Travel Agent Newsletter November 2016

November 22, 2016

From the President’s Corner!

Dear Travel Partners,

I hope everyone is well and ready to enjoy Thanksgiving with loved ones

Earlier this month at Travel Weekly’s CruiseWorld we celebrated surpassing our goal of 3,000 SNG Certified Accessible Travel Advocates by the 5 year Anniversary of the program! We also honored our Power Partner of the Year, Debra Kerper, Easy Access Travel/Cruise Planners! We congratulate Debra and her commitment to serving the special needs market. Along with celebrating our SNG CATA program and honoring Debra, Special Needs Group held Scooting for Charity benefiting Camillus House.

Please look below for details of our upcoming contest for travel agents. Travel agents placing orders online via our website at www.specialneedsgroup.com will entered into a raffle for a $250 gift card. Each travel agent will have an entry into the raffle for each online order placed.

We are extremely grateful for your continued support as we evolve in delivering an accessible world.

Best wishes to all for a happy healthy holiday season!

Keep Smilin’,

Andrew J. Garnett, CATA
President/CEO

TRAVEL AGENT PROMOTION!

Book your clients Special Needs equipment online by December 31st to be entered into a raffle for a $250 American Express gift card! The more bookings you make, the better your chance to win.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS!

Debra Kerper, Power Partner of the Year

On Thursday, November 10th at Travel Weekly’s CruiseWorld held at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center, Special Needs Group awarded Debra Kerper, travel professional with Cruise Planners, Power Partner of the Year!

"Debra is a shining example of the indomitable spirit possessed by Americans with disabilities," said Andrew J Garnett, SNG president & CEO. "Within four months of becoming a bilateral amputee, she has escorted groups on cruises to Alaska and beyond. She leads by example and is most deserving of this award and recognition."

Debra operates Easy Access Travel/Cruise Planners out of Carrollton, Texas. Our Power Partner of 2016 first registered with SNG in 2009. Debra specializes in meeting the needs of disabled and mature travelers.

Congratulations Debra!

Andrew Garnett, President and CEO of SNG with Debra Kerper, Power Partner of the Year!

SNG’s Calendar of Events

December 3rd – December 11th

CruiseOne/Dream Vacation/Cruises, Inc.National Conference

Carnival Vista

Sailing from Miami, FL

December 7th – December 9th

USTOA Annual Conference & Marketplace

Westin Kierland Resort & Spa

Scottsdale, AZ

December 9th – December 11th

Signature Travel Network 2016 Sales Meeting

Mandalay Bay Resort

Las Vegas, NV

December 13th at 2 PM ET

CruiseOne/Dream Vacations/Cruises, Inc. WEBINAR

Costa Diadema

Diadema was christened on November 7, 2014 in Genoa, Italy; the 3,724-passenger vessel is the largest and most creative of the Costa fleet. “Regina del Mediterraneo,” Queen of the Mediterranean, is adorned with glass, art and neon lights providing a South Beach, Art Deco feel influenced by Miami Beach-based designer, Joe Farcus. Diameda is Costa’s sole member of the Dream Class. The Italian-themed ship has over 7,000 works of art from a combination of forty-one architects, graphic designers, painters and sculptors.

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE.

CATA Corner

On November10th we celebrated the 5 Year Anniversary of the SNG Certified Accessible Travel Advocate program during Travel Weekly’s CruiseWorld! We were also able to celebrate exceeding our goal of 3,000 certified agents by then as we were over 3,100!

CLICK HERE to see pictures!

If you have not completed the course please do so now! The 65-minute certification course is designed to increase our travel partners’ knowledge, skill sets and earning opportunities in the accessible travel/special needs market.

In addition to your agency having access to our exclusive SNG CATA Resource Center, you earn the right to utilize a proprietary logo to help market yourself as an SNG Certified Accessible Travel Advocate, and your agency will be listed as a Certified Accessible Travel Advocate on our website.

PLUS, CLIA will give you 5 Credits for completing the course.

If you have not already registered with us, Register Now!

Spotlight: Barcelona

Barcelona, Spain’s capital of the Catalonia region, is home to Europe’s busiest port of call for cruise ships. The Port of Barcelona is a popular turn around destination for Mediterranean cruises.

The shuttle bus transfers passengers to Plaza de Colon in central Barcelona. The terminals are in close proximity to both the bus and metro public transportation which allow those sailing in and out of to experience one of Spain’s most beautiful and dynamic cities.

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE.