Robin Lawther is the Vice President of Expedia TAAP (Travel Agent Affiliate Program), and with over 3,000,000 properties on their site, Expedia is a huge force in the travel industry.

Robin and I discuss how travelers’ expectations are changing in the world of luxury travel, and how travel advisors can meet and exceed these rising expectations. We also discuss the impact of social media and AI on the future of luxury travel and how travel agents can partner with Expedia TAAP to better grow their businesses. 

Robin Lawther, Vice President of Expedia TAAP (Travel Agent Affiliate Program), is a versatile leader with a proven track record in leading teams across strategy, operations, and commercial domains. Boasting extensive experience as a management consultant in the travel industry and backed by over 8 years in various B2B leadership roles at Expedia Group, Robin leverages his deep understanding of the retail travel industry and applies his expertise to drive strategic initiatives and growth for Expedia TAAP. A recognized subject matter expert, Robin remains at the forefront, shaping the vision for TAAP, and consistently prioritizes travel advisors to ensure the business can deliver world-class experiences to the travelers they serve.Expedia TAAP: https://www.expediataap.com/

Expedia offers a versatile platform for booking travel, but as a travel advisor, you also need a way to manage your client relationships. Transform the way you work with Trazel - the CRM custom-tailored for travel advisors. Ready to take your travel agency to the next level? To learn more, visit https://trazel.com/

Crafting your elevator pitch is an important part of being successful as a travel agent, because if you can't explain your value proposition to your clients in easy-to-understand language, you're going to struggle to convince them to work with you. In this episode, I cover a few aspects to consider when crafting your pitch.

This episode is brought to you by our partnership with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. Visit https://dotravelrewards.com to take advantage of their travel agent rewards program and ensure you're getting the absolute most out of your Dominican Republic bookings.

If you're considering diving into the world of selling travel, here's a quick overview of the benefits of becoming a travel agent.

Ready to take your travel agency to the next level? Transform the way you work with Trazel - the CRM custom-tailored for travel advisors. Visit Trazel.com to learn more!

This episode is brought to you by our partnership with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. Visit https://dotravelrewards.com to take advantage of their travel agent rewards program and ensure you're getting the absolute most out of your Dominican Republic bookings.

I share some of the basics of commissions, service fees, and the importance of focusing on the big picture during a training call with the newest member of our IC team, Erica.

This episode is brought to you by our partnership with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. Visit https://dotravelrewards.com to take advantage of their travel agent rewards program and ensure you're getting the absolute most out of your Dominican Republic bookings.

During a training call with the newest member of our IC team, Erica, I share the basics of being a travel agent, including a breakdown of the 4 step process of working with clients, how to improve your communication on consultation calls, and the key to growing relationships in the industry.

Cesar Briceño shares how you can partner with Classic Vacations to grow your travel agency business. He shares a little bit about Classic Vacations 46 year history in the travel industry as well as all of the wonderful destinations and products they offer. If you're interested in learning more about how you can maximize your travel agency business with Classic Vacations, contact Cesar

This episode of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast is brought to you by our partnership with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. The Dominican Republic is the premiere destination in the Caribbean, welcoming over 5,000,000 visitors in the first five months of 2024. To better understand why so many travelers are choosing the Dominican Republic as their go-to destination, visit https://godominicanrepublic.com

In this episode, we discuss how agents can book destination weddings with Francisco Alvarez, the Regional Weddings Sales Manager of America with Palladium Hotel Group. We cover Palladium's brand new 2024 wedding packages, their new booking and planning process, their unique event options like the S'mores Bash, and we discuss how agents can better sell destination weddings at their beautiful hotels.

Weddings By Palladium Info (2024): https://moderntravelagent.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WEDDING-BY-PALLADIUM-INFO-2024-ENG.pdf

Weddings by Palladium - Weddings Catalogue (2024): https://moderntravelagent.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weddings-by-Palladium-Weddings-Catalogue-2024.pdf

Weddings by Palladium - Wedding Timeline: https://moderntravelagent.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weddings-by-Palladium-Wedding-Timeline.pdf

This episode is brought to you by our partnership with Palladium Hotel Group.

On this episode, I share the lessons I've learned from our Director of Operations Krystal Aziz and our Director of Weddings Itzel Rodriguez.

In this episode, I share 3 lessons to grow your travel agent business with integrity and kindness.

This episode is brought to you by our partnership with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. Visit https://dotravelrewards.com to take advantage of their travel agent rewards program.

The Dominican Republic was the Caribbean’s most popular destination last year, welcoming over 10 million visitors, and it looks like 2024 is going to be even a bigger year for the popular beach destination. This February, the Dominican Republic welcomed 755,832 visitors by air and 301,384 visitors by cruise ship, bringing the visitor total to a record 1,057,216 (16% increase over February 2023). Expect the Dominican Republic to continue on this trend of growth as we move through 2024 and into 2025.

According to TravelPulse, six North American Airlines are offering direct flights to Tulum Airport as soon as March 28.

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/airlines-airports/more-airlines-add-flights-to-tulum

According to Travel & Leisure, Delta Air Lines has increased baggage fees on domestic and some international routes. Both the first and second checked bags will increase by $5 for most domestic flights originating in the United States and on short-haul international routes.

https://www.travelandleisure.com/delta-increases-baggage-fees-for-2024-8605042

According to CNBC, on flights starting after April 10, Frontier will offer UpFront Plus in the first two rows of its Airbus planes, where it will block the sale of the middle seat. Those seats will also include four to five inches more legroom compared with most of the seats on the planes. Prices start at $49.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/12/frontiers-newest-upsell-empty-middle-seats-more-legroom.html

According to Forbes, Crystal Cruises Begins Booking their 27-Country, $85,000 Luxury World Cruise. The 135-day trip will include visits to 72 destinations in more than 27 countries, including Rome, Athens, Hong Kong, Dabai, Bora Bora, and others.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelgoldstein/2024/03/14/crystal-begins-booking-27-country-85000-luxury-world-cruise/

According to Travel Weekly, Disney Cruise Line has unveiled their ship deployments for summer 2025, including the Disney Fantasy's first season in Europe and the Disney Wonder's return to Alaska.

https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Disney-Cruise-Line-unveils-plans-for-summer-2025

According to Travel & Leisure, Virgin Voyages is Launching a Month-long Cruise Pass So You Can Work From Paradise. This pass, called the Scarlet Summer Season Pass, is valid for a month-long journey on board the cruise line’s Scarlet Lady ship sailing across the Mediterranean Sea. The pass starts at $9,990 for two people, which Virgin notes is a 30 percent savings off the cost of a typical cruise fare.

https://www.travelandleisure.com/virgin-voyages-cruise-wfh-summer-pass-8606290

According to Travel Weekly, Ambergris Cay, the private island, all-inclusive resort in Turks and Caicos, has added eight beachfront bungalows, seven one-bedroom accommodations and one two-bedroom.

https://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Luxury-beachfront-bungalows-Caribbean-Turks-Caicos-Ambergris-Cay

According to Travel & Leisure, Cayo Levantado Resort, one of the Dominican Republic's newest all-inclusive resorts which just opened last year, is pricing as low as $500 a night. With 219 accommodations, including stand-alone villas, four restaurants and six bars, the biggest selling point is actually the wellness center, Yubarta, which includes a relaxation area with chaise lounges, a human-made cenote, a meditation room, an atelier, and a nutrition studio. As we head further into 2024, we should expect to see more resorts focusing on wellness travel.

https://www.travelandleisure.com/cayo-levantado-resort-dominican-republic-hotel-review-7970971

And that’s “This Week In Travel.” This episode of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast is brought to you by our partnership with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. If you’re currently booking the Dominican Republic but you’re not taking advantage of their rewards program, you’re leaving money on the table. Visit https://dotravelrewards.com to learn more about their program and how you can register.