Thanks to you, our travelers, we’ve never been busier. 2009 is already ahead of this year. Also, because of your support, 2008 has been a banner year for professional honors and recognitions to be bestowed on our organization and its individual team members. We feel honored, especially when we recognize that the achievements represent a nationwide recognition of our unique “Small Town Caring – Worldwide” business credo of “extremely high tech but with extremely high touch” personal service and attention to detail before, during, and after our clients’ travels. We also appreciate that these honors have been gleaned from direct competition with other travel professionals from throughout North America located in travel markets and cities of all sizes, including all the major metropolitan areas.

Below are a few we would like to share with you. We acknowledge not a single one of them could have occurred without your support. Thank you!

 Vacation.com, North America’s largest retail travel organization, has created and is in the process of enhancing a dynamic new powerful leisure sales solution known as Ezguider. It is available to all eligible U.S. members. The new internet program is unlike anything else in the travel industry and is designed for all travel professionals to show their clients a wide range of leisure products, compare several brand selections side by side, review the details of each and make the right purchasing decision for their client.

Paula Axman was selected because of these qualities. She was also featured as one of only two travel professionals commenting on the new program in a recent nationwide travel publication. Paula’s participation allows us to be part of this “inner circle”, as well, and privy to new travel developments before they are made available generally. It is also public professional recognition of her capabilities.

Ashton Knorr has joined the Please Go Away™ Vacations team as a travel assistant. In this capacity she supports the efforts of our front line travel professionals and also conducts much of the initial research necessary as our operations continue to expand. Her pleasant personality, totally committed work ethic, and soft voice have added greatly to our ability to better serve our clients.

We’re still looking to add additional qualified individuals to serve our ever- growing business.

Realizing that everyone owes a debt to community and others less fortunate, our president, Marilyn Kopke, has chosen to devote additional time to the worthwhile projects and services of Pilot International and its International Foundation.

The Pilot International Foundation was established in 1975 to support the community-based work of Pilot Clubs by promoting awareness and prevention of brain-related disorders and improving the lives of those affected by such disorders through education, volunteerism, financial support, and research.

Each year Pilot Clubs around the world honor one of their own as the volunteer that embodies the work of the organization and names them Pilot International Foundation Sweetheart. Marilyn was chosen. She has also been elected incoming President of the Great Bend Pilot Club and will attend the upcoming Pilot International convention in San Diego.

Princess Cruises’ newest ship, the “Ruby Princess”, was recently inaugurated in Ft. Lauderdale. The inaugural celebrated romantic moments and milestones and featured an onboard wedding of a deserving couple chosen through a nationwide selection process in cooperation with USA Today. Godparents that christened the ship with the traditional smashing of a bottle of champagne were celebrity couple Trista and Ryan Sutter. The Sutters, who met on ABC's hit reality series, "The Bachelorette," will celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary this fall, and marked this milestone event during the Ruby Princess inaugural. Among other notables onboard was Gavin McCleod, TV’s Loveboat Captain.

Princess Cruises, with more itineraries to more destinations throughout the world than any other cruise line, instituted a rigorous educational and training program for all cruise sellers throughout the continent. The top qualifiers, based solely upon their demonstrated knowledge of the cruise industry, were designated with the status of Commodore and awarded a free cruise for themselves and a traveling companion. Team member Paula Axman was selected and now bears the title of “Princess Commodore”. 

But, just like Paul Harvey says, “Here’s the rest of the story”. From all of the Commodores designated throughout North America a grand total of the “Top 10” were selected.   Each of the “Top 10” was featured in numerous nationwide travel publications with a color photo and full-page spread. Paula is one of the “Top 10” and a copy of her feature page that appeared in many national publications is available for viewing in our offices.

Globus, another travel industry leader with top quality travel programs to destinations throughout the world, annually produces a “group planner and sales reference guide”, which it distributes to all sellers of travel throughout North America. The guide is designed to provide examples of proven promotional programs and to serve as a recommendation for other travel sellers to emulate. 

Larry Kopke was 1 of only 4 travel professionals from throughout North America to be featured and quoted in the publication.  

Collette Vacations, America’s oldest tour operator with top quality travel programs to destinations throughout the world, has named Please Go Away™ Vacations a member of its prestigious President’s Club. This honor is bestowed only upon a very select group of the top sellers of travel in North America. It places Please Go Away™ Vacations in the “inner circle” of this leading travel company with resulting benefits for our travelers not available through ordinary channels. 

Additionally, representatives of Please Go Away™ Vacations are asked to join Dan Sullivan, President of Collette Vacations, annually in a travel retreat vacation for networking with U.S. travel industry leaders; and for the development of new travel programs.