USTOA TOUR OPERATORS SCORE ON TRAVEL & LEISURE READER POLL

Seven out of the top ten "Best" tour operators, chosen by Travel & Leisure readers in a recent poll, are USTOA members. The USTOA companies cited in the August edition of Travel & Leisure as winners of the seventh annual "World’s Best" awards are: Tauck World Discovery, Abercrombie & Kent, Travcoa, CIE Tours International, Intrav, Lindblad Expeditions, and Maupintour.

Commenting on the poll, Bob Whitley, President, USTOA, says "We are not at all surprised by the results of this readership survey. USTOA has always held its members to the highest standards, and the Travel & Leisure poll attests to this. The number one priority of USTOA members continues to be the satisfaction of their customers."

In order to become a USTOA Active Member, a company must meet the travel industry’s highest standards, which include being in business at least three years under the same ownership and/or management, meeting specific minimums in terms of passengers and/or sales volume, carrying minimum $1,000,000 of professional Travel Agent/Tour Operator liability insurance, with worldwide coverage; and participating in USTOA’s Consumer Protection Plan by posting $1 million in the form of either a bond or letter of credit, for use in reimbursing consumers in the event of the member’s bankruptcy or insolvency.

For more information on USTOA and a list of members visit www.ustoa.com.

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