Travel Advisor Execs Bullish on 2020 Sales Outlook Despite Politics

Donald Trump speaks during a tax bill passage event in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 20, 2017. The 2020 U.S. presidential election could affect travel advisor sales, yet agency executives are still confident that the year ahead will closely mirror 2019's unprecedented growth. Patrick Semansky / Associated Press

Skift Take: There may be turmoil on Capitol Hill and a contentious presidential election up ahead, but travel advisor leaders don't expect it to put a damper on 2020 sales. They are, however, keeping an eye on the economy and said travel advisors should be extra proactive in keeping clients enthused and confident about travel.

— Maria Lenhart

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Virtuoso files motion to dismiss JG Worldwide lawsuit

Virtuoso says it was authorized to alert members about the tour operator's "late commission payments, service issues and non-responsiveness."

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Teletext Holidays rolls out new TV ad’ campaign

Online travel agency Teletext Holidays has invested heavily in its marketing, with a major turn-of-year television advertisement campaign.

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$999 -- Mexico: 5-Star All-Inclusive Fairmont Escape for 2

It's one of the Most Luxurious All-Inclusive Resorts Around the World (Travel + Leisure) and no matter when your travels take you to the Rivera Maya this year, members can save up to 50% on an all-inclusive stay for two at the 5-star Fairmont Mayakoba.

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Bold and Outrageous Predictions for the Travel Industry in 2020

Airbnb CEO on stage at Airbnb Open in 2016 to announce its new products. Airbnb

Skift Take: One of our goals is to always surprise our readers. So we asked our editors to push the envelope on making predictions for the New Year. They did not disappoint, from Amazon buying Expedia to JetBlue going away. What we are really trying to do here is prepare our readers for more of the unexpected in 2020 — and we'll be there to cover it.

— Tom Lowry

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Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival set for March 18 to 22

The festival will feature more than 100 local restaurants, spirits brands, wineries and breweries.

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Unpacking TUI’s New Hotel Strategy

A TUI Blue property. TUI Group intends to open up its new online ecosystem to independent hotels. TUI Group

Skift Take: Not only is TUI making a big bet on its own branded hotels, it wants to try and get independent hotels onto its new digital platform. How many are really going to want to get involved, and might it be better to try to fix its underperforming tour operator division?

— Patrick Whyte

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In-flight services -not ticket prices- boost passenger satisfaction on international flights, J.D. Power finds

In-flight services, such as food and beverage and in-flight entertainment, are the primary drivers of passenger satisfaction among international travelers.

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Best Travel Writing of the Year: Our Favorite Stories From 2019

Tourists ride Asian elephants around the Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya, Thailand. Sergii Figurnyi / Adobe

Skift Take: We asked Skift's indefatigable team of reporters and editors to pick their favorite stories from the past year. Here's an inside look at how those stories came to be, how they were reported, and what it was like to put it down into prose.

— Tom Lowry

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'Top Choice' Dinner for 2 with 18th-Floor Skyline Views

Save nearly 45% dining at the members-only Citrus Club, called a "top choice" among Orlando's "best spots to splurge on New American food" (WKMG News 6).

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Agents say Rise of the Resistance meets high expectations

If travel advisor Sue Pisaturo had to describe the attraction in one word, it would be “epic.”

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Advito announces ‘Sustainable Collaboration’ for managed travel programs

In an analysis of trip-purpose data for more than 50 companies, Advito found that internal travel drives between 40% to 65% of travel spend. Companies can replace a majority of that internal travel with other effective forms of collaboration.  

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Seven Stills Brewery & Distillery Credit at 3 Locations

At Seven Stills, "a buzzy local brewery and distillery" (Eater), Travelzoo members can save over 40% on food and drinks at three different locations.

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New Unique Tours Draw Americans to Singapore But Creators Face Cost Issues

A Singapore neighborhood. Runako Godfrey, Flickr

Skift Take: A new generation of entrepreneurs is creating unique tours for visitors to Singapore. But fighting legacy tour players and online travel giants only makes the high costs of doing business harder to do business.

— Yixin Ng

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Riviera Resort opens at Disney World

The Disney Vacation Club resort was inspired by Walt and Lillian Disney's European travel.

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Dream Vacations only travel franchise named a Game Changer by Franchise Dictionary Magazine

More than 100 franchise brands across all industries recognized.

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$18 -- LumiNight Lantern Festival at Alameda Fairgrounds

This illuminated walking tour features immersive, life-size and larger-than-life lantern sculptures created by Chinese artisans.

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Iceland's new winter wellness destination: Husafell Canyon Baths

Escape to winter wellness and luxurious seclusion in unexplored landscapes at the newly opened Husafell Canyon Baths located in the Icelandic highlands, less than two hours from Reykjavik. Planning a winter break or Valentine's getaway to Iceland's new hot spring hot-spot is easy with an introductory hotel package available until Feb. 29, 2020.

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ERA welcomes Air Malta into membership

Established in 1974, the airline was fundamental in the then-young nation finding a new international voice and continues today to promote the richness of culture and people within this idyllic island destination.

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Aph.com uncovers two thirds of popular airlines have put Christmas crackers on their naughty list

Christmas flyers heading to the US should note that crackers are banned on all airlines flying to the destination including Delta, United, American Airlines and British Airways in hand and checked luggage.

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CCRA Travel Commerce Network and Uplift announce strategic alliance

New flexible payment options for travel advisors to offer their clients.

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Luxury Travelers Taking a Shine to Sabbaticals

This 2007 photo provided by Michelle Robin La shows her, rear left, with her husband Luong La and their three children at the Citadel in Hue, Vietnam. The family was taking part in a heritage trip to Vietnam, where Luong La grew up. The National Trust for Historic Preservation defines heritage tourism as traveling to experience a place, artifacts and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present. Michelle Robin La / Associated Press

Skift Take: Recess isn't just for schoolchildren anymore. Adults nowadays are starting to take recesses from work to travel the world, oftentimes with famiIy in tow.

— Laura Powell

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'State-of-the-Art' Aji Spa Treatments at Sheraton Grand

With its traditional Native American therapies, Aji Spa will "transport you a million miles away" (Forbes Travel Guide). Travelzoo members save up to 30% on spa treatments into 2020.

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ASTA meets with New York lawmakers about IC bill

ASTA director of advocacy Genevieve Strand testified on Thursday before the New York State Assembly's labor committee about why travel advisors should continue to be able to be classified as independent contractors as they are today.  

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Travel agencies: An easy target for cyberattacks due to weak security systems

According to the document called Baseline Cyber Security Controls for Small and Medium Organizations prepared by the Canadian Center for Cyber Security, organizations should follow the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) for all Point-of-Sale (PoS) terminals and financial systems.

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$15 -- Bok Tower Gardens Admission with Holiday Tour

Fodors Travel says this National Historic Landmark "has been something of a local secret for years." Save up to 40% on admission to Bok Tower Gardens and a tour of the Pinewood Estate.

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Apple Leisure introduces new insurance option

Travel Protection Plus provides commission protection to travel advisors and a number of benefits for consumers.

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Omo Valley tribes present cultural treat for Ethiopian visitors

The Omo Valley is a classic Ethiopian destination, featuring some of the characteristics anticipated by visitors to Africa, which includes tribal customs and lifestyles not related to other cultures. These tribes find unique ways to express their artistic impulses.

* This article was originally published here