Thursday September 28 2006

GRADUATE SUCCESS STORY

"Hello Lori, I want to keep you updated on my career since I left the fabulous Travel Academy. Breaking News... I successfully passed all the interviews and tests and I will be going to work on the cruise ships!!! I can’t wait. I went to Las Vegas to interview and I leave Nov. 18 to fly to London where I will go through 2 weeks of training; at which point I will then fly to my port of call and join my ship for the next 8 months. I won’t know what ship or cruise line until my graduation date; they do an assessment while in training to see where you are best suited. But they operate on Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Carnival, Princess, Cunard, Seaborn, Crystal, etc, etc, etc. I can’t wait.

Also, between now and then...I did get the job with Carlson Travel Companies. I actually started with Leigh T. and Amanda A from my class!! I love it here.

Well I will be done with this long novel, but I wanted to say hello and that I miss you and Cindy. Please tell her hi for me. I will try to stop by and say hello at least once before I leave. But in the mean time stay fun and bubbly for all the new travel counselors!!!"

Love to all.

Rachel M.

TRAVEL INDUSTRY GROWTH

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES, the largest cruise line in the world reports better-than-expected profit of $1.86 billion, up 4.2% over 2005; revenue increased 8.3% year-over-year to $3.91 billion. Company Shares rose 5%.

Encouraged by 49% growth year-over-year of its Mediterranean cruise sales, Tauck World Discovery is expanding its small ship cruise portfolio with a new Mediterranean itineraries.

MEXICO'S CRUISE BUSINESS is booming, and the country is responding to the cruise industry's growing demand for Mexico by expanding and modernizing its existing port facilities and creating new cruise destinations from coast to coast. With more than two dozen ports of embarkation, Mexico is the No. 1 cruise destination in the world. Last year, Mexico tallied some 3,100 cruise stops and received 6.5 million cruise visitors, according to the Mexico Tourism Board.

ARC reports agency sales totaled $5.5 billion in August. Travel agents remitted $5.5 billion in sales through ARC in August, a 6% increase over the same period in 2005 helping to boost the average weekly sales per agency location to $64,465, a 9% increase from last year. According to ARC, agents sold $4.8 billion, excluding taxes, in both domestic and international airline tickets, up 6% from last August.

Delta Airlines expansion targets 'soaring' Hispanic market. Delta said it is continuing with its Los Angeles expansion it will be offering nonstop service to 38 destinations by this spring from Los Angeles, which it now considers its West Coast gateway. Expansion plans include new nonstop flights to 10 Mexican destinations and three Central American destinations, with connecting service to five destinations in the U.S. where many Hispanic customers prefer to travel, Delta said. • Delta Vacations expanded its Caribbean product line with new packages to 13 resorts in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. The launch coincides with the start of Delta's daily nonstop service between Atlanta and Puerto Plata. Delta vacations also have programs to Santo Domingo and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic as well as 12 other Caribbean destinations.

JetBlue said it will continue to expand its Caribbean network by offering daily nonstop service from Boston to San Juan. San Juan will become the airline's 22nd destination from Boston. JetBlue already flies from Boston to numerous other warm weather spots, including the Bahamas, Florida, California, Arizona and Nevada.

WASHINGTON - Some 15.4 million people visited the nation's capital in 2005, an increase of 2.7% over the previous year, according to newly released tourism statistics for the city. A separate study also indicated that those travelers spent at least $5.5 billion, up 4.6% from 2005.

SECURITY UPDATE

The Transportation Security Administration has relaxed its rules for airplane carry-on items and said it would allow airline passengers to carry small amounts of liquids, gels and aerosols onboard. The agency said that, effective Sept. 26, travelers would be allowed to carry travel-sized toiletries, of three ounces or less, if they are contained in one quart-sized, clear plastic zip-top bags. Travelers also may bring on the aircraft beverages that they have purchased in the secure areas of the airport.

British Airways signed a deal to offer a Registered Traveler program this fall for its operations at New York's Kennedy Airport, giving the airline's business travelers and other frequent flyers the opportunity to pay an annual fee of about $80 for separate and faster security screening. To qualify, under the program rules established by the Transportation Security Administration, participants must provide background information about themselves so they can be pre-screened by the TSA. They'll also provide a biometric identifier such as a fingerprint for a biometric identity card.

LIMITED SEATS OPEN FOR REMAINING FALL CLASSES

Check Website for 2007 class schedule. When you want a Fun & Exciting Travel Career with Unlimited Advancement Opportunities and Free Travel Benefits contact us.

Curt Armstrong
President
The Travel Academy
7900 International Drive Suite 10 Bloomington, MN 55425
952-854-7161-B

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