Christine Duffy

🌍 Gen Z and Millennials are increasingly turning to travel agents for their vacation planning, favoring the personalized and luxury experiences these experts provide. According to a Flywire survey, 92% of luxury travelers within these age groups have used or plan to use travel advisors. This trend highlights a shift towards curated travel experiences, with younger generations willing to spend more for customized itineraries. Magdalene Taylor writes more about this rising trend at Business Insider! https://lnkd.in/eRTFSduf #TravelTrends #GenZ #Millennials #LuxuryTravel

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Is Experiential Travel the next Big Trend? The nature of travel is changing with a stronger focus on immersive experiences. What does this mean for travelers?

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CWT take over by American Express (GBT) could be reconsidered on long haul for monopoly issues 🚨 CMA Inquiry into American Express Global Business Travel's Acquisition of CWT** 🚨 We would like to inform our network that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the United Kingdom has launched an inquiry into the acquisition of CWT by American Express Global Business Travel. This investigation falls under the Enterprise Act of 2002, triggered when certain conditions are met, including the acquired company's U.K. turnover exceeding £70 million. The CMA’s guidance on merger situations states, "The act’s definition of a ‘relevant merger situation’ covers several different kinds of transaction and arrangement. A company that buys or intends to buy a majority shareholding or a significant minority shareholding in another company is the most obvious example, but other arrangements such as the transfer or pooling of assets or employees, the creation of a joint venture or outsourcing arrangements may, in certain circumstances, also give rise to relevant merger situations." We will keep you updated as more information becomes available. #BusinessNews #CMA #Acquisition #CorporateLaw #EnterpriseAct #AmericanExpress #CWT #MergersAndAcquisitions #BusinessTravel

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❓ Did you know that the age of the average cruise traveler is 46 years? Cruises are a top choice for multi-generational travelers—with one-third of families sailing with at least two generations. 💡 Learn more about the latest Cruise trends in the 2024 State of the Cruise Industry Report: https://lnkd.in/gV8eE8Qx 🛳️ #WeARECruise

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The Art of the Journey: Lessons for Tour Directors and Guides As tour directors and guides, you can lead travelers on unforgettable journeys. It's easy to get caught up in the final destination, but the true magic happens in the moments in between. I am sharing four lessons I hope will carry you through this tour season. Savor the Journey, Not Just the Destination Your job is not just to transport guests from point A to point B. It's to guide them through a transformative journey filled with wonder, discovery, and personal growth. Remember to celebrate the small victories, acknowledge milestones, and help your guests appreciate the unforgettable tour. Pursue What Sets Your Soul on Fire Don't let the initial spark of passion die out. Reconnect with the "why" behind your work. Can you inject more of your unique personality and interests? It may be time to explore a new destination that ignites your spirit. Follow that life-giving passion, and your guests will feel it, too. Embrace the Power of Connection Surround yourself with a network of positive, supportive colleagues who understand the joys and challenges of this industry. Celebrate their successes, share your struggles, and build lasting relationships that can transform your guests' entire tour experience. Cultivate Self-Love: Your Greatest Asset Prioritize your well-being so you can show up as your best self. Make time for activities that nourish your mind, body, and soul. Get enough rest, fuel your body with nutritious foods, and engage in hobbies that bring you joy. Learn to appreciate your strengths and acknowledge your weaknesses with self-compassion. Remember, tour directors and guides, time is your most precious resource. Choose to be present, embrace the journey, and savor every moment. By following your passions, connecting with others, and loving yourself, you'll create unforgettable experiences for your guests and cultivate a fulfilling life.

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This current report from BCD Travel’s researchers Mike Eggleton, Natalia Tretyakevich and Melina Sibaja reflects on the global airline industry (including strategic reasons for bilateral partnerships between airlines), hotel pricing trends and travel policy changes. I highly recommend it as essential reading for anyone in the travel profession and encourage you to download it here: https://ow.ly/UQL750SqWFZ #BusinessTravel #TravelTrends

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🌍✈️ Ready to explore the world in 2024? Check out our latest blog post, "2024 Travel Trends: More Passengers, Longer Vacations," to discover the hottest travel insights, top destinations, and how these trends can shape your next adventure! https://hubs.ly/Q02zSmZ10

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The Future of Luxury: Concierge Services with Dedicated Attention In the world of personal concierge, delivering on customer expectations is not just a goal—it is a commitment to excellence that we embrace every day. Consider a recent scenario where a member required access to an exclusive event on remarkably short notice. Our team’s ability to act swiftly and leverage our extensive network ensured that we delivered a seamless experience that surpassed expectations. Such instances highlight our steadfast dedication to understanding and fulfilling the unique preferences of each client. However, we often encounter clients who express frustration with established firms globally in the concierge space. Despite their scale and claims of impeccable service, many fall short of delivering the expected and overlook the nuances that truly matter. Delayed responses, generic solutions, and a lack of genuine care are pitfalls that stand in stark contrast to our ethos of personalized excellence. Our members value promptness, personalization, and meticulous attention to detail. These elements are the hallmarks of the exceptional experiences we provide, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. Time and again, we have witnessed how a swift response and a personalized approach create indelible memories for our members. As we continue to raise the bar, we are setting new standards for what true luxury entails. Our mission is to deliver experiences that resonate, not just in the moment, but long after, where every detail counts and every client is paramount. #luxury #concierge #experiential #future #customerservice #personalconcierge

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Before you jump onboard (literally), though, take some time to research the different cruise lines and ships, as they're not designed equally. Adults seeking a more upscale vacation that emphasizes unique ports of call may prefer sailing with Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, or Holland America Line, whereas those who want a cruise line and ship to appease a multi-generational family vacation will want to look into Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival. 

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Happy #NationalBucketlistDay ✈️ 🌍. 2024 is the year you mark travel destinations off your bucket list with the help of a travel advisor. Let's make itineraries that perfectly fit your travel goals and budget. #TravelBetter #TravelBucketlist #BucketlistTravel #BucketlistDestinations

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✈️ 🕣 What do long flights do to our bodies? Here are some experts’ answers on how your body might react to #LongFlightTimes and what you can do to mitigate discomfort: https://ow.ly/xfXu50RmZil via National Geographic   #bcdtravel

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These Country’s Citizens Take the Fewest Vacations in the World! According to Expedia's 24th annual Vacation Deprivation Report, released in June, about half of Americans don't plan on using all their time off this year (53%), despite receiving just 12 days off annually—the fewest of any country surveyed. Expedia has been analyzing time-off trends around the world for 24 years, and while American vacation deprivation (defined as the feeling of not having enough time off) has now hit an 11-year high at 65% 😳 Here are a few comparisons from other countries, courtesy of Expedia: Japan: American and Japanese workers take a similar number of days off each year (11 and 12, respectively), but surprisingly Japan boasts the lowest vacation deprivation levels in the world (53%). Based on the survey, this could be attributed to Japanese workers taking more frequent, short vacations and prioritizing relaxation during their getaways. France: No one vacations quite like the French, taking the most days off in the world (29) and 2.5 times more than Americans. There's an emphasis culturally on the fundamental right to rest, which more French workers view vacations as a basic right. Hong Kong: Hong Kong was the only market surveyed where respondents didn't leave vacation days unused but took more time off on average than they were allocated, and 15% vow to do it again in 2024, the highest globally. Expedia first commissioned Vacation Deprivation in the year 2000 to examine the work-life balance of people worldwide. The annual study is currently in its 24th year and was conducted online among 11,580 respondents across the U.S., UK, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. The survey took place from March 26 to April 3, 2024 on behalf of Expedia by Harris Research Partners, a global strategic research firm, and responses were gathered using an amalgamated group of best-in-class panels.

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Happy #NationalBucketlistDay ✈️ 🌍. 2024 is the year you mark travel destinations off your bucket list with the help of a travel advisor. Let's make itineraries that perfectly fit your travel goals and budget. #TravelBetter #TravelBucketlist #BucketlistTravel #BucketlistDestinations

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Since the early years of my starting my DMC in Central America, Viaventure Central America I have always held the belief that the main purpose in a B2B sales & marketing role is to make it as exciting & easy for my clients to sell our destination & services as possible. Our job is to create a “win-win” solution. Now with my Representation company Travel Kinship | Representation & Marketing I see that DMCs and accommodations fall into the trap of thinking that once they have had a successful first meeting with a client, this is the end of their role and the sales will flood in. Job done. “They clearly love us so they will now sell us.” For effective sales and marketing, however, at Travel Kinship | Representation & Marketing, we believe that suppliers should then embark on a journey of support, innovation and partnership. Suppliers need to help their clients promote them by ensuring their destination and products are on their websites and in their marketing, social media and sales systems. One of the best ways to achieve this is to create what I call a "Sales Toolkit." using software like Squirrel Fish and support your B2B clients so that they use it. Find out more on the link below... #BusinessDevelopment #b2bmarketing #Relationshipmarketing

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