Cox & Kings is launching new itineraries in Zimbabwe. The country has stabilized its power-sharing arrangement and experienced a positive currency change by instituting the South African rand and U.S. dollar as the standard currencies of exchange, leading to a return of abundant supplies of food, fuel and medical supplies. Cox & Kings’ Zimbabwe itineraries feature prime wildlife viewing, accommodation in the area’s finest wildlife reserves, and safari excursions -- all sustainable tourism efforts that benefit extraordinary conservation projects, preserving vast herds of wildlife and greatly aiding the local communities.

Turkey tour operator Magister Tours launched a new website at www.magister.com.tr in the wake of its appointment of Barbara Rubin as U.S. sales director, to enhance awareness and support to U.S. travel agents. Rubin’s background in high-end travel sales spans more than 20 years and includes stints with Travcoa, Grand Expeditions, Intrav, Clipper Cruise Lines and African Travel. As a former tour manager, she led groups in South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

“Turkey is a fascinating destination with enormous opportunities for individuals, groups and affinities” said Rubin, who recently returned from an extensive tour of the country following the ASTA Destination Expo in Istanbul. “Magister Tours’ longstanding relationships with vendors across the country, coupled with their experienced staff gives them a tremendous basis for providing excellent itineraries at competitive prices.”

Magister Tours’ new website and brochure are dedicated to helping travel agents sell customized programs for individuals, families and special interest groups. Included are sample itineraries and suggestions for cruise extensions, Christian and Jewish Heritage Tours, Blue Voyages, Culinary and Wildlife special interest groups, as well as the more classical journeys and an unusual Eastern Turkey program. Hotels featured have been specially selected by Magister Tours staff for quality, service, location and amenities. Agents can send their requests through the website and should expect to receive a reply within 48 hours and will usually receive one within 24 hours. Prices are quoted net.

Magister Tours was founded 35 years ago by Mustafa Coskun, who continues to run the company from the head office in Istanbul. He and his daughter Sibel and an experienced staff monitor the details of each tour. Magister Tours offers customized programs throughout Turkey, including archeological, cultural, faith based, cruise extensions and shore excursions, wildlife tours, culinary extravaganzas and Eastern Turkey programs. For more information, call 888-396-6929 or visit www.magister.com.tr.

Trafalgar Tours is offering four tours for the Christmas holiday season in Europe. An English Christmas offers an eight-day vacation that explores England during the season when it is lit by Christmas lights. The tours visit London, Stratford-upon-Avon, the house where Shakespeare was born, the ancient city of Bath and Stonehenge. It begins and ends in London, so there is time for last-minute shopping. Land-only prices start at $1,025 per person.

Christmas in Paris is a nine-day escorted tour that highlights the sights of Paris, including the Champs Elysees, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Moulin Rouge and the Palace of Versailles. Land-only prices for this special Christmas tour start at $850 per person, double occupancy.

Trafalgar"s nine-day Christmas Markets of Austria, Germany & Switzerland highlights the places where many Christmas traditions were born. This escorted tour begins in Vienna with a drive along the Ringstrasse and a visit to the markets with their traditional handicrafts and delicious local gingerbread. Other sights include the Christmas Markets in Mozart"s Salzburg, Oberammergau, Zurich, Liechtenstein, Lucerne and more. Land-only prices begin at $1,399 per person double occupancy.

Trafalgar"s newest holiday vacation, Rhine-Main Holiday Markets, offers an 11-day cruise along the River Rhine at Christmas time, the holiday markets, cities such as Bamberg, Nuremberg, Wertheim and Cologne, which in addition to their year-round historic beauty, will be decked out in festive Christmas trim and brimming with hand-made local crafts and delicious regional fare. Your vacation features complimentary transfers on arrival and departure days, seven nights in a river-view stateroom, all meals and entertainment onboard, wine with dinner, included shore excursions and more. Fares start at $2,349 per person. For more information, call 800-854-0103 or visit www.trafalgartours.com.
 

NTA, North America’s premier association of travel professionals, and Edelman , the world’s largest independent public relations firm, are rescheduling next week’s oil spill crisis and media relations seminars due to the steady approach of Tropical Storm Bonnie, based on the advice and request of Gulf Coast contacts. These free seminars, titled “Practical Skills for the Oil Spill Crisis: Managing Media Relations and Building Business through a Crisis,” have been rescheduled for Aug. 10, 9 a.m. to noon CT in Gulf Shores, Ala. (venue to be determined); and Aug. 11, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT in Pensacola, Fla., at the Sanders Beach Center in the Corinne Jones Community Center Ballroom. Those who are currently registered need to re-register.

The seminars will provide participants with skills needed for not only managing media relations, but also tips for maintaining and building tourism business through the oil spill crisis. Specific topics include “The Crisis Perspective” -- Leaders of the Edelman Crisis Practice will focus on understanding the public’s fears and perceptions of a crisis, addressing misperceptions through accurate messaging and finally, some of the best practices in crisis management; “Media Relations” -- Edelman media specialists will review how the media is covering the oil spill, how it differs from other crises and offer pointers for keeping the media accurately informed; and “Digital Relations in a Crisis” -- Edelman Digital’s media specialist will review methods for monitoring the digital newscape, analyzing how digital coverage can affect a business and engaging an audience using various social media platforms.

Registration is open for both seminars at www.NTAOnline.com/gulfcoast.  Contact NTA Public Relations Specialist Madeline Vied at madeline.vied@NTAstaff.com  with any questions. This event is sponsored in part by GulfCoastTravelUpdate.com, an interactive tool devised by travel social network Tripatini.com to help Gulf Coast business owners get their message out. Edelman has one of the largest tourism PR practices in the world, and the firm’s crisis and issues management practice has helped counsel Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized organizations, non-profits, government entities and high-profile individuals respond to a range of communications and reputational challenges. The firm has 3,200 employees in 52 offices worldwide and has been named Advertising Age’s top-ranked PR firm of the decade, Adweek’s “2009 Agency of the Year,” and PRWeek’s “2009 Agency of the Year.” For more information, visit www.edelman.com.

NTA is the leading association for professionals serving travelers to, from and within North America. Since its founding in 1951, the association has served a diverse membership and helped them expand market reach with innovative business tools, strategic relationships and collaboration within the industry. NTA membership represents more than 40 countries. For more information, call 800-682-8886 or visit www.NTAonline.com.

Cox & Kings is launching new itineraries in Zimbabwe. The country has stabilized its power-sharing arrangement and experienced a positive currency change by instituting the South African rand and U.S. dollar as the standard currencies of exchange, leading to a return of abundant supplies of food, fuel and medical supplies. Cox & Kings’ Zimbabwe itineraries feature prime wildlife viewing, accommodation in the area’s finest wildlife reserves, and safari excursions -- all sustainable tourism efforts that benefit extraordinary conservation projects, preserving vast herds of wildlife and greatly aiding the local communities.

“Zimbabwe has long implemented several of Africa’s most effective conservation efforts and heartily welcomes sophisticated safari-goers,” said Thomas Stanley, COO of Cox & Kings USA. “In addition to experiencing some of nature’s wildlife wonders and the grandeur of Victoria Falls, travelers are assured to know that every tourist dollar spent in Zimbabwe has a great impact on the continuation of these conservation efforts and preservation of the national parks.”

All Zimbabwe itineraries by Cox & Kings are easily customizable and offer travelers the opportunity to experience the African eco-system through hosted game drives and wildlife walks. Each of the special Zimbabwe itineraries is currently available to book and include the following:

Classic Zimbabwe Safari (nine days, eight nights) features Victoria Falls, Hwange and Mana Pools National Parks, home to the only elephants known to stand on their hind legs to feed during the winter months. The itinerary offers close-up safari experiences in 4x4 vehicles, on motorized boats, on foot, in game hides and in canoes. Guests enjoy two- to three-night accommodations in several of the area’s finest safari camps, including Ruckomechi Camp, which lies on the banks of the Zambezi River. Prices start at $4,245 per person double occupancy.

Botswana & Zimbabwe Safari (12 days, 11 nights) offers walks through the game- and bird-rich Okavango Delta of northern Botswana to Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, home to several of Southern Africa’s largest elephant, buffalo and sable herds. Visitors may also witness the growing rhino population. Guests enjoy two- to three-night accommodations in luxury safari camps such as Little Makalolo Camp, situated in a truly wild area where animals migrate back and forth. Prices start at $8,170 per person double occupancy.

Singita Southern Africa Safari (nine days, eight nights) offers a diverse yet cohesive journey through Southern Africa, taking guests from Kruger National Park, set against mountains and the Sweni River, to Zimbabwe’s Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve, teeming with birds and endangered wildlife such as the Roan and sable antelope and the black rhino. Guests can choose between Singita Lebombo or Sweni Lodges in Kruger National Park and Singita Boulders or Ebony in Singita Sabi Sand Game Reserve in South Africa. Prices start at $8,960 per person double occupancy.

“Though Zimbabwe has experienced political and economic struggles over the years, Cox & Kings is encouraged by substantial governmental changes that will persuade more travelers to visit the country for its truly authentic and unique wildlife experiences,” said Megan Bryant, Cox & Kings USA tour consultant and recent visitor to Zimbabwe. “We’ve already noticed a significant increase in interest and travelers from North America due to the stabilization and appeal of the revitalized safaris in Zimbabwe.”

For guests seeking to extend their travels in Zimbabwe or within sub-Saharan or North Africa, Cox & Kings is able to arrange customized extensions, including additional excursions such as gorilla tracking in Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda or diving in the scenic waters of Lake Malawi. Founded in 1758, Cox & Kings is the world’s oldest travel brand. Having made its mark in the Indian subcontinent even before the British Raj, Cox & Kings was the first choice of thousands traveling from Britain to India. Today, Cox & Kings thrives as a premium global brand offering cultural and wildlife journeys designed for small groups and individuals on the Indian subcontinent, Africa and the Middle East, the Indian Ocean islands, Asia & Pacific, and Latin America. For more information, call 800-999-1758 or visit www.coxandkingsusa.com
 

Ritz Tours revamped its Essence of India program for the fall/winter season combining the Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, India, with Hong Kong, China. The package is priced $2,682 per person double occupancy including taxes. The program includes airfare from Los Angeles or San Francisco (add $100 per person for New York departures out of JFK), taxes, fuel surcharges, sightseeing, travel insurance and luxurious five-star hotel accommodations, with departures available Sept. 14 to Feb. 22, 2011. Single supplements range from $800 to $1,100. Five-star hotels used for the program include the Lalit New Delhi, Le Meridien Jaipur and Jaypee Palace Agra in India, as well as the InterContinental Grand Stanford in Hong Kong.

Travel Impressions is giving up to $1,500 in Vacation Dollars to clients who book a minimum five-night, all-inclusive vacation at Palace Resorts (in Mexico or the Dominican Republic) or Le Blanc Spa Resort (in Cancun). Vacation Dollars can be used towards wedding packages, tours, golf, spa and beauty services, dining and room upgrades at select properties (restrictions apply). Those looking for shorter stays can receive up to $750 Vacation Dollars on three- and four-night packages.

The Vacation Dollars promotion is valid on new reservations made for travel through Dec. 23 at Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort in the Dominican Republic and the following properties in Mexico: Beach Palace Wyndham Grand Resort, Cancun Palace, Sun Palace (couples only), Isla Mujeres Palace Wyndham Grand Resort, Xpu-Ha Palace Wyndham Resort, Playacar Palace Wyndham Grand Resort, Aventura Cove Palace, Aventura Spa Palace (adults Only), Cozumel Palace and Vallarta Palace. La Blanc Spa Resorts in Cancun is also participating in the Vacation Dollars promotion. Five-night all-inclusive packages start at $699 per person and vary by hotel and departure date. Rate quoted is based on a stay at Vallarta Palace between Aug. 22 and Dec. 23.

Each of these all-inclusive vacations available through Travel Impression include hotel accommodations; roundtrip airport/hotel transfers; all meals, drinks and snacks; non-motorized watersports; daily activities; and nightly entertainment. Airfare is available from gateways nationwide and can be easily added to the cost of the hotel package. Travel agents earn an extra 1 percent commission when booking travel packages online with Quest for Agents via www.TravelImpressions.com.  For more information, call 800-284-0044 or visit www.TravelImpressions.com.

Ritz Tours revamped its Essence of India program for the fall/winter season combining the Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, India, with Hong Kong, China. The package is priced $2,682 per person double occupancy including taxes. The program includes airfare from Los Angeles or San Francisco (add $100 per person for New York departures out of JFK), taxes, fuel surcharges, sightseeing, travel insurance and luxurious five-star hotel accommodations, with departures available Sept. 14 to Feb. 22, 2011. Single supplements range from $800 to $1,100. Five-star hotels used for the program include the Lalit New Delhi, Le Meridien Jaipur and Jaypee Palace Agra in India, as well as the InterContinental Grand Stanford in Hong Kong.

The Essence of India program includes a comprehensive guided sightseeing itinerary. Highlights include: In Delhi, Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Ghandi in Old Delhi; Old Delhi’s dramatic Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; a bicycle rickshaw tour of the Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque; Qutub Minar in New Delhi, a soaring victory tower built in 1193, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the Tomb of Humayun, another UNESCO World Heritage Site; and the India Gate, the Parliament Building and the presidential residence, Rastrapathi Bhawan.

In the Pink City of Jaipur, an elephant or jeep ride up to the Amber For; the Palace of the Winds; a Jaipur city tour featuring the City Palace, dating back to the 18th century; the Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory created by the Maharaja of Jaipur in 1726; and a tour of Fatehpur Sikri, a maze of ornate pavilions, courtyards and palaces built by Emperor Akbar in the 16th century evoking images of opulent imperial times. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Agra, a ride on Tonga’s horse carriages to the gates of the Taj Majal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Hong Kong, Victoria Peak; Repulse Bay; Stanley Market and a chance to interact with locals at the Aberdeen Floating Community, where residents live on traditional fishing boats. For more information, call 800-900-2446 or visit www.RitzTours.com.

NTA, North America’s premier association of travel professionals, and Edelman , the world’s largest independent public relations firm, are rescheduling next week’s oil spill crisis and media relations seminars due to the steady approach of Tropical Storm Bonnie, based on the advice and request of Gulf Coast contacts. These free seminars, titled “Practical Skills for the Oil Spill Crisis: Managing Media Relations and Building Business through a Crisis,” have been rescheduled for Aug. 10, 9 a.m. to noon CT in Gulf Shores, Ala. (venue to be determined); and Aug. 11, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT in Pensacola, Fla., at the Sanders Beach Center in the Corinne Jones Community Center Ballroom. Those who are currently registered need to re-register.

Turkey tour operator Magister Tours launched a new website at www.magister.com.tr in the wake of its appointment of Barbara Rubin as U.S. sales director, to enhance awareness and support to U.S. travel agents. Rubin’s background in high-end travel sales spans more than 20 years and includes stints with Travcoa, Grand Expeditions, Intrav, Clipper Cruise Lines and African Travel. As a former tour manager, she led groups in South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

“Turkey is a fascinating destination with enormous opportunities for individuals, groups and affinities” said Rubin, who recently returned from an extensive tour of the country following the ASTA Destination Expo in Istanbul. “Magister Tours’ longstanding relationships with vendors across the country, coupled with their experienced staff gives them a tremendous basis for providing excellent itineraries at competitive prices.”

Magister Tours’ new website and brochure are dedicated to helping travel agents sell customized programs for individuals, families and special interest groups. Included are sample itineraries and suggestions for cruise extensions, Christian and Jewish Heritage Tours, Blue Voyages, Culinary and Wildlife special interest groups, as well as the more classical journeys and an unusual Eastern Turkey program. Hotels featured have been specially selected by Magister Tours staff for quality, service, location and amenities. Agents can send their requests through the website and should expect to receive a reply within 48 hours and will usually receive one within 24 hours. Prices are quoted net.

Magister Tours was founded 35 years ago by Mustafa Coskun, who continues to run the company from the head office in Istanbul. He and his daughter Sibel and an experienced staff monitor the details of each tour. Magister Tours offers customized programs throughout Turkey, including archeological, cultural, faith based, cruise extensions and shore excursions, wildlife tours, culinary extravaganzas and Eastern Turkey programs. For more information, call 888-396-6929 or visit www.magister.com.tr.

Trafalgar Tours is offering four tours for the Christmas holiday season in Europe. An English Christmas offers an eight-day vacation that explores England during the season when it is lit by Christmas lights. The tours visit London, Stratford-upon-Avon, the house where Shakespeare was born, the ancient city of Bath and Stonehenge. It begins and ends in London, so there is time for last-minute shopping. Land-only prices start at $1,025 per person.

Christmas in Paris is a nine-day escorted tour that highlights the sights of Paris, including the Champs Elysees, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Moulin Rouge and the Palace of Versailles. Land-only prices for this special Christmas tour start at $850 per person, double occupancy.

Trafalgar"s nine-day Christmas Markets of Austria, Germany & Switzerland highlights the places where many Christmas traditions were born. This escorted tour begins in Vienna with a drive along the Ringstrasse and a visit to the markets with their traditional handicrafts and delicious local gingerbread. Other sights include the Christmas Markets in Mozart"s Salzburg, Oberammergau, Zurich, Liechtenstein, Lucerne and more. Land-only prices begin at $1,399 per person double occupancy.

Trafalgar"s newest holiday vacation, Rhine-Main Holiday Markets, offers an 11-day cruise along the River Rhine at Christmas time, the holiday markets, cities such as Bamberg, Nuremberg, Wertheim and Cologne, which in addition to their year-round historic beauty, will be decked out in festive Christmas trim and brimming with hand-made local crafts and delicious regional fare. Your vacation features complimentary transfers on arrival and departure days, seven nights in a river-view stateroom, all meals and entertainment onboard, wine with dinner, included shore excursions and more. Fares start at $2,349 per person. For more information, call 800-854-0103 or visit www.trafalgartours.com.
 

NTA, North America’s premier association of travel professionals, and Edelman , the world’s largest independent public relations firm, are rescheduling next week’s oil spill crisis and media relations seminars due to the steady approach of Tropical Storm Bonnie, based on the advice and request of Gulf Coast contacts. These free seminars, titled “Practical Skills for the Oil Spill Crisis: Managing Media Relations and Building Business through a Crisis,” have been rescheduled for Aug. 10, 9 a.m. to noon CT in Gulf Shores, Ala. (venue to be determined); and Aug. 11, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT in Pensacola, Fla., at the Sanders Beach Center in the Corinne Jones Community Center Ballroom. Those who are currently registered need to re-register.

The seminars will provide participants with skills needed for not only managing media relations, but also tips for maintaining and building tourism business through the oil spill crisis. Specific topics include “The Crisis Perspective” -- Leaders of the Edelman Crisis Practice will focus on understanding the public’s fears and perceptions of a crisis, addressing misperceptions through accurate messaging and finally, some of the best practices in crisis management; “Media Relations” -- Edelman media specialists will review how the media is covering the oil spill, how it differs from other crises and offer pointers for keeping the media accurately informed; and “Digital Relations in a Crisis” -- Edelman Digital’s media specialist will review methods for monitoring the digital newscape, analyzing how digital coverage can affect a business and engaging an audience using various social media platforms.

Registration is open for both seminars at www.NTAOnline.com/gulfcoast.  Contact NTA Public Relations Specialist Madeline Vied at madeline.vied@NTAstaff.com  with any questions. This event is sponsored in part by GulfCoastTravelUpdate.com, an interactive tool devised by travel social network Tripatini.com to help Gulf Coast business owners get their message out. Edelman has one of the largest tourism PR practices in the world, and the firm’s crisis and issues management practice has helped counsel Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized organizations, non-profits, government entities and high-profile individuals respond to a range of communications and reputational challenges. The firm has 3,200 employees in 52 offices worldwide and has been named Advertising Age’s top-ranked PR firm of the decade, Adweek’s “2009 Agency of the Year,” and PRWeek’s “2009 Agency of the Year.” For more information, visit www.edelman.com.

NTA is the leading association for professionals serving travelers to, from and within North America. Since its founding in 1951, the association has served a diverse membership and helped them expand market reach with innovative business tools, strategic relationships and collaboration within the industry. NTA membership represents more than 40 countries. For more information, call 800-682-8886 or visit www.NTAonline.com.

SITA World Tours launched a second summer road show highlighting China and The Shanghai World Expo. Laudie Hanou, SITA’s vice president, believes that the Expo has created a compelling new aspect to China tourism and the SITA road show will focus on helping travel professionals learn more about China and use this great Expo opportunity to enhance their sales. “The Shanghai World Expo is the largest in history, with 192 countries and 50 international organizations participating,” Hanou said. “We are very enthusiastic over the on-going potential and looking forward to presenting our unique China/Expo packages to the travel community.”

Travel Impressions is giving up to $1,500 in Vacation Dollars to clients who book a minimum five-night, all-inclusive vacation at Palace Resorts (in Mexico or the Dominican Republic) or Le Blanc Spa Resort (in Cancun). Vacation Dollars can be used towards wedding packages, tours, golf, spa and beauty services, dining and room upgrades at select properties (restrictions apply). Those looking for shorter stays can receive up to $750 Vacation Dollars on three- and four-night packages.

The Vacation Dollars promotion is valid on new reservations made for travel through Dec. 23 at Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort in the Dominican Republic and the following properties in Mexico: Beach Palace Wyndham Grand Resort, Cancun Palace, Sun Palace (couples only), Isla Mujeres Palace Wyndham Grand Resort, Xpu-Ha Palace Wyndham Resort, Playacar Palace Wyndham Grand Resort, Aventura Cove Palace, Aventura Spa Palace (adults Only), Cozumel Palace and Vallarta Palace. La Blanc Spa Resorts in Cancun is also participating in the Vacation Dollars promotion. Five-night all-inclusive packages start at $699 per person and vary by hotel and departure date. Rate quoted is based on a stay at Vallarta Palace between Aug. 22 and Dec. 23.

Each of these all-inclusive vacations available through Travel Impression include hotel accommodations; roundtrip airport/hotel transfers; all meals, drinks and snacks; non-motorized watersports; daily activities; and nightly entertainment. Airfare is available from gateways nationwide and can be easily added to the cost of the hotel package. Travel agents earn an extra 1 percent commission when booking travel packages online with Quest for Agents via www.TravelImpressions.com.  For more information, call 800-284-0044 or visit www.TravelImpressions.com.

Ritz Tours revamped its Essence of India program for the fall/winter season combining the Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, India, with Hong Kong, China. The package is priced $2,682 per person double occupancy including taxes. The program includes airfare from Los Angeles or San Francisco (add $100 per person for New York departures out of JFK), taxes, fuel surcharges, sightseeing, travel insurance and luxurious five-star hotel accommodations, with departures available Sept. 14 to Feb. 22, 2011. Single supplements range from $800 to $1,100. Five-star hotels used for the program include the Lalit New Delhi, Le Meridien Jaipur and Jaypee Palace Agra in India, as well as the InterContinental Grand Stanford in Hong Kong.

The Essence of India program includes a comprehensive guided sightseeing itinerary. Highlights include: In Delhi, Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Ghandi in Old Delhi; Old Delhi’s dramatic Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; a bicycle rickshaw tour of the Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque; Qutub Minar in New Delhi, a soaring victory tower built in 1193, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the Tomb of Humayun, another UNESCO World Heritage Site; and the India Gate, the Parliament Building and the presidential residence, Rastrapathi Bhawan.

In the Pink City of Jaipur, an elephant or jeep ride up to the Amber For; the Palace of the Winds; a Jaipur city tour featuring the City Palace, dating back to the 18th century; the Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory created by the Maharaja of Jaipur in 1726; and a tour of Fatehpur Sikri, a maze of ornate pavilions, courtyards and palaces built by Emperor Akbar in the 16th century evoking images of opulent imperial times. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Agra, a ride on Tonga’s horse carriages to the gates of the Taj Majal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Hong Kong, Victoria Peak; Repulse Bay; Stanley Market and a chance to interact with locals at the Aberdeen Floating Community, where residents live on traditional fishing boats. For more information, call 800-900-2446 or visit www.RitzTours.com.

SITA World Tours was awarded the Green Globe Certification award for its commitment to environmentally friendly policies. The certification reflects innovative policies adopted by SITA’s staff worldwide for preservation of non-renewable resources. Roger Mahal, SITA’s chairman and CEO, takes the green commitment personally and is an enthusiastic member of Tourism Cares, an organization dedicated to preserving the travel experience for future generations. He was one of approximately 300 travel industry volunteers on hand June 4 for a day of cleaning, repairing, stacking and beautifying San Francisco’s Angel Island. Designated one of America’s 10 most threatened historic sites by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the park has a colorful history that pre-dates the Civil War.

According to Angel Island State Park staff, Tourism Cares volunteers did tens of thousands of dollars worth of work which would have taken state workers months to accomplish. Volunteers removed 85 cubic yards of undergrowth, split and stacked two cords of wood at the Quarter Master building and 48 cords of wood at North Garrison, cleaned and repaired 600 feet of drainage ditch, replaced redwood dividers, picked up 78 cubic yards of garbage, and stacked and organized 2,500 terra cotta roof tiles. The Angel Island project was the first Tourism Cares for America event held on the West Coast. For more information, see www.sitatours.com.

Big Five Tours & Expeditions is offering an eight-day Precious Journeys: Ecuador package, which includes a three-night Galapagos island cruise aboard the luxurious Galapagos Legend. Exploring the islands" varied habitats brings guests in close proximity to a wide range of animals and birdlife -- from sea lion colonies, large numbers of marine iguanas, lava lizards, and Sally light-foot crabs, to blue footed boobies, penguins, and 13 species of Darwin finches. Snorkeling or scuba diving the waters around the islands allows you to encounter marine animals like spotted eagle rays, golden rays, mullets, sharks and sea turtles.

Travelers who have enjoyed island cruises elsewhere on large-passenger cruise lines are surprised to learn that most ships in the Galapagos are much smaller than their Caribbean counterparts. The Galapagos Legend used in this program has a capacity of just 100 passengers, and is specifically designed for Galapagos Islands cruising, with all the amenities of a larger cruise liner, while retaining the privacy of a small ship.

A Galapagos Islands cruise adventure offers opportunities for families to learn together and play together, which makes for a fulfilling family vacation. Big Five"s Precious Journeys: Ecuador starts from $2,650 per person, and includes a three-night Galapagos cruise, three nights in Quito with luxury tours exploring the city and the outlining areas such as Otavalo Indigenous Market, the most famous in South America. For more information, visit www.bigfive.com.

Brian Moore International Tours (BMIT) is inviting agents to join an October tour through Ireland. Agents can spend a week exploring the country on a complimentary escorted tour hosted by BMIT"s marketing manager Kelsey Tomascheski, Oct. 10-17, 2010.

“We are thrilled to introduce this complimentary fall 2010 fam to Ireland,” said Martin Froggatt, president of Brian Moore International. “Our itinerary mixes delicious cuisine, stunning sightseeing, and more. It is a great opportunity for travel agents to enjoy Ireland and see, first hand, why BMIT is a leader in Ireland escorted tours.”

BMIT’s complimentary Ireland familiarization trip includes: meals as listed in itinerary, escorted sightseeing, Professional Irish Tour Director throughout, accommodation at first class hotels, full Irish breakfast daily, group airport arrival and departure transfers. For more information on this fam or to register for the trip, fill out the registration form at www.surveymonkey.com/s/JLL73FJ. For more information on the itinerary, visit www.bmit.com/Ireland_FAM.pdf. For general information on Ireland escorted tours and BMIT, call 800-982-2299 or visit www.bmit.com.  
 

Travel Impressions is offering more than 80 hotels in its recently introduced Australia product line, and a series of tour options. The product line includes five-night packages to Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef and the Outback, which can be combined. Packages include hotel accommodations for five nights in each location, roundtrip hotel transfers and hotel tax and service charges. Airfare is available from gateways nationwide and can be easily added to the cost of the hotel package.

Sample hotel stays with rates quoted per person are as follows: Quality Hotel Cambridge, Sydney, from $485, near Hyde Park and within walking distance from the central business district, entertainment and sporting venues and many of Sydney’s major attractions; The Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort, Cairns, from $345, centrally located near the attractions of Cairns City, the hotel is a good base for exploration of the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, and the Outback bush country of the Gulf Savannah and the Cooktown/Cape York area; and Outback Pioneer Hotel, Ayers Rock, from $509, with comfortable rooms and cabins in relaxed surroundings.

Travel Impressions also offers commissionable tours, which can be added on to the cost of a hotel stay. A sample of tour options with rates quoted per person are as follows: Uluru Sunrise & Kata Tjuta Tour, Ayers Rock, $99 -- Journey to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to witness Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the desert come to life at sunrise. With the sun climbing in the morning sky, travel to the western section of the park to the immense 36 rock domes of Kata Tjuta. The tour culminates with a guided walk into Walpa (Olga) Gorge. BridgeClimb Sydney Night Tour, Sydney, $185 -- Experience the magic of a night climb to the top of the world-famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, 134 meters above sea level with a fully trained climb leader and witness the city aglow with lights.

Quicksilver Outer Barrier Reef Tour, Great Barrier Reef, $215 -- Quicksilver’s high-speed catamaran takes passengers to a spacious reef activity platform moored in protective lagoons at the renowned Agincourt Reef, on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Quicksilver facilities offer activities for swimmers and non-swimmers to experience the stunning reef world.

As an incentive for booking Australia, travel agents earn a 1 percent commission bonus for all reservations (no minimum stay required) made through Travel Impressions reservations department, which is added on to the regular commission agents earn by booking with Travel Impressions. For more information, call 800-284-0044 or visit www.TravelImpressions.com.

SITA World Tours launched a second summer road show highlighting China and The Shanghai World Expo. Laudie Hanou, SITA’s vice president, believes that the Expo has created a compelling new aspect to China tourism and the SITA road show will focus on helping travel professionals learn more about China and use this great Expo opportunity to enhance their sales. “The Shanghai World Expo is the largest in history, with 192 countries and 50 international organizations participating,” Hanou said. “We are very enthusiastic over the on-going potential and looking forward to presenting our unique China/Expo packages to the travel community.”

The second SITA road show will begin Aug. 9 in Palm Springs and Los Angeles and continue through Aug. 19, with the final presentation in Long Island, N.Y. Sessions will be conducted by SITA’s business development managers along with SITA’s national Chinese guide and Expo specialist Marco Lv, an expert on historical and culinary aspects of Chinese life. He will also be offering insights about the Expo, which opened May 1 and will continue through Oct. 31 with extended dates through December. The theme is “Better City, Better Life,” and is a mega-event covering over 3.3 square miles and featuring 27 master halls that showcase new creations, concepts, designs and technologies from around he globe.

The preliminary schedule is: Aug. 9, Palm Springs, Calif., Elephant Bar Restaurant, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Aug. 10, Pasadena, Calif., Panda Mandarin Inn, noon to 2:30 p.m.; Aug. 12, Houston, Texas, Vacations to Go, four 45-minute seminars, 11 a.m.; Aug. 13, Houston, Texas, Affordable Tours, two 45-minute seminars, 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.; Aug. 16, Dallas, Texas, May Dragon Restaurant, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Aug. 17, Atlanta, Ga., Hunan Gourmet Restaurant, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and Aug. 18, Westchester, N.Y., Lum Yen Restaurant, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, visit www.sitatours.com.

Big Five Tours & Expeditions is offering an eight-day Precious Journeys: Ecuador package, which includes a three-night Galapagos island cruise aboard the luxurious Galapagos Legend. Exploring the islands" varied habitats brings guests in close proximity to a wide range of animals and birdlife -- from sea lion colonies, large numbers of marine iguanas, lava lizards, and Sally light-foot crabs, to blue footed boobies, penguins, and 13 species of Darwin finches. Snorkeling or scuba diving the waters around the islands allows you to encounter marine animals like spotted eagle rays, golden rays, mullets, sharks and sea turtles.

Travel Impressions is giving up to $1,500 in Vacation Dollars to clients who book a minimum five-night, all-inclusive vacation at Palace Resorts (in Mexico or the Dominican Republic) or Le Blanc Spa Resort (in Cancun). Vacation Dollars can be used towards wedding packages, tours, golf, spa and beauty services, dining and room upgrades at select properties (restrictions apply). Those looking for shorter stays can receive up to $750 Vacation Dollars on three- and four-night packages.

The Vacation Dollars promotion is valid on new reservations made for travel through Dec. 23 at Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort in the Dominican Republic and the following properties in Mexico: Beach Palace Wyndham Grand Resort, Cancun Palace, Sun Palace (couples only), Isla Mujeres Palace Wyndham Grand Resort, Xpu-Ha Palace Wyndham Resort, Playacar Palace Wyndham Grand Resort, Aventura Cove Palace, Aventura Spa Palace (adults Only), Cozumel Palace and Vallarta Palace. La Blanc Spa Resorts in Cancun is also participating in the Vacation Dollars promotion. Five-night all-inclusive packages start at $699 per person and vary by hotel and departure date. Rate quoted is based on a stay at Vallarta Palace between Aug. 22 and Dec. 23.

Each of these all-inclusive vacations available through Travel Impression include hotel accommodations; roundtrip airport/hotel transfers; all meals, drinks and snacks; non-motorized watersports; daily activities; and nightly entertainment. Airfare is available from gateways nationwide and can be easily added to the cost of the hotel package. Travel agents earn an extra 1 percent commission when booking travel packages online with Quest for Agents via www.TravelImpressions.com.  For more information, call 800-284-0044 or visit www.TravelImpressions.com.

Ritz Tours revamped its Essence of India program for the fall/winter season combining the Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, India, with Hong Kong, China. The package is priced $2,682 per person double occupancy including taxes. The program includes airfare from Los Angeles or San Francisco (add $100 per person for New York departures out of JFK), taxes, fuel surcharges, sightseeing, travel insurance and luxurious five-star hotel accommodations, with departures available Sept. 14 to Feb. 22, 2011. Single supplements range from $800 to $1,100. Five-star hotels used for the program include the Lalit New Delhi, Le Meridien Jaipur and Jaypee Palace Agra in India, as well as the InterContinental Grand Stanford in Hong Kong.

The Essence of India program includes a comprehensive guided sightseeing itinerary. Highlights include: In Delhi, Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Ghandi in Old Delhi; Old Delhi’s dramatic Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; a bicycle rickshaw tour of the Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque; Qutub Minar in New Delhi, a soaring victory tower built in 1193, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the Tomb of Humayun, another UNESCO World Heritage Site; and the India Gate, the Parliament Building and the presidential residence, Rastrapathi Bhawan.

In the Pink City of Jaipur, an elephant or jeep ride up to the Amber For; the Palace of the Winds; a Jaipur city tour featuring the City Palace, dating back to the 18th century; the Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory created by the Maharaja of Jaipur in 1726; and a tour of Fatehpur Sikri, a maze of ornate pavilions, courtyards and palaces built by Emperor Akbar in the 16th century evoking images of opulent imperial times. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Agra, a ride on Tonga’s horse carriages to the gates of the Taj Majal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Hong Kong, Victoria Peak; Repulse Bay; Stanley Market and a chance to interact with locals at the Aberdeen Floating Community, where residents live on traditional fishing boats. For more information, call 800-900-2446 or visit www.RitzTours.com.

SITA World Tours was awarded the Green Globe Certification award for its commitment to environmentally friendly policies. The certification reflects innovative policies adopted by SITA’s staff worldwide for preservation of non-renewable resources. Roger Mahal, SITA’s chairman and CEO, takes the green commitment personally and is an enthusiastic member of Tourism Cares, an organization dedicated to preserving the travel experience for future generations. He was one of approximately 300 travel industry volunteers on hand June 4 for a day of cleaning, repairing, stacking and beautifying San Francisco’s Angel Island. Designated one of America’s 10 most threatened historic sites by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the park has a colorful history that pre-dates the Civil War.

According to Angel Island State Park staff, Tourism Cares volunteers did tens of thousands of dollars worth of work which would have taken state workers months to accomplish. Volunteers removed 85 cubic yards of undergrowth, split and stacked two cords of wood at the Quarter Master building and 48 cords of wood at North Garrison, cleaned and repaired 600 feet of drainage ditch, replaced redwood dividers, picked up 78 cubic yards of garbage, and stacked and organized 2,500 terra cotta roof tiles. The Angel Island project was the first Tourism Cares for America event held on the West Coast. For more information, see www.sitatours.com.

Big Five Tours & Expeditions is offering an eight-day Precious Journeys: Ecuador package, which includes a three-night Galapagos island cruise aboard the luxurious Galapagos Legend. Exploring the islands" varied habitats brings guests in close proximity to a wide range of animals and birdlife -- from sea lion colonies, large numbers of marine iguanas, lava lizards, and Sally light-foot crabs, to blue footed boobies, penguins, and 13 species of Darwin finches. Snorkeling or scuba diving the waters around the islands allows you to encounter marine animals like spotted eagle rays, golden rays, mullets, sharks and sea turtles.

Travelers who have enjoyed island cruises elsewhere on large-passenger cruise lines are surprised to learn that most ships in the Galapagos are much smaller than their Caribbean counterparts. The Galapagos Legend used in this program has a capacity of just 100 passengers, and is specifically designed for Galapagos Islands cruising, with all the amenities of a larger cruise liner, while retaining the privacy of a small ship.

A Galapagos Islands cruise adventure offers opportunities for families to learn together and play together, which makes for a fulfilling family vacation. Big Five"s Precious Journeys: Ecuador starts from $2,650 per person, and includes a three-night Galapagos cruise, three nights in Quito with luxury tours exploring the city and the outlining areas such as Otavalo Indigenous Market, the most famous in South America. For more information, visit www.bigfive.com.

SITA World Tours was awarded the Green Globe Certification award for its commitment to environmentally friendly policies. The certification reflects innovative policies adopted by SITA’s staff worldwide for preservation of non-renewable resources. Roger Mahal, SITA’s chairman and CEO, takes the green commitment personally and is an enthusiastic member of Tourism Cares, an organization dedicated to preserving the travel experience for future generations. He was one of approximately 300 travel industry volunteers on hand June 4 for a day of cleaning, repairing, stacking and beautifying San Francisco’s Angel Island. Designated one of America’s 10 most threatened historic sites by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the park has a colorful history that pre-dates the Civil War.

Travel Impressions is giving up to $1,500 in Vacation Dollars to clients who book a minimum five-night, all-inclusive vacation at Palace Resorts (in Mexico or the Dominican Republic) or Le Blanc Spa Resort (in Cancun). Vacation Dollars can be used towards wedding packages, tours, golf, spa and beauty services, dining and room upgrades at select properties (restrictions apply). Those looking for shorter stays can receive up to $750 Vacation Dollars on three- and four-night packages.

The Vacation Dollars promotion is valid on new reservations made for travel through Dec. 23 at Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort in the Dominican Republic and the following properties in Mexico: Beach Palace Wyndham Grand Resort, Cancun Palace, Sun Palace (couples only), Isla Mujeres Palace Wyndham Grand Resort, Xpu-Ha Palace Wyndham Resort, Playacar Palace Wyndham Grand Resort, Aventura Cove Palace, Aventura Spa Palace (adults Only), Cozumel Palace and Vallarta Palace. La Blanc Spa Resorts in Cancun is also participating in the Vacation Dollars promotion. Five-night all-inclusive packages start at $699 per person and vary by hotel and departure date. Rate quoted is based on a stay at Vallarta Palace between Aug. 22 and Dec. 23.

Each of these all-inclusive vacations available through Travel Impression include hotel accommodations; roundtrip airport/hotel transfers; all meals, drinks and snacks; non-motorized watersports; daily activities; and nightly entertainment. Airfare is available from gateways nationwide and can be easily added to the cost of the hotel package. Travel agents earn an extra 1 percent commission when booking travel packages online with Quest for Agents via www.TravelImpressions.com.  For more information, call 800-284-0044 or visit www.TravelImpressions.com.

Ritz Tours revamped its Essence of India program for the fall/winter season combining the Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, India, with Hong Kong, China. The package is priced $2,682 per person double occupancy including taxes. The program includes airfare from Los Angeles or San Francisco (add $100 per person for New York departures out of JFK), taxes, fuel surcharges, sightseeing, travel insurance and luxurious five-star hotel accommodations, with departures available Sept. 14 to Feb. 22, 2011. Single supplements range from $800 to $1,100. Five-star hotels used for the program include the Lalit New Delhi, Le Meridien Jaipur and Jaypee Palace Agra in India, as well as the InterContinental Grand Stanford in Hong Kong.

The Essence of India program includes a comprehensive guided sightseeing itinerary. Highlights include: In Delhi, Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Ghandi in Old Delhi; Old Delhi’s dramatic Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; a bicycle rickshaw tour of the Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque; Qutub Minar in New Delhi, a soaring victory tower built in 1193, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the Tomb of Humayun, another UNESCO World Heritage Site; and the India Gate, the Parliament Building and the presidential residence, Rastrapathi Bhawan.

In the Pink City of Jaipur, an elephant or jeep ride up to the Amber For; the Palace of the Winds; a Jaipur city tour featuring the City Palace, dating back to the 18th century; the Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory created by the Maharaja of Jaipur in 1726; and a tour of Fatehpur Sikri, a maze of ornate pavilions, courtyards and palaces built by Emperor Akbar in the 16th century evoking images of opulent imperial times. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Agra, a ride on Tonga’s horse carriages to the gates of the Taj Majal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Hong Kong, Victoria Peak; Repulse Bay; Stanley Market and a chance to interact with locals at the Aberdeen Floating Community, where residents live on traditional fishing boats. For more information, call 800-900-2446 or visit www.RitzTours.com.

SITA World Tours was awarded the Green Globe Certification award for its commitment to environmentally friendly policies. The certification reflects innovative policies adopted by SITA’s staff worldwide for preservation of non-renewable resources. Roger Mahal, SITA’s chairman and CEO, takes the green commitment personally and is an enthusiastic member of Tourism Cares, an organization dedicated to preserving the travel experience for future generations. He was one of approximately 300 travel industry volunteers on hand June 4 for a day of cleaning, repairing, stacking and beautifying San Francisco’s Angel Island. Designated one of America’s 10 most threatened historic sites by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the park has a colorful history that pre-dates the Civil War.

According to Angel Island State Park staff, Tourism Cares volunteers did tens of thousands of dollars worth of work which would have taken state workers months to accomplish. Volunteers removed 85 cubic yards of undergrowth, split and stacked two cords of wood at the Quarter Master building and 48 cords of wood at North Garrison, cleaned and repaired 600 feet of drainage ditch, replaced redwood dividers, picked up 78 cubic yards of garbage, and stacked and organized 2,500 terra cotta roof tiles. The Angel Island project was the first Tourism Cares for America event held on the West Coast. For more information, see www.sitatours.com.

Brian Moore International Tours (BMIT) is inviting agents to join an October tour through Ireland. Agents can spend a week exploring the country on a complimentary escorted tour hosted by BMIT"s marketing manager Kelsey Tomascheski, Oct. 10-17, 2010.

Travel Impressions is giving up to $1,500 in Vacation Dollars to clients who book a minimum five-night, all-inclusive vacation at Palace Resorts (in Mexico or the Dominican Republic) or Le Blanc Spa Resort (in Cancun). Vacation Dollars can be used towards wedding packages, tours, golf, spa and beauty services, dining and room upgrades at select properties (restrictions apply). Those looking for shorter stays can receive up to $750 Vacation Dollars on three- and four-night packages.

The Vacation Dollars promotion is valid on new reservations made for travel through Dec. 23 at Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort in the Dominican Republic and the following properties in Mexico: Beach Palace Wyndham Grand Resort, Cancun Palace, Sun Palace (couples only), Isla Mujeres Palace Wyndham Grand Resort, Xpu-Ha Palace Wyndham Resort, Playacar Palace Wyndham Grand Resort, Aventura Cove Palace, Aventura Spa Palace (adults Only), Cozumel Palace and Vallarta Palace. La Blanc Spa Resorts in Cancun is also participating in the Vacation Dollars promotion. Five-night all-inclusive packages start at $699 per person and vary by hotel and departure date. Rate quoted is based on a stay at Vallarta Palace between Aug. 22 and Dec. 23.

Each of these all-inclusive vacations available through Travel Impression include hotel accommodations; roundtrip airport/hotel transfers; all meals, drinks and snacks; non-motorized watersports; daily activities; and nightly entertainment. Airfare is available from gateways nationwide and can be easily added to the cost of the hotel package. Travel agents earn an extra 1 percent commission when booking travel packages online with Quest for Agents via www.TravelImpressions.com.  For more information, call 800-284-0044 or visit www.TravelImpressions.com.

Ritz Tours revamped its Essence of India program for the fall/winter season combining the Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, India, with Hong Kong, China. The package is priced $2,682 per person double occupancy including taxes. The program includes airfare from Los Angeles or San Francisco (add $100 per person for New York departures out of JFK), taxes, fuel surcharges, sightseeing, travel insurance and luxurious five-star hotel accommodations, with departures available Sept. 14 to Feb. 22, 2011. Single supplements range from $800 to $1,100. Five-star hotels used for the program include the Lalit New Delhi, Le Meridien Jaipur and Jaypee Palace Agra in India, as well as the InterContinental Grand Stanford in Hong Kong.

The Essence of India program includes a comprehensive guided sightseeing itinerary. Highlights include: In Delhi, Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Ghandi in Old Delhi; Old Delhi’s dramatic Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; a bicycle rickshaw tour of the Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque; Qutub Minar in New Delhi, a soaring victory tower built in 1193, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the Tomb of Humayun, another UNESCO World Heritage Site; and the India Gate, the Parliament Building and the presidential residence, Rastrapathi Bhawan.

In the Pink City of Jaipur, an elephant or jeep ride up to the Amber For; the Palace of the Winds; a Jaipur city tour featuring the City Palace, dating back to the 18th century; the Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory created by the Maharaja of Jaipur in 1726; and a tour of Fatehpur Sikri, a maze of ornate pavilions, courtyards and palaces built by Emperor Akbar in the 16th century evoking images of opulent imperial times. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Agra, a ride on Tonga’s horse carriages to the gates of the Taj Majal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Hong Kong, Victoria Peak; Repulse Bay; Stanley Market and a chance to interact with locals at the Aberdeen Floating Community, where residents live on traditional fishing boats. For more information, call 800-900-2446 or visit www.RitzTours.com.

SITA World Tours was awarded the Green Globe Certification award for its commitment to environmentally friendly policies. The certification reflects innovative policies adopted by SITA’s staff worldwide for preservation of non-renewable resources. Roger Mahal, SITA’s chairman and CEO, takes the green commitment personally and is an enthusiastic member of Tourism Cares, an organization dedicated to preserving the travel experience for future generations. He was one of approximately 300 travel industry volunteers on hand June 4 for a day of cleaning, repairing, stacking and beautifying San Francisco’s Angel Island. Designated one of America’s 10 most threatened historic sites by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the park has a colorful history that pre-dates the Civil War.

According to Angel Island State Park staff, Tourism Cares volunteers did tens of thousands of dollars worth of work which would have taken state workers months to accomplish. Volunteers removed 85 cubic yards of undergrowth, split and stacked two cords of wood at the Quarter Master building and 48 cords of wood at North Garrison, cleaned and repaired 600 feet of drainage ditch, replaced redwood dividers, picked up 78 cubic yards of garbage, and stacked and organized 2,500 terra cotta roof tiles. The Angel Island project was the first Tourism Cares for America event held on the West Coast. For more information, see www.sitatours.com.

Big Five Tours & Expeditions is offering an eight-day Precious Journeys: Ecuador package, which includes a three-night Galapagos island cruise aboard the luxurious Galapagos Legend. Exploring the islands" varied habitats brings guests in close proximity to a wide range of animals and birdlife -- from sea lion colonies, large numbers of marine iguanas, lava lizards, and Sally light-foot crabs, to blue footed boobies, penguins, and 13 species of Darwin finches. Snorkeling or scuba diving the waters around the islands allows you to encounter marine animals like spotted eagle rays, golden rays, mullets, sharks and sea turtles.

Travelers who have enjoyed island cruises elsewhere on large-passenger cruise lines are surprised to learn that most ships in the Galapagos are much smaller than their Caribbean counterparts. The Galapagos Legend used in this program has a capacity of just 100 passengers, and is specifically designed for Galapagos Islands cruising, with all the amenities of a larger cruise liner, while retaining the privacy of a small ship.

A Galapagos Islands cruise adventure offers opportunities for families to learn together and play together, which makes for a fulfilling family vacation. Big Five"s Precious Journeys: Ecuador starts from $2,650 per person, and includes a three-night Galapagos cruise, three nights in Quito with luxury tours exploring the city and the outlining areas such as Otavalo Indigenous Market, the most famous in South America. For more information, visit www.bigfive.com.

Brian Moore International Tours (BMIT) is inviting agents to join an October tour through Ireland. Agents can spend a week exploring the country on a complimentary escorted tour hosted by BMIT"s marketing manager Kelsey Tomascheski, Oct. 10-17, 2010.

“We are thrilled to introduce this complimentary fall 2010 fam to Ireland,” said Martin Froggatt, president of Brian Moore International. “Our itinerary mixes delicious cuisine, stunning sightseeing, and more. It is a great opportunity for travel agents to enjoy Ireland and see, first hand, why BMIT is a leader in Ireland escorted tours.”

BMIT’s complimentary Ireland familiarization trip includes: meals as listed in itinerary, escorted sightseeing, Professional Irish Tour Director throughout, accommodation at first class hotels, full Irish breakfast daily, group airport arrival and departure transfers. For more information on this fam or to register for the trip, fill out the registration form at www.surveymonkey.com/s/JLL73FJ. For more information on the itinerary, visit www.bmit.com/Ireland_FAM.pdf. For general information on Ireland escorted tours and BMIT, call 800-982-2299 or visit www.bmit.com.  
 

Trafalgar Tours is offering four tours for the Christmas holiday season in Europe. An English Christmas offers an eight-day vacation that explores England during the season when it is lit by Christmas lights. The tours visit London, Stratford-upon-Avon, the house where Shakespeare was born, the ancient city of Bath and Stonehenge. It begins and ends in London, so there is time for last-minute shopping. Land-only prices start at $1,025 per person.

Turkey tour operator Magister Tours launched a new website at www.magister.com.tr in the wake of its appointment of Barbara Rubin as U.S. sales director, to enhance awareness and support to U.S. travel agents. Rubin’s background in high-end travel sales spans more than 20 years and includes stints with Travcoa, Grand Expeditions, Intrav, Clipper Cruise Lines and African Travel. As a former tour manager, she led groups in South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

“Turkey is a fascinating destination with enormous opportunities for individuals, groups and affinities” said Rubin, who recently returned from an extensive tour of the country following the ASTA Destination Expo in Istanbul. “Magister Tours’ longstanding relationships with vendors across the country, coupled with their experienced staff gives them a tremendous basis for providing excellent itineraries at competitive prices.”

Magister Tours’ new website and brochure are dedicated to helping travel agents sell customized programs for individuals, families and special interest groups. Included are sample itineraries and suggestions for cruise extensions, Christian and Jewish Heritage Tours, Blue Voyages, Culinary and Wildlife special interest groups, as well as the more classical journeys and an unusual Eastern Turkey program. Hotels featured have been specially selected by Magister Tours staff for quality, service, location and amenities. Agents can send their requests through the website and should expect to receive a reply within 48 hours and will usually receive one within 24 hours. Prices are quoted net.

Magister Tours was founded 35 years ago by Mustafa Coskun, who continues to run the company from the head office in Istanbul. He and his daughter Sibel and an experienced staff monitor the details of each tour. Magister Tours offers customized programs throughout Turkey, including archeological, cultural, faith based, cruise extensions and shore excursions, wildlife tours, culinary extravaganzas and Eastern Turkey programs. For more information, call 888-396-6929 or visit www.magister.com.tr.

Trafalgar Tours is offering four tours for the Christmas holiday season in Europe. An English Christmas offers an eight-day vacation that explores England during the season when it is lit by Christmas lights. The tours visit London, Stratford-upon-Avon, the house where Shakespeare was born, the ancient city of Bath and Stonehenge. It begins and ends in London, so there is time for last-minute shopping. Land-only prices start at $1,025 per person.

Christmas in Paris is a nine-day escorted tour that highlights the sights of Paris, including the Champs Elysees, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Moulin Rouge and the Palace of Versailles. Land-only prices for this special Christmas tour start at $850 per person, double occupancy.

Trafalgar"s nine-day Christmas Markets of Austria, Germany & Switzerland highlights the places where many Christmas traditions were born. This escorted tour begins in Vienna with a drive along the Ringstrasse and a visit to the markets with their traditional handicrafts and delicious local gingerbread. Other sights include the Christmas Markets in Mozart"s Salzburg, Oberammergau, Zurich, Liechtenstein, Lucerne and more. Land-only prices begin at $1,399 per person double occupancy.

Trafalgar"s newest holiday vacation, Rhine-Main Holiday Markets, offers an 11-day cruise along the River Rhine at Christmas time, the holiday markets, cities such as Bamberg, Nuremberg, Wertheim and Cologne, which in addition to their year-round historic beauty, will be decked out in festive Christmas trim and brimming with hand-made local crafts and delicious regional fare. Your vacation features complimentary transfers on arrival and departure days, seven nights in a river-view stateroom, all meals and entertainment onboard, wine with dinner, included shore excursions and more. Fares start at $2,349 per person. For more information, call 800-854-0103 or visit www.trafalgartours.com.
 

Travel Impressions is giving up to $1,500 in Vacation Dollars to clients who book a minimum five-night, all-inclusive vacation at Palace Resorts (in Mexico or the Dominican Republic) or Le Blanc Spa Resort (in Cancun). Vacation Dollars can be used towards wedding packages, tours, golf, spa and beauty services, dining and room upgrades at select properties (restrictions apply). Those looking for shorter stays can receive up to $750 Vacation Dollars on three- and four-night packages.

Travel Impressions is giving up to $1,500 in Vacation Dollars to clients who book a minimum five-night, all-inclusive vacation at Palace Resorts (in Mexico or the Dominican Republic) or Le Blanc Spa Resort (in Cancun). Vacation Dollars can be used towards wedding packages, tours, golf, spa and beauty services, dining and room upgrades at select properties (restrictions apply). Those looking for shorter stays can receive up to $750 Vacation Dollars on three- and four-night packages.

The Vacation Dollars promotion is valid on new reservations made for travel through Dec. 23 at Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort in the Dominican Republic and the following properties in Mexico: Beach Palace Wyndham Grand Resort, Cancun Palace, Sun Palace (couples only), Isla Mujeres Palace Wyndham Grand Resort, Xpu-Ha Palace Wyndham Resort, Playacar Palace Wyndham Grand Resort, Aventura Cove Palace, Aventura Spa Palace (adults Only), Cozumel Palace and Vallarta Palace. La Blanc Spa Resorts in Cancun is also participating in the Vacation Dollars promotion. Five-night all-inclusive packages start at $699 per person and vary by hotel and departure date. Rate quoted is based on a stay at Vallarta Palace between Aug. 22 and Dec. 23.

Each of these all-inclusive vacations available through Travel Impression include hotel accommodations; roundtrip airport/hotel transfers; all meals, drinks and snacks; non-motorized watersports; daily activities; and nightly entertainment. Airfare is available from gateways nationwide and can be easily added to the cost of the hotel package. Travel agents earn an extra 1 percent commission when booking travel packages online with Quest for Agents via www.TravelImpressions.com.  For more information, call 800-284-0044 or visit www.TravelImpressions.com.

Turkey tour operator Magister Tours launched a new website at www.magister.com.tr in the wake of its appointment of Barbara Rubin as U.S. sales director, to enhance awareness and support to U.S. travel agents. Rubin’s background in high-end travel sales spans more than 20 years and includes stints with Travcoa, Grand Expeditions, Intrav, Clipper Cruise Lines and African Travel. As a former tour manager, she led groups in South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Turkey tour operator Magister Tours launched a new website at www.magister.com.tr in the wake of its appointment of Barbara Rubin as U.S. sales director, to enhance awareness and support to U.S. travel agents. Rubin’s background in high-end travel sales spans more than 20 years and includes stints with Travcoa, Grand Expeditions, Intrav, Clipper Cruise Lines and African Travel. As a former tour manager, she led groups in South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

“Turkey is a fascinating destination with enormous opportunities for individuals, groups and affinities” said Rubin, who recently returned from an extensive tour of the country following the ASTA Destination Expo in Istanbul. “Magister Tours’ longstanding relationships with vendors across the country, coupled with their experienced staff gives them a tremendous basis for providing excellent itineraries at competitive prices.”

Magister Tours’ new website and brochure are dedicated to helping travel agents sell customized programs for individuals, families and special interest groups. Included are sample itineraries and suggestions for cruise extensions, Christian and Jewish Heritage Tours, Blue Voyages, Culinary and Wildlife special interest groups, as well as the more classical journeys and an unusual Eastern Turkey program. Hotels featured have been specially selected by Magister Tours staff for quality, service, location and amenities. Agents can send their requests through the website and should expect to receive a reply within 48 hours and will usually receive one within 24 hours. Prices are quoted net.

Magister Tours was founded 35 years ago by Mustafa Coskun, who continues to run the company from the head office in Istanbul. He and his daughter Sibel and an experienced staff monitor the details of each tour. Magister Tours offers customized programs throughout Turkey, including archeological, cultural, faith based, cruise extensions and shore excursions, wildlife tours, culinary extravaganzas and Eastern Turkey programs. For more information, call 888-396-6929 or visit www.magister.com.tr.

Travel Impressions is offering more than 80 hotels in its recently introduced Australia product line, and a series of tour options. The product line includes five-night packages to Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef and the Outback, which can be combined. Packages include hotel accommodations for five nights in each location, roundtrip hotel transfers and hotel tax and service charges. Airfare is available from gateways nationwide and can be easily added to the cost of the hotel package.

Travel Impressions is giving up to $1,500 in Vacation Dollars to clients who book a minimum five-night, all-inclusive vacation at Palace Resorts (in Mexico or the Dominican Republic) or Le Blanc Spa Resort (in Cancun). Vacation Dollars can be used towards wedding packages, tours, golf, spa and beauty services, dining and room upgrades at select properties (restrictions apply). Those looking for shorter stays can receive up to $750 Vacation Dollars on three- and four-night packages.

The Vacation Dollars promotion is valid on new reservations made for travel through Dec. 23 at Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort in the Dominican Republic and the following properties in Mexico: Beach Palace Wyndham Grand Resort, Cancun Palace, Sun Palace (couples only), Isla Mujeres Palace Wyndham Grand Resort, Xpu-Ha Palace Wyndham Resort, Playacar Palace Wyndham Grand Resort, Aventura Cove Palace, Aventura Spa Palace (adults Only), Cozumel Palace and Vallarta Palace. La Blanc Spa Resorts in Cancun is also participating in the Vacation Dollars promotion. Five-night all-inclusive packages start at $699 per person and vary by hotel and departure date. Rate quoted is based on a stay at Vallarta Palace between Aug. 22 and Dec. 23.

Each of these all-inclusive vacations available through Travel Impression include hotel accommodations; roundtrip airport/hotel transfers; all meals, drinks and snacks; non-motorized watersports; daily activities; and nightly entertainment. Airfare is available from gateways nationwide and can be easily added to the cost of the hotel package. Travel agents earn an extra 1 percent commission when booking travel packages online with Quest for Agents via www.TravelImpressions.com.  For more information, call 800-284-0044 or visit www.TravelImpressions.com.

Ritz Tours revamped its Essence of India program for the fall/winter season combining the Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, India, with Hong Kong, China. The package is priced $2,682 per person double occupancy including taxes. The program includes airfare from Los Angeles or San Francisco (add $100 per person for New York departures out of JFK), taxes, fuel surcharges, sightseeing, travel insurance and luxurious five-star hotel accommodations, with departures available Sept. 14 to Feb. 22, 2011. Single supplements range from $800 to $1,100. Five-star hotels used for the program include the Lalit New Delhi, Le Meridien Jaipur and Jaypee Palace Agra in India, as well as the InterContinental Grand Stanford in Hong Kong.

The Essence of India program includes a comprehensive guided sightseeing itinerary. Highlights include: In Delhi, Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Ghandi in Old Delhi; Old Delhi’s dramatic Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; a bicycle rickshaw tour of the Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque; Qutub Minar in New Delhi, a soaring victory tower built in 1193, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the Tomb of Humayun, another UNESCO World Heritage Site; and the India Gate, the Parliament Building and the presidential residence, Rastrapathi Bhawan.

In the Pink City of Jaipur, an elephant or jeep ride up to the Amber For; the Palace of the Winds; a Jaipur city tour featuring the City Palace, dating back to the 18th century; the Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory created by the Maharaja of Jaipur in 1726; and a tour of Fatehpur Sikri, a maze of ornate pavilions, courtyards and palaces built by Emperor Akbar in the 16th century evoking images of opulent imperial times. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Agra, a ride on Tonga’s horse carriages to the gates of the Taj Majal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Hong Kong, Victoria Peak; Repulse Bay; Stanley Market and a chance to interact with locals at the Aberdeen Floating Community, where residents live on traditional fishing boats. For more information, call 800-900-2446 or visit www.RitzTours.com.

SITA World Tours was awarded the Green Globe Certification award for its commitment to environmentally friendly policies. The certification reflects innovative policies adopted by SITA’s staff worldwide for preservation of non-renewable resources. Roger Mahal, SITA’s chairman and CEO, takes the green commitment personally and is an enthusiastic member of Tourism Cares, an organization dedicated to preserving the travel experience for future generations. He was one of approximately 300 travel industry volunteers on hand June 4 for a day of cleaning, repairing, stacking and beautifying San Francisco’s Angel Island. Designated one of America’s 10 most threatened historic sites by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the park has a colorful history that pre-dates the Civil War.

According to Angel Island State Park staff, Tourism Cares volunteers did tens of thousands of dollars worth of work which would have taken state workers months to accomplish. Volunteers removed 85 cubic yards of undergrowth, split and stacked two cords of wood at the Quarter Master building and 48 cords of wood at North Garrison, cleaned and repaired 600 feet of drainage ditch, replaced redwood dividers, picked up 78 cubic yards of garbage, and stacked and organized 2,500 terra cotta roof tiles. The Angel Island project was the first Tourism Cares for America event held on the West Coast. For more information, see www.sitatours.com.

Big Five Tours & Expeditions is offering an eight-day Precious Journeys: Ecuador package, which includes a three-night Galapagos island cruise aboard the luxurious Galapagos Legend. Exploring the islands" varied habitats brings guests in close proximity to a wide range of animals and birdlife -- from sea lion colonies, large numbers of marine iguanas, lava lizards, and Sally light-foot crabs, to blue footed boobies, penguins, and 13 species of Darwin finches. Snorkeling or scuba diving the waters around the islands allows you to encounter marine animals like spotted eagle rays, golden rays, mullets, sharks and sea turtles.

Travelers who have enjoyed island cruises elsewhere on large-passenger cruise lines are surprised to learn that most ships in the Galapagos are much smaller than their Caribbean counterparts. The Galapagos Legend used in this program has a capacity of just 100 passengers, and is specifically designed for Galapagos Islands cruising, with all the amenities of a larger cruise liner, while retaining the privacy of a small ship.

A Galapagos Islands cruise adventure offers opportunities for families to learn together and play together, which makes for a fulfilling family vacation. Big Five"s Precious Journeys: Ecuador starts from $2,650 per person, and includes a three-night Galapagos cruise, three nights in Quito with luxury tours exploring the city and the outlining areas such as Otavalo Indigenous Market, the most famous in South America. For more information, visit www.bigfive.com.

Brian Moore International Tours (BMIT) is inviting agents to join an October tour through Ireland. Agents can spend a week exploring the country on a complimentary escorted tour hosted by BMIT"s marketing manager Kelsey Tomascheski, Oct. 10-17, 2010.

“We are thrilled to introduce this complimentary fall 2010 fam to Ireland,” said Martin Froggatt, president of Brian Moore International. “Our itinerary mixes delicious cuisine, stunning sightseeing, and more. It is a great opportunity for travel agents to enjoy Ireland and see, first hand, why BMIT is a leader in Ireland escorted tours.”

BMIT’s complimentary Ireland familiarization trip includes: meals as listed in itinerary, escorted sightseeing, Professional Irish Tour Director throughout, accommodation at first class hotels, full Irish breakfast daily, group airport arrival and departure transfers. For more information on this fam or to register for the trip, fill out the registration form at www.surveymonkey.com/s/JLL73FJ. For more information on the itinerary, visit www.bmit.com/Ireland_FAM.pdf. For general information on Ireland escorted tours and BMIT, call 800-982-2299 or visit www.bmit.com.  
 

Travel Impressions is offering more than 80 hotels in its recently introduced Australia product line, and a series of tour options. The product line includes five-night packages to Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef and the Outback, which can be combined. Packages include hotel accommodations for five nights in each location, roundtrip hotel transfers and hotel tax and service charges. Airfare is available from gateways nationwide and can be easily added to the cost of the hotel package.

Sample hotel stays with rates quoted per person are as follows: Quality Hotel Cambridge, Sydney, from $485, near Hyde Park and within walking distance from the central business district, entertainment and sporting venues and many of Sydney’s major attractions; The Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort, Cairns, from $345, centrally located near the attractions of Cairns City, the hotel is a good base for exploration of the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, and the Outback bush country of the Gulf Savannah and the Cooktown/Cape York area; and Outback Pioneer Hotel, Ayers Rock, from $509, with comfortable rooms and cabins in relaxed surroundings.

Travel Impressions also offers commissionable tours, which can be added on to the cost of a hotel stay. A sample of tour options with rates quoted per person are as follows: Uluru Sunrise & Kata Tjuta Tour, Ayers Rock, $99 -- Journey to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to witness Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the desert come to life at sunrise. With the sun climbing in the morning sky, travel to the western section of the park to the immense 36 rock domes of Kata Tjuta. The tour culminates with a guided walk into Walpa (Olga) Gorge. BridgeClimb Sydney Night Tour, Sydney, $185 -- Experience the magic of a night climb to the top of the world-famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, 134 meters above sea level with a fully trained climb leader and witness the city aglow with lights.

Quicksilver Outer Barrier Reef Tour, Great Barrier Reef, $215 -- Quicksilver’s high-speed catamaran takes passengers to a spacious reef activity platform moored in protective lagoons at the renowned Agincourt Reef, on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Quicksilver facilities offer activities for swimmers and non-swimmers to experience the stunning reef world.

As an incentive for booking Australia, travel agents earn a 1 percent commission bonus for all reservations (no minimum stay required) made through Travel Impressions reservations department, which is added on to the regular commission agents earn by booking with Travel Impressions. For more information, call 800-284-0044 or visit www.TravelImpressions.com.