Thursday, December 26, 2013

Happiness of a Travel Specialist

It is often said, if you are happy with your profession, you chose wisely. Funny thing is, the travel profession chose me. Some would say it was kismet, fate. 

There are strange perceptions about the travel industry and being a travel consultant. Mostly I hear how lucky I am that I get to travel all over for free anytime I want. Well, not exactly true. Yes, there are invitations to travel for learning experiences, but sadly they are not free. However it gives me the ability to share the experiences with my clients. 

The other day while in NY at the USA Today office for interviews, a colleague and I were talking about the good, bad and ugly of our profession. We both agreed the good far outweighed the other to options for us. This profession gives us the opportunity to share our love for travel and open the world to others who want the happiness travel provides. 
From USA Today NY Midtown Office

One of the best parts of this business is sharing knowledge of wonderful destinations, cultures, history, people and more. I get excited with each new request, no matter the request. It could be a short beach style vacation or an extended journey to the ends of the earth. Just knowing, in the end, my clients will have the travel experience they want is my satisfaction. 

Mostly, it is the thank you at the end of the journey or the picture sent during the vacation that says it all. When I see the smiling faces or a beautiful view taken during an excursion, it is confirmation of a job well done and a promise kept to my clients. Very few professionals get to have that type of satisfaction from their work.
View from Pucon, Chile

Of course as a travel consultant, bad days do happen. Airlines are delayed or cruises canceled because of weather. There is a rush to try to make other arrangements to 'save the day.' Sometimes changes are possible, but sometimes Mother Nature gets her way. 

One such story happened this week. I received a call from a friend who is a concierge at the Hudson Hotel in New York. He explained they had a lovely couple from Australia as guests. Unfortunately due to a situation in the Galapagos, their trip was canceled. They did not want to stay an extra 8 days in New York, but wanted a warm Caribbean beach vacation where they could dive as well. Oh, did I mention this was December 23rd and they wanted to travel December 27th? 

The search began! Trying to coordinate a new flight out of the NY area and an available resort, still affordable, a real challenge. Not to mention, getting them back in time to Miami for their next flight the following week.  I could not let this couple down. By the end of the day a room at a luxury adults only hotel was cleared from the waitlist and one of the last available flights out of New York was secured. They are all set to go. A few extra hours after 'office hours' were needed to get everything set, but in the end, it is the result that counts. Yara and Justin are very happy and their photo they sent last night, says it all. 
Travel Happiness - Yara and Justin

To my past and current clients, I want to say thank you for your business and all of the thanks and pictures over the year. On to next year with more wonderful journeys to plan and more pictures to come.


Monday, August 19, 2013

Travel Professional Continuing Education



About a month ago a disparaging editorial was published in Woman's Day about travel consultants. Since the article was posted, the editorial staff at Woman's Day has apologized for not scrutinizing the article for the inaccuracies and an interview with woman who has not been active in the travel business for years. 


One of the many inaccurate points of the article was travel consultants are not knowledgeable about destinations and only 'push' vacations that have an incentive back to the agent. Many consultants are knowledgeable and only recommend the travel most befitting their travelers. If we didn't, we would not have repeat clientele or referrals.  


Like other professionals, we have access to continuing education both through seminars series and travel opportunities. While we cannot constantly travel, a good travel advisor should try to take at least one or two travel opportunities if possible each year.  The opportunities keep our knowledge sharp and ties with our suppliers current. This is the information we need to remain at the top of the travel industry to service you, our clients, the best.


I was asked recently to contribute to one of our travel forums about the importance of continuing education through travel sponsored by our travel partners (tourism boards, hoteliers, cruise lines and suppliers). I would like to share portions the article published today with you, my friends and clients.
   

The Importance of Continuing Education 
 Adrienne Sasson, Rubinsohn Travel, Tripologist since 2007

As a travel advisor for 16 years, I always stress the importance of continuing education. The world of travel is always changing and we must stay current to plan the best experiences for our clients. 

I was invited this year to Indaba in South Africa with the South African Tourism Board. Having planned the destination for clients it was finally my turn to visit.

We began in Durban, with a day full of seminars which included Indaba, South Africa's travel trade show. Both the seminars and trade show provided invaluable information and networking with preferred suppliers.excitement for South Africa and over 4000 photos. My clients are excited to hear about the trip and see the photos... Though we cannot get to every destination we desire, when the opportunity is right, don't pass it by. A small investment in education can make the difference for both the travel consultant and the client.  

Following a tour of the Rovos Rail and an evening on the Blue Train, I can knowledgeably recommend rail as a luxury travel choice for South Africa. From Durban, we moved through Cape Town, Kruger National Park, Johannesburg and Soweto. My Twitter and Facebook following along.

A short flight to Mpumalanga began the safari experience, number one on my bucket list. Home for the next three days was Lions Sands in Sabi Sands. With rangers and trackers in open jeeps, we set off for the first safari as sunset fell upon the bush. Imagine telling me telling my clients about looking over the bush from a tree top suite, having cocktails. 

Johannesburg was next. The most unexpected experience was Soweto. The history and rebirth of a nation came alive after visiting Mandela House and the Hector Pieterson Museum. 


One of my favorite parts of travel is driving through local areas and observing daily life. Here the rural roadsides were dotted with impromptu markets for housewares, food and curbside barbershops. These special insights are like precious gems.


Twelve days went by quickly. Reluctantly I boarded the flight with renewed


Monday, February 25, 2013

The Amazing Vacation


A question was posed to me a short time ago about what is the most amazing vacation. My first thought was how much time have I to answer this question?

The world is huge and the vacation choices just as vast. There really is no ‘one size fits all’ vacation. Travelers glean different experiences while on the same vacation. Many times I have asked couples or friends who have returned for comments about their trip. After hearing their reviews I wonder if I sent them to the same place.  One may tell me about their gourmet delight while the other is sharing a story of a breath-taking view or bungee jumping.  
 
 

The amazing vacation is in your eyes and depends upon your personal desires. Many times couples are so diverse matching the perfect vacation takes time to create, putting together pieces for both personalities. The holiday which was perfect for your cousin or best friend may not be the right one for you.
 
Some breaks are for lazing on the beach, turning everything off, even your social media. This might mean the islands of the South Pacific or high atop a mountain in a luxury resort with your partner and a good book. Other getaways may be relaxing by the pool or beach mixed with a few excursions to get a taste of the culture and scenery. Perhaps the answer is Las Vegas or Macao for gambling, shows and exciting nightlife.
 
 


Adventure seekers might choose kayaking class three white water raids or repelling down the face of a mountain. There are those who prefer soft adventure in a hot air balloon over the savannahs of Africa while animal herds graze below.  Alternatively, the adventure might be diving the deep blue sea to feed the sharks or surfing the pipelines of Hawaii.

Vacation trends gaining popularity are tours which immerse the travelers deeply into the culture of the destination. Gourmet tours, homestays and voluntourism are a few tour styles of this trend.

Gourmet tours, popular in Italy and France have expanded to many new countries. Cooking classes, winemaking and olive oil pressing enhance the learning of the surrounding culture and local language. The homestay tours add to experience by staying with a family to better understand the local color and culture, first hand. The homestay however is not suggested for the novice traveler.

Voluntourism usually consists of small groups visiting an impoverished area. Some of these trips focus on schools, orphanges and hospitals. The guests bring necessary supplies with them to donate and spend time at the institution to learn more about the needs and services they provide. At times, professionals like Doctors Without Borders not only donate supplies, but also their time to evaluate and admínister services to patients not able to be cared for locally.
  
The most amazing vacation can be as simple as possible, sheer adventure, a cultural experience or a little of each! The choices are infinite. Speak with your travel advisor or contact me for your next journey.
 
Adrienne Sasson, The Travel Specialist
Rubinsohn Travel
Jenkintown, PA 
800-501-8519
 

 

Saturday, February 16, 2013

To Cruise Or Not To Cruise





To cruise or not to cruise, this seems to be the latest travel debate. The media have jumped on the Carnival Cruise Lines mishap this past week showcasing everything and anything that can go wrong on a cruise vacation. How fair have the media been to Carnival's "Fun Ships?" One major media outlet could not even get the fact straight about other cruise lines related to Carnival. Is it fair to let sensationalism of the media reign over rationality?

Take into consideration the fact the ship did reach a safe port with all passengers aboard and no serious illness or injuries reported. They also sought out one of the Truimph's sister ships cruising in the same vicinity to render aid with more food and other supplies for the crippled ship.

According to CLIA (Cruise Line International Association), the number of cruise line passengers has risen to over 17.6 million, over 10 million guests between the years 2000 through 2013. All of these people can't be wrong! Ships have become floating cities with passenger capicities reaching well over 2,000. Some passengers elect to stay aboard while in the ports of call to enjoy the amenities onboard. More ships are being built and expect to be debuted in the next two years, Carnival included.

If one thinks about the accidents reported for cruises lines, statistically they are very low. There are more road vehicle accidents (cars, buses, trucks, etc.) each year. Within the past few weeks, several motorcoach accidents have been reported, some with serious injuries and deaths. They were just a glimmer in the media's eye. With close to 1,100 ships sailing from North American ports, it is almost surprising more incidences with mechanical failures do not occur. Then again, the US Coast Guard inspections are very strict. Ships can be inspected up to 60 times a year for areas including environmental, safety and health (CLIA Issues and Facts 2011).

Yes, passengers as well as crew were very inconvenienced and uncomfortable. Due to the distance from a safe land destination and the condition of the seas, the attempt to disembark over 2,000 people to another vessle could have proved catestrophic. The crew does deserve recognition for making sure the engine fire did not spread and cause additional damage to the ship. The CEO and other executives at Carnival also merit some credit for not trying to keep the media in the dark. Their comments to the media were made after they had all of the facts. They acted quickly to make sure once the passengers arrived safely at the first available port, they were transferred efficiently to hotels and / or chartered flights. Additionally all passengers will be fully refunded plus an additional $500.00 and a full credit for a future cruise. Some reports place the cost of this event to Carnival well over 80 million dollars.

While the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) investigates the engine fire, the Carnival Triumph will be in dock. Cruises for the ship have been canceled until April.

And with this in mind, thousands of people are arriving at the piers this weekend for their cruise. Perhaps they are thinking about this in the back of their minds. However, they are most likely looking forward to the ports awaiting their arrival, relaxation, good food and fun. Along with my colleagues in the travel industry, I wish them all a bon voyage.