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CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA -- Once of interest to only a few American travelers, generally because of its wildlife, Africa is today increasingly recognized as a destination of great cultural […]

ON A HOT AUGUST DAY AT THE CONTINENTAL AIRLINES domestic ticket counter at Newark Airport, Toto was denied boarding. No matter that he had a frequent-flyer number, a roundtrip Newark-Houston […]

When John Stachnik, president of Mayflower Tours, was first considering the tour operator business, he and his partners visited the home of an elder statesman in the industry for some […]

One year after taking the helm as president of Trafalgar Tours America, Gavin Tollman has redefined the tour operator's objectives, reshaped its management structure and infused the company with a […]

As 1999 approaches, the Year 2000 (Y2K) computer problem is an old story for tour operators and packagers - they've been looking for solutions for quite some time. Most of […]

With new products and technologies, DER Travel Services is realizing the dream of one-stop shopping One year after consolidating operations in Rosemont, Ill., executives at DER Travel Services say they […]

IST Cultural Tours caters to experienced travelers seeking the joy of learning without regimentation For many years agents railed against nonprofit organizations that sponsored trips, complaining that such groups enjoyed […]

SYLVIA BERMAN - As the owner of Post Haste Travel in Hollywood, Fla., Sylvia Berman, CTC, is a realist who believes air carriers will soon be moving to net fares. […]

A specialist in Europe's fastest growing destination, CIE Tours has new products to meet the demand for Ireland and Britain In the late 1980s, CIE Tours, an operator specializing in [...]

The Australian Tourist Commission is joining forces with tour operators to change perceptions Australian tourism officials have historically pointed to surveys that show many Americans want to visit Australia but […]

This neon gambling mecca has more rooms than ever and no shortage of tourists to fill them Anyone who thought MTI Vacations of Downers Grove, Ill., pulled out of the […]

Gray Line Worldwide is sprucing up its historic brand and making its products even easier to sell Gray Line's blue-and-white diamond logo is known throughout the world. What isn't so […]

Haddon Holidays wants to show you the future by building free Internet sites for your agency and others These are frontier days for travel on the Internet. While no one […]

Travel Impressions has made its mark by offering experience, stability and new products Jeff Tolkin, co-president and CEO of Travel Impressions in Farmingdale, N.Y., recalls that when his company began […]

Globus & Cosmos' John Martinen continues to forge partnerships with agents Even after 25 years with Globus & Cosmos, John Martinen is adding to his accomplishments. Martinen is president of […]

Business is up, failures are down and new products offer agents even more profit potential As the U.S. Tour Operators Association (USTOA) rounded out 1996 with its convention in Banff, […]

A leader in Hawaii, Classic Custom Vacations prepares to stake out a niche in the tough European tour market When Ron Letterman took over Classic Custom Vacations in 1992, he […]

In these challenging first years of the 21st century, most travel professionals are too busy coping with the industry's ever-shifting revenue models to be paying much notice to space tourism. […]

Just as China began its two-year home stretch to hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics, the European Tour Operators Association released a white paper documenting how countries that host the games […]

NEW ORLEANS -- Operators of tours through hurricane-ravaged portions of New Orleans expressed surprise last week at the overwhelmingly negative coverage of their endeavors by the news media. The tours--operated […]

In the world of tour operators, Alan Lewis is a force to be reckoned with. As chairman and CEO of Grand Circle Travel, he heads one of the world's most […]

Amid war, terrorism, SARS and the weakened economy, U.S. travelers have more than enough reasons to stay close to home for their summer vacations. By all accounts, our beaches, national […]

The busy fall season is approaching, and tour packagers are preparing to debut their new programs. At the same time, the two major tour operator associations, the National Tour Association […]

Operators are lining up prime packages for the millennium Once every 1,000 New Year's Eves comes a new millennium, and now 2000 is only 500 days away. It will be […]

Sunquest Holidays has upped commissions to 14 percent on its Hawaii products and 15 percent on its Mexico programs, making these packages practically irresistible for agents to book. But for […]

Circumnavigating the globe offers the ultimate in exclusivity for high-end clients Travel was once a luxury enjoyed only by the upper-class market segment. While Americans of modest means usually spent […]

Tour operators with cycling tours are reaping the benefits of the adventure travel trend With health-conscious baby boomers seeking new vacation options, an increasing number of bicycle tour operators are […]

A diver's delight, an ecotourist's dream, the region is catching the eye of travelers and packagers By popular demand" may be a cliche as a marketing phrase, but sometimes it's […]

In today's capped selling environment, agents are realizing that the best commissions come from selling packaged travel. But many consider packages only for overseas travel. On domestic travel, where air […]

Agents are big on small tour operator Island Resort Tours, due to its competitive prices, knowledge and personal service In this age of mega-mergers and massive consolidation, it's often assumed […]

TWA Getaway Vacations is not one to rest on its laurels. With a close eye on a travel market that is undergoing a generational shift, the company has performed a […]

Contiki takes adventure one step further with programs that have clients pitching their own tents Contiki Holidays' tours for 18- to 35-year-olds are always an adventure. Onboard a motorcoach full […]

Insight's new initiatives provide agents with an arsenal of selling tools to combat pay cuts After doubling its business in three years, Insight International Tours has little cause for anxiety. […]

More tour operators are creating units to sell consolidated air fares, alone or with packages Many agents are taming more to air consolidators to recoup revenues lost from reduced commissions, […]

The year 1997 may have been the best ever for tour operators and vacation packagers. As the airline industry gradually dropped its commission rates for agents, tour operators offering full […]

The travel industry is like the medical profession," says Greg Thorne, vice president-sales and marketing of Inter-Island Tours in New York. "People don't go to G.P.'s anymore. Everyone is a […]

At a time when travel agents are looking to redefine themselves, Intrav reaches out Not all the news about commission policies these days is bad, Intrav, which began offering deluxe […]

The new wave of interest in group travel has operators rallying to create more opportunities The unwelcome cut in airline commissions creates yet again a new retail climate, one in […]

Graduation speakers often mention that the word commencement means "beginning." The recent graduation ceremony for Globus & Cosmos' University of Touting agent education program was both a commemoration of what […]

How do most tour operators view ASTA President Mike Spinelli and his administration? They see him as an ally who is working to improve relationships between suppliers and the travel […]

For tour operators, the ASTA World Congress in Glasgow is a chance to meet their customers, show their support for the travel agent community, add to their destination knowledge and, […]

Mediterranean specialist Zeus Tours is expanding into exotic vacations and South American programs For nearly five decades, Zeus Tours has specialized in cruise and tour products to Greece and the […]

World Travel Consultants' new owner is maintaining the firm's strategy and philosophy With the U.S. economy continuing its robust pace and the market for Asian tourism expanding, World Travel Consultants […]

As walking tours surge in popularity, operators offer even more options around the world The airlines like to say that flying is the safest way to travel. There are some […]

Dining out adds pleasure and interesting cultural experiences to vacations of every stripe. Today's tour operators, however, are taking the enjoyment of cuisine a step further, with culinary tours that […]

Introduced in late 1994, Classic America has now finished its second full year. "In 1996 we doubled the business in both passengers and revenue," says Lisa Gyermek, vice president and […]