ADVISORY/Experts Available To Discuss Conflicting Reports on European Travel.

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ADVISORY...

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TOPIC: The State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs says the number of passports sent out increased from last year by 13 percent during October to February, according to an article by The Los Angeles Times. The increase is viewed as a sign that Americans are planning more trips to Europe despite the strong euro and terror threats. According to Expedia, the most popular European destinations are Britain, Spain, France and Italy. However, the National Leisure Travel Monitor polled 1,350 U.S. travelers in January and February of this year and found that 62 percent wanted to visit Europe in the next two years. The number shows a decrease from 2003 when 68 percent showed interest in traveling to Europe.

EXPERTS: ExpertSource can offer several highly qualified experts to comment on this story:

Ray Booska is the owner of Apollo Travel, which deals in custom multi-destination travel, tours and cruises. Apollo Travel has been in business in Florida for more than 20 years. The owners of the agency provide chaperoned travel to Europe and Greece using their own personal contacts to provide exceptional value. Their focus is on leisure travel for the 50+ market, including cruises and tours for extended stay. Booska and his firm concentrate on protecting the mature market from travel scams and educating consumers about the pitfalls of online travel bookings. In addition, the company prides itself on advising clients of travel destinations and accommodations, which they have personally been to and can provide a personal "been there" recommendation. PR Contact: Amelia Woodbridge 321-724-1688 [e-mail]

Karen Herbst, owner of The International Kitchen, offers the premier cooking school vacations to Italy and France since 1994. After a career as research editor at Playboy Magazine and producer/director at CBS Radio, Herbst entered into the travel business, where she eventually combined her organizational skills and travel experience with her cooking passion to create this unique company. She travels to Europe six to eight times annually to personally visit locations, hand pick chefs, and select accommodations. Karen Herbst is considered the premier specialist in culinary vacations. Because she personally creates and visits every program she offers, she has first hand knowledge of all elements. She has been a featured speaker at trade and professional organizations, such as ICTA and TAPS, and has written articles on culinary vacations for publications such as Travel Weekly, and the company has been featured in Newsweek, USA Today, Vogue, Bon Appetit, Gourmet, Saveur, New York Times, LA Times, Chicago Tribune and countless other publications and newspapers. She has been a member of ASTA, IACP, and is currently a Board Member and Press Secretary of the Italian Travel Promotional Council, a not for profit trade to promote travel to Italy. She has participated as a sponsor for the Travel Agent Certification Program with the French Government Tourist Office. Her vast knowledge of Italy and France is enhanced by her extensive travels throughout the countries for the past 21 years, averaging 6 trips a year. She has created incredibly loyal and lasting relationships with her counterparts abroad, and is able to produce any kind of itinerary a traveler/cook could desire. While her knowledge of cooking is mostly self taught, she has attended numerous cooking classes and schools throughout the years, at one time giving cooking lessons herself to small groups of friends. [e-mail]

Dr. Alan Hogenauer, of Loyola Marymount University, has conducted travel, tourism, marketing, advertising, and transportation research on-site in all 50 U.S. states and 269 countries/territories during the past 35 years. Dr. Hogenauer worked as an aviation consultant and airport planner with the world-renowned firm of R. Dixon Speas Associates. He has conducted studies for the governments of Panama (1987-88), Peru (1989), Thailand (1989-91, including projects in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangladesh), Colombia (1992-93), and El Salvador (1994-95). On various trips to and from his Thailand and Oakdale residences, Dr. Hogenauer pursued tourism and transport research in the Persian Gulf, North Africa, throughout western and eastern Europe, across Russia and China, throughout South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, and the Antarctic Peninsula. PR Contact: Valerie Bent 702-270-9696 [e-mail]

ExpertSource cannot guarantee the immediate availability of these experts or their familiarity with this specific issue.

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