Release at Will

SMART TRAVELER'S PLANNING KIT FREE FROM USTOA

"The Smart Traveler's Planning Kit," free from the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), is a colorful brochure jacket containing two handy pamphlets with helpful information on planning a tour or vacation.

"How to Select a Tour or Vacation Package" guides travelers through the many factors involved in choosing the right vacation. An explanation of the various types of tours and packages, a glossary of commonly used terms, and an explanation of the tour operator's role and responsibilities help consumers make better-informed decisions.

"The Standard for Confident Travel" explains USTOA's Travelers Assistance Program. The largest such plan in the travel industry, USTOA's Travelers Assistance Program, among other requirements, stipulates that each Active Corportate USTOA member post a $1 million bond to help protect consumers in case of bankruptcy or other insolvency.

Enclosed in the kit is a membership list to help travelers identify USTOA member companies. Also included is a consumer alert, "Traveler's Advisory: Get What You Pay For," from the Federal Trade Commission's Office of Consumer and Business Education.

"The Smart Traveler's Planning Kit" literally puts all the basic information a traveler needs to begin planning their vacation right at their fingertips," says USTOA president Bob Whitley.

USTOA's Active Member companies provide a wide gamut of vacation selections, ranging from domestic to international, and from city packages to adventure explorations. Travelers can select from modular arrangements, choosing their hotel and building on any other features they like; to all-inclusive, fully escorted tours. To qualify for USTOA membership, a company must meet some of the most stringent requirements in the travel industry.

USTOA's Active Member companies are responsible for the majority of all package vacations and tours sold nationwide by U.S. travel agents. According to a recent survey, USTOA member companies annually move more than ten million passengers, and account for an annual sales volume of over $5 billion.

For a free copy of "The Smart Traveler's Planning Kit," call 1-800-GO-USTOA (468-7862); or E-mail information@ustoa.com.

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Press Contact:

Linda Kundell
Kundell Communications
(212) 877-2798 phone
(212) 877-3387 fax
LRKPR@att.net or LRKPR@aol.com

For all other inquiries about USTOA, please contact USTOA.