WASHINGTON -- ARC posted the entire 2000 edition of its Industry
Agents' Handbook on its Web site.
"This is a reflection of our understanding that the agency
community is becoming far more integrated in the World Wide Web as
a business tool," said an ARC spokesman, adding that "travel agents
are the primary audience for our Web site."
The handbook can be found in two places -- under "breaking news"
and "products and publications" at www.arccorp.com.
Eventually, when it ceases to be breaking news, it will appear
under the latter section only.
For the moment, ARC still will send accredited full-service
travel agency locations a free hard copy of the 8-1/2" x 11"
handbook, which is published in its entirety once a year and is
about an inch-and-a-half thick.
In fact, ARC just sent agencies copies of the first supplement
of the year that updates the handbook, the spokesman said, adding
that the 90-page supplement will be posted on the Web site
soon.
"Is one of our motivations to wean the agency community from
hard copy to on line? Yes. In due course, travel agents who need a
hard copy may have to request it, free of charge, of course, rather
than our printing 32,000 copies [for all agencies]," the spokesman
said.