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The Herald Scotland
17 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Isn't it time the SNP got on with the issues that really matter?
The SNP administration needs to start dealing with the issues that actually make this country of ours function on a daily basis. The time for navel-gazing about issues that are of little consequence to the vast majority of our citizens is not now. Too often our FM tries to smoke-screen his way out of the glare of public scrutiny by virtue-signalling one peripheral issue after another, meanwhile 'Rome burns' metaphorically. Our omnipresent challenges continue to grow and become more acute. I don't need to list these, as anyone who reads these columns and is au fait with current news will easily be able to pen their own list. I suggest that we should be more engaged with the issues that affect the quality of life for the nation, rather than wasting time in anguishing about, for example, who uses which toilet. Leave that to the law makers. Colin Allison, Blairgowrie. We need to talk about pensions In February to April 2025, the employment rate for people aged 16-64 in the UK was 75.1%. The projected percentage of the population of working age in 2050 is 60.5%. Based on today's employability figures that would mean in just over 20 years only 45% of the country in work paying the vast majority of income tax for the welfare benefits of the day. The amount of pensioners to working-age people is projected to be 393/1000 by 2070. That means there will be fewer than three people in work for every pensioner. It was 4:1 in 1970 and 5:1 when the state pension was introduced. Successive governments have ignored the incoming time bomb of a population that is getting older with fewer working-age people to sustain it. Read more letters Previous governments have tinkered with schemes such as NEST (National Employment Savings Trust) and auto enrolment but the reality is that this provides a pensioner a fraction of what post-war generations have enjoyed in the form of good occupational pensions and the current state pension. I am currently projected to get my state pension when I am 68. I have no doubt that this number will increase but governments kicking the issue into the long grass will only result in more pain passed on to the next generation who will see the sharpest decline of pensioner living standards in history. That is the most distressing part of Labour's welfare reforms – which are targeting some of the most vulnerable – as there is the need for a national conversation on what the Cura Annonae should look like in the years to come and importantly how it will be paid for. Christopher McEleny, Gourock. Death with dignity The headlines in newspapers, TV and radio will be the vote on the assisted dying bill in England and Wales ("MPs vote to pass assisted dying bill at Westminster", heraldscotland, June 20). For those Scots with short memories, similar legislation passed its first reading in Scotland last month. Opponents are now questioning the lack of palliative care available for patients with terminal illnesses. Only about 25 per cent funding comes from the Government, the rest from charitable donations. My wife, former BBC Radio Scotland host Annie Webster, died in February and was a staunch supporter of assisted dying. She was in agony for much of the last six months of her life. But she was fortunate to get a place at the Beatson Cancer Centre in Glasgow for two weeks which she loved. The most important thing for her was to be pain-free. The care and laughter and craic from the doctors, nurses, orderlies and volunteers was unbelievable. Eventually she was in the Marie Curie Hospice (the place she insisted she wanted to die) and I was able to stay with her for her last eight nights. I will be eternally grateful, and she would be too. Yes of course this support should be available to all and funded by the Government. But if it's not and someone gets to the stage they've simply had enough we have to let them die with dignity. Andy Stenton, Glasgow. Tourist tax will sink Glasgow Fifty years ago the film Jaws put Amity Island tourist resort in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. No one wanted to visit. Now we find Glasgow City Council adopting a "head in the ocean" stance with its introduction of a tourist tax ("Glasgow 'tourist tax' approved as visitors face £4.83 tariff per night from 2027", The Herald, June 20). Glasgow right now looks near derelict, particularly the city centre. The council has chased commerce and leisure away with high costs and a very car-unfriendly approach. Taxes only force folk to go elsewhere, just like the shark. Dr Gerald Edwards, Glasgow. UK's record is shameful Doug Maughan (Letters, June 20) refers to the UK's role in the overthrow of the democratically-elected Iranian government in 1953. To go back much further, during the First World War the French and British divided the map of the Middle East into states that cut through ethnic and religious communities and at about the same time the UK infamously promised Palestine to both the Jews and the Arabs. What is more, some 75 years ago Britain secretly supplied 20 tons of heavy water to Israel which enabled it to make nuclear weapons. Now such weapons are in the hands of Benjamin Netanyahu. And then the invasion of Iraq in 2003 by the USA, backed up by our then Prime Minister, was justified by the fabricated insistence that Saddam Hussein was in possession of 'weapons of mass destruction'. What a sad story of greed, cruelty and deceit and I have not dwelt upon the terrible suffering, for the past 77 years, of the Palestinian people at the hands of the Israelis, Israel being seen, ironically, as an outpost of western 'civilisation'. Of our history in the Middle East we should be profoundly ashamed, our contribution to the never-ending suffering of the Palestinians and the Iranians displaying little in the way of caring for the consequences. I say, on behalf of the Iranian population, 'Thank you Britain for so many years of suffering. It ought to have been so different. We ought to be being remembered for so very many contributions to the civilised world in the fields of art, architecture, poetry, science and technology, medicine, philosophy and engineering and not the rule of the Ayatollahs which you and the US imposed upon us'. John Milne, Uddingston. The test of Trump's character Ever since the convicted felon DJ Trump was elected 47th President of the United States of America, the daily routine for many includes an anxious search for his latest outrageous acts and utterances to discover 'What Donald Did Next' . Sophie Robinson's article ("Starmer urges Trump to step back from military strikes in Iran", The Herald, June 20) reports attempts by Keir Starmer to rein in the President's aggressive tendencies. It seems likely that Mr Trump fears being thought weak were he not to send in the bombers, and the impact of others, including our Prime Minister, to alter that view is likely to be minimal. DJ Trump is arguably the most powerful man in the world and his ability to shock and harm millions shows no signs of slackening. It is disquieting to acknowledge that, in light of his advanced age and previous pattern of behaviour, flaws in his personality and the quality of his decision-making are unlikely to improve. We would do well to reflect on the saying attributed to Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the US. 'Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power". Bob Scott, Drymen. Will the tourist tax drive people away from Glasgow? (Image: Newsquest) Celebrate the greats of our history The recent outpouring of heartfelt admiration for Walter Scott in these pages has been nothing other than a delight. These letters and Rosemary Goring's article ("He is Scotland's greatest novelist but no-one reads him now. Why?", heraldscotland, May 24) read as a celebration of the rich and varied voices that compose Scotland's literary heritage. They stand in sharp contrast to the narrow-minded silencing of diverse voices at the Edinburgh Book Festival. I was reflecting on this situation the other evening, walking from Queen Street Station to Central, when the two statues that I passed, Sir Walter Scott and the Duke of Wellington, reminded me that next week marks the 210th anniversary of the victory over Napoleon. Having liberated Portugal and Spain, whose independence today seems entirely natural but was in fact paid for with the blood of British soldiers, Wellington's victory secured almost 100 years of European peace. Liberty was indeed in every blow. As the British ambassador in Paris, Wellington zealously attempted to persuade the French authorities to abandon their policy of colonial slavery, and later, as Prime Minister, he again marshalled his forces to secure the passing of the Catholic Relief Bill. He was, as his biographer Richard Holmes concludes, a great man built on a grand scale. There is no present-day British public figure that comes even close to his greatness. Reading Scott's three works, based on his almost immediate pilgrimage to the battlefield, is time well spent. He was a war poet with all the connotations that that phrase evokes for war's victors and victims alike. Scott's Dance of Death poem with its mystical lines are my personal favourites: …there are sounds in Allan's ear, Patrole nor sentinel may hear, And sights before his eye aghast Invisible to them have pass'd. Audible and visible only to an old soldier and perhaps the poet himself. But when, on Saturday June 24,1815, news reached Edinburgh of Wellington's victory, everybody heard. Scott tells us that every church bell in the capital rang for the whole of Saturday. Perhaps those in the proximity of the Scott Monument might close their eyes and hear those victory bells echo down through the centuries. In light of Mark Smith's recent article ("No more Edinburgh Book Festival for me – where did it go wrong?", The Herald, June 14), perhaps it is time to consider an alternative Edinburgh literary festival. This alt-festival would not only celebrate what is great in our history, but would recognise the role that all Scotland's businesses play in making a literary society possible. Such a festival would always be open to debate the legacy of great men like Scott and Wellington. Graeme Arnott, Stewarton. Water Scott's immortality To those errant schoolboys, like David Hay's brother (Letters, June 19), please note that you too were an easy target of fun for the great writer Sir Walter Scott himself. Here he describes a teacher looking forward to the close of day but who has toiled with "controlling petulance, exciting indifference to action, striving to enlighten stupidity, and labouring to soften obstinacy; and whose very powers of intellect have been confounded by hearing the same dull lesson repeated a hundred times by rote, and only varied by the various blunders of the reciters". Those are from the opening lines of Old Mortality, a cracking tale about the rise and fall of Covenanters. It had me from page 1. Peter G Farrell, Glasgow.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Time of India
Why Nilgiris can't shake off its mountain of plastic
In 2001, when Supriya Sahu, then Nilgiris collector, visited the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, what caught her eye wasn't a tiger or an elephant, but a mound of garbage full of plastic carry-bags. A child from the tribal community approached her and said matter-of-factly: "The elephants come here at night. They eat from this, even the plastic." Soon after, Sahu imposed a ban on plastic carry bags, making the Nilgiris the first district in India to take such a step. Two decades on, however, the Nilgiris' plastic-free dream, possibly Tamil Nadu's best chance at its vision of becoming a plastic-free state, seems more distant than ever. More than half the district is a reserve forest, and as tourist footfalls rise, so does the plastic they leave behind. "Tamil Nadu has made major strides in tackling plastic pollution, but we're still far from a complete solution. Decades of dependence on plastic bags can't be undone overnight," says Sahu. Though the movement began in the Nilgiris, Sahu says the work is ongoing. "We're surrounded by states that haven't banned plastic, but Tamil Nadu stands out. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pinga-Pinga e HBP? Tome isso 1x ao dia se tem mais de 40 anos Portal Saúde do Homem Clique aqui Undo We're the only ones to ban carry-bags of all microns. It's a tough fight, but we're making progress." While the plastic ban was initiated in the Nilgiris in 2001 by Sahu, collector J Innocent Divya continued the battle to keep the blue mountains green. Taking inspiration from the Nilgiris, in 2019, the state banned 19 categories of single-use plastics, and a 2020 court order barred one- and two-litre plastic water bottles in the Nilgiris. Flying squads were engaged to check the use of banned items. Also, dump yards in Ooty and Coonoor, the two largest municipalities, were converted into efficient waste management parks. The Covid-19 pandemic and the increased use of plastic items in personal protective equipment were a setback. Also, the district's efforts continue to be hampered by inconsistent enforcement and a widespread lack of awareness, particularly among tourists. V Sivadas, managing trustee of social organisation NEST, says the problem lies in public indifference. "Unsegregated garbage dumped by the roadside attracts wild animals and creates health hazards," he says. Rohit Jain, member of the Ooty Citizens Forum, calls for a centralised waste disposal system in Ooty and suggests installing CCTV cameras in public areas to catch those who litter. "The fines collected could fund better waste management," he says. Nilgiris collector Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru says enforcing the plastic ban remains difficult due to limited legal backing. "We're doing our best at the district level such as issuing gazette notifications and imposing fines but the law is unclear, making enforcement legally complex," she says. To curb the inflow of banned plastics, women volunteers from self-help groups (SHGs) are stationed at check posts to screen tourists. "But tourists question their authority, which puts undue pressure on these volunteers," she says. The biggest challenge, she adds, is with tourist buses. "Inspecting all 50 passengers would cause traffic jams. So instead, we've made travel agents accountable. A district-level notification now allows us to fine agents who bring in tourists carrying banned plastic." Tour operators from other districts and states have been instructed to keep garbage bins in their buses and hand over collected waste at designated centres near the bus stands. The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) has also been directed to screen passengers for banned plastic items before boarding. Revenue officials inspect shops and warehouses for banned plastics and impose fines when needed. However, roadside littering, especially in ghat sections, is rampant. Several wild animal deaths have been reported due to plastic ingestion. "All we can do is promote responsible disposal," says Lakshmi. "But we are met with a lack of civic responsibility among the public." B J Krishnan, former member of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, says Tamil Nadu's anti-plastic programme is ahead of many states but needs stronger legal backing. "Enforcement must be supported by law, ideally through legislation under the Environmental Protection Act," he says. "The court's order on the plastic ban could also be used to strengthen this. While our per capita plastic use is lower than in developed countries, legal support is needed for lasting impact. " Sahu says the govt hasn't issued licences to manufacture banned plastic items since the ban was enforced. More than 200 illegal plastic production units were also shut down. "To tackle plastic pollution, we launched the 'Manjapai' campaign that has gained momentum," she says. Under an annual maintenance contract, the govt installed 200 manjapai vending machines across Tamil Nadu. In coastal areas such as Besant Nagar and Neelankarai in Chennai, it launched the Blue Brigade, a team that engages shopkeepers and spreads awareness about plastic pollution. "We're urging district collectors to strictly enforce the ban, and inspections are ongoing," says Sahu. Another initiative is the fishnet programme in coastal regions. "We're asking fishermen not to discard old nets into the ocean," she says. In the past five months, 17 tonnes of discarded fishnets were collected, preventing them from polluting the sea. The govt compensated fishermen with ₹7 lakh through recycling partners. Speaking on World Environment Day, Chief Minister M K Stalin reminded citizens that keeping Tamil Nadu plastic-free is a shared responsibility and urged people to treat cloth bags and water bottles as everyday essentials, just like their phones. Email your feedback with name and address to
Travel Daily News
10-06-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Consumer concerns impact Summer travel bookings
Travel advisors report shifting consumer behavior due to economic and geopolitical concerns, with rising travel costs prompting budget-conscious booking strategies. ORLANDO, FLA. – Consumer concerns about the economy and geopolitical situation are sparking changes in travel bookings, according to a new survey of advisors affiliated with TRAVELSAVERS and NEST agencies. The networks revealed the survey results at their Travel Market conference, taking place June 4 to 7 at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando. Travel Expense Top Client Concern The high cost of travel is the top concern clients are mentioning now, cited by 50 percent of the responding advisors. Related, 41 percent named inflation and rising prices as a client concern. Lack of consumer confidence in the economy was mentioned by 34 percent. Geopolitical anxieties were cited by 29 percent of the respondents, with 26 percent saying clients are worried about safety in certain regions. 'Regardless of their financial situation, we know that consumers are still eager to travel this year,' said Kathryn Mazza-Burney, TRAVELSAVERS Chief Sales Officer and NEST President. 'Given these prevailing headwinds, advisors are a traveler's best friend. A professional advisor can design a memorable, enjoyable trip that accommodates a range of budgets and preferences.' Advisors Shape Lower-Cost Options Uneasy travelers are turning to advisors for expert assistance in lowering the cost of trips, employing a variety of tactics to decrease spending. Selecting less expensive destinations was named by 35 percent of advisors, as was flexibility with travel timing to secure lower fares. Using loyalty points to fund travel was cited by 34 percent. Thirty-two percent of advisors reported that clients are taking fewer trips, and 26 percent said clients are taking shorter vacations. 2025 Sales Predictions Shift As a result of this changing behavior, advisors are adjusting their forecasts for 2025 sales. Forty-six percent predicted sales will rise this year, while 22 percent envisioned them staying at 2024 levels. Thirty-two percent foresee their sales decreasing. Last fall, 79 percent of advisors anticipated higher sales in 2025, compared with 18 percent who predicted sales would stay at 2024 levels. At that time, only four percent envisioned a slight decrease. Summer Bookings Largely Flat With some consumers taking a wait-and-see approach to travel, hoping their personal situation improves, summer sales are generally in line with last year. Thirty-six percent of advisors said their summer travel bookings are up from last year, while 39 percent reported sales are down. One-quarter of the respondents said sales are level compared to summer 2024. The Summer of Staying Close to Home Topping the summer travel list, advisors reported a mix of perennial European hot spots alongside destinations in the Americas. Almost half the advisors named Italy, followed by Alaska. Rounding out the top five were the Dominican Republic, Cancun and Greece. When asked which destinations advisors recommend to ease client concerns, North American locales largely took center stage. Alaska moved into first place, bumping Italy to second. Portugal, Canada and Hawaii also ranked in the top five, followed by Orlando, Cancun and the Dominican Republic. 'Wherever travelers are venturing this summer, advisors will be able to book them a trip with superior value,' commented Mazza-Burney. 'With their close supplier connections, advisors can secure exclusive discounts and promotions as well as complimentary amenities. Those benefits help travelers stretch their budgets even further at this time.' Survey Results 2025 Sales (results from April/May 2025) 34% predict sales will increase somewhat 12% predict sales will increase significantly 22% predict sales will stay the same 26% predict sales will decrease somewhat 6% predict sales will decrease significantly 2025 Sales (results from October/November 2024) 52% predict sales will increase somewhat 27% predict sales will increase significantly 18% predict sales will stay the same 4% predict sales will decrease somewhat Summer Bookings 14% up 10% or more from last summer 22% up between 1% and 9% from last summer 25% the same as last summer 25% down between 1% and 9% from last summer 14% down 10% or more from last summer Client Concerns 50% high cost of travel 41% inflation/rising prices 34% lack of consumer confidence in the economy 29% geopolitical issues 26% safety in certain regions Vacation Budgeting 35% selecting less expensive destinations 35% being flexible with travel timing for lower fares 34% using loyalty points to pay for travel 32% taking fewer trips 26% taking a shorter vacation Top Summer Travel Destinations 46% Italy 41% Alaska 21% Dominican Republic 21% Cancun 19% Greece Top Advisor Recommendations for Summer Travel 36% Alaska 23% Italy 19% Portugal 17% Canada 17% Hawaii Advisors from TRAVELSAVERS and NEST agency affiliates in the U.S. and Canada took the survey from April 22 to May 9, 2025.
Travel Weekly
09-06-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Optimism for 2025 growth is waning with Travelsavers and NEST advisors, survey shows
ORLANDO -- A new survey of Travelsavers and Network of Entrepreneurs Selling Travel (NEST) members has found that advisors' outlook on 2025 sales has dampened since last fall, but overall, the networks are still seeing growth this year. Details and commentary on the survey were released last week during a press conference at AMG's Travel Market 2025 conference, held at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort here. "When we compare our revenue year on year, we are still seeing growth," said Nicole Mazza, chief marketing officer at parent company American Marketing Group (AMG). "It might be small, single-digit growth, but it's growth, which is great, especially given the environment we're currently in today. We're in a volatile environment." The most recent survey, conducted in April and May, found that 12% of advisors said 2025 sales will increase significantly and 34% predicted sales will increase somewhat, while 22% predicted sales would stay the same. Another 26% expected sales to decrease somewhat this year, and another 6% said sales will decrease significantly. Compare those numbers to the survey done last October and November, when 27% of respondents predicted sales would increase significantly in 2025, while the majority, 52%, predicted sales would increase somewhat. Eighteen percent said sales would stay the same, while 4% predicted sales would decrease somewhat. "Yes, a little decreased optimism," said Betsy Goldberg, senior corporate communications director for Travelsavers. "But that's still roughly half of the advisors who think their sales are going to go up. I think that's pretty indicative." What concerns clients Goldberg said advisors' clients have a number of different concerns, most centered around price and consumer confidence. Advisors reported that their clients were most concerned about the high cost of travel (50%), inflation and rising prices (41%), lack of consumer confidence in the economy (34%), geopolitical issues (29%) and safety in certain regions (26%). • Travel Weekly survey: Bookings decline, but not across the board As a result, Goldberg said, advisors are turning to tactics like recommending less expensive destinations, flexible travel time, using loyalty points, taking fewer trips, taking shorter trips and opting for less expensive accommodations. Overall, AMG is reporting travel is up in all segments, albeit at a slightly muted pace in some categories compared with last year. Cruise vacations, up 16% year over year in 2024, are up 6% in 2025. Sun vacations, up 5% in 2024, are up 13% this year. FIT vacations, up 4% in 2024, are up 8% this year. Guided vacations, up 11% in 2024, are up 6% this year. River cruises, up 15% last year, are up 16% this year (percentages from 2025 are reflective of first-quarter results). "It's tough to constantly have that trajectory up," said Mazza, who noted the industry likely won't see a true normalization of booking patterns until 2026.
Travel Daily News
09-06-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
TRAVELSAVERS and NEST offer exclusive innovations
TRAVELSAVERS and NEST enhance advisor competitiveness with AI tools, lead-gen campaigns, digital storefronts, and revamped education through the KORE program. ORLANDO, FLA. – In today's crowded travel marketplace, TRAVELSAVERS and NEST are providing their affiliated advisors with state-of-the-art technology, novel lead-generation programs and marketing initiatives to enhance their competitive edge. The networks shared the latest updates on their innovations at the Travel Market conference, being held June 4 to 7 at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando. 'We've been producing innovative technology that helps advisors sell more and work smarter for our entire 55-year history,' said Nicole Mazza, Chief Marketing Officer, TRAVELSAVERS and NEST. 'Our technology team continues to bring out forward-looking tools that give our advisors the advantage they need to stay ahead in an industry that's always evolving.' AI Connect Powered by Toby Through our collaboration, advisors can seamlessly access and promote exclusive offers with AI Connect Powered by Toby, making it easier to enhance their marketing efforts and streamline their workflow. This partnership ensures that AI Connect Powered by Toby provides valuable tools while offering special benefits tailored to advisors' needs. As subscriptions grow each month, so does the opportunity for advisors to leverage cutting-edge AI to save time and create polished, professional content. AI Connect helps advisors tap into the $28+-billion opportunity that generative AI represents for the travel industry. Exclusive partner offers are sent directly into the platform, so advisors build blog posts, social media captions and landing pages faster using real-time promotions. AI Connect recently debuted a Destination Arrival Guide, featuring more than 600 professionally written destination briefs, which are updated regularly. With the Generate with Toby feature, advisors can create guides tailored to client preferences, interests and travel styles. Coming soon: translation and newsletter tools for multilingual and multi-format content. Lead-Generation Initiatives Digital campaigns have been the cornerstone of the TRAVELSAVERS and NEST lead-generation strategy since their introduction two years ago. Video and social media ads attract consumers looking for travel expertise, who are then driven to network websites. These ads in Meta have delivered nearly 3.5 million impressions and more than 78,000 clicks to sites, producing quality leads for advisors. These campaigns meet the growing appetite among travelers for immersive experiences, building connections with key market segments such as guided vacations, adventure travel, romance travel and new-to-cruise customers. Another initiative driving leads to advisors is enhanced agency profiles. Travelers can search for and select an advisor who's a fit for their preferences based on location, specialties, destination expertise, languages spoken as well as accolades and certifications. Since their debut last fall, 78 percent of advisor profiles have been updated, highlighting their strengths to consumers on a valuable marketing platform. Profiles appear on the TRAVELSAVERS U.S. and Affluent Traveler Collection consumer websites, as well as two new sites: TRAVELSAVERS Canada and Your Vacation Specialists, which features NEST advisors. OnlineXpress Digital Storefronts TRAVELSAVERS and NEST agencies are the only networks with a website creation and hosting program purposely built for our advisors, OnlineXpress. With this unique advantage, they can invite customers and prospects to experience their engaging digital storefronts. Agencies in the U.S. and Canada use OnlineXpress to polish their online presence and market to consumers. The program has shown remarkable growth this year over the same time in 2024, with 3,500 leads generated, 725,000 pageviews (up 82 percent) and 1.7 million emails (up 20 percent). Technology Innovations The industry-leading tripXpress booking platform now offers a feature solely available to TRAVELSAVERS and NEST advisors. They can deep-link directly to tripXpress from their webpages, blog posts or social media. The link will take consumers directly into the booking process and automatically attribute the booking to the advisor. Another tripXpress innovation coming soon will provide advisors with an all-in-one dashboard for marketing tools and insights. The dashboard will consolidate data and list management for direct mail, email and OnlineXpress. Advisors will be able to order direct mail and emails through the dashboard and manage preferences, including targeting clients. TRAVELSAVERS and NEST have also introduced a custom-branded URL at the agency or advisor level that will stay the same for every marketing campaign. Advisors can easily drive consumers to this single link for promotions, showcasing offers through the link in their email signature and on social profiles. 'Our advisors tell us they need new ways to find clients and market to existing ones,' said Mazza. 'At the same time, they tell us they're in overdrive managing their businesses and don't have spare hours to waste on complex platforms. That's why we're dedicated to creating easy-to-use tools to send business to advisors and give them back time within their day.' KORE Education Enrichment The KORE program – launched in 2021 to train the next generation of professional travel advisors – is undergoing a major revision. The refreshed curriculum will update topics, create shorter modules, add more interaction through exercises and gamification, and build a community of learners through the web-based platform. Agencies will also be able to create customized KORE versions for their advisors. KORE equips new consultants with the essential skills and real-world knowledge to be successful travel professionals and business owners. It provides learners with a thorough, self-paced online curriculum. KORE is the sole advisor education program that offers mentoring with an agency owner or manager, as well as a placement service to match candidates with leading agencies.
