globus Family of Brands; Product, Groups and Marketing” Balanced for beginners and experienced agents.
With more than 400 vacations to over 60 countries worldwide, the Globus Family of Brands offers a variety of travel styles to fit anyone’s budget or desire.

Holland America Line
“How to understand & sell Holland America Line, including in depth training on our Alaska vacations”  Balanced for beginners and experienced agents.
We invite you to sail with us and discover a world of elegant, mid-sized ships, award-winning service, intriguing onboard enrichment programs and sophisticated five-star dining.

Honeymoon Wishes
“The Honeymoon and Destination Wedding Market is still growing – Learn how to be a part of it.” For both beginner and experienced agents.
Clients can have any part of their honeymoon as a wedding present!  Earn commissions form their gift registry and market your business.

Pleasant Holidays
“The World of Pleasant” For both beginner and experienced agents.
Since 1959, Pleasant Holidays has sent over 9 million travelers on dream vacations.  Pleasant Holidays features hundreds of specials and value-packed vacations.

Princess Cruises / Cunard Lines
“The World of Princess Cruises” “The Legendary Voyages of Cunard Lines”
Escape completely with Princess Cruises to over 350 destinations and 105 unique itineraries.  Show your clients the world!

Silversea Cruises
“Selling the World of Silversea” Learn the value of selling an all inclusive luxury product and earn higher commissions. For both beginner and experienced agents Silversea Cruises is recognized as an innovator in the luxury segment, offering guests large-ship amenities aboard five intimate vessels, Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper and Silver Spirit – all designed to offer an atmosphere of conviviality and casual elegance.

Steps of Paul Coastal Cruises
A unique cruise line navigating through the lands of the Bible, the Steps of the Apostle Paul and the Holy Lands.  Fundraising plans for your church groups.

Travelocity Partner Network
“Travel, Travel, Travel – Trends, Industry Knowledge and more” For both beginner and experienced agents.
A division of Travelocity, the industry leader in offering scalable and private label online travel solutions.  It builds your brand, not ours.

Travel Guard
Travel Insurance… How it benefits you and your customers
Travel Guard Insurance Regional Account Manager Nancy Mallek from Stevens Point WI, is curious if you know how easily you can increase your revenue by recommending travel insurance.  Join us for an informative session that will help you sell more.  Learn various tips on how to sell, why your customers should purchase, and ways to overcome objections.  Plus, everything you want to know about what is covered in a travel insurance policy.

Other suppliers who I don’t have course descriptions for but will be at Funshine to educate TSO’s who want to learn include Epic Tours, The Mark Travel Corporation, Worldwide Golf Vacations, MSC Cruises, Cunard Lines, Worldwide Tours, Inc., and Carey International.

When you take a look at the list of seminars above and then compare it to the Home Based Agent Show and Conference in Atlantic City in a little more than a week, it’s shocking to see how a single company like YTB can attract a similar segment and number of suppliers for its conference. I’d also be willing to bet that YTB will provide a larger crowd for Funshine compared to the Home Based Agent Show designed for an entire segment of the industry.

It should be a fun weekend with our peers who have a legitimate desire to learn and grow in the travel industry from suppliers who see YTB for what it truly is – the 25th largest Seller of Travel in the industry. 

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Back in January, YTB launched several new upgrades and features, one of them being it’s “Trip of a Lifetime Sweepstakes“. During January/February YTB sent guests to the Abaco Beach Resort, in March we had a Mexican Fiesta in Palm Harbor, and this month we have another chance to win a vacation for two at the Breezes Runaway Bay Resort and Golf Club in beautiful Jamaica.

Each month, YTB takes the first Tuesday of the month and hosts Travel Parties all across the country. While there are live locations all over the Country you can find a streaming video of the main party right from the comfort of your own home, right on your laptop or desktop computer. For any supplier or vendor that hooks up with an event like this, it’s a HUGE marketing opportunity, and just like the cruise sales we’ve offered in the past for both Carnival and Princess Cruise Lines, it’s one heck of a bang for their buck.

The NEW Breezes Runaway Bay features 266 rooms including 30 brand new ocean front rooms & suites and 236 newly refurbished guest rooms & suites. The Golf Club at Runaway Bay boasts the only Golf Academy in Jamaica where everything you need to know about Golf is taught by a PGA certified instructor at no extra cost. You are lectured in the theory of golf, then taken on the course for the practical application. (The course was designed by Commander John Harris from Britain and was opened in 1960.)

Other activities include windsurfing, sunfish sailing, kayaks, water-skiing, Hobie Cat rides, snorkeling, and scuba diving (all with instructor and lessons). Beach and pool volleyball and Olympics. Glass-bottomed boat rides. Land lovers can enjoy basketball, bicycling, nature walks, cricket and beach soccer (all with instructions).; four tennis courts, lit for night play, with resident pro.

They also offer an exciting circus workshop featuring flying and swinging trapeze, trampoline clinics, and juggling.

Who knew?

For dinner you have a choice of a buffet dinner at the Beach Terrace; dining in their Italian restaurant Pastafari, where the dress is casually elegant; the Starlight Grill for sumptuous Mongolian Stir-Fry cuisine; or enjoy spicy Jamaican dishes at the Reggae Cafe located right on the beach.

And in case your wondering what’s included in an “All Inclusive”, just about everything you can eat, drink, and do is included in one simple upfront price. (And tipping is simply not permitted.)

• All meals, from tantalizing breakfast buffets to sumptuous dinner feasts. Even late night snacks. All you can eat, all the time.
• All drinks, from soft drinks to top-shelf premium brands.
• All entertainment.
• All tips & gratuities.
• All provided land and watersports, including professional instruction and top-of-the-line equipment. Many SuperClubs resorts even include golf at their private PGA-quality championship golf course.
• All hotel taxes and airport transfers.
• And MUCH, MUCH MORE! See their Resort Amenities Comparison Chart for details.

It’s a “Breeze” to figure out that this resort could be listed as just about anyone’s “Trip of a Lifetime”, and all you have to do is enter to win to enjoy quiet coves, endless beaches and shady hammocks around every corner, you’ll instantly feel like you’ve run away from all the pressures of the real world.

Prize also includes round-trip airfare from any major U.S. city and extra spending money!

Join me Tuesday night as this Trip of a Lifetime Sweepstakes location is rolled out and you could be a winner!

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

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