Travel Calendar

FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 19, 2012 — /PRNewswire/ – With 2012 in full swing, American Airlines and MasterCard® have teamed up to create the “Check It Out. Check It Off.” promotion, which encourages customers to book on AA.com using their MasterCard card for a chance to check some one-of-a-kind travel experiences off their “bucket lists.” The promotion, which runs through March 19, allows three grand prize winners to earn one of the following four-day VIP trips:

• Napa Valley Excursion
  • Travel on American Airlines and accommodations
  • $2,500 MasterCard prepaid gift card
  • Private tour of Napa Valley, Calif.
  • Spa experience
  • Exclusive tastings at premier vineyards
  • Dinner with a world-class wine maker
  • Home wine cellar unit
• Paris Fashion Immersion
  • Travel on American Airlines and accommodations
  • $1,500 MasterCard prepaid gift card
  • Dinner atop the Eiffel Tower at the acclaimed Le Jules Verne restaurant
  • Guided tour of Paris
  • Professional makeover and photo shoot around Paris
  • Dinner in one of Paris’ top restaurants
• NYC Baseball Experience
  • Travel on American Airlines and accommodations
  • $2,500 MasterCard prepaid gift card
  • Attend the home opener of a New York baseball team
  • Pregame lunch or dinner with a notable baseball player
  • Guided tour of New York City
  • Spa experience
  • Dinner at Marcus Samuelsson’s acclaimed restaurant, Red Rooster Harlem

To become eligible, customers may register at www.AA.com/Experience and then book a ticket on AA.com using a MasterCard card. No purchase is required to win, and an entrant can go to www.AA.com/Experience for further details regarding entry.

A secondary promotion asks users to submit their travel adventure bucket list at www.AA.com/Experience or on American’s Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/AA. After submitting their list, users can send a message to their friends via Twitter, Facebook or email asking for votes. The three lists that receive the most votes will win a $500, $250 and $100 AA.com gift card, respectively.

“This promotion is another way that American is bringing incredible experiences to our customers. We’ve teamed up with MasterCard to create three once-in-a-lifetime experiences, to which people might not otherwise have access,” said Richard Elieson, American’s Managing Director – Interactive Marketing. “We are also encouraging our customers to share their travel ideas and aspirations on our social networking sites. Travel enriches the lives of us all, and we want our customers to continue sharing their experiences with each other and the rest of the travel community.”

For more information about this promotion, including full terms and conditions, please visit www.AA.com/Experience.

About American AirlinesAmerican Airlines, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection® carrier serve 260 airports in more than 50 countries and territories with, on average, more than 3,300 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 900 aircraft. American’s award-winning website, AA.com®, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld® alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members and members-elect serve more than 900 destinations with more than 10,000 daily flights to 149 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com, and AAdvantage are trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. AMR Corporation common stock trades under the symbol “AAMRQ” on the OTCQB marketplace, operated by OTC Markets Group.

AMR Corporation, and certain of its United States-based subsidiaries, including American Airlines, Inc. and AMR Eagle Holding Corporation, filed voluntary petitions on Nov. 29, 2011 for Chapter 11 reorganization in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. More information about the Chapter 11 filing is available on the Internet at http://www.aa.com/restructuring.

MasterCard is a registered trademark of MasterCard International Incorporated.

Current AMR Corp. news releases can be accessed at http://www.aa.com

SOURCE American Airlines

• 

  Delta/ Reuters

  New York’s JFK terminal 3 (right) was ranked the world’s worst airport terminal, while JFK’s terminal 5 was top 5 best out of 10.

If you’ve ever been stuck at New York’s JFK airport or Newark International Airport you know all to well how depressing and inhospitable some of their terminals are. 

If caught in weather delays, travelers can easily find themselves sitting on the floor for lack of seats, or tentatively using over-used bathrooms.

With that in mind, Frommers.com released to USA Today its choices of the 10 worst and best airport terminals. The travel guide site based its rankings on cleanliness, services, on-time departures, navigation, and ease of travel to and from a city’s center. 

New York JFK’s terminal 3, used for Delta flights, was ranked as the worst layover location in the world. 

According to Frommers, it won its dubious distinction for its “endless immigration lines,” bad food and shopping and gloomy environment. “There’s also a sense that the cleaning crew gave up in despair a while ago,” said Frommer’s.com.  

It’s considered so bad that Nairobi’s International airport, which Frommer’s.com described as a “Third World construction site” and should be avoided, is ranked as a better layover choice.  

The good news is that Delta is under going a $1.2 million renovation project to be completed by 2013. 

In total, four of the 10 world’s worst terminals are in the U.S.

Here is Frommers.com’s list:

1. New York JFK Airport Terminal 3
2. Manila, Philippines Airport Terminal 1
3. Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport Terminal B/C
4. Nairobi, Kenya Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
5. Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, Terminal 3
6. Amman, Jordan Queen Alia Airport
7.New York LaGuardia Airport Terminal 5
8.Terminal B at Newark Liberty International Airport
9. Paris’ Beauvais Airport
10. Chicago Midway Airport

As for the best, only one American terminal made it on the list of the best terminals. 

Jetblue Airway’s Terminal 5 in New York’s JFK Airport, which was No. 5. Terminal 5 was awarded for not only its architectural design but also having ‘by far the best airport food court in New York,’ according to Frommers.

Opened in 2008, the $743 million terminal at JFK airport handles 500 daily departures and arrivals.

The best airport terminal is Hajj Terminal at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is only open during the six-week Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Muslims traditionally must travel to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. 

Here is Frommers.com’s list of the 10 best airport terminals:

1. Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) Hajj Terminal
2. Leifur Eriksson Air Terminal, Keflavik, Iceland
3. Seoul (South Korea) Incheon Airport
4. Wellington (New Zealand) “Rock” Terminal
5. New York JFK Airport Terminal 5
6. Singapore Changi International Airport Terminal 3
7. Marrakech (Morocco) Menara Airport Terminal 1
8. Madrid (Spain) Barajas Terminal 4
9. Carrasco International Airport, Montevideo, Uruguay
10. Bilbao (Spain) Airport Main Terminal

This item was written by Fran Golden, a cruise expert and Trip Coach for Budget Travel magazine. Golden is serving as Guest Editor of The Cruise Log while USA TODAY Cruise Editor Gene Sloan is away.

When you book a cruise you’re offered the option of travel insurance, for a fee – either directly through the cruise line or a third-party provider. But does it cover you in the case of a bizarre disaster like Costa Concordia?

Yes, says Carol Mueller, spokeswoman for leading travel insurance provider Travel Guard, which had at least three customers on the Concordia.

RELATED:  Divers resume search for missing at Italy shipwreck
POLL:  Does accident make you less comfortable about cruising?

So how did those cruise passengers benefit?

While thousands of evacuated Concordia passengers waited for Costa Cruise Lines to offer assistance, the insurance company helped its customers with their individual requests to relay messages back home, replace ID (for those who left their passports on the ship) and get quickly on flights back home, Mueller says.

“That’s all a service we provide in all our plans. It’s unfortunate they had to ask for it in this situation,” Mueller says.

Travel Guard’s most common Gold policy – priced at 5-7% of your trip cost – bundles coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, baggage protection, medical expenses and emergency evacuation.

If any of the Travel Guard customers on Concordia had been injured, reimbursement of medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation would have kicked in, Mueller says. The policy also includes $10,000 accidental death and dismemberment insurance.

Some of the Concordia customers will likely file baggage claims with the insurer for lost personal effects, Mueller adds. Costa Cruise Lines and parent Carnival Corp., in a statement yesterday, said they also “will be addressing personal possessions lost on board.”

Trip cancellation in standard policies is for specific reasons including health and weather.

What’s not covered is if you have a future cruise booked and are now having second thoughts in the wake of the Concordia catastrophe.

But there’s insurance for that too.

Those who upgrade to Cancel for Any Reason protection can, in fact, cancel for any reason, says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance.

According to Harvey, even if you cancel on whim, you’ll receive a refund up to 75% of the trip cost. But, he adds, to qualify for this benefit you need to have purchased a travel insurance policy within 14-30 days of making your initial deposit.

Cruise lines sell insurance too, such as Royal Caribbean’s CruiseCare.

Mueller suggests you read the fine print, check restrictions and discuss with your travel agent whether a cruise line or third-party plan is right for you.

Meanwhile, insured or not, spokesmen for Costa and sister line Carnival Cruise Lines tell USA TODAY no changes have been made to the cruise lines’ cancellation policies.

By Benoit Finck (AFP)
–
4 hours ago 

SAINT PETERSBURG — Russian strongman Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced visa-free travel for fans at the 2018 World Cup as he hosted two of world football’s most powerful figures ahead of a key election.

Putin received FIFA president Sepp Blatter and his UEFA counterpart Michel Platini in his native city of Saint Petersburg for celebrations of the centenary of the Russian Football Union (RFU).

Russia’s sports-mad premier had scored points with domestic football fans by snatching the right to host the 2018 event from England in a bitter race last year — a victory that helped boost his image of a can-do leader.

Putin will seek to win a third term as president in March elections after spending the past four years as prime minister and has spent recent weeks trying to attract the support of blue-collar workers at various meetings.

“Russia has decided to let in all the fans for the 2018 World Cup if they have tickets,” Putin said during a meeting that was dominated by discussions of the World Cup’s first-ever appearance in Russia.

“What’s more, we are even considering the option of letting fans use their tickets to travel between host cities for free,” he said.

Blatter called the idea of fans being spared the complicated and expensive visa procedure “tremendous.”

“I am sure that this is the way it will really work,” he said.

Platini for his part said he was currently also discussing visa-free travel with Poland and Ukraine — the twin hosts of this year’s Euro championship.

“The problem with entry visas is a political problem,” said Platini.

“We need an agreement between Ukraine and Poland so that there are no difficulties for the fans.”

Russia was hit by a series of football related race riot just days after it had won the right to host the Cup as nationalists clashed with young men from the mostly Muslim Caucasus following the murder of a Moscow fan.

The street violence was followed by a series of racist incidents at matches that once again highlighted the security and cultural problems plaguing Russia as it prepares to host the world’s most watched event.

Putin urged fans to be on their best behaviour once guests start arriving from around the world.

“I hope that despite all the well-known and natural animosities that go with the competition, you will be able to keep the situation civilised,” Putin said during a meeting with fan groups.

But he also made a series of populist gestures that have helped drive his popularity for much of the past decade.

One fan complained to Putin about the costs involved in traveling from city to city across the great expanses of Russia for matches.

Putin replied that he thought it would be a good idea if the Aeroflot state carrier and Transaero — a private Russian carrier — provided free flights for fans.

“I think that if we ask Aeroflot and Transaero to give you free tickets as an advertising consideration, they will not go broke,” said Putin.

There was no immediate comment from either airline.

He also took another poke at Russian tycoons who spent fortunes buying posh English football clubs while the local league struggles.

“They make their money here. Let them invest here,” said Putin.

Putin last year had already suggested that Roman Abramovich — a billionaire who made Chelsea champions after acquiring the London club in 2003 — “crack open his wallet” and help fund construction projects for the Cup.

Copyright © 2012 AFP. All rights reserved.
More »

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Jan 19, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) –
Visit California applauds President Obama’s efforts to boost
international visitation to the United States. In an address today, the
President praised the value of travel and announced a federal plan to
ease entry requirements for international visitors in an effort to spur
the nation’s economy.

Millions of visitors come to California each year from all over the
globe, generating more than $17 million in spending to the state’s
economy and helping to support nearly 900,000 jobs.

Highlighting the tremendous economic value of tourism, President Obama
discussed the importance of providing access to the U.S. for people from
all over the globe, especially those from China, India and Brazil. As
access to California is made simpler, visitors from those countries will
help boost the state’s economy by traveling more frequently and spending
more money while here.

“International visitation remains an untapped pot of gold when people
cannot get here,” said Caroline Beteta, President and CEO of Visit
California and Vice-Chair of Brand USA. “With an abundance of visitor
experiences and a brand loved worldwide, California has a tremendous
opportunity to benefit from efforts to improve the entry process for
foreign visitors and remain the number one tourist destination in the
United States.”

California continues to reap the benefits from international travel:

–
In 2012, for the first time ever, the travel industry injected more
than $100 in direct travel spending into California’s economy;

–
While international travel represents only six percent of all visits
to the state, it represents 18 percent of all dollars spent;

–
International visitation to California is expected to grow 4.8 percent
in 2012;

–
Total travel-related employment in California in 2011 is expected to
reach 890,000 jobs, which is more than four percent of total
employment in the state;

–
The $17 billion spent in California in 2010 by international travelers
alone was more than the combined value of the state’s top four product
exports ($15.2 billion): Civilian Aircraft, Non-Industrial Diamonds,
Computer Parts and Voice/Image/Data Equipment.

California is already the number one U.S. destination for Chinese
visitors. In 2010, approximately 401,000 Chinese visitors — half of the
total number that visited the U.S. — came to the Golden State. Those
visitors spent a record $1 billion in California.

India is not only one of the fastest growing economies in the world; it
is also a rapidly growing market for travel to the Golden State. In
2010, 184,000 visitors came from India to California — up 17-percent
from the previous year — and spend $188 million.

The United States is the top international travel destination for
Brazilians. In 2010, 112,000 Brazilians arrived in California,
representing 9.3 percent of overall 1.2 million arrivals in the USA.

For more information about California’s travel and tourism economic
value, please visit
http://tourism.visitcalifornia.com .

About Visit California

Visit California is a non-profit organization with a mission to
develop and maintain marketing programs – in partnership with the
state’s travel industry – that keep California top-of-mind as a premier
travel destination. California is currently the number one travel
destination in the country. In 2010, travel and tourism expenditures
totaled $95.1 billion annually in California, supported jobs for 873,000
Californians and generated $6.1 billion in state and local tax
revenues. For more information, please visit
http://tourism.visitcalifornia.com/ .

SOURCE: Visit California

        Visit California
        Jennifer Sweeney, 916-233-0255
        jsweeney@visitcalifornia.com
        or
        Perry Communications Group
        Julia Spiess, 916-601-8282 (cell)
        julia@perrycom.com

Copyright Business Wire 2012

Industry groups applauded President Barack Obama on Thursday for expanding programs that make it easier for international frequent fliers to travel to the U.S., a plan supporters hope will boost spending from foreign visitors. 

The new focus on travel in the U.S. comes as the nation continues to struggle under choppy markets and an uncertain economic environment that has weighed heavily on the multi-billion dollar travel sector, an industry that represents $1.8 trillion in economic output and supports some 14 million American jobs, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

However, Obama’s speech at Walt Disney World is also being criticized as a political ploy ahead of Florida’s Jan. 31 Republican presidential primary. GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney has blamed Obama on the state’s struggling economy and his failure to create jobs there. 

Still, political or not, the announcement comes at a critical time for the U.S., which has seen its share of global spending by international travelers fall 30% since 2000, a reflection of skyrocketing fuel costs and depleted markets that have tightened corporate budgets. Obama also blamed greater international competition, changing patterns in global development, and more stringent securities requirements imposed after the 2001 terrorist attacks.

His plan calls for an expansion of the state-funded Global Entry program, which allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers once they arrive in the U.S., as well as reduced times for visa approval for emerging countries like Brazil and China.

“This is the first time our country has had a national strategy and set goals for the amount of visitors we want to welcome to our country,” U.S. Travel Association CEO Roger Dow said in a statement.

The Global Entry program, which is being piloted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, enables certain frequent fliers to bypass long Customs lines in the U.S. by checking in with automated kiosks located at selected airports, including Chicago-O’Hare, Los Angeles International, Miami International, Washington-Dulles and New York-JFK.

The extension is a large step toward eventually making the program permanent.

“Given the importance of the travel and tourism industry to the U.S. economy and job creation, a coordinated policy, consistent with protecting our national security, is needed to support a prosperous and secure travel and tourism industry in the United States,” Obama said in a statement.

While the government launched the National Export Initiative and the Travel Promotion Act in 2010, which Obama said has helped make the “movement of goods and people across borders more secure and efficient,” he noted that “new initiatives are needed” to better “capitalize on the economic opportunities presented by a dynamic 21st century travel and tourism industry.”

The Global Business Travel Association said the renewed focus on travel is key to help grow the economy, particularly since it forecast in its latest business travel index that spending on business travel will grow 4.6% in 2012.

“President Obama’s speech echoes many points GBTA has made over the years and we are pleased to see travel as a focal point in our national dialogue,” said GBTA chief operating officer Mike McCormick, who noted the program’s expansion will make international air travel “far more efficient” for business travelers.

The GBTA says it hopes the expand program will help lead the way for an expansion of the Transportation Security Administration’s Pre-Check program, which allows for expedited check-ins for domestic travelers in selected airports.

The TSA program was launched last year and has already garnered significant backing from the more than 250,000 frequent fliers that have been screened.

LAX most recently launched the pilot, becoming the sixth travel hub in the U.S. to test it after Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Dallas/Fort Worth International, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County, Las Vegas’ McCarran International and Miami International airports.   

Obama also expressed an interest in reducing wait times for visas in countries that are emerging as key global business hubs with growing middle classes. The number of travelers from China, Brazil and India is slated to grow by 135%, 274% and 50%, respectively by 2016, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

A new task team appointed Thursday by the President will work to increase non-immigrant visa processing capacity in China and Brazil by 40% in 2012 and ensure that 80% of non-immigrant visa applicants are interviewed within three weeks of the application’s receipt.

Obama said the task force, which will be comprised of several government agencies, will be responsible for recommending new policies and initiatives to promote both domestic and international travel through the U.S., while increasing the nation’s share of global travel spending and growing long-haul travel from Brazil, China and India.

The government is also looking to expand its Visa Waiver Program, which allows 36 participating member countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business for less than 90 days without obtaining a visa.

GBTA, which has been a major backer of the Visa Waiver Program, has said that its expansion would allow for more inbound international travel, which McCormick says would be a “tremendous boost for the economy.”

“The steps the president took today are significant and will boost travel to and within the United States,” Dow said. “They will lead to new American jobs and get our economy moving.”

By Mitch Lipka

Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:18pm EST

(Reuters) – When Brad Catania went to Cancun in April 2010 with co-workers for a long-weekend retreat, the 35-year-old recruiter from Eagleville, Pennsylvania, expected a week of sun and surf interspersed with business.

The closest thing to a health emergency on his mind was warding off sunburn, so he didn’t opt for additional insurance coverage for his trip — let alone evacuation insurance.

Everything changed when, as he walked out of a restaurant, he felt faint, fell to the ground and hit his head.

Catania fractured his skull and suffered a brain bleed. He was taken to a local hospital on a Sunday, and on Monday morning, when doctors came to work, he was rushed into brain surgery.

After his wife, Erin, a cardiac nurse, learned about the accident, she connected with International SOS, a group that sells coverage for medical evacuations and other emergencies. Six hours after Erin arrived at the hospital in Mexico, the group flew in its air ambulance for Catania. The price tag: $36,000 for the hospital stay and $36,000 for the evacuation.

“I didn’t care if I had to mortgage the house,” Erin said. “I knew I needed to get him home.”

With a language barrier, uncertainty over his care and the knowledge that a long rehab was ahead, the Catanias had no choice. International SOS guaranteed the hospital bill would be paid — the only way Brad could have gotten discharged, since any health insurance payments would have to be sorted out at home later.

If you have a health emergency outside the United States, you could be left to pay for everything out of pocket — even if your insurance might provide some reimbursement. So before you dust off that passport, it’s good to know what you’re covered for (if anything) and how it would be paid for when you’re overseas.

The U.S. State Department recommends travelers contact their health insurers to find out about coverage ahead of time. Don’t expect to use your insurance card as you do at home. For those with coverage, it is likely to be a percentage reimbursement. Medicare, the government health insurance for the elderly, does not cover medical care outside the United States.

Miami-based attorney Jim Walker, who has dealt with families who have experienced all sorts of calamities while traveling, says there are very few destinations that would not warrant having evacuation insurance. Sweden, by contrast, would be a good place to become ill or injured because it has excellent, socialized medical care and care there wouldn’t end up costing you.

That is not the typical scenario. And Walker cautions that choices can be severely limited and the potential costs high for someone with a serious illness who is forced off a cruise ship that is in transit.

“If you’re in the Caribbean or Mexico and you don’t have the insurance, you’re just begging for something to go wrong,” Walker said. “If you don’t have a policy that gets an air ambulance to pick you up and get you back to the States you’re in a lot of trouble. You’ve got to pay a few hundred dollars (for a policy) to get a $30,000 jet to get you out of there.”

The State Department maintains lists on its website of companies that provide medical evacuations as well as insurance to cover such a potentially costly endeavor. Consumers should look toward companies such as International SOS — which also provides pre-trip guidance and has a list of medical providers the company recommends around the world — for that peace of mind, particularly if the travelers are children, elderly or have some mobility issues.

Coverage for a 35-year-old single person traveling to France for two weeks would cost about $140, rising by $20 for a 65-year-old. It would cost $230 to $350 for a family of five going to England for two weeks, depending on the level of coverage.

After Brad Catania successfully completed rehab, the family recently traveled back to Mexico — this time with an International SOS membership that cost about $300 and would cover an evacuation. Money well spent, Erin said.

HOW TO PREPARE

Here’s a checklist from the State Department of questions to ask about evacuation policies before making a purchase:

- Does the insurance policy cover emergency expenses abroad such as returning me to the United States for treatment if I become seriously ill?

- Does the insurance cover high-risk activities such as parasailing, mountain climbing, scuba diving and off-roading?

- Does the policy cover pre-existing conditions?

- Does the insurance company require pre-authorizations or second opinions before emergency treatment can begin?

- Does the insurance company guarantee medical payments abroad?

- Will the insurance company pay foreign hospitals and foreign doctors directly?

- Does the insurance company have a 24-hour physician-backed support center?

By Mitch Lipka

Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:40pm EST

(Reuters) – When Brad Catania went to Cancun in April 2010 with co-workers for a long-weekend retreat, the 35-year-old recruiter from Eagleville, Pennsylvania, expected a week of sun and surf interspersed with business.

The closest thing to a health emergency on his mind was warding off sunburn, so he didn’t opt for additional insurance coverage for his trip – let alone evacuation insurance.

Everything changed when, as he walked out of a restaurant, he felt faint, fell to the ground and hit his head.

Catania fractured his skull and suffered a brain bleed. He was taken to a local hospital on a Sunday, and on Monday morning, when doctors came to work, he was rushed into brain surgery.

After his wife, Erin, a cardiac nurse, learned about the accident, she connected with International SOS, a group that sells coverage for medical evacuations and other emergencies. Six hours after Erin arrived at the hospital in Mexico, the group flew in its air ambulance for Catania. The pricetag: $36,000 for the hospital stay and $36,000 for the evacuation.

“I didn’t care if I had to mortgage the house,” Erin said. “I knew I needed to get him home.”

With a language barrier, uncertainty over his care and the knowledge that a long rehab was ahead, the Catanias had no choice. International SOS guaranteed the hospital bill would be paid – the only way Brad could have gotten discharged, since any health insurance payments would have to be sorted out at home later.

If you have a health emergency outside the United States, you could be left to pay for everything out of pocket – even if your insurance might provide some reimbursement. So before you dust off that passport, it’s good to know what you’re covered for (if at all) and how it would be paid for when you’re overseas.

The U.S. State Department recommends travelers contact their health insurers to find out about coverage ahead of time. Don’t expect to use your insurance card as you do at home. For those with coverage, it is likely to be a percentage reimbursement. Medicare, the government health insurance for the elderly, does not cover medical care outside the United States.

Miami-based attorney Jim Walker, who has dealt with families who have experienced all sorts of calamities while traveling, says there are very few destinations that would not warrant having evacuation insurance. Sweden, by contrast, would be a good place to become ill or injured because it has excellent, socialized medical care and care there wouldn’t end up costing you.

That is not the typical scenario. And Walker cautions that choices can be severely limited and the potential costs high for someone with a serious illness who is forced off a cruise ship that is in transit.

“If you’re in the Caribbean or Mexico and you don’t have the insurance, you’re just begging for something to go wrong,” Walker said. “If you don’t have a policy that gets an air ambulance to pick you up and get you back to the States you’re in a lot of trouble. You’ve got to pay a few hundred dollars (for a policy) to get a $30,000 jet to get you out of there.”

The State Department maintains lists on its website of companies that provide medical evacuations as well as insurance to cover such a potentially costly endeavor. Consumers should look toward companies such as International SOS – which also provides pre-trip guidance and has a list of medical providers the company recommends around the world – for that peace of mind, particularly if the travelers are children, elderly or have some mobility issues.

Coverage for a 35-year-old single person traveling to France for two weeks would cost about $140, rising by $20 for a 65-year-old. It would cost $230 to $350 for a family of five going to England for two weeks, depending on the level of coverage.

After Brad Catania successfully completed rehab, the family recently traveled back to Mexico — this time with an International SOS membership that cost about $300 and would cover an evacuation. Money well spent, Erin said.

HOW TO PREPARE

Here’s a checklist from the State Department of questions to ask about evacuation policies before making a purchase:

* Does the insurance policy cover emergency expenses abroad such as returning me to the United States for treatment if I become seriously ill?

* Does the insurance cover high-risk activities such as para-sailing, mountain climbing, scuba diving and off-roading?

* Does the policy cover pre-existing conditions?

* Does the insurance company require pre-authorizations or second opinions before emergency treatment can begin?

* Does the insurance company guarantee medical payments abroad?

* Will the insurance company pay foreign hospitals and foreign doctors directly?

* Does the insurance company have a 24-hour physician-backed support center?

—

The author is a Reuters contributor. The opinions expressed are his own.

(Editing by Lauren Young, Beth Pinsker Gladstone and Leslie Adler)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2012 — /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — In a first for the U.S., President Barack Obama today announced a national strategy on travel and tourism to boost travel in the United States. The U.S. travel industry is a cornerstone of the U.S. economy, representing 1.8 trillion in economic output and supporting 14 million American jobs.

“The steps the president took today are significant and will boost travel to and within the United States.  Most importantly, they will lead to new American jobs and get our economy moving,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “His timing could not be better. Travel is an essential industry for our nation and a bipartisan issue that can unite our country and rally us forward.”

According to a White House statement, today’s announcement calls for a national strategy to make the United States the world’s top travel and tourism destination, as part of a comprehensive effort to spur job creation. The number of travelers from emerging economies with growing middle classes – such as China, Brazil, and India – is projected to grow by 135%, 274% and 50% respectively by 2016 when compared to 2010. 

President Obama will also sign an Executive Order and charge several government agencies to take part in efforts and new initiatives to significantly increase travel. Some of the initiatives include: a new pilot program and rule change for visa processing in China and Brazil, a final rule to expand and make the Global Entry program permanent, appoint new members to the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, and the Nomination of Taiwan to the Visa Waiver Program. 

“This is the first time our country has had a national strategy and set goals for the amount of visitors we want to welcome to our country. Not only will this increase traffic to America’s wonderful destinations and attractions, but nearly half of the travelers will come to attend conferences and tradeshows,” continued Dow. ”The president has put forward his vision and the travel industry is ready to heed the call. U.S. Travel looks forward to working with the Administration to improve America’s economy and create more American jobs.”

Among U.S. Travel’s objectives for 2012 will be for the U.S. government to pursue concrete actions to increase international travel, business travel, participation in meetings and conventions and leisure travel throughout America. Policies U.S. Travel will champion include expansion of the Visa Waiver Program to Brazil, Argentina and Chile; further improvements to our entry process for international guests; streamlining the TSA experience for trusted travelers; and building an aviation system that encourages greater air travel.

Click here for travel industry facts.

The U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the travel industry that generates $1.8 trillion in economic output and supports 14 million jobs. U.S. Travel’s mission is to increase travel to and within the United States. Visit www.ustravel.org.

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SOURCE U.S. Travel Association

TripIt fine-tuned its TripIt for Business offering to provide more visibility into travel spend for travel arrangers in small businesses.

Among the new wrinkles is a Leaderboard, which gives a controller or department head additional information about spending and trip expenses, as well as the most efficient and spend-happy travelers.

Travel coordinators can track travel spend to date; travel spend in the books over the next month, two months and three months; and the company’s most frequent and efficient travelers, TripIt states.

The previous incarnation of TripIt for Business provided some visibility into travel spend, “but it required manual calculations,” says Thomas Marks, director of product marketing.

Launched in December 2010, TripIt for Business targets companies with 25 to 500 employees with lightly managed business travel programs.

The new features are available for free to companies which have created TripIt Groups, which enables employees to share their travel plans among designated group members.

A TripIt spokeswoman says there are about 25,000 TripIt Groups, with about 90% in the US and the bulk of the rest in the UK.

Among other features of TripIt for Business, travel coordinators can track a company’s travel spend to date; the amount of travel on the books over the next 90 days; and most frequent and efficient travelers.

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