NEW USTOA WEBSITE MAKES VACATION PLANNING SIMPLE

Planning a vacation is now more simple than ever, with the totally redesigned web site just introduced by the United States Tour Operators Association: www.ustoa.com. Navigating the site is easy, as all the content is available with one click from the home page.

Clients and travel agents can select the right vacation packager or tour operator for their needs based on four different criteria, find useful consumer tips and timely information, plus learn more about the nearly 160 brand names that comprise USTOA. The association’s Active members, each of whom has met the travel industry’s highest standards, including participation in the USTOA $1 Million Consumer Protection Plan, are responsible for the vacations of more than 10 million people yearly.

Select the Right USTOA Member from Drop-down Windows

To choose the right vacation packager or tour operator, simply click a drop-down menu, available from the home page, and search by the following criteria:

Destination: From Africa to Washington, DC, click on the destination for a listing and links to USTOA member companies serving the destination.

Activity: Choose from activities ranging from adventure tours and barging or golf; from hot-air ballooning to yachting, and from tours for singles, seniors and women – as well as from many other activities and interests.

Personality Preferences: Take USTOA’s on-site Vacation Personality Quiz, linked to the home page, and determine whether you are best suited to an independent package, escorted tour, or special interest- adventure tour. Once your travel type is determined, click on the drop-down window, and search by two sub-categories: destination and activity. For instance, if the quiz determines that you are an independent traveler, and you want to visit Alaska, the drop-down windows link to information on corresponding tour operators that fill the bill.

USTOA Member Company: This option allows travelers to search by company name, and provides an easy way to verify membership in USTOA, learn more about the company, or link directly to its web site.

Consumer Information

Aside from the vacation planning function, the new site brims with helpful information, including:

Smart Travel Planning

This section is the online version of USTOA’s "Smart Travelers Planning Kit," and provides important information travelers should know. Travelers can also link to the USTOA Vacation Personality Quiz.

Sections are divided by:

Travel Trade Forum

Here travel professionals may find information on:

In addition, a "Travel Wise" section offers changing information and timely travel tips. A link to the Travelers Conservation Foundation, founded by USTOA, takes web surfers directly to the site, for more information on the foundation’s work and projects.

To access a listing of USTOA member companies, all of whom have met the travel industry’s highest standards, and who subscribe to the USTOA $1 Million Consumer Protection Plan, visit the USTOA web site at www.ustoa.com. A copy of USTOA’s Travel Agent’s Guide is also available by phoning 1-800-GO-USTOA (468-7862).

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