WASHINGTON -- Consumer Travel Rights Center, a Web-based nonprofit
consumer advocacy group spun off by ARTA, began operations on Labor
Day weekend and quickly attracted more than 7,400 viewers on the
Internet, ARTA said.
ARTA president John Hawks, who serves as the center's interim
executive director, said visits to the site shot up after a weekend
media blitz, coordinated by Edelman Public Relations, that included
interviews on CNBC, National Public Radio, Bloomberg Radio, USA
Radio and Talk America Radio. USA Today also did a story on the
site.
The site, located at www.mytravelrights.com, details consumer travel
rights on a variety of issues. Consumers who join the advocacy
group also may use the site to file complaints against such
suppliers as airlines, cruise lines, hotels, car rental companies,
tour operators, attractions and rail lines.
The CTRC issued an advisory urging consumers to download copies
of certain airlines' written policies, or Rule 240s, which concern
providing compensation for delays and cancellations.
"They have been downloaded quite a bit," Hawks said. "As far as
we know, [the site] has the widest variety of [Rule 240s] in one
place," as well as the airlines' consumer service plans.
By October, Hawks said, consumers who have Web-enabled wireless
phones or similar devices also will be able to access the site's
content.
Annual membership is $12 for consumers, but $1 for travel agency
groups, such as consortia, which can extend the benefit to all of
their agency affiliates.
Hawks explained that the agencies, in turn, can then grant or
sell the membership in the CTRC to their clients for $12, remit one
dollar to CTRC and retain the remaining $11 as a commission.
A five- to eight-member board of directors and a 20- to
30-member advisory committee will be announced within the next
several weeks.
Hawks said the CTRC would operate independently from ARTA. ARTA
chairman Nancy Linares will hold a post on the board. CRTC is run
by Hawks Management Service, which also operates ARTA.
It is represented in Washington by ARTA's lobbyist, Toby Roth.
The legal counsel will be ARTA's attorney, Alexander Anolik.