|
|
|
GO News>
GO News
March 11, 2004
Welcome to the First March 2004 edition of the GO News
letter.
How’s Business?
Cruise Lines International Association reported a 10.2%
increase over 2002. In addition, new ports in
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Jacksonville, Mobile, Galveston,
San Diego and Seattle are opening up new opportunities. 84
percent of National Tour Association members anticipate
greater or equal sales in 2004, on top of a 2003 that
exceeded the previous year. According to a Travel Weekly
survey, almost 60% of travel agents expect an increase in
bookings for 2004. The Association of British Travel
Agents predicts that 2004 will be a better year. 28% of
Britons had already booked an international vacation,
compared to 23% two years ago. Our survey of Travel Tips
readers shows 46% expect an increase in business this year,
49% expect a flat year and only 5% predict a decline. A
recent survey of 300 Leisure Group Travel readers, with 56%
forecasting growth, 41% expecting similar results as 2003
and a mere 3% predicting lower sales. And our upcoming
April issue of Leisure Group Travel magazine will be the
largest in the publication’s history. How’s your business
and what are you doing to take advantage of this rising
tide?
Membership
GO added our 42th paid member today, with another 40
applicants waiting approval. We’re excited about the
growth in just a short couple of months and are on target
to hit our “reach” goal of 250 for this year. If you have
any colleagues that you think would benefit from
membership, please tell them to check us out at
www.goexperience.com. If they register to join and name
you as having referred them, you’ll receive $25 in GO
Bucks, to be used to pay for GO items, such as seminars in
print, etc.
Great American Road Show
This group travel event is being held in Pigeon Forge,
Tenn., on Apr. 4th-6th. It includes a marketplace trade
show, hotels and meals, along with visits to Dollywood, the
Black Bear Jamboree and Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede. The
price is normally $179 single and $99 double occupancy. A
special offer has been extended to GO members, who may
attend for a flat $99. To register, or for more
information, contact them at 888-327-2632 and mention that
you are a GO member interested in the Great American Road
Show.
Tele-seminar
Our next tele-seminar is Friday, March 26 and the focus is
on travel protection. We will talk about the right plan to
offer your group members, as well as about how to go about
offering this to protect yourself, as well as your
travelers. The course is at 1PM EST. As a GO member, the
seminar is free. However, you must go to the GO web site
to register, as space is limited.
GO Benefits
Our current benefits include our on-line forum, bookstore,
travel protection plan, surveys, tele-seminars, and
Business Advantedge program. I believe all of you have
received information recently on the Travel Protection
program. This edition I’d like to tell you a little about
the Business Advantedge offers. GO has contracted with a
company that negotiates discounts on business services on
behalf of many associations. Office Depot offers discounts
that average 30% off their normal prices and range up to
70% off. To qualify, you must fill out the form on our web
site and fax it to them to register. These discounts are
also available at their stores. Hewlett Packard offers a
6% discount off their HP and Compaq computers and even
bigger savings on other products. American Solutions for
Business offers big discounts on document holders and
ticket wallets. The credit card merchant program allows
you to accept credit cards for a fee under 3%. Discounts
on luggage tags and other premium items are available from
Willow Press and Cruise Albums. In the telecommunications
area, discounts are available on phone service, cell phones
and pagers and on-hold messaging services. This page is
the index to these offers:
www.goexperience.citymax.com/page/page/715727.htm.
This Week’s Thought:
“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't
work." Thomas Alva Edison
|
|
