WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. -- A motorcoach will rumble across America
this summer bringing a message to schools and town squares: The
travel and tourism industry contributes not only to the prosperity
of the nation but promotes peace and understanding among different
cultures.
The unusual undertaking is sponsored by the Hogan Family
Foundation, the $100 million nonprofit organization started 18
months ago by Ed and Lynn Hogan, the founders of Pleasant
Holidays.
The foundation's motorcoach -- called the Mobile Classroom --
has roamed in the Los Angeles area the past three months, hosting
groups of schoolchildren who are invited on board to learn about
travel and tourism.
The Mobile Classroom is one of the latest endeavors for the
Hogan Family Foundation, whose core mission is education, said Dale
Cowgill, public affairs coordinator.
"Ed [Hogan] is taking a strong role in supporting the industry
he loves and educating children about it so that they will consider
entering the industry," she said.
"And, it's also designed to elevate people in the industry so
that they understand their contribution, not only to the country's
prosperity but to peace among peoples."
The yellow and orange motorcoach -- with the words Travel and
Tourism painted in big letters on the side -- will leave California
June 11 and travel east, making stops in nine states before
arriving in Washington in the first week of July.
The coach will stop in 12 states on its return journey,
scheduled to end Sept. 2.
On board is a 24-seat "classroom" with 16 screens that will show
a six-minute video about the industry and its career
opportunities.
At stops across the country, Larry Coulson, education
coordinator for the foundation and also the driver of the coach,
plans to give a short talk describing the $80 billion travel and
tourism industry and its impact on the economy.
The talks, which will be different at each stop depending on the
audience, are geared to elementary school children, high school or
college students or adults.
Hogan, who 40 years ago founded Pleasant Holidays, the largest
tour operator to the Hawaiian islands, said in a statement that the
45-foot custom-designed coach represents "an incredible opportunity
to share the importance of travel and tourism with people across
this great country."
"Travel and tourism is the greatest peacetime economic engine
the world has ever known, and I am delighted that we can carry this
message to the American people."
Nonprofit group focuses efforts on education,
charity
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. -- Since it started in October 1998,
the Hogan Family Foundation has undertaken numerous programs,
including:
• The Ed and Lynn Hogan program in travel and tourism at Loyola
Marymount University in Los Angeles.
The curriculum gives students the opportunity to earn a
bachelor's degree in business administration with a specialization
in travel and tourism management.
• The Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program at Gonzaga
University in Spokane, Wash., which trains undergraduate students
to start businesses.
• The Center for Tourism at Arizona State University, which is
designed to educate students, professionals and policy-makers in
tourism.
• The Gardens of the World Community Park, a park within a mile
of Pleasant Holidays' headquarters that will feature English,
French, Japanese and Italian gardens and a trail with replicas of
the 21 California missions.
When the park opens, expected in early 2001, it will be free and
open to the public.
• Prescription for Life, which supports fitness programs for
senior citizens.
• The Hogan Flight Fund, providing free transportation for
people who cannot afford to travel for medical treatment.
• "My Bag," which provides tote bags filled with personal
articles for children awaiting placement in foster care homes.
• The Kodak Hula Show, which the foundation is now sponsoring
after the 63-year-old Waikiki show was in danger of closure.
• California Mission Inns, a program of projects to preserve the
state's chain of historical mission churches.
• The Hawaii Cultural Center, which the foundation is building
on Maui to educate travelers about the islands' culture.
Coming to a town near you...
Following is the schedule for the Hogan Family Foundation
Travel & Tourism Institute's Mobile Classroom Tour America
2000:
• June 13: Las Vegas, American Express Prestige Travel, (702)
251-5552.
• June 15: Tempe, Ariz., Arizona State University, (480)
965-5847.
• June 16: Tucson, Ariz., LTG/Travel 1, (520) 546-9664.
• June 20: Albuquerque, N.M., LTG/Rio Grande Travel, (505)
768-7913.
• June 23: Houston, AAA Texas, (800) 765-0766.
• June 26: Tulsa, Okla., Dollar Rent A Car, (918) 669-2949.
• June 29: Knoxville, Tenn., AAA East Tennessee, (865) 637-1910,
Ext. 3723.
• July 8: Charlotte, N.C., Mann Travel/Mann Travel Academy, (704)
556-8311, Ext. 298.
• July 10 to 16: Washington, program pending
• July 18: Annapolis, Md., Carlson Wagonlit, (410) 266-8040.
• July 24: Garden City, N.Y., AAA New York, (516) 873-2317.
• July 25: Colonia, N.J., American Express/Vista Travel, (732)
574-1100.
• July 28 and 29: Rochester, N.Y., AAA West Connecticut and New
York, (716) 461-5033.
• Aug. 3: Columbus, Ohio, Ohio Division of Travel & Tourism,
(614) 466-8844.
• Aug. 5: Dearborn, Mich., AAA Michigan, (313) 336-3135.
• Aug. 8: Chicago, College of Dupage, (630) 942-2556.
• Aug. 12: Omaha, Neb., AAA Nebraska, (402) 390-1000.
• Aug. 14: Milwaukee, Mark Travel Corp., (414) 934-1718.
• Aug. 16: Denver, AAA Colorado, (303) 753-8800, Ext. 8123.
• Aug. 18: Boise, Idaho, Global Travel, (208) 387-1000.
• Aug. 22: Spokane, Wash., Gonzaga University, (509) 323-6143;
cosponsor is Time To Travel, (208) 777-9760.
• Aug. 25: Medford, Ore., Carlson Wagonlit Travel Made Easy, (541)
772-9744.
• Aug. 28: San Francisco, San Francisco City College, sponsored by
Portal World Travel, (415) 334-5400.