CCRAtravel.com News:
Brand New Features to Enhance Hotel Booking  top

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If you haven’t already discovered the advantages of using CCRAtravel.com for all your hotel bookings, it's time to log in and view the expanded portal capabilities, designed especially for your business needs.  This month, the following new features have been integrated in the latest release of CCRAtravel.com, where you'll find preferred rates on a vast inventory of over 70,000 hotels:

• Multiple hotel room bookings – Agents can now reserve up to three rooms per hotel booking, making reservations easier for the leisure and corporate traveler.  According to Modern Agent Magazine, roughly 50 percent of hotel rooms booked online are multiple room reservations. You can now service this request more conveniently.
• Enhanced landmark search capabilities – Agents now can proactively help travelers explore hotel options based on the location of more than 250,000 landmarks worldwide.  Landmark-based search ability makes your leisure travel consulting easier.
• Currency display preferences – Agents can display hotel prices using the currency of their client’s choice, including: U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars, Pound Sterling, Euro, and Australian dollars.
• Agency accessible PayPal accounts – Host agencies can allow individual agents to use their company’s PayPal account, or determine when an agent needs to use their own account.  The agency maintains control, while offering agents a better payment option.
• TRAMS ClientBase support – CCRAtravel.com now features a dedicated CRM tool designed specifically for travel agencies. The easy-to-use TRAMS ClientBase software allows agents to create client profiles and maintain client relationships. Contact and trip management also help the agent increase productivity.

CCRA International is pleased to continually enhance your hotel booking experience.  There are free online trainings offered weekly to demonstrate how the latest CCRAtravel.com features can help you maximize profits and streamline delivery of your services. Also learn how to use Net Rates to set your own commission, and get paid faster, guaranteed.

Click here to sign up for a free online training session

It has been, and continues to be, our responsibility to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality.		Assisting with the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, Hilton Family of Hotels team members worked on a house alongside 100 volunteers at a Ladies’ Home Journal-Habitat for Humanity-Hilton Family of Hotels build in Slidell, Louisiana, on May 5, 2006 Embassy Suites Hotels has a long-standing relationship with the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation, which is dedicated to improving the lives of seriously ill children and their families in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. The Hilton Family also regularly assists, among others, the American and International Red Cross, AIDS Walk Los Angeles, City of Hope Cancer Center, the National Gardening Association and the National Coalition for the Homeless. WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME? Being hospitable not only feels good — it can be good for you too, according to the U.S. Administration on Aging. Studies done at the University of Michigan, Bowling Green State University and elsewhere suggest that older people who volunteer appear to lower their risk for heart disease, diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases. Other benefits that researchers have identified include improved memory and reduced heartburn, headaches, colds and insomnia. One study concluded that "helper’s high" reduced stress and released endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, much as exercise does (with less sweat!). And perhaps the best part about being hospitable is that it doesn’t require any special equipment, new clothes or even much time. Whether it’s picking up a piece of litter, writing a thank-you note to a mentor or holding the door open for a stranger, endless opportunities present themselves, with benefits for both you and others. As Mark Twain put it, "The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up." Why not give it a try?
Conrad Hilton, Founder The Hilton Family of Hotels
Over 50 years ago Conrad Hilton envisioned a world where hospitality would build bridges between people and even nations, and believed that consideration, civility and respect should be given unconditionally. To him, hospitality was a powerful universal language easily understood by people in every corner of the globe. And while Mr. Hilton’s entrance into the world of hospitality began with Hilton Hotels, his legacy and "be hospitable" philosophy now reach millions of guests worldwide every year through the distinct hotel brands that comprise the Hilton Family of Hotels: Hilton®, Conrad®, Doubletree®, Embassy Suites Hotels®, Hampton Inn®, Hilton Garden Inn®, Hilton Grand Vacations Club™, Homewood Suites by Hilton® and The Waldorf-Astoria Collection™. To extend the philosophy even further, this year, the Hilton Family Giving Back Program (www.hiltonfamily.com/givingback) was created to increase philanthropic support for a number of nonprofit charitable organizations through event sponsorships, direct donations and through the Hilton Family’s guest reward program, Hilton HHonors®. HHonors members can contribute to a number of charities the points they earn from stays at any of more than 2,800 Hilton Family hotels in more than 80 countries worldwide. SPOTLIGHT ON GIVING The Hilton Family of Hotels reaches out in a number of ways, from building homes in post-Katrina New Orleans to donating trees and helping renovate historical and cultural landmarks on America’s highways. As a sponsor of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, the Hilton Family offers direct support to help Olympic teams with travel expenses, hospitality benefits and its Team USA™ Advantage program, which provides discounted room rates not just to elite athletes but to their families and friends, staff and officials. The Hilton Family of Hotels shows its commitment to well-being by supporting the Arthritis Foundation, which offers assistance and research dollars to the 70 million-plus Americans living with arthritis, and

Special Advertorial

Computer Password Security  top

• Don't use only letters or only numbers.
• Don't use names of spouses, children, girlfriends/boyfriends or pets.
• Don't use phone numbers, Social Security numbers or birthdates.
• Don't use the same word as your log-in, or any variation of it.
• Don't use any word found in the dictionary — even foreign words.
• Don't use double letters or numbers.
   
• Do use different passwords for each personal account.
• Do change your password periodically.
• Do create a long password, which will take someone (or more likely, some program) longer to crack it.
• Do use at least eight characters, combining numbers, upper and lower case letters, as well as keyboard characters.

For complete "Tips for Top-Notch Password Security," by Kim Komando, Microsoft Small Business Center, click here.
 

Safety Basics for a Trip Abroad:
Traveler Security Tips  top

1. Make sure you have a signed, valid passport and visas, if required.
Avoid the distress and fees caused by last minute passport renewals. Did you know that in most cases, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay? If you don't have a passport, your current passport has expired or is close to expiration, we recommend applying for one at least one month before arranging travel - this time period may be longer in some countries. Also, bear in mind that during summer months, or prior to the holiday season, your passport office will be inundated with applications, and this may cause a backlog. Also, consider the length and type of your trip. Many countries require that you hold a valid visa to work or take an extended stay, and you may find that you are breaking your host country's laws without one. For U.S. passport and visa information, visit http://www.state.gov/travelandbusiness.

2. Read the Consular Information Sheets, public announcements or travel warnings for the areas you plan to visit. Be sure to read up on the areas you plan to visit to help ensure your personal safety and make the most of your trip. For travel warnings and Consular Information sheets, also visit http://www.state.gov/travelandbusiness.

3. Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the countries to which you are traveling. Stress and inconveniences can be avoided by finding out about the customs of the country you intend to visit - perhaps even learn a bit of the lingo. Some knowledge along these lines will surely be welcomed by the locals and will help you to enjoy your surroundings that little bit more. Also, ensure you're aware of any differences in local law to your home country, as when you are abroad you are subject to the rules of your host country, and ignorance is rarely accepted as an excuse.

4. Make 2 copies of your passport identification page. This will help if your passport is lost or stolen while you are away - usually a complete nightmare, but made so much easier just by following this little tip. Leave one copy at home with friends or family, and carry the other with you in a separate place to your passport. Do NOT carry it with your passport.

5. Leave contact details with friends and family so that you can be contacted in case of emergency. Life at home doesn't stop while you're away, and you may need to be quickly contacted by friends or family should there be an emergency. Make sure they can do this by leaving your travel details (address & telephone number of your accommodation, email address & travel itinerary) with selected friends and family.

6. Do not leave your luggage unattended in public areas. Do not accept packages from strangers. With heightened security measures currently in place in public areas such as airports and train stations it is essential to ensure that you keep hold of your luggage at all times. If you're asked to hold an item for a stranger, politely decline at all times.

7. Avoid being a target of crime. Avoid wearing conspicuous clothing and expensive jewelry, and carrying excessive amounts of money, credit cards or gadgets. Travelers and tourists are obvious targets for theft - they usually stick out like a sore thumb and carry plenty of cash and gadgets such as digital cameras, camcorders and iPods. Reduce your chances of being a victim by dressing appropriately and only taking what you need. Traveler’s checks are safer than cash, and if you wish to take pictures or listen to music while you're out, keep your devices out of reach and out of site!

8. To avoid violating local laws, deal only with authorized agents when exchanging money or making sizable purchases. The old adage is right - it something's too good to be true, it usually is. If you're offered an amazing exchange rate or investment opportunity from a stranger with no credentials, walk away. Even if they seem able to prove their identity or position, remain cautious, and trust your instincts - get out if you feel at all uneasy.

9. If you get into trouble, contact the nearest embassy for your country. Your county's embassy is the place to turn if you find yourself a victim of crime or in trouble with the law. If you plan to stay for more than two weeks, you can register with the U.S. embassy in the country you are visiting. This will facilitate communication from home in case of emergency. If you are a citizen of the EU and your country doesn’t have an embassy, contact the nearest EU member embassy and request guidance from them. Many of them will provide some level of assistance in an emergency.

10. Contact your credit card company before leaving your home town. Many credit card companies have increased fraud security measures, and they may automatically block purchases made from other cities. Also, check your credit card balances and limits. In some countries, exceeding your credit limit may be cause for arrest.

E-mail Travel Secrets top

You may already use e-mail when you travel. With an e-mail account, wherever you are in the world, your friends and family have a way to contact you and you can contact them, without worrying about the time zone. Interestingly, even though the Internet largely operates by way of the same phone lines, it's more reliable than the phone service in many countries. In other words, even if the phone connection is bad, you may be able to send an e-mail. Even better, you can send e-mails for free. Hotmail, Yahoo and others offer free e-mail accounts.

How will you access your e-mail? Virtually every public library in the United States now has Internet access, and it’s almost always free to use. When traveling the country, we often stop in small towns at libraries. We not only check our e-mail, but our bank accounts as well.

When you are in other countries, finding Internet access is even easier. Anywhere that computers are too expensive for most people to buy, there's demand for cheap public Internet access. The result is that, in many cities of the world, there are Internet cafes on almost every corner. How much will it cost? A dollar per hour is not uncommon. In many airports, there are also areas where wireless Internet connections are available for free. All you need is a wireless card installed in your laptop or computer.

What to E-mail to Yourself When You Travel

Savvy travelers have been using this trick for a decade now.

Before you travel, e-mail yourself a list of important information and numbers. This should include the number to call if your credit card is stolen, and the number of the U.S. Embassy where you'll be. Just stop and think about what information you would need or want if you lost your luggage and wallet and everything else. This will give you an idea of what to send to yourself. Email yourself a copy of your passport, for example, and other important documents. You might even want to email yourself a photocopy of your driver’s license. I send myself work that I can do, in case I have nothing better to do than sit in front of a computer for hours (Fortunately this hasn't happened yet). Whenever you need these things, they'll be available in any Internet cafe in the world.

New Global Lost and Found  top

Lost or stolen items are no longer a lost cause. BoomerangIt is a new Internet-powered registration system that works with law enforcement to help travelers retrieve lost or stolen property such as cell phones, laptops and luggage. The company provides coded security I.D. tags, and registers items in its database. The hard-to-remove tag on your registered items is a theft deterrent, and provides a lost and found 800 phone number. If a finder calls the number, BoomerangIt will facilitate return of the property to its owner, at the owner's expense, and a reward for the finder. Visit www.boomerangit.com for details.

Know Your Acronyms
– A Travel Agent Reference Guide Review  top

If you would like additional copies the 2006 Travel Agent Reference Guide, please phone 800.533.8883. Additional copies are now offered at a 50% discount. Click here for the Order Form (Acrobat PDF).