Published for the Travel Agents of Suffolk County

TASC - Wednesday, July 8th

We will once again be holding a
"Virtual Meeting"

beach_stuff.jpg
TASC JULY 8TH VIRTUAL MEETING
LOCATION
FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME

DATE AND TIME
07/08/20 4:00pm - 07/08/20 5:30pm

YOU WILL RECEIVE AN EMAIL INVITATION TO SIGN UP TO JOIN THIS VIRTUAL MEETING VIA ZOOM OR JUST GO TO: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8150289809
No RSVP Necessary
We hope you will join us to hear updates from the TASC board and our member suppliers.
ZOOM MEETING LINK
Here is the link to join our meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8150289809

We will also send an email invitation to this meeting.
In order to join this meeting, you will need to click the link above or the one in the email invitation
at the designated time when you will be connected directly to the meeting.
Please contact us at tasc1820@optimum.net if you did not receive the email or if you have any questions or concerns.

american-flag-display.jpg


TASC ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER

THIS IS THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

beach_chairs_umbrella.jpg
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Dear Members,

In better times I would not be writing this message as my term as President would have ended and Susan Bonesso would be getting sworn in. However, for the time being I will hang on to my position and continue until the ship is righted. 

I would like to congratulate the newly elected 2020-2022 TASC Executive Board Members; President - Susan Bonesso, Vice President – Fran Raupp, Treasurer – Ginny DeFeo, Secretary – Vacant, Director Owner – Charles W. Porrier, Director Agent – Jeffrey Austin, Director Affiliate – Vacant.

Once we get back to holding regular meetings again in person we will hold our installation for the swearing in ceremony of the new board. They will then be able to assume their elected duties. Best wishes to them all.

A few weeks ago, I could easily say it looked like there was light at the end of the tunnel.  Many European countries seemed to be gearing up to open their borders. Airlines were beginning to open up flights into Europe. Cruise lines were working on plans on how they were going to re-open. It was looking promising. However, on June 19 th CLIA announces that the Cruise Lines have voluntary canceled sailings until September 15. Many will not start operation until October if we are lucky. This for the most part has put an end to most of our business for 2020. Having all of us looking towards 2021. 

Many of you know that I am a Cruise Planner Franchisee. Along with CLIA’s depressing announcement on the 19 th , I received notice from the Home Office that has also saddened me; Cruise Planners announced that they have furloughed a number of their staff until September 15 th

Further, I am currently the President of the North Babylon Chamber of Commerce and have heard from many of our membership how their businesses have suffered. Knowing very well that they have, I do not think any of them have suffered as much as those in the Travel Business. To be positive, I do know that regardless of what has occurred we
will make it through and know that we will come out of this stronger. It was recently mentioned that each time the travel industry has been hit with events that have hurt the industry, the following year has always seen an up year. With that in mind, I expect that 2021 will be a banner year for us all. So, stay the course. Keep in mind that your clients that have traveled before will be seeking to travel again and those that have seldom traveled, will be looking to get out and away. 

As we enter the summer months all we can do is continue praying and hope there is an end to this madness.  
Yours in travel,
Garrett P. Simulcik, Sr.
Congratulations to the 2020 - 2022 Newly Elected
TASC Executive Board

President             Susan Bonesso
Vice President     Fran Raupp
Treasurer            Ginny De Feo
Secretary         ***Position Open***
Director Owner      Will Porrier
Director Agent      Jeffrey Austin   
Director Affiliate ***Position Open***
Installation of the new board of directors will take place when we can once again hold our meeting in person. Until that time the current board will continue to function in their respective positions.
UPCOMING TASC MEETING/EVENT SCHEDULE
JULY 8 - VIRTUAL MEETING
AUGUST - NO MEETING
SEPTEMBER 9 - STAN ENDEN
OCTOBER 14 - AVAILABLE
OCTOBER 29 - TASC TRADE SHOW
NOVEMBER 11 - AVAILABLE
TASC MEMBERSHIP DUES
Your annual TASC membership renewals are coming due on July 1st. They remain at $40 per year. Your Membership form has been sent to you in a separate email. EVERYONE must fill out a new form for this year. You may also download a copy from our website at www.li-tasc.com .
Suppliers! Save the Date!

This year’s annual TASC Trade Show will be held at a NEW VENUE on Thursday, October 29th at the re-branded Holiday Inn Islip Airport East at LIE-Exit 63 North Ocean Avenue in Holtsville.
Please contact Trade show chairperson Jeaneane De Cicco at Jeaneane.decicco@gmail.com for information or to reserve your table. You may also download an application from our website at www.li-tasc.com .
beach-chairs-header.jpg
INDUSTRY NEWS

CLIA delays cruise restart in the U.S. until Sept. 15 CLIA has postponed the resumption of cruising after the Covid-related shutdown until at least September. The resumption of cruises from U.S. ports has been pushed back again, as CLIA said in a statement today that its member lines would voluntarily suspend operations until at least Sept. 15. In a statement, the organization said that although it had originally hoped cruise lines could ramp up operations after the No Sail Order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expired on July 24, "it is increasingly clear that more time will be needed to resolve barriers to resumption in the United States." The additional time, the statement continued, "will also allow us to consult with the CDC on measures that will be appropriate for the eventual resumption of cruise operations." CLIA lines voluntarily suspended operations in March after the CDC issued its first No Sail Order when coronavirus cases spiked in the U.S. The No Sail Order was subsequently extended in April. This voluntary suspension applies to vessels with a capacity of 250 passengers or more, and CLIA member cruise lines "will continually evaluate the evolving situation and make a determination as to whether a further extension is necessary," the statement said. Several cruise lines had cruises slated to depart in early August, such as Carnival Cruise Line. Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald has reiterated that there was no hard and fast date for when cruising would return. "The reality is, it's not so much when cruise decides, it's when society decides it's ready for social gathering," Norwegian Cruise Line, meanwhile, earlier this week had canceled most of its cruises departing before October.

Tour operator groups issue Covid-19 guidelines
Groups representing tour operators in the United States, Canada and Europe on Thursday unveiled Covid-19 health and sanitization guidelines, along with a seal of approval their members can use to show they are compliant. Developed by the USTOA, the Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) and the European Tourism Association (ETOA), the TourCare guidelines are based on recommendations from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the European Centre for Disease Control, the Public Health Agency of Canada and local governmental health authorities. As with other guidelines being developed across the travel industry, the TourCare protocols call for staff training on sanitization, social distancing and the use of masks and hand sanitizer by staff and guests. TourCare also calls on members to oversee the health and safety practices of hotels, restaurants and other suppliers to ensure they are in compliance with the guidelines and all local health rules. "By their very nature, tour products are complex, involving many different variables that are under the watchful eye of the tour operator, yet not every element fully under their control," said a joint statement from USTOA president and CEO Terry Dale, ETOA CEO Tom Jenkins and CATO executive director Pierre LaPage. "We felt that our members -- and the tour operator industry as a whole -- would benefit from one set of guidelines developed with their specific needs top of mind." 

Clauses retailers should add to their disclaimers

volunteer_signup2_hdr.jpg
MEMBERS CORNER :

CHAIRPERSONS NEEDED
If you would like to volunteer for one or more of the TASC committees for the 2020-2022 term, please email tasc1820@optimum.net and let us know which committee(s) you would be interested in joining.
===========================================
TASC sends well wishes to all it's members, stay safe, practice social distancing and remain at home to protect others. And remember to wear your mask if you are out and about. We hope to see you all one day soon.  
=====================================================
If you have any member news that you would like posted in this newsletter please send an email with information to: tasc1820@optimum.net
travel-tips.gif
Be extremely cautious if booking clients for summer travel both domestically and internationally as border and hotel openings, airports and airlift schedules are all subject to change along with various restrictions, requirements and/or quarantine laws.

Your best bet in these uncertain times is to book with a reputable tour operator who can navigate these issues and advise you and your clients with the most up-to-date information available.
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.
Executive Board
President
Garrett Simulcik
(email) gsimulcik@cruiseplanners.com
Vice President
Susan Bonesso
(email) susanbtravel@optonline.net
Secretary
Fran Tabone
(email) info@baytravelandtours.com
Treasurer
Ginny DeFeo
(email) gindef@hotmail.com
Director Owner
Honey Pressgrove
(email) empress965@aol.com
Director Agent
Will Porrier
(email) willjohn39@aol.com
Director Affiliate
Bruce Metzendorf
(email) bruce.metzendorf@rivierarivercruises.com
Past President
Fran Raupp
(email) franr@baytravelandtours.com

Cruise Planners


Rogers Travel


Bay Travel & Tours


Empress Travel


Empress Travel


Ginger Peachy Travel


Riviera River Cruises



Bay Travel & Tours

631-274-5490


631-289-5252


631-447-6440


631-698-7767


631-363-9522


631-563-2001


516-521-8680



631-447-6440

Committee Chairpersons