Does a day go by when someone doesn’t ask how your business is doing? Probably not and in today’s environment you either reluctantly respond or maybe you had a great day; either way you try to answer in a positive manner. How about your travel budget? No changes at all, cutbacks, necessary trips only – or use of videoconference? Here’s some interesting information for you, Safe Harbors latest poll in February 2009, 58% of the respondents said there were no changes in travel planned for 2009, 11% said they would actually increase and the remaining 31% said they would be decreasing travel budgets.

Okay, probably nothing new and you may have seen some variation of these numbers in other resources. Why not make changes? The time is now to strike when the discount opportunities are hot. Your may not be traveling us much as you were a year ago but take a look at your vendors – Airlines, Car Rental, Hotels, etc. and negotiate a better program. These vendors (including Safe Harbors) need your business and are willing to bank on the future. Again, you may not be traveling as much today but you will be tomorrow. We’ve been here before and when its time to hit the road again you’re deals will be in place and your negotiating efforts will realize tremendous savings. Don’t have time or are not sure where the deals are? Safe Harbors does this everyday – we know where the deals are. Lets us help you uncover the deals!

There are many steps that can be taken to weather this economic downturn without having to cut your travel budget. Travel is essential for staying ahead of competition and satisfying the needs of your customers. Tracking and utilizing unused tickets is a great way to divert from throwing away cash.

Tracking and utilizing money already spent translates into less expenses and success in managing the travel budget of your company. Safe Harbors Travel Group keeps track of your unused air tickets; providing monthly updates, notifying the traveler either in their CliqBook profile or while working with our agent team. Keeping you updated on any unused tickets helps to ensure that you are using up monies already committed.

We at Safe Harbors are committed to providing you with the tools you need to stay ahead of the game from lowest logical air fares at the time of purchase and programs to help you better manage how your travel budget is spent. Our tools and programs can help you save up to 20% on the travel that keeps you ahead of the game.

Safe Harbors Travel Group is excited to announce a new look to our monthly newsletter by giving you the ability to reply and add comments! As a “road warrior” your information is invaluable and can be shared with others and help us provide better products and services. We encourage you to start conversations, provide feedback and share your stories!

Check out Client Services Facebook page at

http://www.facebook.com/editpicture.php?success=1#/profile.php?id=1506988154&v=info&viewas=1506988154

Going to London for business? We have an exclusive opportunity to Upgrade you from a Business Class fare instantly into the First Class cabin on British Airways. Travel must begin on or before March 31, 2009. Contact your Safe Harbors Travel Consultant for this exclusive offer.

The travel requires round trip purchase from any of these US gateways:
New York’s JFK or Newark airports; or Boston or Philadelphia

Connections via American Airlines are accepted; this offer is based on availability and additional terms and conditions apply.

Recently we received two communications on Frequent Flyer programs that may be of interest to many of you.

In last month’s newsletter you read about the implementation of the US Government’s Secure Flight rules that will require all international travelers to use their complete name on air tickets purchased.

As this new program moves forward there have been a few challenges arising for travelers. The air carrier’s loyal travelers are finding that when they attempt to exercise their benefits at security check points they are prevented due to the differences in their name on travel documents.

The Secure Flight program will be implemented over time once the carriers and the industry reservations systems complete the programming to collect the required details. However, it appears there may be little effort focused on making changes to the member’s name on the frequent flyer accounts. In an article released on January 29, 2009, it stated that many in the industry are suggesting that frequent travelers begin to contact the carrier’s member program service centers to make name changes on frequent flyer accounts (Jonas). It is crucial that you contact your frequent flyer service desk as soon as possible to make these name changes, because in some cases it could take two to six weeks for these changes to be implemented. The changes can be made over the phone, through fax, or by mail depending on the situation. Check the carrier’s web-sites for service center contact information.

On a brighter note, customers that are members of Delta’s SkyMiles and Northwest WorldPerks programs will have the ability to link their accounts. This may also be an opportunity to change the name on the account to reflect the same as that on your identification used when traveling; reducing the hassle of having to do it later in the year.

Linking these two accounts together will be simple; you only need your SkyMiles and WorldPerks member number and the pin numbers. Then the carriers will validate to ensure the names match on both accounts and the two accounts will be linked. Once this online linking program combines your Delta and Northwest accounts into one, you will have all mileage combined, making it easier to track and accumulate mileage.

For weathering this economic downturn without cutting your travel budget there are many steps in which one can take without having to slash the travel budget. Consolidating Data will help bring about efficiencies in how the travel dollars are being utilized.

Consolidating data means utilizing one resource for all of your travel needs. Taking advantage of the booking tools and skills of the agent team, Safe Harbors Travel Group will track all travel purchases, ensure you are getting the best price and assist with the analysis to determine where the improved purchasing power opportunities lay.

The data can help each of you to maintain the company’s profitability through tracking such things as how far in advance tickets are being purchased. For example, keeping the company’s advanced air purchases to a seven day minimum will help to save money. These savings can then be translated into more frequent opportunities to stay in front of your customers and staying one step ahead of the competition.

Safe Harbors is able to extend to our clients a special offer in conjunction with the oneworld Alliance’s Tenth Anniversary Celebration. For travel purchased by April 12th, 2009 and on specific fare categories we are able to extend a discount of 10%. This travel must be completed within 11 months.

The program is for fare types with specific guidelines for use; generally understood to be circle or around the world type trips. Our team of agents is well versed in these rules, with planning and flexibility the offer can work for your extensive itineraries between the US – Europe and South America OR from the US to Asia and Australia.

Fare types include: Explorer, Circle Pacific, Circle Atlantic, Circle trip Explorer, Circle Asia & South West Pacific and the oneworld Visit Passes. When considering, these fares they often offer lower price value from standard retail and now you can save an additional 10%. Start planning now by giving us a call.

Cruise Lines and Vacation Destination operators are offering lots of specials during this time of economic uncertainty. Why not take advantage? The specials are there – you only need choose the dates.

Let our vacation experts do the research for you – relieving the stress of shopping multiple sources. We can take care of the simple air and hotel get-a-way to the most detailed of luxury adventures.
It is never to late to start planning the holiday or your dreams – Contact a Safe Harbors Travel Group leisure agent today:

E-mail: personaltravel@safeharbors.com

OR

Phone: 866.947.5193