TGA Industry Update

The clock is ticking, early birds!

15 May 2013 10:20:04 CDT

There are two weeks left to book your exhibit space for The 2014 Travel Goods Show and take advantage of the significant early bird savings! Don't wait — the early bird deadline is June 1. Not only does booking early mean saving money, it also ensures priority booth placement. Submit your application today! With questions, please contact TGA's Cathy Hays at 877-842-1938, x-707.

TGA elects Board of Directors

15 May 2013 10:20:04 CDT

The 30-day voting period has ended, and during that time an overwhelming number of members cast their e-votes in support of TGA's Slate of Nominees for the 2013-2014 Board of Directors. Thanks to everyone who exercised their very important privilege as a member of this Association and voted!

Chairman
Cliff Ensley, Leisure Merchandising Corp.
Chair Elect
Scott Kosmin, 24/7 International
Vice Chair
Richard Krulik, Briggs & Riley
Treasurer
David Bieber, Delsey Luggage
Secretary
Robert Dodson, Ricardo Beverly Hills
Immediate Past Chair
Jack Holodnicki, Olivet International

Directors
Sue Flaum, Burlington Coat Factory
Jerry Kallman, Airline International Luggage
David Lomas, Design Go Ltd.
Randy MacKenzie, Edwards Luggage
Tom Nelson, CBnB/Magellan's
Harry Sheikh, Heys USA

Governor Brown proposes California Proposition 65 reforms

15 May 2013 10:20:04 CDT

On May 7, California Governor Edmund Brown Jr. called for major reforms to California Proposition 65. While the proposed reforms are a step in the right direction, the proposal may take time to be approved and implemented. TGA will continue to educate its members on best practices to comply with the law. Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, is a California law that requires "warning labels" on all products sold in California that contain lead, phthalates, cadmium and any one of 850 other chemicals that the state of California believes could cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. Non-governmental organizations and even Californian citizens can sue in California courts and collect part of the fines. TGA tracks all travel goods and fashion-related Prop 65 notices in the TGA Prop 65 "60 Day Notice" running list, and will continue to update this list on a regular basis to catalog the effects of this law on the travel goods industry. For more information on Prop 65, please go to the Prop 65 page on the TGA website or contact TGA's Nate Herman, 703-797-9062.

Tough crowd: Smart ways to deal with angry customers online

15 May 2013 10:20:04 CDT

The rise of the internet and social media has given everyone a platform to air their gripes, and as a business owner, you're likely to end up on the receiving end of that negativity at some point. It's unpleasant — and hard to know how to navigate each jab. Do you ignore it? Do you respond? If you do respond, what do you say? Here are a few things to think about the next time you're staring down a profanity-laced Facebook comment or tweet. (Hint: The old rule "kill 'em with kindness" still applies.)

Be productive when the pressure is on

15 May 2013 10:20:04 CDT

When everything is a priority, how do you remain calm and complete all your tasks on time? When you're feeling stressed about your to-do list, multitasking is one of the worst things you can do. These five tips will help you stay productive.

A travel social network for kids

15 May 2013 10:20:04 CDT

Attention mini-jetsetters: A new travel social networking site for kids, ShrinkJet, is set to launch next month. Once your child signs up, he or she can share experiences about restaurants, museums, playgrounds etc. in his or her hometown and other cities around the world with other like-minded travelers.

Mid-size airports take biggest cuts in airline service

15 May 2013 10:20:04 CDT

Airline mergers, a deep recession and surging fuel prices have led to sharp cuts in airline service around the country. Hardest hit: Medium-sized airports. Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, California and other mid-sized airports lost an average of 26.2% of their flights from 2007 to 2012, according to a new study by Massachusetts Institute of Technology's International Center for Air Transportation. The cuts are a result of airlines eliminating less-profitable routes and focusing on more popular, high-profit routes, the report said.

Branson: Space tourism won't hurt environment

15 May 2013 10:20:04 CDT

British billionaire Richard Branson said that rocket-powered space tourism flights by his firm Virgin Galactic would have only a minor impact on climate change. More than 500 people have already reserved seats — and paid deposits on the $200,000 ticket price — for a minutes-long suborbital flight on the SpaceShipTwo set to begin by the end of 2013. "We have reduced the [carbon emission] cost of somebody going into space from something like two weeks of New York's electricity supply... to less than the cost of an economy round-trip from Singapore to London," Branson told reporters in Singapore.

Traveling solo

15 May 2013 10:20:04 CDT

The dreaded single supplement has long been an albatross around a solo traveler's neck, but an increasing number of land and cruise suppliers are coming around to the notion that a customer vacationing alone deserves a fair shake. To be sure, these suppliers are the exception rather than the rule, as the majority of providers continue to charge a 100% supplement fee, and sometimes more, so that an individual traveler is paying at least the equivalent of two cruise fares or two tour rates.

Beyond smartphones: Mobile innovation that could change the way you do business

15 May 2013 10:20:04 CDT

Apple's iPhone and iPad were revolutionary mobile products that changed how people communicate and access information, entertainment and services. Since then, similar slab-style smartphones and tablets have become ubiquitous. This doesn't mean mobile devices have become boring, but it does beg the question: What new kinds of gadgets will we see next — and what will they mean for your business?

Gay and lesbian travel sector growing

15 May 2013 10:20:04 CDT

According to President & CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council David Scowsill, "The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender sector is, without doubt, making a dynamic and influential contribution to our global industry." Scowsill told the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association on May 2 in Chicago that the sector is estimated to be worth $55 billion and around $165 billion globally.