In yet more unfortunate news for the cruise industry during the
month of March, at least six different cruises reported outbreaks
of gastrointestinal illness. The ships affected were Royal
Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas; Princess’ Island Princess;
Holland America Line’s Amsterdam and Volendam; and Celebrity
Mercury, which was hit with outbreaks on back-to-back cruises from
San Diego to Mexico.
More than 200 passengers and crew became ill on the March 6-17
Mercury cruise. The Mercury departed for a second cruise on March
17, after disinfecting the vessel, but another 100 passengers
became ill on that cruise. The Centers for Disease Control took the
unusual step of boarding the Mercury in Puerto Vallarta after the
second outbreak. They determined that Norovirus was the culprit on
the first cruise and are still investigating to determine if
Norovirus is also responsible for the second outbreak. The
contagious virus causes diarrhea and vomiting for up to three
days.
The CDC has also determined that Norovirus was the cause of the
outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness aboard Island Princess,
Grandeur of the Seas and the Amsterdam. The cause of the illness on
the Volendam is still under investigation.
The March outbreaks were the largest number of reported cases in
one month since January 2005.
By Ana Figueroa
Fare Wars
When an airline decides to launch interisland service, it’s only
natural that a fare war ensues. Such is the case with go!, the Mesa
Air Group carrier expecting to spread its wings on June 9 with a
$39 one-way special. Hawaii’s two existing airlines immediately
matched the fare, and Hawaiian Airlines responded further by adding
extra flights in the evening. Aloha officials said they would
adjust flight times to remain competitive. Hawaiian, meanwhile,
filed a lawsuit claiming that Mesa used confidential Hawaiian
Airlines information to help plan its new carrier. Mesa has
countersued, saying it used only public data.
www.iflygo.com
By Marty Wentzel
Croatia a Surprise Hit
A recent survey conducted at the European Tour Operators
Association’s (ETOA) Hotelier’s Marketplace, an annual event,
revealed Croatia to be a surprising favorite among tour operators
and their clients lauded for both its excitement and value for the
money.
“Croatia comes out on top because it is perceived as European
without suffering the pitfalls of EU membership,” said Tom Jenkins,
executive director of ETOA. “Because it is not subject to EU VAT
laws, Croatia enjoys a 19 percent price break compared with its
close competitors, the more established Italy and Greece.”
The UK is considered to be the worst value for the money, though
London was rated best for sightseeing, partying and shopping. Italy
was voted the best in terms of art, while Paris is the frontrunner
for romance.
www.etoa.org
ATAA Education
The Association of Travel Agents of America (ATAA) is
making experience and education available to travel agents again
this year through their annual Nuts and Bolts Con-
ference and their Seminar at Sea. Agents can learn how to take
their travel consultancy to the next level while earning up to 50
credits toward CLIA certification.
“Travel agents who want to become travel consultants need new
skills and a new way of thinking that moves beyond just product
training,” said Scott Caddow, president of ATAA’s board of
directors. “Because ATAA is driven ‘by travel agents for travel
agents,’ we know that continuing education and first-hand travel
experience is crucial to success.”
The Nuts and Bolts Conference will be held July 14-16 at the
Tucson Starr Pass Resort in Tucson, Ariz. Seminar at Sea will take
place Sept. 4-9, boarding in New York and traveling to Saint John
and Halifax in Canada, then back to New York. Discounts are
available until May for Land and Sea Experiences.
www.ataa.net
.Travel Extension
Tralliance Corporation, the .travel registry, announced a 30-day
extension of governments’ right to reserve their “place names” as
.travel domains. While a nation will always have the sole right to
their country name in the
.travel space, place names not registered by April 30, will be
available to any travel entity with a legal right to use the name.
Place names include cities, towns, heritage sites, sacred sites and
national parks.
“As more and more tourism entities are actively using their
.travel domains in large-scale marketing efforts, nations that have
not yet been able to register all of their names are telling us
that the additional time is critical,” said Ronald Andruff,
president and CEO of Tralliance Corporation.
www.tralliance.travel
Total Trip
Marriott is introducing a new service which helps to
eliminate uncertainty about the total price of guestrooms at all of
its more than 2,700 hotels worldwide with the launch of Total Trip
Pricing. The hotel chain factors in all applicable taxes,
surcharges and any fees in an easy-to-read, line-by-line layout
before customers complete their online reservations. In addition,
Total Trip Pricing is available when calling the company’s
toll-free reservations line, by contacting a hotel directly or
through selected travel agents.
In addition, the company’s Web site allows travelers to view
thousands of hotel and resort photographs, as well as book separate
air travel reservations.
www.marriott.com
By Lauren Baratti
