|
A R O U N D T H E W O R L D
www.bepaidtotravel.com
August 2012
|
|
|
Some of our newest Tour Director graduates from the August 2012 program in Denver.
|
WHAT'S NEW WITH OUR GRADUATES:
Trish Oliveira
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and all the IGA instructors for my in-depth classroom training. Less than 6 weeks after earing my International Tour Director certification, I was headed for my first tour to Cuba!
IGA prepared me to be "tour ready" and, indeed, the solid 9-day training came to be extremely valuable while I was on my first tour (which lasted 15 days). I am extremely confident, especially after getting wonderful reviews from the participants on this tour and thanks to IGA, that I will be thriving in this exciting industry and new career."
Denise Healey
Since she graduated from the International Guide Academy, Denise has worked as a professional Tour Manager leading groups for Holland America, Let's Go Travel, and, for the past 7 years, Collette Vacations. She is also a published author and her latest book,
Boomers Away, has just been published.
Kileen Prather
"This fall I will start my 15th year at Mayflower Tours (can't believe the years have flown by that fast) and in the summer also work for Vacations by Rail. I have been writing little travel blogs on a couple of senior sites. I have 3 travel/ romance novels on kindle for the boomer generation. I also have "Journey Beckons" in book form and "Journey To Port" coming out in book form at the end of this month."
|
With all the fraudulent emails so prevalent these days, particularly for those of us already in the travel industry, here is an Example of an Email that you should NOT respond to:
From: Lucas Carter
Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2012 5:49 PM
To: Lucas Carter
Subject: Vacation Tour
|
Hi Admin,
Good day, I and my Qatar colleague will be coming for our vacation leave, and we require your firm to arrange a tour which will include, providing hotel accommodation(2 double and 1 single rooms). We are five adult, 3 male and 2 female.
Our arrival date is on the 12. November 2012. and departure date: 22. November 2012.
I require you to prepare 10 days tour itinerary. Our maximum budget plan is £3,500 per person. What can you offer to us with the above request?
Get back to me with your offer and quote.
Thanks
Lucas Carter
21, Ruskin Road, Prestwich,
Manchester,
Greater Manchester,
M25 9QN
|
Note, there is no specific destination. They do not say WHERE they will be visiting. No flight information whatsoever.
The email is addressed to "Admin". Not a specific person.
Note that the sender "sent" it to himself. Note the poor spelling.
All of these are warnings that this is not legitimate. Remember, always look at solicitations and see if they pass the "sanity test". Why is this person contacting me?
|
USA: RECORD NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL VISITORS
The U.S. Department of Commerce recently revealed data which indicated that the international visitors to the United States have spent an estimated US$82.2 billion over the last year on travel and tourism-related services. The year-on-year figures show an 11% increase, according to the International Trade Administration data reports. Source: Tourism Review Weekly Newsletter 28 August 2012
|
|
As a Tour Director, we know that some passengers require more "maintenance" than others. I had to share this with you all:
Flight delay announcement greeted with roars of laughter
Qantas passengers roared with laughter when they were told their flight would be delayed. Why? Because of the reason given by the Captain.  According to reports in the Herald Sun, the flight bound from Los Angeles to Melbourne was delayed because two first class passengers had kicked up a fuss about not being given size XL in-flight pyjamas. Refusing the offer of a pair from business class, the couple asked to leave the flight and the take-off was delayed while their luggage was removed.
When the Captain relayed the news over the in-flight communication system, passengers burst out laughing. After a 30-minute delay, the flight took off and was able to land in Melbourne on time.
|
Ikea to open low cost design hotels
Furniture retailer Ikea is looking to open a budget 'design' hotel chain across Europe.
The hotels - believed to be at least 100 - will not use the Ikea name and will not be run by the Swedish company but by an established hotel operator, reports the Financial Times. Budget design hotels - with boutique style at lower prices - is one of the fastest growing sectors in the industry.
|
|
Carnival tackles sun lounger hogs
Carnival has become the first cruise line to ban passengers from hogging sun loungers. Senior cruise director John Heald has announced a new 'use it or lose it' policy on the Carnival Breeze which, if successful, will be rolled out across the fleet.
 Stickers will be placed on sun loungers showing the time guests leave, and if they don't return within 40 minutes their belongings will be removed to the towel station so that someone else can use the lounger. The new rules are being broadcast on the in-cabin TV and on a large screen in the Seaside Theatre.
The announcement says: "In consideration to all guests on board, please do not reserve sun loungers. Towels will be removed after 40 minutes and kept in the Towel Station close to deck 10 main pool. Enjoy your FUN Day at sea."
Click here for more....
|
FAA eyes ways fliers can safely use smartphones on planes
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says he recognizes that passengers would like to use their devices in the air. So he's having the Federal Aviation Administration form a group to study whether they can be used safely during a flight.
Current policy requires an airline to determine that interference isn't a safety risk before allowing their use, which is becoming increasingly daunting because of the variety of devices being carried aboard planes.
And that's why LaHood says the FAA is stepping in. "We must set appropriate standards as we help the industry consider when passengers can use the latest technologies safely during a flight," he says.
A USA TODAY investigation in December found that passengers frequently disregard flight attendants who tell them to turn off portable electronic devices during takeoff and landing - two critical flight phases when a mistake by a pilot could lead to an accident.
But the investigation's review of thousands of pages of technical documents shows the gadgets emit radio signals that can interfere with cockpit instruments and electronic equipment and systems on an aircraft.
Click here to read more.............
|
Digital Traveler: Testing 4 major flight-tracking apps
About 20% of major U.S. airline flights were delayed in June, according to the Transportation Department. And that's reason enough to have a mobile app to track flights before you head to the airport.
But many of today's leading flight-tracking apps - including FlightTrack Free, AirportZoom, FlightView and GateGuru - provide more than arrival and departure times and terminal, gate and baggage claim locations. Many of these free apps also let you find the best shoeshine at the airport and the best restaurant choices near your departure gate. Click here for more... |
|
It is always a great time to update your information with IGA. Send us an email with updated information on what you have accomplished, including where you led tours, what companies you have worked for, etc. This enables others to see what you have been doing. SEND us a picture of you on tour with a group so we can add it to future Newsletters and our Website.
Did you know that over 70% of companies hiring throughout the USA now do research first on those being considered and this includes such places as Facebook, Youtube and during the year, we at IGA received a number of phone calls from hiring companies asking specifically about graduates on the web site.
Having your accomplishments out there does not hurt you and might even help in landing that next assignment. Make sure you include that your certification was from the International Guide Academy. This gives reviewers of your social media items, your blogs, your bios, etc. a recognized reference as well as a place to contact for more information about you.
Don't forget you can follow us on Twitter at "bepaidtotravel". If you are on Twitter let us know and we will follow you.
|
|
|
|
"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not."--Ralph Waldo Emerson
"I have wandered all my life, and I have also traveled; the difference between the two being this, that we wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment." - Hilaire Belloc
"Own only what you can always carry with you: know languages, know countries, know people. Let your memory be your travel bag. " - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
|
|
|
Thank you for being a part of our Email family. We want the information we send to you about the Travel and Tourism Industry and about our certification programs to be meaningful to you. If at any time you wish not to continue to receive these emails, please just click on the unsubscribe link below. We hope (of course) that you remain on our growing list of those interested in this industry and we also welcome any suggestions you have.
|
Daniel Slater - President
International Guide Academy, Inc.
8700 East Jefferson Avenue 370190 Denver, CO 80237 303.780.0131 |
|
|
|
|
|
