Published for the Travel Agents of Suffolk County
TASC - Wed., February 10th
Virtual meeting
on Zoom featuring
Presenter Stan Enden


PASTE THIS LINK IN TO YOUR WEB BROWSER TO CONNECT: 


Meeting ID: 815 028 9809

Or go to zoom.com and click "join a meeting" and input the Meeting ID #

If you are unable to connect through your computer please call this number
& input the meeting ID #
+1-646-558-8656


Due to the continuing Pandemic we will be monitoring on a month-by-month basis to see when we can return to live meetings.

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TASC FEBRUARY VIRTUAL MEETING - STAN ENDEN
LOCATION
FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME

DATE AND TIME
02/10/21 4:00pm - 02/10/21 5:30pm

Stan will be presenting his multiple suppliers. ZOOM MEETING ID # 815 028 9809 Or call 1-646-558-8656 & input the meeting ID #
RSVP IS NOT NECESSARY
No RSVP is necessary.
You will be receiving an invitation to this meeting.
In order to join this meeting, you will need to click the link in the email invitation. At the designated time you will then be
connected to the meeting.
Please contact us at [email protected] if you did not receive the email or if you have any questions or concerns.

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TASC ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER

THIS IS THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER 

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PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Dear Members,

I hope you all have been keeping warm and safe. The blizzard rages outside as I write this. In normal times our clients would be flocking to us to send them somewhere warm or plan their annual getaways. Sadly with Covid still rearing it's ugly head, the phones are barely ringing.
Hopefully once the vaccines are more widely distributed things will return to a new normal and everyone will want to catch up on the travel opportunities they missed out on this past year.

While TASC will again be holding a virtual Zoom meeting this month, we will have Stan Enden, a multi rep do a presentation for us. Some of the suppliers he will be presenting are the
El Mangroove Hotel in Papagayo & the Punta Islita in Guanacaste, both located in Costa Rica both part of the Autograph Collection. Also, Way to Go Tours, Ya'lla Tours and Sagres Vacations for Spain & Portugal.

We welcome all to join this meeting to connect, learn and enjoy his program. We welcome all suppliers to attend and each will be given a chance to speak to the membership during the meeting.

If you were present during last month's TASC meeting you saw Liz Henn installed to the Secretary position on the TASC executive board. Liz will now be taking and reading the monthly minutes. A big welcome and thank you for joining our board!

So as we celebrate Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, Black History month & President's Day in February, stay well and hope to see you on line.

Respectfully,
Susan Bonesso

You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.
           -- Abraham Lincoln
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UPCOMING TASC MEETING/EVENT SCHEDULE
FEBRUARY 10 - VIRTUAL - STAN ENDEN
MARCH 10 - TBD
APRIL 14 - TBD - NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
MAY 12 - SANDALS/BEACHES

Attention suppliers, you may contact our Programs Director, Fran Raupp at [email protected]
to book your program.
The 2021 TASC Trade Show is scheduled for Thursday, October 28, 2021.
We plan to hold it at the newly re-branded Holiday Inn Islip Airport East (formally the Radisson) located at the LIE-Exit 63 & North Ocean Avenue in Holtsville.
As the date gets closer we will provide new details as they come available.
Suppliers may contact our Trade show chairperson Jeaneane
De Cicco at [email protected] for further details.
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Current Industry Affairs (CIA)
Azamara Cruises has been sold off from Royal Caribbean to Sycamore Partners who want to expand the fleet and grow the brand. They recently purchased the Pacific Princess cruise ship and plan to completely refurbish it and add it to the fleet. It was the only remaining Renaissance (R2) ship that was not part of either Azamara or Oceania's fleet.

Sandals has announced 2 new programs to honor the late Sandals founder; Butch Stewart. The 1st, is the Gordon "Butch" Stewart tourism & hospitality scholarship which honors his love of mentoring and benefiting those across the Caribbean who are employed in the tourism sector.
A 2nd program, a Marine conservation effort as a way of celebrating his love of the sea. More details will be announced later.

Canada has suspended all flights to the Caribbean and Mexico through April 30th. Travelers will have to quarantine in a hotel at their own expense when they arrive in Canada for testing.
Cruise Lines cancel more sailings
Disney Cruise Line extended its operations suspension through March. The line also canceled many scheduled sailings through July that are longer than seven days, as per the CDC's Conditional Sailing Order. 

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection rescheduled the inaugural cruise on its first ship, the Evrima, from April to July 24. The ship will sail from Venice to Athens.

Ponant will resume sailing in New Zealand waters for locals only in February. The line has not indicated when other ships and regions will resume service.

Carnival Cruise Line extended its pause in U.S. departures through April 30 and canceled Australia operations through May 19. Carnival also canceled European itineraries for the Carnival Legend, which were to operate May through Oct. 31, and moved the start date for the Mardi Gras from Port Canaveral, Fla., to May 29. Carnival cancellations include the Carnival Miracle from San Diego and San Francisco through Sept. 16, including many 10-day and longer itineraries. 

Holland America Line extended its operations pause for all departures through April 30, including Alaska, Mexican Riviera, Pacific coast, Caribbean, Mediterranean and Canada/New England departures. Holland America cancellations include Alaska cruises on the Koningsdam through mid-May, the EurodamOosterdam and Zuiderdam though early June; the Mediterranean through early June on the Volendam between Venice and Civitavecchia, Italy, and the Westerdam from Venice and Piraeus, Greece; and the Zaandam's Canada/New England itineraries through August. 

Princess Cruises suspended cruises through May 14 on sailings in the Caribbean, the California coast, early Alaska sailings and Europe cruises. They have also canceled all cruises in and out of Japan through June 25 and have canceled all itineraries through November that touch U.S. ports and are more than seven days.

Norwegian Cruise Line has suspended sailings on its three brands (Norwegian, Oceania Cruises and Regent) through April 30. 

Royal Caribbean Group brands Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara extended the suspension of cruises through April 30, except for the Quantum of the Seas, which is now sailing out of Singapore. Silversea Cruises extended its pause through April 1. 

MSC Cruises extended its operations pause through March 31 on its four ships based in Florida: the MSC Seaside,  MSC DivinaMSC Meraviglia and MSC Armonia.

Windstar Cruises has postponed its sailings until May and shifted operations to cancel its Alaska, U.S. and Mexico ports. The Star Legend is scheduled to debut May 1 in Athens and the Wind Star begins from the same port May 22. The Wind Spirit will begin sailing in Tahiti on May 6, the Wind Surf will begin May 9 from Civitavecchia, Italy, and the Star Pride will begin July 14 from Dover, England. The Star Breeze is now scheduled to debut May 15 on a new itinerary departing from St. Martin and cruise in the Caribbean before repositioning to the Tahitian islands.

Virgin Voyages suspended all sailings on its first ship, the Scarlet Lady, through May 8. Its first cruise is scheduled to depart Miami May 9 for a five-day sailing to Cozumel and Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and the line's Beach Club at Bimini in the Bahamas. The Valiant Lady, the line's second ship, currently under construction, will launch from Miami on Nov. 14.

Cunard Line extended its operations pause on the Queen Mary 2 through May 28 and the Queen Elizabeth through June 4. Departures on the Queen Victoria are scheduled to resume May 17.

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MEMBERS CORNER:
TASC sends congratulations to Rod Hinds on his
new business endeavor; Hinds & Associates Caribbean which will be handling Travel Agent Sales for 2 hotels in Jamaica, which are part of the Small Luxury Hotels of
the world group.
Your TASC board has a new email address: [email protected]
If you have any member news that you would like posted in this newsletter please send an email with information to: [email protected]
WWW.LI-TASC.COM
This is our website. Visit us !!!
Also visit our TASC Facebook page and “like us”.
Only TASC members will be able to post on the Facebook page.
Supplier Rep Updates

We would like to welcome some new supplier reps that have recently been assigned to the Suffolk County area.

Apple Leisure Group/Travel Impressions
Richelle Nicoletta, [email protected]

Carnival Cruises
Grace Ambrosia, [email protected]

Celtic Tours
Rose Christopher, [email protected]

Collette Vacations
Tracy O'Neill, [email protected]

Oceania Cruises
Maggie De La Cruz, [email protected]

Sandals/UVI
Gavin Simmons, [email protected]
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Executive Board
President
Susan Bonesso
Vice President
Fran Raupp
Secretary
Liz Henn
Treasurer
Ginny DeFeo
Director Owner
Will Porrier
Director Affiliate
Open

Director Agent
Jeffrey Austin
Past President
Garrett Simulcik


Rogers Travel


Bay Travel & Tours


LBAC Travel


Empress Travel


Ginger Peachy Travel





Vacation Wiser


Cruise Planners



631-289-5252


631-447-6440


631-648-8032


631-698-7767


631-563-2001





631-499-4483


631-274-5490



Committee Chairpersons