Travel Agent - September 10, 2007 - (Page 14)

Vital Signs News You Can Use Recent Disasters Won’t Hinder Future Travel In the wake of three recent hurricanes and an earthquake in Peru, Travel Agent checked in with agents and tour operators about how they and their clients are reacting. We found the consensus was that these types of incidents are par for the course and that those who know the affected regions are optimistic about future travel there. Just two weeks after Hurricane Dean struck the Atlantic, Hurricane Felix came roaring ashore as a Category 5 storm, marking the first time in recorded history that two top-scale storms made landfall in the same season. Then Hurricane Henriette also made landfall last week, off Mexico’s Pacific coast, as it churned toward the upscale resort area of Cabo San Lucas, which reports that its airport, hotels and other tourism infrastructure are undamaged. As of last week, all operators we spoke to reported no major problems from either agents or clients in any of the destinations affected. “The time in between was a little strange, but other than that, it’s the norm: It’s hurricane season; this is what happens,” Map provided by NOAA Specialist in Latin America 1-800-327-0080 PANAMA $ days, hotel, meals, air fare air far says Tim Mullen, Apple Vacations’ (www.applevacations.com) senior vice president. Consumers, agents and suppliers are prepared for hurricanes more now than ever before and without them, there wouldn’t be as many fabulous deals to the Caribbean as there are during hurricane season. For Some, It’s a Risk Worth Taking “After the series of storms a few years ago that upset the Caribbean and Florida, consumer awareness surrounding traveling during hurricane season was heightened,” says Kathryn Bagnuolo-Gray of MGA Hospitality, which specializes in Caribbean travel and is based in Clearwater, FL. “It’s a 50/50 chance of traveling during the hurricane season, but with complimentary hurricane insurance offered by some of the resorts, that’s the direction I would send our clients. Sometimes the rates are too tempting during hurricane season. It’s hard not to take the chance.” 880 MACHU PICCHU $ 7 days, air, tours, hotel air 1,492 Peru Travel Looks Strong Next Year Although landmarks and historic sites in both Ica and Pisco, about 125 miles southeast of the capital, Lima, were demolished when a magnitude 8.0 earthquake hit Peru in early August, on the same day the world learned about Hurricane Dean, Travcoa (www.travcoa.com) is planning on taking clients to Ica next year. “Our 2008 Peru itinerary will change and guests will travel to Ica,” Louise Shumbris, Travcoa’s vice president of product operations tells Travel Agent. “Travcoa is carefully monitoring conditions in Peru, and especially in the Ica area, but we have confidence it will be safe and fully operational before our first 2008 journey is set to arrive.” —Joe Pike GALAPAGOS $ 8 days, air fare, cruise air far and more mor 2,950 All packages include air from Miami, hotel accommodations, tours, transfers and more Add-ons available from more than 100 USA cities. Rates per person. www.taratours.com Interested? Request #025. 14 TravelAgent September 10, 2007 http://www.applevacations.com http://www.taratours.com http://www.travcoa.com http://www.taratours.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - September 10, 2007

Contents Editor's Letter News You Can Use Agenda: Fam Trips, Calendar of Events, Deal of the Week South America Rising: COVER STORY EUROPE: Undiscovered Croatia PACIFIC/ASIA: Chiang Mai: Hotspot of Northern Thailand LAS VEGAS: Las Vegas’ Inside Man Las Vegas News & Notes Las Vegas: The New Frontier PACIFIC NORTHWEST: A Gem on Oregon’s Central Coast FLORIDA: Hyatt Regency Miami Spruces Up Ensemble Update Agent Outlook: Cruising Today Nantucket Island Resorts Classified Marketplace Home-Based Travel Expo Update Advertisers’ Information People & Places Thailand Planner

Travel Agent - September 10, 2007

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