Note that unlike the normal search content module, you cannot choose which search fields to include. The Search box has different basic and advanced searches. Clicking the Advanced Search link shows the additional search options.  Clicking Basic Search takes you back to the regular view.

NexCite Cruise Search - Basic Search

NexCite Cruise Search - Advanced Search

 The search box allows your customers to use many of the more powerful features of the agent search, such as selecting a cruise line, ship, port, and more. 

Your customer can be as broad or as specific with date searches as desired.  They can select a month/year from the drop down, and then optionally choose a specific day.  If a specific day is selected, then a “Start Date Options” box appears that allows them to choose their flexibility options.  That way, they can say “I really want to leave on this day, but show me things that depart before or after that date by some number of days”.

To add the search box to one of your NexCite pages, simply complete the following steps:

• Edit the page you would like to place the Cruise Search Box on
• Click the sideways “Edit” button for the area of the page where you want to place the Cruise Search Box
• Click the “Insert Content Module” icon
• Choose “Cruise Search” from the Module Type dropdown list
• Enter your selections
• Click “Update“
• Save your page
• Publish your page

1. Similar Facebook and Twitter URLs/Names. If your twitter name is “ABC Travel”, don’t make your Facebook Business page be “Destinations of the World”, at first glance your customers might not realize that this is the same company.
2. Frequent updates. If you are only posting updates on Facebook and Twitter once a week, you are missing out on a lot of opportunities. Your customers have many friends, and are probably fans of many other Businesses, so if you are posting very infrequently they are likely not seeing your posts because they disappear off of their newsfeed too quickly.  At a minimum you should be sharing something once a day. These updates can be short and sweet.  Some quick ideas might be:
   1. Share a destination of the day and one fact about it.  For example, “Did you know that Waikiki Beach is the most popular Beach in the US? If you’ve been there, tell us what you think!”
   2. Share a photo from your most recent trip. Include a caption to entice your followers.  This could be a photo of anything from a really great restaurant, to a sculpture, to an amazing street market that you found tucked away.
   3. Mention a favorite cruise ship, hotel, or restaurant in a popular destination.  Even an unique train station.  Amtrak Vacations does a nice job of this:
      
3. Follow others. The whole concept of social media is to be social, so get out there and follow other people/brands you are interested in.  Your followers will notice this and appreciate the fact that you are active in engaging with others also. (Don’t suddenly follow hundreds of others over night, start small and aim to engage with those that you follow in a meaningful way).
4. Give people a reason to like you. How many times have you seen a product or store asking you to “like” them on Facebook.  Did you stop to wonder why you should? Tell your customers and potential fans exactly why they should! Let them know that you are providing exclusive information only on Facebook. DDB Worldwide’s Paris office found that one of the top reasons for following a brand on Facebook was to ”take advantage of promotional benefits” and “to access exclusive information about the brand”.  You can help give your fans a reason by something as simple as including: To access exclusive information “like” us on Facebook as your request.
5. When posting updates on your personal page, tag your business page in the status update. If you are talking about Travel, chances are some of these people might want to connect with your business page also and get even more information and updates.  This method is seen as much less “spammy” then using the “suggest to friends” option and allows people to “Like” your business page with less clicks.

You’ll find “Share Today’s Top Vacation Values” on your main Agent SociaLink page.  From there you will see a frew deals and you’ll be able to click to see all of the options.

The links to these hotels and resorts are automatically created for you, and refer back to your VacationPort or NexCite.  If you are signed up for Agent SociaLink, but aren’t using VacationPort or NexCite, we have good news for you too, Agent SociaLink will still build these links, and they will simply take your customer to an unbranded VacationPort site.

Let us know what you think of this new feature, and look for more enhancements coming soon.

1. Washington, DC (Hagerstown, MD)
2. Seattle-Tacoma, WA
3. San Diego, CA
4. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA
5. Baltimore, MD
6. Atlanta, GA
7. Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX
8. Salt Lake City, UT
9. Las Vegas, NV
10. Portland, OR

It is interesting to note that 5 of those same 10 cities were shown in the 10 Best Places for Tech Jobs by US News. The 5 cities that appear in both lists are:

1. Atlanta, GA
2. San Diego, CA
3. San Francisco, CA
4. Seattle, WA
5. Washington, DC

If a large majority of your clients are in one or more of these areas, investing in the ability for your clients to book online might be a wise decision.

• Adding your LinkedIn Badge to your Outlook Signature
• Adding your Facebook Badge to your Outlook Signature

Simply go to the Facebook Fan page that you would like to add into your “Favorite Pages” area.  Underneath the picture click on “Add to my Pages Favorites“. (If you have admin access to multiple Facebook Fan Pages from your account you will be asked which Fan Page you would like it to be added to – otherwise, your Fan Page has been updated.)

Have fun!

We had a late night so I only ended up sleeping about 5 hours, but the bed was so comfortable that I was as rested as I would normally be after 8 hours sleeping in my own bed.

We had a lovely breakfast at Urban Farmer. I had an Avacado Benedict that was seriously one of the best I’ve ever had.  The home made English muffin was perfect, crispy enough to keep the sauce for soaking through, yet still soft and delicious. And speaking of the sauce, it was fantastic! A little touch of something tart (mustard maybe?) to keep it from being too creamy, but still rich and yummy!

Here are a few pictures that I took, they don’t do the room justice (I forgot my good camera and had to take these with my cell phone). I highly recommend The Nines if you are in Portland.

Ramsey, NJ – (June 21, 2010) GOGO Worldwide Vacations, the leading wholesaler of value and amenity-packed vacation packages, exclusively serving travel agencies since 1951 is pleased to announce it has partnered with Passport Online.  This partnership will put GOGO’s extensive product line on the websites of Passport Onlines participating travel agent and consortia member subscribers.   

“GOGO’s only customer is the retail travel agent, and in the past few years we have really focused on innovative marketing programs to drive leads, and our partnership with Passport Online will certainly help us accomplish that”, said Michele Kish, President of GOGO.  “Displaying our extensive product and competitive pricing in front of millions of consumers on travel agent websites every month is sure to drive inquiries to agents who participate in Passport Online’s marketing solutions”, added Kish. 

“We are thrilled to now include the GOGO Worldwide Vacations portfolio of consumer product offerings for our vast travel agency network. Now our agency and consortia clients who work with GOGO can feature GOGO’s products and promotions on their consumer website, within emails and even in their Social Media and search engine marketing efforts,” said Randy Goodrich, Senior Vice President and co-founder of Passport Online. “Our agency clients are getting more aggressive in the area of online marketing, using our programs and with our new Social Media support. We fully expect many will feature GOGO in their blogs, Facebook messages and Tweets, as well as their website and email marketing.”

About GOGO:
Established in 1951, GOGO Worldwide Vacations is a leading wholesaler of value and amenity-packed vacation packages with more than 40 local sales offices, exclusively serving the United States travel agent community.  GOGO offers its 18,000+ travel agent customer’s competitive commissions, comprehensive marketing programs, co-op advertising opportunities and annual learning conferences.  Following its acquisition by Flight Centre Limited in January 2008, GOGO has significantly enhanced the depth and breadth of its product and destination offerings.  www.gogowwv.com 

About Passport Online Inc.
Passport Online Inc. is the emarketing and ecommerce solution provider for the leisure travel industry. Passport Online’s reach via travel agent extranets and travel agency consumer websites includes over 20,000 travel agents and over 4,000 unique consumer-facing travel agency websites. Passport also manages and executes email marketing for travel agencies, reaching an additional 7,500 participating travel agencies, and over 3 million travelers.

1. Learn about a destination they might not have been considering for a vacation.
2. See some of the great deals for that destination – without having to go search for them.

This is great for you because this happens automatically for your agency (of course, you have to be signed up with ClientBase or ClientEase/MarketEase Online already).

The March Destination Campaign featured Ireland and CIE International and the April Destination Campaign featured Italy and Trafalgar Tours. 

The May Destination Campaign will be ready soon and features LaTour and Brazil.  This is a great opportunity for your clients to start picturing themselves cruising the Amazon.

Are you participating in these campaigns through ClientBase or ClientEase/MarketEase Online? If not, you can always sign up to recieve emails from TRO and then send a customized version of this campaign to your clients.