BLOG CREDIT: travelweekly.com Photo Credit: Flickr/dronepic Mexico's hotels on the Yucatan Peninsula are struggling, where the average daily rate (ADR) fell 7.3% in the second quarter, according to numbers from hotel data company STR. The Yucatan Peninsula is home to vacation destinations Cancun, the Riviera Maya and Cozumel. Hotels in the region recorded ADR of $170.10. Revenue per available room plummeted 12.3% to $115.95, and occupancy fell nearly 4 percentage points to 68.2%. STR attributed the decline to several factors, including seaweed currently plaguing the Cancun and Riviera Maya coastlines and the government's decision to disband the Mexico Tourism Board earlier this year. Mexico City also had a rough second quarter. STR said Mexico City had a 7% drop in RevPAR to $78.75 and a 4.3% drop in ADR to $118.52. Throughout all of Mexico, a supply and demand imbalance weighed on occupancy and ADR, with STR citing supply growth of 3% and a demand decline of 0.2% during the quarter. #bloggingtips #olamBlog #Blog #travelweekly #mexicanhotels #transportation #CarService #LimoService #travel #book #airports #cruise #luxury

BLOG CREDIT: travelpulse.com United Airlines announced Monday it has expanded its partnership with secure identity company CLEAR to deliver innovative experiences for customers from curb-to-gate and beyond. For United MileagePlus members based in the United States, the partnership includes free or discounted CLEAR membership pricing. In addition, the airline is making an investment in CLEAR that would include bringing the service to Newark Liberty International Airport and Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport starting later this summer. United is also supporting CLEAR’s efforts in Chicago to open CLEAR lanes at O'Hare International Airport in the coming months. CLEAR already operates at the airline’s hubs in Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington Dulles. “Our new partnership with CLEAR is another proof point of how we are always looking to improve traveling with United, in this case by making the airport experience more convenient for customers,” United vice president Luc Bondar said in a statement. “CLEAR's secure and seamless biometric security option creates an expedited travel experience that many of our frequent flyers already use and love,” Bondar continued. “We're excited to partner with CLEAR to expand their presence at our hub airports and to provide all MileagePlus members with either free or deeply discounted memberships.” Starting Monday, CLEAR and United are offering free membership for Global Services and Premier 1K members, while Premier Platinum, Gold and Silver members and United credit card members receive a discounted membership rate of $109. All other MileagePlus members are eligible for a discounted offer of $119 per year, with an annual CLEAR membership typically priced at $179. #bloggingtips #olamBlog #Blog #travelpulse #Unitedairlines #transportation #CarService #LimoService #travel #book #airports #cruise #luxury

Thinking about spending this holiday season at the Happiest Place on Earth? You’re in luck because Walt Disney World just released the Ultimate Christmas Package CREDIT: travelpulse.com Dates for this exclusive package are for December 21 – 26, and with so many Christmas and New Year’s celebrations happening this year, you’ll be in for a real treat. We know that Walt Disney World Resort can sometimes be a little crowded, but guests who sign up for the Ultimate Disney Christmas Package through the Disney Reservation Center before October 26 will be eligible for VIP treatment. On December 21, guests will have the chance to watch a special showing of the park’s brand new “Rivers of Light: We Are One” night show and then enjoy the rides and bioluminescent wonder of Pandora: The World of Avatar. Christmas celebrations are a can’t miss while visiting the parks, and the Ultimate Disney Christmas Package includes tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom. Enjoy specialty food options, parades and shows that are only performed during the special event. Feeling the Disney magic yet? The Ultimate Disney Christmas Package also includes reserved seating for you and your party to watch Epcot’s brand new nighttime show “Epcot Forever”. Each member of your group (aged 3 and up) will get an Epcot dining gift card of $50 to use at the park – perfect for enjoying all the delicious options at the 2019 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays. And just to make sure you’re feeling the Christmas joy, an Ultimate Disney Christmas gift will be brought to your room on Christmas. For those wanting to celebrate the New Year at Walt Disney World Resort, there’s plenty of fun options to choose from. Kick-off the New Year in style at the Feliz Ano Nuevo at Toledo the new rooftop restaurant atop Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Listen to an electric flamenco guitarist or head over to the Dalhia Lounge for dancing and listen while the DJ counts down to the New Year. This is also a great spot to catch the Disney fireworks. The brand new Riviera Resort will be hosting its own Italian Masquerade at its rooftop restaurant, Topolino’s. The night will include buffet displays and a la carte tapas, as well as specialty stations where Disney chefs cook right in front of you. Or enjoy An Elegant Evening Under the Stars the Contemporary Resort’s California Grill. An ideal location for watching the fireworks, there will also be live entertainment and a few familiar characters set to make an appearance. Also at the Contemporary Resort is a Countdown to Midnight at the Fantasia Ballroom. Guests of all ages will enjoy the assortment of tasting stations inspired by restaurants located throughout the resort. A special viewing area will be set up to view the midnight fireworks taking place at the Magic Kingdom. A special add-on option is available through the Disney Ink & Paint Clubcomplete with a special reception, private viewing area for the firework show, a champagne toast and dessert set up for the fireworks. Wanting to celebrate New Years a little early? The Contemporary Resort still has availability on December 30th for their Pixar Party. A special themed event that includes special dishes inspired by Ratatouille, a DJ, fun activities and watching the Magic Kingdom firework show. Disney’s Broadwalk Resort will be celebrating at the Atlantic Dance Hall with music, food, a midnight champagne toast and views of the fireworks taking place at Epcot. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will have two celebration options taking place at their restaurants. Enjoy dinner at Narcoossee’s and enjoy waterfront dining, or at the critically acclaimed Victoria & Albert’s, where you will be serenaded by a harpist and enjoy exquisite dining. #bloggingtips #olamBlog #Blog #transportation #CarService #LimoService #travel #book

BLOG CREDIT: travelpulse.com ❯ Everyone Makes Mistakes, But the Best Make Less Whether you're brand new to the industry or an experienced agent looking to further elevate your business, it's important to know some of the most common pitfalls that threaten travel agents' success and how to avoid them. Here are some routine missteps agents make every day. Not Having a Website Not having a user-friendly website in 2019 is a big mistake that agents can easily remedy given all of the affordable website-building tools available these days. Agent Studio is a great place to start as you'll have a professional and customizable website up and running in no time. Man looking at his computer, holding mug (Photo via Deagreez / iStock / Getty Images Plus) Sloppy Emails Typos are commonplace in any line of work but spelling and grammatical errors can send the wrong message to your clients. Always give your emails and any other written communication an extra proofread and utilize tools like Grammarly to catch any mistakes you might otherwise miss. It's also a good idea to double-check things like geography and to look something up if you're not sure to avoid making an embarrassing error. Mixing Business With Personal Social media platforms are flooded with political commentary and other polarizing opinions and negativity but you can ensure that doesn't affect your business by separating your personal platforms from your brand. Not Going the Extra Mile Time management is vital and there aren't enough hours in the day to spend as much time as you might like on each client but there are easy things you can do to make a client feel valued. "I always send an e-card to say Bon Voyage—and then one to say Welcome Home—their flights are on my calendar. Takes one minute. Not an overt marketing tool but still a nice touch that they really like," says AGENTatHOME Community member Carol S. Procrastinating Finding a Focus Finding your niche may seem daunting when you're first getting started as you'll likely be looking for any and all business. However, expertise is a key aspect of the value agents provide travelers so it's never too early to start working toward a specialty. Avoiding Communication It's not the end of the world if you've forgotten to get back to a client or made a mistake so don't put off that phone call or email to your client. Waiting will only make it worse and hurts your credibility. Be honest with your clients and they'll not only appreciate it but are likely to forgive you faster than you might think. After all, you're only human. Being Too Nice There's a difference between being a great agent and getting taken advantage of so don't be afraid to be firm with clients by giving them deadlines and having expectations of them. Your business is your livelihood so know when to draw the line. Education Don't put off important research or educational experiences and bypass opportunities to go on FAM trips even if you're just getting your business off of the ground. Your knowledge and experiences are another huge part of what makes you so valuable to your clients and they expect you to have the answers or at least be able to get them in a timely fashion. Availability There's nothing wrong with unplugging from time to time but an excellent agent makes sure they're always available to their client or can be easily contacted. Being a real human being that your clients can go to for assistance is another factor giving travel agents the edge over travel booking websites. #bloggingtips #olamBlog #Blog #travelpulse #transportation #CarService #LimoService #travel #book #airports #cruise

CREDIT BY: travelpulse.com Multigenerational travel is at the top of the list for 2019 travel trends. Families enjoy getting together and catching up poolside or during a fun excursion in a new place. It’s becoming more common for not only immediate family members and couples but also children, grandparents, aunts, uncles and other family members to travel together. This trend is no problem for Marigot Bay Resort & Marina in St. Lucia, as this resort already caters to all ages. Perle Flavien, Operations Director, enjoys the idea of providing a place for families to all come to and reunite while feeling completely at home. The Guest Services team at the resort is happy to help accommodate all different needs, from daycare and babysitting to tours and excursions for all ages. The Personal Assistants on property can even help with dietary needs such as food allergies and creating baby food with organic ingredients. Conveniently, Marigot Bay Resort and Marina is offering discounted rates now through December 19th, and the packages are family-friendly with perks such as no charge for extra kids, a special ALL-IncLUCIAN rate for children and more. Learn more and check out the discounted rates here. #bloggingtips #olamBlog #Blog #transportation #CarService #LimoService #travel #book #airports #cruise