Tag: travel agent license

Google’s AI to power Priceline’s virtual travel agent

Yudi Pratama, June 15, 2023

Online travel agency Priceline, a part of Booking Holdings, plans to bring out a sophisticated chatbot for planning trips and offering hotel suggestions like “a personal concierge,” said Chief Technology Officer Martin Brodbeck.

New tools from Google’s cloud division give Priceline access to generative AI, like the technology behind ChatGPT that can draft text as if a human wrote it. The tools also extract information such as hotel prices from existing data to ensure accuracy.

“You can easily find out that in Bryant Park there’s a Christmas market that runs from early November all the way through the beginning of January when you’re actually booking your hotel,” Brodbeck said.

For Google, drawing business through AI represents a potential way to close the gap with rivals Amazon and Microsoft, as it has long been a distant No. 3 providers of cloud services like data storage.

For Priceline, embracing novel technology on

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How the Caribbean Has Earned a Reputation as a Foodie Destination

Yudi Pratama, June 7, 2023

Across the Caribbean, chefs are embracing local food traditions and homegrown ingredients, which both attract travelers who want authentic culinary experiences and raise the area’s reputation as a foodie paradise.

In Grenada, Chef Andre Bernard is intent on using seasonal ingredients and local spices at his popular Dre Flavors Restaurant. “I use a lot of local ingredients in my cooking,” he says. “The only juice you’ll be served at my restaurant is made from 100 percent local, seasonal fruits. I also infuse Indian spices in my curries and starters, and our cheesecake dessert highlights local fruit that’s in season like mango, guava, ripe, and passion fruit.”

Chef Bernard’s hyper-local approach to cooking is part of the culinary movement that’s highlighting local flavors and helping to drive tourism to the islands. “Our menu is geared towards experiencing the unique infusion of local ingredients in a fine dining experience. Grenada has a

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Many Familiar Faces as ACTA Announces 2023-2024 Board

Yudi Pratama, June 4, 2023

ACTA held its annual general meeting on Tuesday as members voted on the nine positions available to the Board of Directors. Immediately following the conclusion of the AGM, the newly elected Board of Directors appointed three positions to round out the 12-person Board.

The new ACTA Board of Directors for the year 2023-2024 is:

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– Liz Fleming, General Manager, North South Travel representing British Columbia/Yukon region

– Peter Keyter, Director and General Counsel, South Travel o/a The Travel Lady Agency representing Alberta/Northwest Territories region

– Karen Schabel CTM, Training and Development Coordinator, CAA Saskatchewan, representing Saskatchewan region

– Melanie Carter CTM, Director, Travel, CAA Club Group of Companies, representing Manitoba/Nunavut region

– Monica Johnstone CTC, President, Uniglobe Travel Innovations, representing the Ontario region

– Genevieve Dupuy-Duplessis, Vice President, Club Voyages Dumoulin, representing Quebec region

– Gary Gaudry, President Maritime Travel representing the Atlantic region

– Zeina Gedeon, CEO, Trevello,

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Travel Agent

Hickory Log Restaurant & Lounge

Yudi Pratama, June 1, 2023November 12, 2024

During our family road trip toward our final stop in Missouri, we decided to have a BBQ dinner at Hickory Log located in Dexter, Missouri. They truly live up to their motto of “Famous for Bar-BQ Ribs!” This restaurant with its rustic elegance décor has been open since 1953 and I know why!

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮ang𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮a𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦 a𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘪ana𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘐 𝘮a𝘬𝘦 a a 𝘴 𝘮ang𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩a𝘴𝘦! 𝘛𝘩ang𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔a𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘩 𝘛𝘳an𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘴!

welcome!

The entrance and waiting area (where we hardly waited) to the restaurant is inviting, comfortable and makes you feel like home. Not only is the atmosphere relaxing and pleasant, so are the employees.

The décor of the restaurant is absolutely beautiful! It has a rustic elegance that just wants to keep you indoors. This is far from what we’re used to as we’re from

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No pilots, no panic: Travel agent warns against worries ahead of potential strike

Yudi Pratama, May 31, 2023

WestJet pilots issuing a notice of a strike just days before the May long weekend shouldn’t cause panic for travelers just yet.

Terry Kaszas, general manager of travel services for CAA Saskatchewan, said travel agents have been getting a few questions and concerns with the looming threat of a strike.

As a strike hasn’t officially started, however, he said there haven’t been too many frentic calls yet.

Kaszas advised travelers not to be concerned.

“I don’t think they should be worried just yet. Let’s wait and see what happens before we cause any panic,” he said.

His biggest piece of advice was to get in contact with a travel agent if a strike did happen.

Travel agents, he said, are starting to already get instructions about what they can do for clients to be prepared in that situation. Presently, Kaszas said there is a free change or cancellation open to

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Safest Countries for Solo Female Travelers

Yudi Pratama, May 24, 2023

Are you a solo female traveler looking for a safe and secure destination for your next adventure? I would not be surprised – as most solo travelers are female, with only 16% being male. I’m not kidding! It really is true. We are a vast majority, so I would guess (almost) nothing can stop us.

While traveling alone can be empowering, fun, and exciting, it’s important to remember that safety should always come first. Especially for us – women. But the good news is that plenty of countries around the world are safe, welcoming, and just perfect for solo female travelers. So pack your bags, grab your passport, and get ready to explore the world safely!

Always do your research

So, what actually makes a safe destination for women traveling alone? While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, we can find a few factors to consider.

Look at the country’s political

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Few options, higher prices for travelers amid looming WestJet strike

Yudi Pratama, May 19, 2023

On Tuesday, travel agents and WestJet passengers received a notice from the airline after the pilots from Canada’s second-largest airline issued a 72-hour strike notice.

This looming disruption comes ahead of the May long weekend and has travel agents like Claire Newell crossing their fingers and toes that an agreement was made before the Friday morning deadline.

Newell is the president of Travel Best Bets and says a strike will cause a domino effect, and “it’s going to be a pandemonium.”

In her experience, Canadian airline strikes are a rare event, so she was pleasantly surprised that WestJet has provided advice and information readily available at travel agents’ fingertips.

“WestJet has planned for this, and they’re making it as easy as possible given the unfortunate situation,” she said.

Here is what you should expect if you have booked an upcoming flight with WestJet, according to Newell.

Changes to upcoming flights

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Mistakes People Make When Booking Hotels

Yudi Pratama, May 17, 2023

To maximize value and enjoyment, try to make an informed decision.

Staying at a hotel is such a common part of the travel experience that you’d think the process is foolproof. Still, plenty of people make mistakes ― and sometimes end up paying handsomely ― when it comes to booking their travel accommodations.

Whether these missteps end up costing valuable time and money or otherwise just souring the vacation experience, it’s worth taking the time to steer clear of such hassles. That’s why HuffPost asked some experts to share the common mistakes travelers make when it comes to booking a hotel.

From selecting the wrong cancellation policy to grossly underestimating final costs, here are 12 hotel booking errors ― and some advice for avoiding them in your future travels.

Choosing A Hotel Solely Based On Price

“While it may

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Travel Agent

Chef & The Baker | Beating Bobby Flay Mackintosh Travels™

Yudi Pratama, May 16, 2023November 12, 2024

This bakery beat Bobby Flay with their empanadas on the Food Network! When I found out they had a location in my hometown, I just had to try it for myself.

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This is the view from the street when I arrived. I wasn’t expecting the bakery to be in an industrial part of town. I do wish they were more visible.

As I approached even closer and parked, the bakery was much smaller outdoors and indoors than I imagined. They did seem to have customers coming in and going out so I figured the food must be good.

The indoors where the customers could see was small, but it looked like where all the action took place (making

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FlightClaim Appoints Patrick Doyle as New CCO

Yudi Pratama, May 16, 2023

FlightClaim is pleased to announce the appointment of Patrick Doyle as its new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). With over two decades of experience in the travel management and corporate payments industries, Patrick brings a wealth of expertise and leadership to his new role. As CCO, Patrick will lead the commercial strategy of FlightClaim and play a vital role in the growth and success of the company.

Prior to joining FlightClaim, Patrick served as Vice President and General Manager for Canada at American Express Global Business Travel. During his tenure, he oversaw the strategic account management, traveler care, and loyalty teams in Canada. Under his leadership, American Express Global Business Travel became one of Canada’s leading travel management companies, serving over 500 client relationships across various industry verticals.

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Patrick has a proven track record of leading high-performing, customer-focused teams that consistently demonstrate values to stakeholders and deliver strong results.

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