July 10, 2017
News from Andy’s Desk!
Dear Travel Partners,
I hope everyone is looking foward to the Summer months ahead.
Two New Travel Agent Promotions and New Product
(please click below for details)
EXCLUSIVE TRAVEL AGENT PROMOTIONS
&
ACID-REFLUX? OPTUM-ALIGN MATTRESS FOR PASSENGERS @ SEA
Below, plese find links to Newsletter Articles
SNG Insight: Accessibility on International River Cruises©
SNG New Build for 2017: AmaKristina©
Having just returned from the ASTA/NACTA Bahamas Showcase held in Nassau at the beautiful Melia Nassau Beach Hotel from June 21st through 24th, we will once again be on the road at upcoming events in San Diego, Alaska and Louisiana.
Thank you again for being a continued partner as we continue to evolve in Delivering an Accessible World.
Keep Smilin’,
Andrew J. Garnett, CATA
President/CEO
Two New Exclusive Travel Agent Only Promotions
Beginning July 1st through Halloween, Tuesday, October 31st
One Apple iPad will be awarded to a Travel Agent who has achieved their SNG Certified Accessible Travel Advocate designation by the end of October. All SNG CATA professionals will be automatically entered and receive one entry into the drawing.
Please join over 3,300 CATA agents as we “Race to 3,500” –
our goal to be achieved by the program’s 6th Anniversary,
Veterans Day, Saturday, November 11th.
An ADDITIONAL iPad will also be given away.
Registered SNG Travel Agents will receive one entry for each order placed online or via telephone between July 1st and October 31st. SNG CATA agents will receive a DOUBLE ENTRY (2 entries)
into the drawing per each booking placed.
Winners will be announced Friday, November 3rd. Best of Luck!
Acid Reflux? The NEW Optum-Align Mattress for Passengers @ Sea
Special Needs Group is pleased to now provide the rental of the comfortable Optum-Align Mattress, so those sailing with acid reflux can comfortably sleep well while having one’s upper body elevated.
The Optum-Align is a solution to those traveling on a cruise with acid reflux, which requires millions to sleep with their upper body elevated. The specialized mattress was developed by a physician and meets the recommendation of the American College of Gastroenterology. Unlike bed wedges where the individual can slide down the slope of the wedge during a night’s sleep, the Optum-Align Mattress puts the guest in the best possible position for a comfortable sleeping experience.
CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE
SNG’s Calendar of Events
July 12th
Accessibility on International River Cruises
River cruises allow the guest unique insight into countries and cultures while offering an intimate feel of the passing picturesque landscapes as most cabins face outward with either balconies or expansive windows. The long, lean-shaped river cruise vessels travel at a leisurely rate of speed in comparison to larger ocean cruise ships which carry thousands of passengers through major, large bodies of water. Most river cruise sailings will find fewer than 250 travelers sailing calm and smooth inland waterways.
CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE
CATA Corner – Race to 3,500
Just 3 easy online modules in one course! This online certification course is designed for Travel Professionals to increase their knowledge, skill sets and earning opportunities in the accessible travel/special needs market.
– Travelers with special needs take 32 million vacations a year!
– The accessible travel/special needs market spends 13.6 billion dollars a year on vacations!
Join over 3,300 travel professionals who have educated themselves and become SNG Certified Accessible Travel Advocates! We look to reach our goal of 3,500 by the program’s 6th Anniversary, Saturday, November 11th.
PLUS, CLIA will give you 5 Credits for completing the course.
If you have not already registered with us, CLICK HERE!
“If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears.” – Cesare Pavese
Spotlight: Amsterdam
The seaport of Amsterdam is the second largest port in the Netherlands behind the Port of Rotterdam. Amsterdam serves almost 700,000 ocean cruise and river cruise passengers annually making it Europe’s third busiest. The port is located in the center of the city in close proximity to the airport, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, and train station, Amsterdam Centraal Station.
The city itself is one beloved by tourists young and old. “The Venice of the North” is small enough to walk most by foot. Rijksmuseum featuring works by Rembrandt and Vermeer, Van Gough Museum and modern works at Stedeijk Musuem are three impressive art institutions; Amsterdam is known as one of Europe’s major art capitals. Across the street from the Van Gough Museum is the House of Bols, a unique cocktail and Genevere experience; guests are able to take a self-guided tour of Amsterdam’s oldest distillery in operation since 1575. Along with visiting the numerous art galleries and world-famous museums, guests to the city flock in droves to the Anne Frank House. Tickets for the landmark in which the Frank family hid during World War II in attic rooms and houses her original diary as well as additional manuscripts are suggested to be pre-purchased online due to the vast waiting lines.
CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE
New for 2017: AmaKristina
AmaWaterways newest river cruise vessel, AmaKristina, was christened earlier this year on May 10th in Lahnstein, Germany. The river cruise ship is named after AmaWaterways’ co-owner and executive vice-president Kristin Karts. As the cruise line celebrates its 15th anniversary, AmaKristina, AmaWaterways twentieth cruise vessel, joins her sister-ships AmaViola and AmaStella.
CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE
