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Demand Increases for Human Travel Agents Lost Luggage Rate ccording to the American Society of Travel Agents, human travel A agents are in higher demand Drops By 60% than they have been for several years. Hate it when you lose your lug- Travel agencies are hiring more employ- gage? So do airlines. They’ve ees and paying better than they have been working diligently the last in five years, and according to a recent study the increased demand for human few years to stop losing your help may signal growing discomfort luggage – and it seems to be with an increasingly crowded market- working. The lost luggage rate place of online booking sites. Some has dropped by 60% worldwide travelers are again looking for an expe- rienced professional to help make sense in seven years, from 19 bags of the vast array of travel options pre- per thousand in 2007 to just sented by any online ticketing search. seven bags per thousand last year. The decline comes during a time source: when the number of passengers increased by 40%, according to a report by airline IT vendor SITA. There are several reasons for the improve- ment. The introduction of baggage fees increased reliance on carry-on luggage, which has cut down on the opportunity for luggage to go miss- ing. Luggage tracking technology can help track down missing luggage before it’s gone too far, and some airlines have introduced self-service airport kiosks and smartphone apps that allow travelers to report miss- ing luggage. In general, investment into baggage processing and man- agement systems was one of the top spending priorities for airports in 2014. sources: forbes, los angeles times Hip Hotels Target Tech-Savvy Millennials illennials are really special! That’s the message market- Are Ridiculously Low Airfares for Real? M ers continue to send as they arlier this year, Irish low-cost ed the acquisition of its 69th plane with cater to the specific tastes of young carrier Ryanair announced £10 $69 round-trip airfares available in April Americans. Hotel giants Marriott E (about $15) transatlantic air- and May. Based in Florida, Spirit is International and Hilton Worldwide are fares to the United States. But in truth, known for low fares combined with fees launching brands such as Moxy, AC, according to The Independent, Ryanair’s for almost everything else – from carry- Edition, CitizenM and Canopy, targeted low prices are more PR stunt than real on baggage to seat location to bottled precisely at travelers ages 18 to 34. Even world pricing. “It is conceivable that water. Another airline to experiment Sir Richard Branson’s new Virgin Hotels such loss leaders may be offered in tiny with bottom-dollar pricings is AirAsia, chain was made for Millennials. Young quantities to launch the airline or offload which announced new “unlimited flight” travelers want smaller rooms, Ikea-style seats in the lowest of seasons,” writes passes that offer travel to 10 countries furniture, fast and free Wi-Fi connectiv- Simon Calder, travel correspondent for in Southeast Asia. The ASEAN pass ity and power outlets and USB ports The Independent, “but in practice, the is available in two versions: the $160 throughout the rooms. Millennials say minimum fare is likely to be £100 each option offers 10 travel credits that must they don’t want frills, but they do want way covering the taxes and fees Ryanair be used within 30 days, and a $290 pass connection – both real and virtual, must pay for each passenger. The aver- provides 20 credits and a 60-day travel via high-speed Internet, social gather- age is likely to be around £200 each window. Destinations include Malaysia, ing spaces and walkable hotel loca- way.” While Ryanair’s ultralow fares Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambo- tions. According to a Harris Poll survey, may be a publicity stunt, Spirit Airlines dia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Burma, American Millennials will spend about actually implemented several dirt-cheap Laos and Brunei. source: $226 billion in travel this year. tickets this year. The company celebrat- the independent, , condé nast traveler source: los angeles times

Travel Goods SHOWCASE Summer 2015 11 News &Notes How to Book the Cheapest Flight Possible hrifty Nomads, a travel blog that coupon codes), Azair (for booking offers suggestions for saving in Europe and the Middle East) and money while traveling, recently WhichBudget (which includes the bud-

TRAVEL T published advice for booking the least get airlines that many booking sites do expensive flight possible. First, use not). Using budget airlines is a good private browser settings to prevent way to save money, of course, and cookies from tracking visits, which befriending those airlines on social can trigger increased prices designed media can keep travelers abreast of Ranking America’s Most to urge travelers to buy quickly. Next, discounts and sales. Consider separat- Frustrating Airports use Skyscanner to determine which ing multi-leg journeys into multiple loomberg has published the dates in a given month will provide smaller trips with separate ticketed Airport Frustration Index, which the lowest fares, then be sure to avoid fares, and don’t forget about local air- B factors in things like long lines, sites such as Expedia, which mark lines and points programs that could crowded terminals and bad food to up fares and take a cut, and opt for deliver deep discounts. Finally, con- determine which North American air- sites such as Skyscanner, Chipmunk, sider running your itinerary by a travel ports travelers wish they could avoid. Google Flights, Liligo, Cheapticket, agent on the chance they’re able to The survey of more than 3,000 frequent Cheapoair (which frequently offers meet or beat a fare. source: thrifty nomads flyers determined the worst places to board a plane in the U.S. and Canada, A Million More People Will Cruise This Year and the overall loser is New York’s ccording to a February report from the Cruise Lines International Association, LaGuardia Airport, which was called about 23 million passengers will cruise in 2015, with the majority departing out for its slow security and dirty rest- A from North American ports. That number is up from 22 million in 2014, rooms, as well as frequent delays, over- thanks in large part to improvements in the U.S. economy and a strengthening priced food and poor shopping options. dollar. Bigger and better vessels also entice travelers with more amenities, unique New York travelers aren’t in much routes and specialty cruises. Royal Caribbean’s 4,180-passenger Anthem of the Seas luck elsewhere as John F. Kennedy debuted in April, and Norwegian Cruise Line’s 4,300-passenger Norwegian Escape is and Newark’s Liberty International also set to sail from Port Miami in November. More than one third of all available cruise made the bottom five, rounded out by beds are deployed in the Caribbean market, with 20% in the Mediterranean, 11% in Washington Dulles and Chicago O’Hare. Europe, 6% in Australia/New Zealand and 6% in Asia. The best, least frustrating airports over- source: eturbonews all? Those are Vancouver International, Portland Oregon International, Austin- Bergstrom, Calgary International and Phoenix Sky Harbor. Each airport was ranked based on the time it takes to get there, how easy it is to clear security, the quality of terminals, restrooms and amenities and how often flights take off on time. source: bloomberg businessweek The Luxury Cruise Ship of the Future Delta Guarantees Luggage in t used to be that cruise ships were 20 Minutes or Less very environmentally unfriendly. But fuel efficiency. An arlier this year, Delta Air Lines I as travelers’ priorities have changed, onboard desalinization system provides tested a promise to deliver trav- cruise lines have taken notice. The new- clean, potable water straight from the E elers’ luggage to the baggage est generation of luxury ocean liners, ocean, eliminating the need for wasteful claim carousel within 20 minutes of such as Royal Caribbean’s Quantum water bottles and stored water – both a domestic flight’s arrival. Customer class of ships, represents a revised, clean- of which also add weight and hamper response was so positive that the airline er, slightly more sustainable future for fuel efficiency. Quantum’s onboard recy- is making the guarantee permanent. cruising. According to Royal Caribbean, cling center sorts waste from dozens SkyMiles members whose luggage is its $1 billion Quantum of the Seas is of onboard restaurants and bars, with not delivered within 20 minutes will built to be the most energy-efficient and glass and plastic stored until the ship receive 2,500 bonus miles if they sub- environmentally conscious cruise ship docks and onboard incinerators burning mit an online request within three days in the world. This is accomplished with the remaining material and passenger of travel. The fine print stipulates that traditional technologies, like exhaust waste into high grade ash that is eventu- lost luggage is exempt, as are over- scrubbers, as well as decidedly modern ally shipped to concrete factories for use size and overweight bags and special ones – such as “air lubrication,” which in road surfacing. According to Royal items such as wheelchairs, car seats uses a steady stream of bubbles emitted Caribbean, of the tons of supplies that and skis. Alaska Airlines offers a similar by jets below the waterline to coat the are loaded onto the ship prior to depar- 2,500-mile/20-minute guarantee. bow and allow the hull to slide through ture, nothing will end up in a landfill. source: yahoo news the water more easily for maximum source: the atlantic

12 Summer 2015 Travel Goods SHOWCASE News &Notes MANUFACTURER Eagle Creek Celebrates 40 Years, Garners Outside Acclaim Travelon Contest dventure travel gear maker Eagle Creek celebrates its 40th anniver- Winners sary in 2015. In 1975, Steve and A At The 2015 International Travel Goods Show, manufacturer Travelon Nona Barker began building backpacks in Idyllwild, CA. Five years later they held two drawings for $1,000 worth of Travelon anti-theft products. pioneered the adventure travel gear cat- Congratulations to winners Erik and Kim Hougen of Erik’s Luggage egory by manufacturing products with Unlimited in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada and Gary Metcalf of Global market-leading quality standards and smart travel functionality. “The 40th Luggage and Gifts in Amarillo, TX. Travelon extends its thanks to all who anniversary is a time to reflect and cele- entered. source: travelon brate what we’ve already accomplished and to support and refine our vision of how we will influence the future of trav- el,” said Eagle Creek President Roger Spatz. “Forty years spent focusing on the travel needs of consumers gives us special insight and depth of under- standing on how to deliver exceptional, well-made product, and we’re thankful for that. But we’re also celebrating the people whose passion has propelled the brand to the level it’s at now. We’ve been so fortunate to have such amazing The Travelon booth at The 2015 International Travel Goods Show was packed for the March 11th drawings for $1,000 worth of Travelon anti-theft products. At right, winners Erik and Kim Hougen of Erik's Luggage employees and industry partners who Unlimited in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. have been with us through our ups and downs, retail staff that loves the prod- uct and shares that love on the shop floor, and, of course, our passionate 24-7 International Honors Customers consumers without whom we wouldn’t onoring success for the year, travel goods manufacturer and marketer 24-7 have 40 years of travel tales to tell.” International presented three retailers with awards to mark achievements in Those consumers will be reading H sales at The 2015 International Travel Goods Show in Las Vegas. Retailers about Eagle Creek’s EC Lync System Bon-Ton and Boscov’s were each honored with Outstanding Sales Achievement in Outside magazine’s Summer Buyer’s Awards, and Susan Guide. The EC Lync System is an ultra- LeMaitre, senior buyer at lightweight rolling bag that converts HSN, was presented with to an even lighter the Outstanding Retail backpack or duf- Partner Award. fel and collapses for source: 24-7 international stowage in its own small bag. Outside’s 24-7 International’s Steven Lee (left) and Scott Kosmin (right) presented gear experts field- Bon-Ton’s Jordan Ketel and Jeremiah tested hundreds Carpenter with their award for of products Outstanding Sales Achievement. From left, 24-7 International’s Harvey including hik- Rimerman presented the Boscov’s ing packs, wear- team of Sam Flamholtz, Jim Boscov, able technology Jeff Houston, and Ed McKeanney with their award for Outstanding Sales and accessories Achievement. before selecting the best 350 for inclusion in the Summer Buyer’s Guide issue, on news- stands now.

HSN Senior Buyer Susan LeMaitre (center) takes a break from meetings at The 2015 International Travel Goods Show to receive an Outstanding Retail Partner Award from 24-7 International’s Chris source: eagle creek DePonte (left) and Scott Kosmin.

Travel Goods SHOWCASE Summer 2015 13 News &Notes Pivotal Soft Case Wins LugLoc Partners with Samsonite to Make GeoTrakR Luggage Prominent Design Award ugLoc announced at The 2015 International Travel Goods Show in Las he Soft Case gear bag from Pivotal Vegas that the luggage tracking manufacturer had partnered with bag maker won the 2015 Red Dot Award: L Samsonite to produce that brand’s new GeoTrakR smart luggage. “We are T Product Design. A 38-member very proud of the partnership we solidified with Samsonite,” said LugLoc President international jury evaluated more than Nicolas Keglevich, “as it increases our commitment to be the best luggage loca- 4,900 entries from 56 countries, but tion experience in the market.” The new self-tracking luggage will be available in only the designs that won over the September in carry-on and full-size options from $280 to $400, and will include 30 jury with their quality and innovative free traces for one year after purchase. sources: lugloc, cnn power were selected for an award. The Soft Case gear bag features the pat- HONTUS Gets Good Press BAQBAG Wins Best MANUFACTURER ented PIVOT-GRIP handle designed by talian manufacturer HONTUS dis- Newcomer Pivotal’s CEO, Leighton Klevana. The played its new Space Case 1 in he Federal Association of innovative handle was designed to take I dramatic fashion at The 2015 German Footwear and Leather stress and strain off of the wrist and International Travel Goods Show in Las T Goods Industry presented the arm when pulling luggage by rotating Vegas. The glossy, feather-light rolling I.L.M. Award for “Best Newcomer” 360°. The Red Dot Design Museum in case uses a built-in biometric lock and to BAQBAG’s Captain leather luggage Essen, Germany fea- global tracking via a proprietary smart- at The 2015 International Leather tures more than 2,000 phone app in order to maximize safety Goods Fair. The Norwegian company exhibits and bills itself and security without sacrificing good uses leather that is organically dyed as the world’s largest looks. The built-in scale and Bluetooth and processed with only natural addi- exhibition of contem- speakers make this smart luggage par- tives, as well as cast brass fittings and porary design. ticularly fun and functional, too. Plenty handcrafted construction to replicate source: pivotal of folks took notice, as the Space Case the century-old luggage collection of 1 was featured in articles in The Sunday Gunder Thorstensen, grandfather of Times of London, , BAQBAG founder Rolf Thorstensen. The Washington Times, The Globe and BAQBAG debuted in the U.S. at The Mail, The Business Times and the Seattle 2015 International Travel Goods Show Times. The Planet Traveler Space Case in Las Vegas. source: baqbag line will be available in the U.S. this fall The Pivotal Soft Case gear bag won the 2015 Red from HONTUS. Dot Award for product design.

LCI Brands Partners with tugo® n 2009, emergency room nurse Karen Porte thought of the idea for I the tugo® luggage drink holder dur- ing one of her frequent trips to visit a sick parent. While trying to find a place The Captain, handcrafted leather luggage from for her coffee she said, “I looked at the BAQBAG of Norway, received an I.L.M. Award for its extended handles on my rolling lug- source: hontus sustainable production methods and timeless style. gage and thought, ‘Of course, I should be able to put it right here!’” Soon she RETAILER began developing the flexible, durable and phthalate-free drink holder that Five Ways to Motivate Employees could also be manufactured in the U.S. eeping employees motivated just motivate, inspire. It’s empowering using recyclable packaging. The conve- on a daily basis is a challenge to employees and elevates the value of niently collapsible tugo® drink holder K for every business owner. Here their work. Fourth, reward good work fits in a carry-on and is available now are Fast Company’s five steps to help – both financially and interpersonally. from LCI Brands, maker of Lewis N. employees – and business owners – find “Words are powerful and praise can Clark, Belle Hop and UrbanGear travel the motivation to improve every day. make a big difference in an employee’s lines. source: lci brands First, say authors Nick Nanton and sense of self-worth and well-being.” JW Dicks, sell employees on why they And finally, lead from the front lines. A do what they do: “An inspired leader leader’s actions and attitude will spread gives their employees’ work meaning.” quickly throughout the company – for Second, when hiring, choose self-moti- better or worse. Greet each day with vated, goal-oriented leaders. They may energy and passion and your employees be more difficult to manage, but each may be inspired to do the same.

The tugo® luggage drink holder is available now from person has the opportunity to become source: fast company LCI Brands. an “internal entrepreneur.” Third, don’t News & Notes continued on page 16

14 Summer 2015 Travel Goods SHOWCASE & News Notes News & Notes continued from page 14 Retail Sales on the Rebound Mori Luggage & Gifts he United States Commerce Department announced March T retail sales increased by .9%, the in Mississippi Closing largest gain since March 2014 and a turnaround from three straight months

RETAILER Eighty-five-year-old George S. Mori recently posted a sign in front of of declining sales attributed widely to his Jackson, Mississippi luggage store that read “Store Closing Sale.” harsh winter weather. February sales Founded by Mori’s immigrant father in 1928, Mori Luggage & Gifts will be declined .5% compared to the same closing its doors at the end of May. “To be honest,” Mori said, “retailing month a year ago, and core retail sales statistics – which more closely reflect isn’t fun anymore because of online shoppers and social media, which consumer spending and are determined we’re not part of. All of our suppliers are on the Internet themselves.” by excluding automobiles, gasoline, At one time, the family company boasted multiple stores in Jackson, as building materials and food services well as branches as far as Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee and from the overall figures – rose .3% in March, slightly lower than ana- Florida. During the 1990s, Mori served for four years as president of the lyst expectations. Economists say the National Luggage Dealers Association. His brother Jean will continue to improving numbers could allow the operate stores in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina Federal Reserve to begin to raise inter- est rates later this year. source: reuters and South Carolina, as well as moriluggage.com. source: the clarion-ledger Small Businesses Should Consider an Altruistic Five Future Technology Advertisers Use Instagram “Plan B” Trends for Retailers for Visual Marketing nspired by an interaction with Sir ccording to Forbes, there are n December 2014, Instagram Richard Branson, business writer five technology trends that will announced it had passed the I Ivan Misner thinks small busi- A hit every retail store in the next I 300-million user mark. That rep- nesses can benefit – and benefit their five years. First, retailers will embrace resents a whopping 50% increase in communities – by adopting a “Plan the practice of “showrooming,” in just nine months, and it means the B.” Assuming that Plan A is simply which shoppers examine products at photo sharing service has surpassed to make as much money as possible, brick-and-mortar stores before order- the 288-million users of Twitter. It also Branson’s Plan B is to pay meaningful ing online elsewhere. Sensors placed means that advertisers and market- attention to the planet and its people. around stores will track which prod- ers will be paying greater attention to According to Misner, small businesses ucts “showroomers” linger around, and the app for “visual marketing.” Two should take on local issues, big busi- push information and sale prices to a new features of the software were tai- nesses should take on national issues, customer’s smartphone to enable online lor-made for advertisers. Carousel ads and international companies should ordering right from the store. Second, allow users to swipe through a series deal with global issues. Here are four analytics will become commonplace. of images in a single ad. The Layout ways Misner suggests small businesses Whereas online retailers have the feature lets brands create collages from can develop their own Plan B pro- advantage today, within five years a phone’s camera roll, which can be grams. First, he suggests creating a offline retailers will employ the same easily rearranged and edited using a non-profit arm of the for-profit com- tools to track shoppers. Trend number smartphone’s touch controls. According pany in order to award small grants three is mobile payments; it’s predicted to The Social Media Marketing Industry for instant change. Step two is to get that retailers will permit shoppers to Report, experienced marketers with to know existing local non-profits that walk out of the store and have their more than five years on social media support the causes business owners basketful of merchandise automatically prefer Instagram and Pinterest to the are interested in. That might be Boys charged to their accounts. Trend num- “traditional” options of Facebook and & Girls Clubs, Junior Achievement ber four will see retailers responding to Twitter. The immediacy of visual mes- or any number of other organiza- customer emotions via sensory technol- saging makes meaningful commu- tions. Business owners can join boards ogy. Stores will adapt to a customer’s nication with users faster than ever. and assist with fund-raising efforts. feelings in response to displays, and According to Internet Retailer, market- Third, employers should work to bring even coddle other senses with pleasant ers should embrace open access to fol- employees and customers along with sounds and smells. And finally, the fifth lowers with a “test-and-learn” mentality them. Staff volunteer days are great technology trend that will impact retail- to figure out which content custom- for the non-profit – and for team- ers by 2020 is automation. Self-service ers respond to. The use of hashtags building. And finally, consider spon- checkouts and smartphone store maps is important for marketers hoping to soring a “get acquainted” meeting for already make it easier for customers to forge a meaningful connection with a non-profit. These altruistic steps can find what they need without asking for customers, as is an understanding that bring positive changes to a local busi- help, and this trend will only continue. over-posting is perceived as spam. ness and its constituents. source: forbes source: multibriefs source: fox business

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