Luggage Drive – June 2018

Approximately two-thirds of the total luggage collection ready to be dropped off at The Wishing Well Foundation.

Tacoma, WA—July 11th, 2018 Travel Leaders – Travel Center Inc., spent the month of June collecting new or gently used luggage and bags for their Summer Luggage Drive.

Many foster children are subjected to frequent moves and are often forced to transport their belongings in nothing but trash bags. This unfortunate circumstance inspired us to collect new or gently used bags, backpacks, totes, and luggage to donate to The Wishing Well Foundation.

With the help of our neighbors from Coordinated Care in Tacoma, we were able to advertise our efforts to aid foster youth in our community. Beginning June 1st and ending the 29th, our total collection count reached approximately 150 individual pieces. They ranged from three-piece-matching-sets to a Scooby-Doo mini-rolling suitcase and dazzled totes perfect for teens.

Travel Center President Alex and Marketing Coordinator Jessica posed in front of the luggage they delivered to The Wishing Well Foundation on July 11th.

Travel Center President Alex and Marketing Coordinator Jessica were able to deliver the collection to The Wishing Well Foundation directly on the morning of July 11th. They were met with a gracious volunteer who explained that the foster support agency had run out of luggage and was in great need of replenishment.

Travel Leaders – Travel Center wants to thank everyone who donated and help spread the word. A special thanks goes to Jennifer Sarchett of Coordinated Care for her partnership and The Director of The Wishing Well Foundation, Erika Thompson.

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Travel Leaders Tacoma 1142 Broadway Plaza Tacoma, WA 98402 253.383.8000

Travel Leaders Lakewood 11116 Gravelly Lake Drive SW Tacoma, WA 98499 253.582.2020

 

 

#AskATravelAgentThursday – Mary!

Today’s #AskATravelAgentThursday is so informative we couldn’t contain it in a simple post.

Mary is the leisure operations manager at our Lakewood office and has been with Travel Leaders – Travel Center for over 20 years. Recently, her and our Destination Wedding and Honeymoon specialist, Jessica, went on a Viking River Cruise. Naturally, we wanted to learn more.

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Q: What type of travelers would you recommend to board the Viking River Cruise you just experienced? 

A: “We did a 7-day Rhine Getaway which concentrated on the cities along the Rhine River from Basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam.  This would be the perfect trip for someone wanting to concentrate on a specific country or region and get a really good feel for the history & culture.  It is a relaxing way to travel because you get on board and unpack, knowing where you will stay every night and you get to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner if you would like to.  You are always free, however when in a port to sample local cuisine.  They also like to serve regional specialties on the ship.  They have great guides who have knowledge of each city.” 

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Are you inspired? Mary and any of our other leisure agents are happy to assist you in booking your Viking River Cruise. You can also learn more by clicking below:

Learn more about Viking here.

Learn more about the Rhine River here.

Learn more about Mary here.

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www.travelcenter4u.com

1142 Broadway Plaza, Suite 100

Tacoma, WA 98402

253-383-8000

 

Four Reasons to Book Your Destination Wedding With Us

You thought making the decision to have a destination wedding was the hard part….and then you realize you now not only have to plan a wedding, but you also have to plan a trip.

So you hire a travel agent.

But not all travel agents can juggle both aspects of a trip and a destination wedding at the same time. Luckily, Travel Center Inc. has an in-house agent who actually specializes in both! Jessica Nelson is a certified Honeymoon & Destination Wedding specialist: an unfaltering pillar of expertise and insight for local brides and grooms. Over the years Jessica has become increasingly aware of the benefits her services provide. With help from her, we compiled a list to showcase just how useful her services are.

1.) One stop shop for all your questions

Instead of trying to collect information from multiple websites or various contacts, wouldn’t it be nice to have all your answers in one place? Jessica can serve as the main point of contact for you and all of your guests, eliminating any extra stress from you!

2.) Special rates and benefits

Travel Center Inc. is a branch of Travel Leaders, one of the top national travel agencies in the country. Having an established brand to back her, along with her years of experience and networking, Jessica is able to get you the best group rates and extra luxuries. Want a private cocktail evening with the bridal party? How about a complimentary wedding package in your hotel? (Yeah, who wouldn’t!)

3.) First-hand experience

Jessica has had the opportunity to visit many of the destinations her client’s book. By staying in the hotels, dining at the restaurants, and witnessing the same landscape, she can share her authentic impressions with brides and grooms. It’s hard to take advice from someone who has only seen a photo, so Jessica ensures that her knowledge is more in-depth.

4.) Accuracy and efficiency

Let’s face it: coordinating a group to meet at a faraway destination can be difficult. Many chances for error, confusion, and frustration occur. Perhaps people in your group are new to traveling, have special needs, or have different budgets. These are all factors our travel agents, especially Jessica, have experience operating around. Ensure your family, friends, and bridal party arrive on time and are happy with their arrangements by booking with our specialist!

The weeks, months, and even year leading up to your special day are already stressful enough. Planning a trip on top of that doesn’t have to be on your agenda – nor should it be!

Email or call Jessica to set up your appointment today!

Email: jessica@travelcenter4u.com

Phone: 253 – 383 – 8000

 

 

 

 

Top 5 Reasons you Need a Travel Agent

Each day for the month of March we have been sharing different reasons why you need a travel agent. While not every reason applies to every client, we are confident your travel needs have applied in at least one of our 31 reasons.

‘Need’ might seem like a strong word, but we absolutely stand behind its prominence. As avid travelers ourselves, with over 50 years in the industry, we have seen it all. If anyone is qualified to determine the necessity of a travel agent: its Travel Center Inc.!

As we wrap up this month, we wanted to go over some of the topics we covered: especially if you missed a day or two (it’s okay, we forgive you!)

First, we narrowed down to 31 reasons, (believe us, we could have given you hundreds of different scenarios) and next, we are going to share our top 5 favorite reasons you need a Travel Leaders travel agent:

1.) Our agency has decades of first-hand and technical experience

Between personal travel, familiarization trips, supplier meetings, and annual travel agent conferences: our agents have real and continued training and exposure. Matched with many of our agent’s longevity in the industry, you can expect nothing but expertise.

2.) Travel Center Inc. can provide national level resources with a local touch

As part of a bigger national brand, our agency has access to top-level resources like supplier relationships and insider knowledge. Our local presence allows us to meet with our clients face-to-face and accommodate the needs of our community. We really are the best of both worlds!

3.) We can take care of any problems before, during, or after your trip

Flight canceled? Enjoy a coffee at the airport while we fix that. Want to add a tour in the middle of your vacation? Lounge by the pool and we will take care of it! Attempting to book with a questionable airline? We can steer you in the right direction. Any concerns? We have answers!

4.) We are a resource you can trust

Travel Center Inc. has been serving the South Sound and abroad for the last 50 years. We have sustained through the rise in DIY trip planning for a reason. Online you can find dozens of reviews advocating for our dependableness, and in our office, you can see for yourself!

5.) The fees you pay will have value

Booking trips online typically require fees. Where does that money go? With a travel agent, you can be assured that money is going towards a committed agent who is overseeing your trip from start to finish. If you’re going to pay fees anyway, why not put it towards something that will benefit you directly?

Over the last 31 days, we were able to reflect on the specific affordances we are able to bring to our clients. We hope that our future and past clients learned something new or were inspired to book a trip with us (again, or for the first time).

In the age of do-it-yourself internet booking, our services simply cannot be beaten. #TravelBetter with us!

www.travelcenter4u.com

1142 Broadway Plaza, Suite 100

Tacoma, WA 98402

253-383-8000

King Cup 2018: Tournament Wrap-up!

And so we add another sensational tournament to the Soccer in Sun history books!

Not only did all domestic and international teams bring their A-game, the weather came out to match — a sunny 65° degrees, with nary a cloud in the sky for the whole weekend!  (Which is astounding because the Monday previous, it was pouring buckets and one of the fields was essentially underwater until Thursday evening.)

Las Vegas welcomed 4,200 players and 2,800 spectators cheered through 462 games of soccer on 29 fields across 11 complexes, all managed with the help of 80 dedicated referees! (Whew!)  The shared passion for this sport was palpable and is what makes King Cup always such a thrilling event.  Mutual dedication to competition and sportsmanship between our participants and our staff drive Soccer in Sun to organize and strive to produce better events every year.

What made this year especially remarkable was the collective enthusiasm from teams across the world to join our tournament. As many found out, we sold out of our 208 team slots within mere weeks of opening registrations.  Not only did our Team Waitlists overflow, this year’s Free Agents List was our most diverse yet!  All Las Vegas soccer  fields were bursting with not only King Cup teams, but during that same weekend,  800+ Youth Soccer Teams played in a tournament of their own as well!  Sometimes it’s a challenge to accommodate so many, but with committed efforts, we keep the event going.

Thankfully, Soccer In Sun‘s staff roster was also full this year with 11 ardent friends and family on deck to help keep the tournament running smoothly.  Without the tireless diligence of Jenn, Larry, Iara, Romuald, Jason, Austin, Lori, Kim, Magenta and Leilani, it would have been absolute pandemonium.Without further ado, the winners of the 2018 King Cup were…

Over 35 Martin Division CHAMPIONS: Avanti FC Second Place: LA Persepolis Over 35 Luther Division CHAMPIONS: Mutiny FC Second Place: Austin United FC Over 40 – Martin Division CHAMPIONS: Lumark SC Second Place: V-Stars Over 40 – Luther Division CHAMPIONS: Four Peaks Brewers Second Place: El Cartel Over 40 – King Division CHAMPIONS: Boise United Second Place: LA-DC United Over 40 – Competitive Division CHAMPIONS: Jake Stars Second Place: El Farolito Over 48 – Martin Division CHAMPIONS: Califia SC Second Place: El Cartel Hall of Famers Over 48 – Luther Division CHAMPIONS: Pellman’s Old Guys Second Place: Azzurri FC Over 48 – King Division CHAMPIONS: Four Peaks Growlers Second Place: Blue Dragons Over 48 – Junior Division CHAMPIONS: OC Spurs Second Place: Artilleros Over 48 – Competitive Division CHAMPIONS: Sina FC Second Place: Kentucky Waterfall Over 55 – Martin Division CHAMPIONS: Seymour FC Second Place: MUSA Over 55 – Luther Division CHAMPIONS: Dynamo Second Place: Sina FC Over 60 – Martin Division CHAMPIONS: Freddy Fund Second Place: Shaheen FC Over 60 – Luther Division CHAMPIONS: Seymour FC Second Place: Denver Kickers

The photos of the winners and our honorable referees can be found on our website:  http://soccerinsun.com/kingcup/standings/2018/champs.html

Fortunately, though there were a few cases of poor sportsmanship from a few bad apples, they didn’t ruin the event. Two teams were ejected for fielding ineligible players which were caught via the concerted vigilance tournament participants and the use of ID Scanners. One additional team was disqualified in the semi-finals for playing a previously un-rostered player and then bragging about it on the sidelines. Indiscretions such as these will not be tolerated and you can be assured, the offenders are on notice.

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In other Soccer in Sun news, we will be unveiling a new tournament in May 2018 called the Copa De Mayo. This is a 2-day tournament will happen over Cinco de Mayo weekend (May 5-6, 2018) at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California.  These six beautifully maintained soccer fields, complete with adjoining Championship Stadium, are situated just 30 minutes south of Disneyland, an excellent place to spend a weekend with your teammates and your family!

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Our Arizona tournament, the Harvest Cup, will be held at the Francisco Grande Sports Complex in Casa Grande from October 20-22, 2018.  We are still polishing up the final details for King Cup 2019, so be sure to follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our Mailing List to be one of the first to know when registration opens for all our events.

Once again, thank you everyone for spending your weekend with Soccer in Sun!  We hope you had a thrilling good time and look forward to “kicking it” with you next year.

Luggage Drive – January 2018

A look inside the Treehouse wearHouse

UPDATE 2/1/18:  Thank you to all who brought donations for our drive.  Our collective donation of 43 pieces, ranging from handy tote bags to rolling duffles to a full-sized, never-been-used, 3-piece luggage set was much appreciated by the staff at the Treehouse wearHouse.  Thank you Erica for the tour and thank you Dana for answering all our questions. 🙂

01/01/18 – Many foster children are moved from house to house with nothing more than a trash bag to carry their belongings. During an already emotionally sensitive time, this can further damage anyone’s feelings of self-confidence.

Help these children and youth regain a sense of self-worth by donating gently used luggage, bags, and backpacks to Travel Leaders locations in Tacoma & Lakewood. Donations will be distributed via “the Wearhouse” at Treehouse in Seattle, which remains stocked with items that help youth feel good, fit in with their peers, and have what they need to succeed.

Travel Leaders will be collecting donations from our South Puget Sound offices January 1 -31, 2018.  Luggage, backpacks, and bags are preferred for this drive, however the Wearhouse also has a list of accepted clothing requests, which can be found here.

If you have further questions about the Travel Leaders Luggage drive or would like to make a monetary donation, contact us at the phone numbers below or email us via our website.

Travel Leaders Tacoma 1142 Broadway Plaza Tacoma, WA 98402 253.383.8000

Travel Leaders Lakewood 11116 Gravelly Lake Drive SW Tacoma, WA 98499 253.582.2020

Welcome!

While most of us are superheros and musicians in our off-hours, during the day we are travel agents!  Thanks for being a good sport and clicking the link in our Instagram bio.  Next time you stop by our Downtown Tacoma office, be sure to ask for the Marketing Department and mention that you found this link to receive a free gift as our way to celebrate our loyal fans!

www.travelcenter4u.com | Facebook | Instagram

 

Four Last-Minute “Gift of Travel” Ideas that Make for Perfect Holiday Presents, Say Tacoma’s Travel Leaders

Holiday travel is a chance to get away domestically or internationally. A “gift of travel” spurs a recipient to cross that next destination off their wish list.

Tacoma, WA (Monday, December 19, 2016) — This holiday season, if you are struggling to finish your holiday gift-giving checklist, the experts at Travel Leaders in Tacoma & Lakewood-area are providing four, last-minute, unique gift ideas.  The gift of travel can be very affordable, and need not be an actual trip; smaller yet just as meaningful travel-related presents can help to spur the traveler into action.

“Many people struggle over what to buy for family and friends during the holidays. A gift that is useful, meaningful, or has a positive lasting impression is a perfect choice, and that can be done with a travel-related gift,” said Alex Trettin, Agency President. “A gift of a suitcase or an airplane neck pillow can be just as effective as roundtrip airfare at getting a traveler to plan their next vacation, but once taken, the trip itself leaves lasting memories. And that’s what every giver should strive for.”

Here are four last-minute ideas from Tacoma & Lakewood‘s Travel Leaders’ that you can give to the individual in your life with wanderlust.

Pay for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. “Expedited security screening can ease even the most frazzled and harried traveler, but the benefits of passing through airport security during peak travel times without having to remove outer layers of clothing or unload your laptop bag is a gift that will keep on giving for five years,” said Trettin.  “At the cost of $80 or $100, respectively, TSA PreCheck and Global Entry status lasts for half of a decade. Application forms can be found online.”

Airport Lounge Pass. For the business traveler, frequent traveler, or just those who like extra perks when they travel, an airport lounge pass could make any recipient feel extra special.  Since most lounges offer complimentary food and beverages, along with free Wi-Fi, it can quickly pay itself off for the most frequent flyer.

Pay for a Passport. If the traveler has a passport that will soon expire, encourage them to continue to travel by offering to pay the $110 cost of a new passport, which lasts 10 years for adults. The forms can be downloaded from www.travel.state.gov.

Travel Gift Cards. You can also arrange to buy travel vouchers, gift certificates or gift cards from the Travel Leaders at Tacoma & Lakewood.  These are great gifts as work incentives to employees, raffle prizes or for a loved one. There are even gift cards that can be purchased for many cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Norwegian Cruise Line. In addition to helping pay for the trip, they can be redeemed for a variety of onboard purchases, including spa treatments, at the gift shop, dining at a specialty restaurant or, in some cases, for shore excursions.

 

“Travel Better” by visiting the experienced travel agent experts at the Travel Leaders locations at 1142 Broadway, Tacoma WA 98402 or 11116 Gravelly Lake Drive SW, Lakewood WA 98499 or online at www.travelcenter4u.com or simply call 253-383-8000.

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 Travel Center is a franchise of Travel Leaders Group. We are a full service travel agency that has been serving the luxury leisure and corporate travel needs of the Puget Sound for more than 50 years.  Our diverse team of professional travel specialists can help you book your next destination wedding and honeymoon, family vacation, or work with your business to coordinate travel for training and conferences.  We’re in the office Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm and online 24/7 at www.travelcenter4u.com.

 Travel Leaders is transforming travel with a new name that boldly embodies our commitment to our vacation and business travel clients via a progressive approach toward each unique travel experience. As one of America’s top ten-ranked travel companies, Travel Leaders has assisted millions of travelers through our strong roots – the former Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates, Travel Leaders and Tzell Travel Group joined together in 2008 to form one of the industry’s fastest-growing and robust networks of travel agents. Travel Leaders Franchise Group can trace its beginnings to 1984 as the Carlson franchise system “Ask Mr. Foster Travel,” which itself was North America’s first travel agency chain established in 1888.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

#TLGetJazzed

Downtown New Orleans at night from the 18th floor!

In early November 2016, a lucky handful of our Travel Specialists participated in the Travel Leaders National Meeting in New Orleans, LA.  Ready to learn, and even more ready to explore, we hit the ground running on a Tuesday night to begin a week’s worth of workshops.

Brave adventurers, all!

I wouldn’t dare slap my mama over a cold beer. But their wings are another story. (Just kidding, mama!)

Upon landing and before the formal education commenced, we dropped our bags off at the Hilton Riverside and hurried out to Bourbon Street.  Looking back, Tuesday night was a little quieter than the rest of the week, which suited us fine for a first night out.  The Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone has an excellent drink menu. (The Fleur de Lis & French 007 were my favorites!)  Willie’s Chicken Shack, a local fried chicken chain restaurant, has some of the tastiest wings and honey biscuits this girl has EVER had.

Alex and Teri, our Agency Founder and Alex’s mom

So proud to work with you, Andrea!

The Royal Street Windin’ Boys are a treat to listen to. Check out their facebook: https://www.facebook.com/windingboys/

The next morning, we suited up for the real reason we were in Louisiana: to participate in our annual Travel Leaders travel industry continuing education workshops.  In addition to getting our “learn” on, we celebrated some huge achievements!  Not only did our agency receive the “Agency of Excellence” award, the first Business Travel Specialist class graduated and one of our own was part of that inaugural group!

Perfect starting point for a ghost tour!

Zoinks, Scoob! Ghosts! :O

Thursday night, after all the work was done, we started off the night with a thrilling Haunted History walking tour through the French Quarter. Among the many places we visited in that whirlwind 2 hours, we stopped at the (cursed?) house of the scandalous Madame LaLaurie and the entrepreneurial Privateer (professional pirate) Jean Lafitte’s “Blacksmith Shop”.

A beautiful home, still complete with Halloween decorations!

LaLaurie Mansion!

A view from the Riverwalk

As beautiful as Jackson Square and the French Quarter looked at night, it was even more beautiful during the day. Beautiful homes lined the streets, each resplendent in their own unique histories and personalities.

We made some new friends at Mardi Gras World!

Our final night in New Orleans brought us to Mardi Gras World, an event space where Mardi Gras floats are stored and maintained in their “off-season”.  We arrived in style, drifting in a convoy of 9 floats full of Travel Industry Specialists, before being led to the Grand Oaks Mansion, an indoor set fashioned to look like a plantation home surrounded by bayou.  It was truly a magical setting!

Jackson Square from the River

The Creole Queen

That’s Charles in the straw hat!

Taken during our stop at Chalmette Battlefield

Before we said Goodbye to NOLA, we took a day cruise on the Creole Queen, regaled with New Orleans past and present history by the region’s greatest orator, Charles.  His account of the events surrounding Hurricane Katrina resounded deeply with our whole group.

It’s always a pleasure to adventure together as a team. Let us put our skills to work for you, either on your next business trip or leisure vacation. We have offices in Tacoma & Lakewood and are available 24/7 from our website.