INDUSTRY VETERAN MARONA HEADS UP EXOTISSIMO NORTH AMERICA

Lee Marona, a 35-year travel industry veteran, has joined Exotissimo Travel Group to head up Exotissimo North America. One of the leading inbound tour operators in South-East Asia, Exotissimo is a specialist in travel to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand.


Marona describes himself as an ‘old Asia hand’ when it comes to sending Americans and Canadians abroad. During the Vietnam War Marona lived in Saigon and travelled throughout the country on special assignment with Trans America Airlines, the world’s largest charter airline in the 1970s. After having served as Vice President of Sales for Royal Cruise Line, he went on to found his first company in 1980, Passages. Passages, along with companies like Linblad, was one of the first companies in the USA to send tourists to China. Marona was responsible for expanding Passages’ product range offering South-East Asia including Indochina during his tenure there.


Marona says “Despite being well-known to European tour operators, the Exotissimo name is not known all that well in North America. With long established sales offices in France and Spain and representation in the UK, Germany, Australia and Singapore, it was time for Exotissimo to develop its presence here, and I feel I am the right person to help them achieve that. Having just finished traveling throughout South-East Asia with Exotissimo I can’t begin to tell you how impressed I was with the region in general, and specifically with the professionalism of Exotissimo. As a further seal of approval few tour operators, especially those catering to North Americans, can say they are the sole appointed representative of American Express Travel Services Network in their country as Exotissimo are in both Vietnam and Cambodia. In addition to being the American Express representative Exotissimo also operate service offices in the US embassies and consulates in Vietnam and Cambodia. That alone speaks volumes about Exotissimo, their financial stability and their attention to service and detail.”


Marona looks forward to developing relationships primarily on the B2B level with US and Canadian tour operators and travel agents. Exotissimo claims they can do “anything that’s doable” in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand and Mr. Marona says, “That’s our mantra. Ask, and ye shall receive! Our staff here in San Francisco is here to work with agents and tour operators bringing them and their clients the very best in responsive service.”


Contact Lee Marona and his team at :


Exotissimo North America, Inc.

301 Howard Street, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105 USA

Phone: (415)538-8687

Toll free: (877)396-8687 (877-EXO-TOUR)

Fax: (415)538-8680

Email: infoEXO@exotissimo.com

Ship Round-Up and Story Ideas

Tacoma, Wash. (June 6, 2005)—Over 30 vessels will sail into the Thea Foss Waterway for the Tall Ships® Festival July 1 to July 4. The intrigue these vessels hold includes the grandeur of seeing a flotilla of tall ships and the history and story each vessel brings.

Ship highlights include:

The R. Tucker Thompson, home-port Whangarei, New Zealand, an 85’ topsail schooner, has the honor of being the ship sailing the furthest to the Festival, at 6,800 nautical miles. It will lead the June 30 Parade of Sail. While in port, the crew has been adopted by a local family. For a log of their current voyage to North America, which began April 23, visit [http://www.tucker.co.nz/VoyageLogs/log_2005.htm].

Ship contacts: Russell Harris, the Ship’s Master at russell@tucker.co.nz or Jane Hindle, jane@tucker.co.nz.

N. Star of Hershall Island, home-port Victoria, B.C., is the last of the sailing Arctic cargo ships. A mom and pop operation, the family lives and works onboard. Mom and Dad’s crew consists of their two children and foster children.

Ship contacts: Bruce and Sheila MacDonald, skippers; email:pressgang@hotmail.com; phone 250-885-0645; web site: northstar.titaniumwebs.com



Lynx, home-port Newport Beach, CA; the captain and crew dress as pirates and they perform mock cannon battles with the Lady Washington up and down the West Coast. Don’t miss their battles at the Festival July 1-4.

Ship Contact: Jeffrey Woods, LYNX Educational Foundation, phone: (949) 723-7814; email: woodsjwreno@aol.com


Charles N. Curtis, Odyssey, Rejoice, Verite’, Yankee Clipper, - All Sea Scout vessels (part of the Boys Scouts of America) whose sole function is sea training, self-confidence and leadership-building. Five Sea Scout vessels will participate in the Festival.

Charles N. Curtis, home-port Tacoma, Wash.
Odyssey, home-port Tacoma, Wash.
Rejoice, home-port LaConner, Wash.
Verite’, home-port Tacoma, Wash.
Yankee Clipper, home-port Seattle, Wash.

Ship Contacts:

Sea Scouts Commodore, Pacific Harbors Council - Hank Hibbard, phone: 253-761-8742; email: hibbardfamily@harbornet.com

Charles N. Curtis: Tom Rogers, skipper, Ship #110; phone: 253-952-6282; email: trlanakila@comcast.net

Yankee Clipper: Committee Chairman, John Kelly, phone number is (206) 932-0971; email is jkelly3@raincity.com


The Pallada, home-port Vladivostok, is a Russian full-rigged ship. Pallada sails with a complement of 143 cadets and a permanent crew of 56 officers, teachers, and professionals. With twenty-six sails and masts soaring 162 feet above the deck, Pallada combines traditional sail training with a modern maritime college curriculum.

Ship contact: Gregory Kim, Rector, Far Eastern State Technical Fisheries University, Vladivostok, phone: Russia +7-4232-441928

Talofa, home-port La Paz, Mexico; mostly performs charters in the Gulf of California. Their Captain is from the Tacoma-area and he and his family took off for an around the world trip several months ago, only to stop in the gulf for part-time work and the beauty of the area.

Ship Contact: Kevin Porter, skipper, email: sunbreak@hupfel.com


The Tacoma Tall Ships® Festival is free to the public. Tickets to get an up-close look at or tour of a select group of vessels are $10 per person per day. Children 10 and under free with a ticketed adult. There are separate charges for some festival activities. Three-hour Day Sail Adventures are available as well as Cannon Battle Cruises. There are limited opportunities to view the Fourth of July Fireworks show from the deck of a Tall Ship. Tickets may be purchased on-line at www.tallshipstacoma.com or by contacting the Tall Ships Tacoma office at 253-682-1446.

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Tall Ships® are historic sailing vessels. More than 30 vessels, including Tall Ships® and other historical boats, will be available for public viewing along the Thea Foss Waterway in Tacoma, Washington from July 1 through 4, 2005. For more information, visit www.tallshipstacoma.com. For information on Freedom Fair, the Fourth of July celebration that will also take place on Tacoma’s waterfront, visit www.freedomfair.com.

Ten Smart Family Vacation Travel Tips - To Ensure Your Airport Experiences Are Quick and Easy

Kate Bandos
KSB Promotions
800-304-3269 or 616-676-0758
kate@ksbpromotions.com

A very busy summer air travel season is forecast, as rising gas prices send many families to their destinations by plane this year. Full flights are anticipated, making planning ahead essential. Packing expert Susan Foster, author of Smart Packing for Today's Traveler (www.smartpacking.com), offers these ten tips for smart family travel.

1. Make plane reservations as soon as possible to lock in current inexpensive fares. As fuel prices increase, airfares will also.

2. Select seats when you make the reservation -- this is the only way to ensure that you will be seated together. Waiting until you arrive at the airport will scatter each of your family members throughout the plane, or will require asking other passengers to accommodate you by moving seats when they are trying to get settled themselves.

3. Print boarding passes before leaving for the airport. If you have booked online, this option is generally available 24 hours in advance of the flight and will save standing in a check-in line at the airport.

4. Pack light. Many airlines are charging $25 each way for checked bags weighing 50 pounds or more. Weigh each bag at home on a bathroom scale before leaving for the airport so you can lighten the load. Also measure each bag before packing as no bag may be over 62" based on linear measurement of length + width + depth. Larger bags may incur a large fee. Consider packing into two smaller bags in place of one large one.

5. Take less. Organize what each family member wants to pack far in advance to allow time to wash favorite things and to encourage participation by each person. This minimizes complaints upon arrival, as each was part of the packing decisions. Plan to find a coin- operated laundry half way through the trip so you can pack half as much clothing. Tucking in a self-sealing plastic bag of laundry detergent saves money and hassles.

6. Organize your suitcase by grouping similar clothing items into
containers: socks in one container, underwear in another. Self-sealing plastic bags of various sizes are perfect for this and are a travelers' best friend! Children's clothing is easily packed by folding or rolling an entire day's outfit together--pants, tee-shirt, underwear and socks--and tucking them into a self-sealing bag. Pop the dirty items back into the bag at the end of the day to isolate soiled clothing from clean.

7. Pack into as few suitcases as possible -- the more bags the greater the chance that one will be misplaced or forgotten. Plus, a hefty fee may be charged for additional checked bags. Airlines typically allow two checked bags plus one carry-on per ticketed passenger (young children who ride on a parent's lap are NOT considered "ticketed").
Many families pack into community bags of one adult with one child per bag; for a family of four this means two checked bags plus carry-ons.

8. Pack a backpack for each person (this will count as one carry-on).
Parents can manage children better if they are hands-free, so purses and in-flight necessities are best carried in an adult backpack. Kids fly quieter when entertained, so allow them to choose their toys and to carry them. Smaller children manage better passing through airports, airport security, and aircraft aisles with small backpacks; bigger children can manage small rolling bags that will fit under the seat.

9. Take your child's safety seat and stroller as carry-ons whenever possible. Each airline has a slightly different ruling on traveling with this gear, so call or visit your airline website to check in advance so you won't have any surprises at the airport.

10. Savvy frequent flyer parents advise packing the following in your child's carry-on:
. Gameboys, games and extra batteries and travel-sized games . Books (thin paperbacks are best!) and/or coloring/activity books and crayons . Portable DVD player (however, battery length is usually only about
3 hours)
. Pajamas and slippers for a long flight (if children are comfortable, they are more likely to sleep) . Hard candies to suck on, water or juice to combat cabin pressure changes during take off and landing . Anything your child must have, such as a favorite blanket or bunny.

Packing light will spare your back and your budget and minimize baggage hassles. Plan ahead, take less, and have a great vacation!

See www.smartpacking.com for more family packing and airport tips.

Exotissimo Introduces New Adventure Travel brochure In Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar & Thailand

Contact:
Richard Craig
Exotissimo Travel
+84 8 825 1723
richard@exotissimo.com

We have some exciting news from Exotissimo Travel: the launch of our brand new Great Adventures brochure showcasing the best of adventure travel in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. Recent years have seen a huge explosion in interest in adventure travel and all its off-shoots including eco-tourism, making it the fastest growing sector in the tourism industry. Great Adventures reinforces Exotissimo's position as a pioneer of adventure travel and responsible tourism in the Mekong region.

Exotissimo's Great Adventures offers a dazzling selection of adventure travel ideas in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand including biking, trekking, kayaking, multi-activity, nature tours, family adventures and corporate adventure that we hope will whet your appetite for adventure travel in our wonderful destinations.

Click on the link below to download Great Adventures in PDF format.

http://www.exotissimo.com/download/Pdf/Great_Adventures.pdf