Introducing CCRA
  Group Desk  top

By Patti Free, Vice President, Global Membership Services

CCRA is pleased to announce a new CCRA Hotel Group Desk, in response to the many requests we have received for group travel assistance.  Our booking experts can help you save time and find competitive rates, using our extensive relationships with hotel partners who offer group bookings.

This year, you can tap into the high sales potential of groups and meetings.  Consider promoting your travel services for destination weddings, family reunions, wedding anniversaries, multi-generational travel, pre and post cruise stays, corporate retreats, and much more… CCRA will help you make your group bookings a smooth success.

Beginning this month, CCRA member agents can access a convenient request form for the CCRA Hotel Group Desk.  By submitting a request to our seasoned CCRA staff, you can receive a detailed quote within 48 hours, or two business days, regarding rates and availability.  We can contact a hotel of your choice, or design a booking to meet the criteria and budget submitted. CCRA Hotel Group Desk quotes are offered at no charge to travel agents who are signed up to book on the CCRA Hotel Booking Portal.

A dedicated CCRA Group Desk Manager can also provide quotes for Airport and Port Transfers, meals, tickets to attractions, escorted tours and more travel services. 

CCRA Group Desk Features

• Net Hotel Group Pricing
• Group quotes returned within 48 hours
• Hotel Group rates available at 3, 4 and 5 star properties
• Quotes available for additional services such as hotel transfers, or breakfast
• Dedicated Group Desk Manager
• Customer service support worldwide
• Group rates beginning at 20 rooms

Click here for the CCRA Group Desk Request Form, also available on CCRAtravel.com or CCRAinternational.com.

Group Travel Facts & Figures

• The groups and meeting market will represent $175 billion in travel sales by 2008
• The top 5 destinations for group travel include: Florida, California, Las Vegas, the Caribbean and Mexico
• Median spending for leisure travel groups is $1,800
• 55 percent of group travelers are traveling for a family reunion or function
• 21-34 year olds are more likely to plan friend reunions, school group/class reunions, bachelor/bachelorette parties, concerts or other spectator sport events

Source: PhoCusWright 2007 Report
 

A Pre and Post Cruise Success Story   top

Summary:  Karen works as a home-based agent for Dugan’s Travel. Since she started as a travel agent over four years ago, she has been on a mission to find the best way to save her clients money without having to sacrifice her own income.

Challenge: Karen had used different search engines to book rooms for her clients, but found it hard to make a commission of more than 6% or 7% and then she would have to wait months before she received her commissions. She knew there had to be a better hotel booking source to solve these problems.

Karen learned about CCRAtravel.com through her host agency and when she needed to make six pre and post cruise bookings in Fort Lauderdale for her cruise group she chose CCRA Net Rates on CCRAtravel.com.

Results: Karen quickly learned the benefits of booking CCRA Net Rates on CCRAtravel.com when she realized the savings for her clients and the commission she would earn compared to the GDS rates and the Hotels.com rates for the same Fort Lauderdale six-room pre and post cruise stay.

CCRA Net Rates: $160.78 per room with a 20% commission for the group totaling $321.60, payable in two weeks.

Promotional Rates (GDS): $202.00 per room with a 6% commission for the group totaling $145.00, payable after the stay is consumed.

Internet Discount Rates (Hotels.com): $204.00 with a 6% commission for the group totaling $146.88, payable after the stay is consumed.

Karen did not have to settle for a 6% commission and wait to get paid. Instead she earned a 20% commission and was paid in two weeks thanks to CCRA Net Rates.

Click here to learn How to Mark up a Net Rate commission.

Featured Net Rate Destination:   Mexico top

Now is the time to book CCRA Net Rates for you clients’ spring break vacations in March. Book these great CCRA Net Rates in Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Acapulco this month!

City	Star Rating	CCRA Net Rates	Internet Discount (Hotels.com)
Acapulco
Avalon Excalibur		$103	$108
Casa Inn		$76	$95
Las Brisas		$182	$229
Cancun
Barcelo Tucancun		$131	$277
Grand Oasis Cancun		$89	$136
Hotetur Beach Paradise		$101	$134
Oasis Viva Beach		$100	$227
Puerto Vallarta
Melia Puerto Vallarta		$152	$387
Plaza Pelicanos		$133	$232
Villa Varadero		$79	$95
Availability as of 1-23-08

Stylish NH Hoteles in Europe, America and Africa  top 

NH Hoteles ranks third in the European ranking for business hotels, with 338 hotels across Europe, America and Africa. NH Hoteles also has 25 projects for new hotels under construction, which shall add almost 5,000 new rooms to its current 49,169 rooms.

NH Hoteles stands out in quality services and facilities, with very carefully thought out decoration, intended to please all tastes and make the guest feel comfortable. NH Hoteles' establishments offer the most advanced technologies designed to facilitate the guest's communications as well for work and leisure.

NH Hoteles is known for its "eye for detail." The just-squeezed orange juice in the buffet breakfast, the "Good Night" details in the guestroom, the choice of different size and shape pillows in all the hotels, or the complete signature brand toiletry kit "Agua de la Tierra," are just some of those details that improve the perception of value for money and increase guests’ satisfaction.

Commitment with the Art World
For many years Contemporary Art has played a major role in the chain. Vanguard art at the guestrooms and public areas, project a special image of dynamic and modern NH Hoteles. The "NH STOCK ART" itinerant collection has traveled to several hotels in Spanish and Netherland cities such as Amsterdam, Maastricht and Rotterdam.

Adolfo Dominguez Designs
Another example of the passion for detail that defines our chain’s style is that each employee who has contact with the public wears the uniform designed by Adolfo Dominguez, one of the most prestigious fashion designers in Spain. This initiative, the first in Spain, proves the priority we attach to be at the forefront of design and décor.

The vanguard of restaurant services with Ferrán Adriá
Ferran Adriá, one of the best chefs in the world, creator of "El Bulli" restaurant in Roses (Catalunya), is responsible for promoting new restaurant techniques and concepts. With his initiative, the chain intends to place its restaurants and cuisine at the forefront and to enrich the services provided in all the hotels. The hotel target is to have all those NH Hoteles restaurants, in which these concepts are introduced, become landmarks in all the cities where they are present. One of his creations is "Nhube," a space combining restaurant services, leisure and relaxing. This year the first "Nhube," created by Adrià will be launched in Madrid. Another concept that Ferrán Adrià has developed for NH Hoteles, is "Fast Good," which joins best quality products with quick service.

Woman Style Rooms
NH Hoteles caters to its increasing number of women guests with the unique "Woman Style" concept that includes among other special features, rooms that are specifically reserved for ladies. This service includes its specially designed with products such as body milk, make-up remover and more.

Interactive services
NH Hoteles provide the best TV interactive services in all its guestrooms: pay-per-view movies, video games, messaging and information. Internet is also offered in the guestrooms.

The Edgewater - Seattle, WA   top 

Nestled atop Pier 67 overlooking sparkling Elliott Bay, the 223-room Edgewater is considered Seattle’s premier waterfront destination with spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains and Seattle’s famed downtown skyline.

A recipient of the 2008 AAA Four Diamond Award, the award-winning property was also recently recognized by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler, by being named one of the World’s Best Places to Stay in the publication’s prestigious 2008 Gold List survey.

Its 223 luxuriously appointed guestrooms and suites feature hand-crafted knotty pine furniture, river rock fireplaces, overstuffed chairs, Ralph Lauren bedding and 42” plasma HD TV’s, all with scenic views of the sparkling downtown skyline or Elliott Bay.  Its famed 700 square foot Beatles suite, where the Fab 4 stayed, features a photo gallery, extensive Beatles’ CD collection, decorative pillows adorning the British flag and panoramic views of Elliot Bay. 

Its signature restaurant, Six Seven embodies the Pacific Northwest from cuisine to atmosphere. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner and featuring seasonal seafood favorites, Six Seven serves up the city’s most romantic views of the Olympic Mountains and Elliott Bay, and its bistro patio dining in the summer is a favorite amongst locals, guests and tourists alike.  Its comfortably sleek lounge with floor to ceiling windows is consistently named as one of Seattle’s top happy hour spots. 

With more than 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, meeting planners and corporate executives can balance business with pleasure at The Edgewater. The hotel features high speed T1 wireless internet providing planners and executives the opportunity to work in their guest room or meeting room. The Edgewater offers complete audio/visual services in addition to copying, faxing, printing services, computer access, scanning, and email services.  Its dedicated catering and conference service team, in conjunction with the hotel’s talented Executive Chef, Jordan Mackey, delight in tailoring each meeting or event to meet the planner’s specific needs.  From décor and design to delectable cuisine, The Edgewater team makes an ordinary meeting – extraordinary.

The Edgewater is located within walking distance of Pike Place Market, the Victoria Clipper, the trendy Belltown neighborhood, and the city’s new Olympic Sculpture Park.  Additional nearby activities include historic Pioneer Square, the newly remodeled Seattle Art Museum or catching a game with the Mariners, Sonics or Seahawks. 

The Edgewater is located at 2411 Alaskan Way in Seattle.

Portal Tip: Room Type Definitions   top

One common question our portal manager receives is, "What do the different room types mean?"

Here is a list of the most common room types, how they appear on the portal, and their true definitions provided by Portal Manager, Jeff Kirk.

Tax Changes for Businesses   top

For those of you with your own home based businesses, there are some tax changes for you and your business you should be aware of before tax season is upon us. This information and more can be found on www.irs.gov.

Tax Year 2007
• Depreciation and Section 179 Expense
• Depreciation limits on electric vehicles
• Limited reduction in Liberty Zone tax benefits
• Domestic Production Activities Deduction
• Self-Employment Tax
• Social Security and Medicare Taxes
• Standard Mileage Rate
• Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefit
• Work Opportunity Credit

Depreciation and Section 179 Expense
Increased section 179 limits. The maximum section 179 deduction you can elect for qualified section 179 property placed in service in 2007 has increased to $125,000 ($160,000 for qualified enterprise zone and qualified renewal community property). This limit is reduced by the amount by which the cost of qualified property placed in service during the tax year exceeds $500,000.
For qualified section 179 Gulf Opportunity (GO) Zone property, the maximum section 179 deduction is higher than the deduction for most other section 179 property.

Depreciation limits on electric vehicles. The higher maximum depreciation deduction for a passenger automobile that is an electric vehicle does not apply to electric vehicles placed in service after December 31, 2006.

Limited reduction in Liberty Zone tax benefits. The special depreciation allowance for qualified New York Liberty Zone property does not apply to property placed in service after December 31, 2006 (except for qualified nonresidential real property and qualified residential rental property).

Domestic Production Activities Deduction
For tax years beginning after December 31, 2006, the domestic production activities deduction percentage increases from 3% to 6%. For more information on this deduction, see Form 8903, Domestic Production Activities Deduction, and its instructions.

Self-Employment Tax
The maximum amount of net earnings subject to the social security part of the self-employment tax for tax years beginning in 2007 has increased to $97,500. All net earnings of at least $400 are subject to the Medicare part of the tax.

Social Security and Medicare Taxes
The maximum amount of wages subject to the social security tax for 2007 is $97,500. There is no limit on the amount of wages subject to the Medicare tax.

Standard Mileage Rate
For 2007, the standard mileage rate for the cost of operating your car, van, pickup, or panel truck is increased to 48.5 cents a mile for business miles driven.

Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefit
For taxable years beginning in 2007, the monthly limitation regarding the aggregate fringe benefit exclusion amount for transportation in a commuter highway vehicle and any transit pass is $110. The monthly limitation regarding the fringe benefit exclusion amount for qualified parking is $215.

 Work Opportunity Credit
After December 31, 2006, the welfare-to-work credit was combined with the work opportunity credit. Use Form 5884, Work Opportunity Credit, to claim a credit for an employee who begins work for the employer after December 31, 2006.
Members of targeted groups. For employees who begin work after December 31, 2006, the following changes pertaining to targeted group members apply.
• Ex-felons are no longer required to be a member of a low-income family.
• Food stamp recipients must be at least age 18 when hired, but not age 40 or older.
Form 8850.  The Form 8850, Pre-Screening Notice and Certification Request for the Work Opportunity Credit, that you are required to file with the work opportunity tax credit (WOTC) coordinator for your state workforce agency (SWA) is now due no later than the 28th day after the job applicant begins work for you. See Instructions for Form 8850 for more information.

How to Avoid Work at Home Scams   top

Many travel professionals operate a home-based business, and why not?  There are great reasons why people want to work from home, and even seek additional work-at-home business opportunities.

But beware. There are a million Internet predators waiting to sign you up for a "get rich quick" program that turns out to be a scam. There are plenty of legitimate at home Internet opportunities too.  So how do you find the real at home jobs versus the scams? Three words: Research, Research, Research!

Many Internet marketers have invested time and money into creating very attractive sounding work at home opportunities, but they are not necessarily in your best interest. Quite frankly there is no reason why anyone should get scammed in this day and age with so much information available to aid you in the do's and don'ts.  Here are some tips.

There are forums and blogs dedicated to identifying scams. Check these sites out:  www.BBBOnline.com | www.workathomenoscams.com |  www.fraud.org

Make sure whatever home business you decide to join, has contact information for support.
Be wary of companies that promise the moon and the stars. Chances are they will not deliver.
No one is going to give you something for nothing. You will make money if the company is making money. It wouldn't be a business, if there was not revenue, right? So, use common sense and a skeptical eye when reviewing what the opportunity offers to you and the customer.

The important thing is not to get discouraged. I have been scammed before, and I used that experience and turned it into a positive one by educating myself of the do's and don'ts of at home opportunities.
By Vickie Salomon through http://Articles.GetACoder.com network.  For more information, Work at Home Choices is designed to help people find work at home opportunities that will help them earn more income and become financially independent.  Visit http://www.workathomechoices.com.