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Experience an entirely new kind of leisure travel business with Jurni Network – brought to you by the people of Sabre Travel Network.  Visit www.jurni.com for more.

ASTA's Cruisefest
April 7-10, 2005

ASTA's World Congress
Montreal
Nov. 6-11, 2005

AMSI Feature
Viking Office Products offers ASTA Members a 10-percent discount
on every item from its catalog or Web site. You'll get fast, free delivery on the supplies you need to run your business. Items include general office supplies, promotional products, forms, break room supplies and headsets. All orders are guaranteed for one full year, and with approved credit you can try any item free for 30 days. If you are not satisfied, just send it back - it's as simple as that. Free Shipping on orders over $25. To order or request a catalog, call 1-800-421-1222 or visit www.vikingop.com.
 

Radisson Seven Seas Adds Fuel Surcharge

Galileo to Offer Agent Coupon Print Option

Celebrity's Infinity to Return to Service April 6

ASTA Wants Your Opinion!
CPC Chair's 30 ASTA Benefits in 30 Days: Benefits 25-27
Libya Fam May 2-8
Deluxe Egypt Fam May 24-June 5
Welcome New ASTA Members
State Department Travel Warnings, Announcements
Sabre Travel Network Tech Tip of the Week

Radisson Seven Seas Adds Fuel Surcharge

Radisson Seven Seas Cruises has implemented a fuel surcharge to its cruise line bookings. Radisson is charging $2.85 per person, per day, on cruise bookings that were made after Feb. 18. The surcharge also applies to cruise bookings made before Feb. 18 but not paid in full, for sailings from early May to the end of 2005. In addition, on airline reservations to Tahiti or Europe made through the cruise line that were not paid in full by Feb. 18,  Radisson is charging passengers the fuel surcharges that are charged by the individual airlines. To see Radisson Seven Seas announcement, see:  http://www.rssc.com/rss/about/Press%20releases%20(pdfs)/Fuel%
20Surcharge%20Statement%20feb%2018.pdf

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Galileo to Offer Agent Coupon Print Option
Effective May 9, 2005, which is the same day ARC will inhibit the printing of agent coupons on accountable ticket stock, Galileo subscribers using ATB2 ticket printers will have the option of printing paper agent coupon images on non-accountable, mini-itinerary paper. Additional information, including installation instructions, can be found online at http://www.galileo.com/360 or by contacting your Galileo account representative. At least two of the other Global Distribution Systems (GDS) are evaluating similar print options. In lieu of printing paper agent coupon images, all ARC agents have the option of relying on ARC's Document Retrieval Service (DRS) for collecting and storing Agent Coupon images electronically. DRS registration information can be found at http://www.arccorp.com/products/prod_fin_DRS.html or by calling ARC's Customer Support Center at 703-816-8003. 

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Celebrity's Infinity to Return to Service April 6

Celebrity Cruises announced that it canceled Infinity's March 27 departure from Ensenada, Mexico, to Honolulu to repair the ship's propulsion system.  Celebrity expects the ship to return to service on April 6. Passengers booked on the cancelled 10-day sailing will receive a full refund and a free Celebrity cruise of 10 nights or less, departing on or before March 27, 2006, excluding holiday and Celebrity Xpedition sailings. Travel agents will receive full commissions for the cancelled sailing, plus a $50 rebooking fee per stateroom when their clients reschedule their cruise. Celebrity has established a special help desk to assist passengers and travel agents with rebooking, air transportation and other issues. The Celebrity Help Desk toll-free number is 1-888-837-5676.

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ASTA Wants Your Opinion!

Updating your travel agent profile online in the TravelSense Community offers a way to market your business and highlight your areas of specialization directly to consumers who love to travel. We would like to get your opinion on this tool. Please complete a 3-question survey at: http://www.astanet.com/survey/communitysurvey.asp.

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CPC Chair's 30 ASTA Benefits in 30 Days: Benefits 25-27
Kari Thomas, ASTA's Chapter Presidents Council (CPC) Chair, decided to answer those members who ask what they can get from ASTA. She is providing her chapter members with 30 ASTA benefits in 30 days. Here are benefits 25-27:

Benefit #25

Looking for a new way to jumpstart sales? Want to find new ways to motivate the staff? Check ASTA’s Best Travel Agency Practices for some inspiration. ASTA members from across the country have shared proven practices that have worked for them. If you have an idea you want to share, you can also submit your own best practice. Find out more at http://www.astanet.com/members/bestpractices.asp.

Benefit #26

As the number of independent contractors and outside sales agents grows, the legal and accounting issues can be confusing. ASTA has compiled some resources that cover many aspects of the relationship. You can find information on liability issues, wage and hour laws, tax and legal issues at http://www.astanet.com/members/center/legal_tax.asp.

Benefit #27
ASTA members have said that consumer awareness is important to their bottom line. ASTA is consistently working on delivering the message of the value of travel agents to the public. The ASTA name can be seen in TV interviews, in major newspapers, national magazines and on the radio. Recently ASTA released a radio spot that as of Feb. 25 had been heard by more than 33,561,668 listeners. For more of ASTA’s recent consumer media hits go to http://www.astanet.com/news/astainthenews.asp.

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Libya Fam May 2-8
Join ASTA and Universal Travel System as we explore a land that has been closed to Americans for more than two decades. Visit both historic Tripoli and the commercial capital of Benghazi. Spend a full day wandering through the spectacular and uncrowded ruins of Leptis Magna, the best-preserved Roman city in the classical world. Experience the beautiful ruins of Cyrene, a Greek town perched on a bluff overlooking the Mediterranean, and the ancient port of Apollonia, partially submerged beneath the sea. Soak up the exotic atmosphere of Libya’s markets where you’ll find fantastic bargains on well-made carpets, jewelry and traditional handicrafts. There is no haggling over prices in Libya so shopping is a stress-free delight. From the tourism officials who will join us for dinner the first night to the people on the street, the Libyans will impress you with their friendliness, kindness and hospitality. Come discover why Libya is becoming one of the hottest destinations in the world. For more information go to http://www.astanet.com/education/fam05/Libya05.asp.

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Welcome New ASTA Members

Maninder Ahluwalia - Elegance Travels Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, INDIA

Oluwatoyin S. Ajisefinnih - Crownness Travels and Tours Limited, Egbede Akowonjo, NIGERIA          

Myrna Arychuk - Solaway Travel Ltd., Burnaby, BC - CANADA  

Stavros Bouzanis - Monogram Travel, Athens, GREECE www.monogram.gr

Megan F. Carpenter - Future Travel Professional, Arlington, TX

Abdulla Darwish - Darwish Bin Ahmed & Sons, Abu Dhabi, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES       

Olcrek Farkas - Enjoy Slovakia S.R.O., Pezinok, SLOVAK REPUBLIC www.enjoyslovakia.com

Glynis Freeman - Atlanta Travel Associates, Marietta, GA www.atlantatravelassoc.com

Suzanne Grimes - Best Travel & Tours, Inc., Chicago, IL

Georgene Hadley - Future Travel Professional, Orlando, FL

Matus Havira - Prague Holiday Ltd., Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC www.prague-holiday.net

Judy Heller - Access Aloha Travel Inc., Honolulu, HI www.accessalohatravel.com

Christopher Henderson - CWT/Thomas Hogan Travel, Roseville, CA    

Gloria Hobbins - Global Village Travels, Somerset, NJ www.globalvillagetravels.com

Stephen Hole - CWT/Thomas Hogan Travel, Ormond Beach, FL       

Vladimir Hronsky, PhDr - Hepex-Slovakia Ltd, Komarno, SLOVAK REPUBLIC www.travelguide.sk

Michael Karaoulanis - Canjet Airlines, Flushing, NY www.canjet.com

Gulshan Khan - Welch Travel Service, San Bruno, CA        

Rajeev Kohli - Orbitz-Rent A Car, New Delhi, INDIA www.carrentals-india.com

Vishwas Makhija - India Insight Tours Pvt Ltd., Haryana, INDIA www.indiainsighttours.com

Monisha Makhija - Luxury India Holidays Pvt Ltd., Haryana, INDIA www.luxuryindiaholidays.com

Suzana Markovic – Bantours, Zagreb, CROATIA www.bantours.hr

Raymond Martinez - CWT/Thomas Hogan Travel, Covina, CA       

Jason Matthews - Exodus Island Ventures, Cabrera, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC www.villa-castellamonte.com

Paul May - Express To Russia.com, Montclair, NJ www.expresstorussia.com

Patricia Reed - Discover Network, Riverwoods, IL www.discover.com

S. Ramanujan Setlur - Excelsior Travels Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore, INDIA www.excelsior-travels.com

Faiza Shafeek - By Design Travel/Destinations by Design S.L., Barcelona, SPAIN www.bydesigntravel.net

Shekar Achanna Shetty - J.V. Travels Pvt Ltd., Karnataka, INDIA www.jvtravels.com

Pak-Wo Shum - Travel King Ltd., Accra, GHANA www.travelkingonline.com

Robert Stevens - Getaway Cruise, Vacations & Tours, Madisonville, TN www.getawaycruise.net

Karla Stickelman - Future Travel Professional, Riverview, FL    

Meg Sytnick - CWT/Thomas Hogan Travel, Wichita, KS

Maria Tskatoura - Avance Rent A Car & Bike Ltd., Athens, GREECE www.avance.gr

Jacqueline Wilson - CWT/Thomas

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State Department Travel Warnings, Announcements
The Department of State has issued travel warnings and/or announcements regarding travel for American citizens to Pakistan, Kyrgyz Republic and Indonesia. For more information, visit http://travel.state.gov.

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