CRUISE
PLANNERS agent Tim Kangas had the good fortune of having a
very cluttered office. Pictures of the office and his letter to
Royal Caribbean International enabled Kangas to win the cruise
lines Extreme Home Office Makeover Challenge. Kangas, and five
other winners, will have their home offices redone by design
experts from Royal Caribbeans Newbuild team. Kangas also won $1,000
in equipment or furniture plus another $500 from Cruise Planners,
which pledged that additional amount for any of their agents who
won the contest.
THE WINNING
AGENTS will be flown by Royal Caribbean to Miami on March
31 and will be feted by the cruise line with special events, hotel
accommodations and a consultative lunch with design experts. Later,
the designers will travel to Kangas Sharpsburg, Ga., office to give
it a complete makeover. Kangas, who has been a home-based travel
agent with Coral Springs, Fla.-based Cruise Planners since 2001,
said the makeover will make him more confident about bringing
clients and prospects to his office.
EDUCATION
UPDATE: The Travel Institute launched the latest in its
series of destination specialist courses, Destination Specialist
Southern Europe. The course is being offered at an introductory
price of $59 -- $20 off the regular $79 price -- through March 11.
It covers Andorra, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Greece, Italy, Malta, Monaco,
Portugal, San Marino, Spain and Turkey. Sign up at www.thetravelinstitute.com.
DATEBOOK: The French Government Tourist
Office hopes to turn increasing numbers of travel agents --
especially home-based retailers -- onto the charms of La Belle
France with its series of educational seminars this week in four
cities. The events -- all starting at 5 p.m. -- are scheduled for
Feb. 28 in New York at the Hotel Parker Meridien in Manhattan;
March 1 in the Washington, D.C., area at the Hotel Tysons Corner
Marriott in Vienna, Va.; March 2 in Chicago at the Hotel Fairmont;
and March 3 in Los Angeles at the Four Seasons Hotel. Interested
travel agents should contact the office by email: [email protected].
FAM OF THE
WEEK
Costa Rica
Departure: May 7 from San Jose, land only.
Length: Eight nights.
Sponsor: Abercrombie & Kent, Oak Brook,
Ill.
Cost: $963 per person, double. Includes
accommodations, transportation within Costa Rica, most meals,
sightseeing and entrance fees.
Trip: Visits Arenal, Monteverde, San Jose and
Tortuguero.
Noteworthy: Companions are eligible at the same
rate. The single supplement is $260. Air within Costa Rica is
approximately $486 per person.
Contact: Via fax: (630) 954-3324, Attn: Grace
Porter; e-mail: [email protected].