USTOA LAUNCHES "WE'RE THERE FOR YOU" RADIO PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Designed To Reassure Travelers, Help Travel Agents Sell Tours and Packages

As peak vacation season approaches, USTOA is coming to the aid of travel agents who sell tours and packages. The association has just launched a series of radio public service announcements reassuring travelers that tour operators provide a helping hand when unforeseen crises occur.

The 15, 30, and 60-second "We’re There for You" PSA radio spots have been distributed to nearly 1,500 radio stations across the United States. Travel agents can download the actual sound files and/or scripts for their own use or to air on local stations by visiting the USTOA web site: www.ustoa.com, and logging on to "Travel Agents’ Room." For a free CD, e-mail information@ustoa.com.

The PSAs are part of USTOA’s "We’re There for You" campaign, which includes a "Travel Comfort Quiz," available on the USTOA website, case studies of members assisting travelers, and enhanced media contact with consumer newspapers and magazines to develop stories around the theme.

Through the PSAs, USTOA advises listeners that—whether it’s an airline strike or a natural event like the winter East Coast Blizzard—tour operators provide a vital communications link between their travelers and airlines, hotels, and loved ones. The PSAs go on to state that tour operators can help find emergency accommodations, reschedule airline flights, reroute itineraries, and help facilitate communications with friends and family.

"We believe that the extra reassurance of booking with a tour operator provides a strong selling point for travel agents, and we hope that travel agents will spread the word to their clients: unlike independent travelers who must fend for themselves, travelers who book their tour or vacation package with a tour operator have the advantage of two experienced experts –the agent and the tour operator--acting on their behalf, " says Bob Whitley, USTOA president. Underscoring the campaign theme, Whitley declares: "We want travel agents and their clients to know that ‘We’re There For You’ when a crisis or unforeseen event occurs."

On any given day in peak season, USTOA tour operators may have as many as 10,000 passengers traveling. When a large-scale emergency occurs, tour operators spring into action, utilizing crisis management plans and an array of sophisticated worldwide communications links.

While each tour operator handles a crisis in its own way, many USTOA member companies have 24-hour hotlines, dedicated website pages, and/or a network of worldwide offices to help clients and agents out. In addition, says Whitley, "clients can count on tour operators to go the extra mile. In the event of an emergency, staffers may work round the clock to ensure all passengers are accommodated."

For a free copy of the USTOA "Travel Agents Kit," call 1-800-GO-USTOA (468-7862). Information on USTOA member companies as well as the destinations they serve is available on the Internet at http://www.ustoa.com.

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Listen to the PSAs now.

Read the scripts.

Download the 60-second PSA.

Download the 30-second PSA.

Download the 15-second PSA.

(sound files are in MP3 format)

Download this release in Word format