Student Lounge Archives
September 2004
December 2004
April 2005
May 2007
Travel Agent Training Center, Inc
On-line Travel Career EducationBusiness Opportunity Training!
Learn how to start a Home-based Travel Agency!
Get the training you need to pursue a career in the travel industry!
Welcome to the TATC Student Lounge!
January 2010
|
This article is from USA Today posted on
their website January 16, 2010. When major
events or catastrophic events happen around
the world, we in the travel industry do all
we can to help. When things like this
happens it affects us tremendously and we
want to show how much we depend on our
neighbors around the world to support our
industry. When in time of need, we want to
reach out and help as much as we can.
|
|
Many in the travel industry are pitching in to
assist those affected by the
Haiti earthquake. USA TODAY's travel
communities round-up the latest news.
AIRLINES Today in the Sky: U.S. airlines are joining the effort to assist Haiti following Tuesday's devastating earthquake there. American, which offers regular service to Port-au-Prince, flew three relief flights to the city Wednesday, according to Reuters. The news agency says each flight "carried 10,000 pounds of supplies for the airline's 100 employees in Haiti as well as materials for local hospitals. American has scheduled another three relief flights for Thursday, the company said." Other airlines also offered their aircraft for relief flights – including Continental, which does not have scheduled service to Haiti. RELATED: FAA halts air traffic to Haiti, no room for planes Airlines are also leveraging their frequent-flier programs to help with the relief effort. One notable effort comes from low-cost carrier Spirit, which says it will give 5,000 frequent-flier miles to members that donate at least $5 to the Red Cross, UNICEF or Yele Haiti. Spirit says it's prepared to dole out up to a billion miles in total. American, the nation's No. 2 carrier, also is stepping in. The company says it will give a one-time 250-mile bonus to AAdvantage members who make a minimum $50 donation to the American Red Cross. If frequent-fliers up that to $100. AA will dole out 500 bonus miles. At United, the nation's No. 3 carrier, the airline says in a release its frequent-flier members can "donate Mileage Plus miles to the American Red Cross through our Charity Miles program. These miles can be used by the American Red Cross to assist in getting aid workers to affected areas." —Ben Mutzabaugh HOTELS Hotel Check-In: Some hotels are creating programs to make it easy to donate loyalty points for Haiti relief efforts. • Hilton HHonors members can donate points and address the donation — specifically to Haiti relief efforts. Details for Haiti-specific donations here. For every 10,000 points donated, Hilton will send $25 to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. • Marriott Rewards members can donate money to the Red Cross. For every 10,000 points donated, a $25 cash donation will be given to the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Marriott will collect 18,000 points when you donate $50 and 10,000 points if you donate $25. • Starwood Preferred Guest members can donate points by clicking here for details. Donated loyalty points (for Starwood and others) are not tax deductible. Donations may be made in the following amounts: 4,000 points=$50; 8,000 points=$100; 12,000-$150, and 16,000 points=$200. • Choice Hotels loyalty program members can donate to the Red Cross by going to Choice's main points donation page and following the directions. (Choice, by the way, just last week announced plans to build two hotels in Haiti in the artsy town of Jacmel, making it the first hotel chain to announce such a plan in nearly a decade.) —Barbara De Lollis CRUISES The Cruise Log: Royal Caribbean announced today that it will provide at least $1 million in humanitarian relief to Haiti in the wake of Tuesday's earthquake. The line says it will be partnering with Food for the Poor, Pan American Development Foundation and other organizations. Royal Caribbean also says 100% of its net revenue from cruise ship visits to Haiti will be contributed to relief efforts. Royal Caribbean also announced it is setting up a system on board its ships to let passengers donate to Food for the Poor's Haiti Relief Fund via a charge to their onboard account. Click HERE for the full text of Royal Caribbean's announcement. Royal Caribbean's private beach resort in Haiti, Labadee, was undamaged by this week's massive earthquake in the country, but the company is waiting for approval from the Haitian government before it resumes visits to the destination. "Site inspections of Labadee, Haiti, our private destination, report no apparent damage to our buildings, pier and attractions," the line says in a statement. "Royal Caribbean International and (sister line) Celebrity Cruises are eager to take guests, as well as humanitarian assistance, to Haiti as soon as possible, though we are awaiting confirmation from the Haitian government on when our return is feasible." A frequent stop for Royal Caribbean ships for more than two decades, privately-operated Labadee offers passengers beaches, watersports, a Haitian flea market and a zip-line. It's often billed as the biggest provider of tourist revenue in the country and employs hundreds of Haitians. Four Royal Caribbean-owned ships with a combined capacity for more than 13,000 vacationers are scheduled to call on Labadee in the next two weeks: Royal Caribbean's 3,654-passenger Independence of the Seas (scheduled to visit on Friday); Royal Caribbean's 3,114-passenger Navigator of the Seas (scheduled to visit Monday); Royal Caribbean's 3,654-passenger Liberty of the Seas (scheduled to visit Tuesday); and the 2,850-passenger Celebrity Solstice (scheduled to visit on Jan. 22). "We are extremely
saddened to hear of the destruction in Haiti
caused by the massive earthquake," the line says
in its statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go
out to the people of Haiti and their family
members." —Gene Sloan |
Charlotte, North Carolina
Copyright © 2004-2010 [TATC]. All rights reserved.
This website was last updated on:
01/17/2010
6600 AAA Drive •
Charlotte, NC 28212
Phone (704)
569-7801 (800) 934-1939 • Fax (704)
569-7805
Email:
Info@TravelAgentTrainingCenter.com
{Back To The Top}