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TGA Industry News Briefs
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It’s Official!

TGA

The 30-day voting period has ended, and during that time TGA members cast their e-votes in support of TGA’s Slate of Nominees for the 2022-2023 TGA Board of Directors. Thanks to everyone who exercised their very important privilege as a member of this Association and voted!

2022-2023 TGA Board of Directors

OFFICERS
Cliff Ensley, Leisure Merchandising Corp., Chair
Richard Krulik, Solo/Briggs & Riley Travelware, Chair Elect
Josh Cross, Elios, Vice Chair
Scott Kosmin, 24-7 International, Treasurer
Jerry Kallman, Airline International Luggage, Secretary

DIRECTORS
Jacob Durham, NOMATIC
Jesse Sutton, Sutton Home Fashions
John Yu, Olympia International

We Need You to Lobby/Contact Congress to Urge Congress to Approve GSP Renewal/Relief ASAP

TGA

We need you, your staff, your colleagues, your friends, and your family to urge Congress to approve the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program this year, or provide immediate relief. It only takes 2 minutes to send letters to your members of Congress. TGA is conducting a series of virtual (Zoom) lobbying meetings with Congressional offices on GSP. Please contact TGA’s Nate Herman if you are interested in participating in the virtual (Zoom) lobby meetings or would like to learn more. GSP has now been expired for 20 months. Short of renewal, TGA urges Congress to approve the GSP “Refund-Only” bill (H.R. 8906), which would immediately refund to TGA members the duties paid on U.S. travel goods imports from GSP countries from January 1, 2021 to August 30, 2022, to provide some immediate relief to our industry as we wait for Congress to conclude its negotiations over TGA renewal. GSP provides duty-free access to the U.S. market for travel goods from developing countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Thailand, etc.). Today, GSP countries supply 20% of all U.S. travel goods imports.

Union Rejects Rail Contract, Creating Uncertainty — Tell Congress to Prevent a Rail Strike

TGA

On October 10, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division (BMWED), which represents 12,000 of the 110,000 total rail workers, rejected a tentative contract with the railroads (BMWED announcementrailroad response). The two sides will try to negotiate a new contract during the cooling off period, which ends November 14. The union could call a strike after November 14. The rank and file of four of the 12 rail worker unions have formally ratified the contract to date. The remainder of the unions, including the two biggest, have until mid-November to ratify the contract. On September 15, after President Biden intervened, the railroads and rail workers reached a tentative deal. The deal came after TGA and others urged Congress to step in to prevent a strike. To keep up pressure to ratify the deal, TGA urges you, your staff, your colleagues, your family, and your friends to urge Congress to make sure the deal is finalized and a strike is averted. It only takes one minute through this link to send letters.

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Blank Sailings Fail to Prop Up Rates: ‘We Need Capacity Withdrawn Permanently’

THE LOADSTAR

China is back at work after its Golden Week holiday, but carrier-blanked sailings have been “ineffective” at stopping the rapid decline in freight rates. READ MORE

How to Apply ‘The Amazon Effect’ to Your E-Commerce Business

TOTAL RETAIL

It’s hard to overestimate the reach that Amazon.com has these days. What started as an online book retailer has become more than a marketplace; it’s a place for market solutions. Love it or hate it, Amazon is truly a phenomenon of the 21st century. READ MORE

5 Tips to Help Maximize Your Instagram Presence This Holiday Season

SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY

Looking to build out your Instagram approach for the holiday push? While TikTok has stolen some of its thunder, and there’s a level of confusion around Instagram’s broader push to get more video content into people’s feeds, it still remains a hugely popular app, and it can be a great platform for building community, and maximizing reach, when used the right way. READ MORE

The 2023 Travel Goods Show

Knowing When It’s Time to Quit Your Job

PSYCHOLOGY TODAY

Knowing when it’s time to leave your job can be challenging. After all, it’s not like there’s a giant neon sign that appears overhead when it’s time to move on. However, some red flags indicate that it might be time for you to start looking for a new job. READ MORE

Delta Air Lines Increases Status Thresholds for SkyMiles, Adds Some Benefits

TRAVEL MARKET TODAY

Delta Air Lines is upping what it takes to qualify for Medallion Status for its SkyMiles loyalty program. The carrier announced this week that starting next year, it will take more to earn a higher status with Delta Air Lines. The new thresholds start on January 1, 2023, the earn year to qualify for 2024 Medallion Status. Status for 2023 remains unchanged. READ MORE

Best Travel Gear: 40 Items for Your Travel Bag (+ The Bag!)

TWOSCOTSABROAD.COM

Looking for the best travel gear to invest in for your next big adventure? Whether you are planning the trip of a lifetime further afield or a staycation close to home, a hiking holiday or a city break, our preferred travel equipment guide has got you covered. READ MORE

The Travel Goods HUB

How to Move Forward When You Feel Frozen

HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW

Executives and managers are tasked with juggling increasing pressures in the marketplace and workforce, managing a hybrid workplace, addressing challenges such as global warming through workplace strategies, and persisting in the face of uncertainty. Beyond that, the increase in social and political unrest and violence means that broader world concerns are affecting their employees in a variety of ways. READ MORE

4 Strategies for Using Data, AI to Personalize Customer Experience

RETAIL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

How do retail brands deliver a customer’s Last Best Experience in this hypercompetitive experience economy? By leveraging data and AI for a more personalized CX. READ MORE

United Adds New Trans-Atlantic Flights for Summer 2023 in Bet on Travel Recovery

CNBC

United Airlines is planning another big schedule increase for trans-Atlantic travel, in a bet that consumers will continue to shell out for international trips, some of which they had put off for years. READ MORE

Travel Goods Magazine

IMF Warns ‘Worst is Yet to Come’ for Global Economy as Recession Risks Rise

FOX BUSINESS

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday slashed its global growth outlook for next year, warning the world economy is headed for “stormy waters” and that there is a growing risk of a painful worldwide recession if major central banks fumble the fight against inflation. READ MORE

What to Pack in a Carry-on Bag

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

Packing for a flight is exciting — but it can also be overwhelming. With a little planning and a concise list of what to pack in a carry-on bag, you can maximize space in your duffel bagweekender bagbackpack and more while staying within airlines’ carry-on size requirements. What’s more, you’ll have all your must-haves and travel essentials readily available in your personal carry-on bag, as well as some extra finds to make the journey more comfortable. Utilizing your carry-on bag and personal item capacity can even reduce baggage fees and decrease lost baggage incidents. READ MORE

Survey Reveals Passengers’ Actual Thoughts When It Comes to Reclining Seats, Sharing Armrests and More

TRAVEL + LEISURE

The age-old question of whether to recline or not to recline your airplane seat has plagued travelers for years. Well, turns out, more than two-thirds of passengers think it’s rude — but that doesn’t mean they aren’t doing it anyway. READ MORE


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