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Summer Greetings!
Welcome to this edition of MTS TRAVEL'S electronic
newsletter targeted to the needs of the church,
mission, relief and
development traveler. We hope you will find the
information and articles useful. To view back issues of
this newsletter,
visit our website at www.mtstravel.com/newsletter
| Adventure Travel and Music Tour Specialist Ambassador Tours join MTS TRAVEL |
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Adventure Travel and Ambassador Tours, a full service
travel agency serving Southwestern Michigan and
located in Kalamazoo, Michigan joined the MTS TRAVEL
family on August 1, 2005 becoming the 12th office
nationwide. Founded by Bill Griffin in 1972, Ambassador
Tours has a national reputation for
group travel, including custom tours, specializing in
choirs, orchestras and jazz ensembles.
MTS TRAVEL will
retain all 23 employees, including Griffin, who has made
a multi-year commitment to the Kalamazoo operation.
"In the dynamic travel business, consolidation makes
sense," said Griffin." "We couldn't have been more
pleased than to find a partner that was willing to make
a commitment to our people and our clients."
Adventure Travel and Ambassador Tours greatest asset
is their experienced team of department managers, tour
coordinators and musical
events coordinators. Each member of the staff has
specific areas of expertise, having lived, worked,
and earned professional credentials in various parts of
the world. Visit
http://www.ambassador-tours.com
for more information about Ambassador Tours and
http://www.adventurekalamazoo.com
for more information about Adventure Travel.
For Contact Information on the Kalamazoo office Click Here.
More »
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Spotlight on... MTS TRAVEL Offices
Orlando, Florida |
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MTS TRAVEL opened the Orlando, Florida office in
March of 2005, the new location will focus primarily on
the company's core market of church, mission, relief
and development organization travel. "We're very
excited about this opportunity to be physically closer
to some of our key clients." said president and CEO Jim
Buddendorf.
The office is staffed by a very experienced team led by
manager Kathy Veit. Kathy comes to MTS TRAVEL with
25 years of senior management experience at industry
giant Rosenbluth Travel (now part of American
Express). The team is rounded out with two other
strong travel professionals. Lucy Rodriguez has spent
nearly 30 years in the industry and has served ministry
organizations. Pam Turner has served in ministry
positions for over twenty years, with an emphasis on
travel for the past 8 years.
Go to www.mtstravel.com and click on 'MTS TRAVEL
Offices' then 'Orlando, FL' for contact
information.
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| Sneak previews - Choir Festivals in Nashville, Tennessee and Oberammergau, Germany |
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Christian Music Choir Festival at the
Opryland
Hotel in
Nashville, Tennessee! Christian High School,
College
and
Home School
choirs and choral ensembles, come be a part of this
event, May 27-31, 2006.
International Choir Festival in
Oberammergau,
Germany. Join choirs
from
North America
and Europe for the unique
experience of singing in the world famous Passion Play
city, May 29 - June 3, 2007.
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| Featured Vacation Specials |
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Oceania Cruises - Lisbon to Miami from $1,599,
free air
Flamingo Beach Resort, Costa Rica - 5 nights
All-
Inclusive, $595 per person (land only)
Occidental Grand Papajayo, Costa Rica - All
Inclusive, 4
days, 3 nights from $424
Christmas Markets of Bavaria & Austria, 8 days
from
$1050 (land only)
Christmas Markets of Germany & Alsace, 9
days from
$1150 (land only)
Click for Details! »
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| New Changes in Passport Requirements for Travel |
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The Western Hemisphere Travel
Initiative announced April 5, 2005 by the
Departments of State and Homeland Security will
require all U.S. citizens, Canadians, citizens of the
British Overseas Territory of Bermuda,
and citizens of Mexico traveling to and from the
Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada to
have a passport or other secure, accepted
document
to enter or re-enter the United States by January 1,
2008.
This is a change from the previous policy where
passports were not required for travel to or from the
Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada (birth
certificates or other proof of U.S. citizenship and photo
identification were sufficient for travel to and from the
U.S.).
See New Requirements for Travelers
Between the United States and the Western
Hemisphere for details.
What is the Timeline for Implementation?
The travel initiative will be rolled out in phases, the
implementation timeline is as follows:
Phase 1 - December 31, 2005, passport or
other accepted document required for all travel by
air or sea to or from
the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South
America.
Phase 2 - December 31, 2006, passport or
other accepted document required for all air and
sea travel to or from
Mexico and Canada.
Phase 3 - December 31, 2007, passport or
other accepted document required for all air, sea
and land border
crossings.
Note: If you are traveling to or from the
Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America after
December 31, 2005 you
will need a passport to enter or re-enter the United
States.
Why the Change in Requirements?
The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism
Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA, also known as
the 9/11 Intelligence
Bill), signed into law on December 17, 2004, mandated
that the Secretary of Homeland Security, in
consultation with the Secretary of State, develop and
implement a plan to require U.S. citizens and
foreign nationals to present a passport, or other secure
document when entering the United States.
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is the result
of that mandate.
What Does This Mean to You?
All U.S. citizens (including children) will be
required to have a passport to enter or re-
enter the
United States for all travel by air or sea to or from
the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America
beginning in January 1, 2006 and with travel by
air or sea to and from Mexico and Canada beginning
in January 1, 2007.
A passport will be required to enter or re-enter the U.S.
for all U.S. citizens, Canadians, citizens of the British
Overseas Territory of Bermuda,
and citizens of Mexico for all air, sea and land
travel beginning in January 1, 2008.
How do I obtain a Passport?
To obtain a passport for the first time, you need to
apply in person to a passport acceptance facility,
to find a site near you click on this website
passport acceptance facilities.
You will need two photographs of yourself, proof of
U.S. citizenship, and a valid form of photo identification
such as a driver's license.
You will also need to apply in person if your expired
U.S. passport is not in your possession, if your
previous U.S. passport has expired, was issued more
than 15 years ago, if your previous U.S.
passport was issued when you are under 16 or if your
currently valid U.S. passport has been lost of
stolen.
You can renew your passport by mail if ..
More Info »
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