From February 10 through March 10, we can offer you a complimentary spa treatment when they book a balcony or above stateroom on Royal Caribbean cruises to Europe . As an early booking bonus, if you book by February 29, you will receive a $100 onboard credit per stateroom in addition to the spa offer!   The spa and onboard credit offers are valid on any Europe cruise or cruisetour departing April 1 – December 31, 2012. Happy Selling! 

Gene Fleming

 New Yorks Newest Most Affordable Hotel.

If you are traveling to New York and need assistance in booking hotels, call Gene Fleming at CGC Travel. Here is a quick blurb on the Yotel. Great concept! Great price!  Check out the link too! http://www.yotel.com/Hotels/New-York-City 

 American Serves Up Complimentary Beer and Wine in Select International Main Cabins!

Beginning Feb. 1, customers traveling in the main cabin on American-operated flights between the U.S. and Europe, the U.S. and Asia and onboard long-haul flights between the U.S. and Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay, can choose from a variety of complimentary beer and wine options -- compliments of the airline.

This is in addition to the full selection of nonalcoholic beverages available on these flights. Liquor will be available for purchase as it is today.

With complimentary beer and wine served in all classes of service, American is now better aligned with fellow one world® alliance members.

Selections vary, but will include red and white wines, specially selected by American's wine consultant Ken Chase, and a wide selection of beers.

Beer, wine and spirits will remain complimentary for customers traveling in the First and Business Class cabins. For more information on American's beverage service, please call us at 310-379-0600.

On the Lighter Side of Travel

     Did you ever wonder if you are the only one experiencing Murphys Law while traveling? Your not alone, read below some of CGC Travels comic take on traveling. Enjoy!

1. No flight ever leaves on time unless you are running late and need the delay to make the flight.
2. If you are running late for a flight, it will depart from the farthest gate within the terminal.
3 .If you arrive very early for a flight, it inevitably will be delayed.
4. If you must work on your flight, you will experience turbulence as soon as you touch pen to paper.
5. Only passengers seated in window seats will have to get up to go to the lavatory.
6.The crying baby on board your flight is always seated next to you.
7.The less carry-on luggage space available on an aircraft, the more carry-on luggage passengers will bring aboard.

Happy Monday Everyone and hope to hear from you soon. Feel free to call us with your travel stories to Dawn or Gene at CGC Travel Inc. Phone # is 310-379-0600.

A few weeks ago two of my clients walked in and asked about a vacation package to Hawaii. I have known this couple for over 20 years and had sent them on cruises and all inclusive resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico. They were happy with all the arangements that I have completed. They had never been to Hawaii and were shocked that there were no all inclusive resorts.I tried to explain that Hawaii is unlike any destination in the Caribbean or Mexico. I said " Hawaii is a place you want to explore!"  Amazing scenery,beautiful beaches,friendly people and wonderful food.

In order to see the islands of Hawaii, a rental car is mandatory.On my first trip to Hawaii with my wife we drove 800 miles in 10 days. Each island we visited was uniquely different.The Hawaii tourist board supplies tourists with maps and points of interest and restaurants.To stay at one resort for a week or so is not the Hawaiian way to see one of the most beautiful group of islands in the world. As Mark Twain said while visiting Hawaii."The most beautiful islands chained to an ocean floor."   

Aloha

Gene Fleming

 On November 29, 2011, AMR the parent company of American Airlines filed chapter 11 bankruptcy for the first time in its 80 years in operation, but their service continues without any disruptions.

After the  9/11 attacks Delta.United,USair,Continental and Northwest filed for bankruptcy, American was the only major airline that did not. During its 80 year legacy, American Airlines was the first to introduce
the DC3 aircraft to its fleet,a state of the art aircraft during its time in the 1930's. Later, they introduced the Boeing 707, which revolutionized transcon travel coast to coast. In the mid sixties American Airlines introduced the first Global Distribution reservation system named SABRE. It is still the major GDS used by the airlines and travel agencies worldwide.

They were the first to introduce the first frequent flyer program called Aadvantage in the late 70's. American Airlines has been the forerunner in aviation for years. This filing for bankruptcy was a surprise for me, and many of my
colleagues.The above mentioned airlines that have filed for bankruptcy in the past have emerged from chapter 11 and are still in business. American has ordered hundreds of new aircraft to modernize its fleet, and they are the only US carrier to use the larger jumbo 767 jet aircraft vs. the smaller 757 used by the others.

According to my contacts at American it is business as usual.I will support this legacy airline during this difficult time.without any hesitation. Gerald Arpey.the CEO of American Airlines resigned on the day of the bankruptcy filing.
He was with the company for 30 years. He refused any "Golden Parachute" or compensation.

If you have any questions please feel free to call Gene at CGC Travel.

Recently the country of Thailand has experienced torrential rains and flooding, resulting in widespread dammage. The capital city of Bangkok in some areas were under three feet of water. One of our corporate accounts has a factory there and it was complety flooded. The vice president of the company, who was vacationing in Spain,called me at 1130p California time two weeks ago from a beach in Barcelona. "Gene, I have to be on the next available flight to Bangkok." I could sense the urgency in his voice. I logged on to my computer and found a flight leaving in a matter of hours. I emailed him his itinerary and electronic ticket and within hours he was on a fourteen hour flight almost half way round the world. As little as ten years ago this scenario would be completely impossible. My client was happy to be able to communicate with me so swiftly and easily, and get the flights he needed. Technology has really revolutionized are lives, especially in the travel industry.

Lou Louise Fleming & Dawn Eyre-Martin had a wonderful on site visit with the Peter Muema the Sales Manager at the Ayers Hotel in Manhattan Beach. It is an elegant European boutique hotel located just off the 405 freeway. When you enter the hotel you don't even feel like you are in Los Angeles. The hotel decor takes you back to the 17th century. Beautiful art work displayed in the walkways, high ceiling rooms, wonderful on site restaurant called Matisse that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. We both had lunch there and it felt like you were dining at a first class European restraunt. The meal was delicious and very reasonable priced. The rooms are deluxe studio suites with a refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker in each room. Complimentary full breakfast buffet, complimentary parking, fitness room, heated pool and room service. I can go on and on! Check out the website and call Dawn at CGC if you have any questions. http://www.ayreshotels.com/los-angeles/hotel-manhattan-beach.aspx

It has been four months since the devasting earthquake and tsunami hit Japan. The resiliance of the Japanese people is amazing. Business travel has rebounded tremendously. Starting July 1st, Singapore Airlines has daily service to Tokyo with its A380 super double deck jumbo jet. Citing the rebound of travel to Japan and demand for more seats, Singapore Airlines remains confident of its investment in this fabulous aircraft.

A 8.9 magnitude earthquake rocked Japan March 11 2011, followed by a devastating Tsunami wave that demolished many seaside ports and towns. Four million people were without power in Tokyo and more than 200,000 people were stranded at various airports throughout Japan.
The repercussions of this event are being felt worldwide. All flights from the US to Tokyo were cancelled, as well as Europe and Southeast Asia. The Pacific rim is a huge center of trade and commerce affecting the entire world. Japan is a nation of islands and it is almost impossible to re-route people on cancelled flights.

Unlike Europe during the volcanic eruption in Iceland last April, where there were alternatives, Japan is unique. It is the third largest world economy, and Japan produces many electronic components that will affect worldwide supply chains for numerous consumer devises.

Japan will recover, it is resilient, but it will take time due to the enormous devastation. This is one of the worst natural disasters in modern history.

Did you know: Japan's Narita International Airport has the world's largest number of jumbo jet take offs and landings? “

Related articles:  Stress Test on Global Supply Chain http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/business/20supply.html?_r=1&hp

Airfare costs can be saved using non-refundable tickets, and the majority of our corporate accounts purchase these tickets. The savings are usually 60 percent or more versus refundable tickets.

One thing that should be conveyed to the client is that if non-refundable tickets are not cancelled prior to departure, most airlines have the policy that the ticket has no value. The majority of airlines charge a fee to change travel dates on non-refundable tickets, anywhere from $100.00 to $250.00.   However, even with these fees, the savings far outweigh the cost of a fully refundable ticket. We have a system that tracks unused tickets so that they can be used for future travel. The validity of most airline tickets is one year from the date of issue.

Related article:

How companies can trim $29.8B in airfare expense (Travel Market Report)

“Huge savings can be had by being flexible with routing. On certain international routes, airlines that have a monopoly tend to charge outrageous airfares.
For example, two markets that come to mind are Los Angeles-Hong Kong, and Los Angeles-Sydney. Business Class on Brand A for LA-HK non-stop will charge as much as $8000. Business class on Brand B using a one hour connection will charge $5200.
Business Class on Brand A on Los Angeles-Sydney route, non-stop, will charge as much as $9000. Brand B with a one hour connection will charge $6000.”