The tourism industry is one sector in which the human element is absolutely vital to delivering the promised brand “experience” the customer expects. This is particularly true in the hotel industry. Employees – who really should be called “front-line ambassadors” – usually handle the initial contact between customers and the organization; these individuals make the [...]
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American cultural travellers represent an especially lucrative market: nearly one-third spend over US$1,000 when they travel. By way of comparison, only 11% of all U.S. travellers spend this much. This news comes from Renee Mitchell, Research Director, Smithsonian Magazine, speaking at the most recent TIA Marketing Outlook Forum. Her presentation discussed the demand for cultural [...]
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In an article in USA Today, Joe Brancatelli urges the «Big Six» in the US (American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United and US Airways) to simplify their fare structure as a way to resolve their financial woes. Railing against their stubborn refusal to change their archaic pricing structure, he cites the example of Ireland’s Aer Lingus [...]
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Much has been written about the changes that have affected the travel distribution network in the past decade or so. These changes are not simply due to the major inroads made by electronic distribution, but rather to the appearance of a new market segment: e-consumers who purchase almost everything online, including travel products. Travel agents [...]
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When we speak of package tours by coach, it usually means the traditional “tour and travel”. We think at once of customers who are pensioners or persons taking early retirement. Today, we notice a wave of rejuvenation: the average age of the passengers is closer to 55 years than the age of the pensioner (65 [...]
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