NANCY
BOGERT, a top-producing Cruise Planners agent based in
Williamsport, Pa., was recently named the winner of Royal
Caribbean's Royal Partners at Home contest, which had been held in
conjunction with CLIA's World's Largest Cruise Night promotion.
Bogert was awarded first place for hosting a successful cruise
event at her local Borders bookstore. Her granddaughter helped
spark the idea. "My granddaughter, who was diagnosed with juvenile
diabetes at the age of 2, held a fundraiser for the Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation for her senior class project," Bogert
explained. "She held events at the mall and other areas around
town, and the experience inspired me to approach Borders for the
World's Largest Cruise Night." Bogert booked more than 30 cabins at
the event. In recognition of her efforts, she was awarded a free
balcony cabin aboard the preview sailing of Royal Caribbean's
newest Freedom-class ship, the Independence of the Seas.
FRANCE
VACATIONS rolled out programs for the Carnival of Nice,
which is held the second half of February. The operator is offering
land-only and air-inclusive itineraries to the French Riviera.
Per-person rates begin at $490 (land only) and at $1,046 (air
included) for a four-night package. The plan covers accommodations,
breakfasts, a two-day entrance to the Carnival Parade and a
half-day excursion to Monte Carlo and Eze Village. Pre- or
post-package stays in Paris are available. Bookings are accepted
from agents who are registered with either IATA or CLIA, and who
are members of an ARC-accredited or CLIA-registered agency. Details
on the Carnival package are at www.francevacations.net.
YTB
INTERNATIONAL has partnered with Shanghai Spring
International Travel Service to market and sell seven- and 11-day
tour packages to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The partners
said the target is 3,000 customers. The companies said they have
purchased 10,000 event tickets. YTB was in the news earlier this
year, when Royal Caribbean Cruises suspended its business
relationship with the agency, calling it a "card mill." A few weeks
later, IATA terminated YTB. The Olympic packages include air from
the U.S. to China via Los Angeles, but ticketing will be handled by
Shanghai Spring.
DATEBOOK: The OSSN San Diego Chapter will
meet Wednesday, Jan. 9, at 6:30 p.m. for a dinner seminar with
Viking River Cruises. The chapter will welcome OSSN agents as well
as non-members at the Mandarin Garden (8242 Mira Mesa Blvd., San
Diego, 858-566-4720). The meeting fee is $5 for members and $7 for
non-members. Agents should RSVP via email to [email protected].
FAM OF THE
WEEK
Turkey
Trip: Three nights in Istanbul.
Departures: Jan. 12 and 19 from Istanbul,
land only.
Length: Three nights.
Sponsor: TourCrafters, Libertyville,
Ill.
Cost: $120 per person, double. Includes
accommodations, transfers, daily breakfast, one dinner and
sightseeing.
Noteworthy: The single supplement is $50. A
two-night extension to Cappadocia is available for $340 per person,
double.
Contact: (800) 621-2259.
Home-Based
Agent Editor: Donna Tunney
Phone: (508) 221-3674
[email protected]
For promotional
opportunities in the E-letters, contact [email protected].