Arizona Chambers of Commerce Sponsor Trips

Tempe, Glendale chambers to sponsor 9-day trip to Cuba

December 31, 2011 |

BUSINESS

Tempe, Glendale groups help coordinate rare tour

by Luci Scott - Dec. 31, 2011 05:43 PM

The Arizona Republic

Arizonans have an opportunity to join a rare group visit to Cuba.

The Tempe and Glendale chambers of commerce are sponsoring a nine-day trip leaving Phoenix on July 12.

The tour was organized by a California-based travel agency, Chamber Explorations, which received permission from the U.S. Treasury Department.

"People who take this trip are going to see quite a bit; it's a very inclusive itinerary," said Aphrodite Pastroumasa, district sales manager for the travel agency.

Her colleagues have traveled to Cuba.

"What struck them is that Cuba is the only place on Earth they've been to that doesn't have a Starbucks or a McDonald's," she said. "It gave them a frozen-in-time feeling.

"That's what has been appealing to everyone, to be able to go somewhere that's not been marred by gross consumerism."

The trip is allowed under a "people-to-people" license. They were created by President Clinton and stopped by President George W. Bush. Restrictions were eased in 2011 by President Obama.

Because of an economic embargo in place for five decades, the U.S. prohibits citizens from spending money in Cuba, with a few exceptions, and from paying for a flight there, although they have flown from other countries, such as Mexico and Canada.

Mary Ann Miller, president and CEO of the Tempe Chamber, said the trip has sparked plenty of interest.

"I think people in Tempe are a little bit more adventurous, and tours for places they wouldn't normally be able to travel themselves might be interesting," Miller said.

Among Arizonans hoping to go is Glendale Chamber President Don Rinehart, whose bucket list includes a trip to Cuba, where classic, vintage cars line the streets.

"I love the Caribbean, and I've always wanted to go to Cuba," he said. "I'm a '50s fanatic and would love to go see those cars again."

Bob Guild, vice president of Marazul Charters in North Bergen, N.J., has been to Cuba more than 40 times and raves about it.

"Cuba's a huge island with a very rich cultural life, deep history and a lot in common with the U.S.," he said.

"Most of what people have heard about Cuba is wrong. People think Cuba is very isolated. It is not."

Cuba has received 2.5 million visitors from other countries in 2011, and Cubans have traveled.

"When you meet with a Cuban who has, for instance, been a health worker in South Africa in a rural area that has never had a doctor, it's very moving," Guild said.

"Tens of thousands of Cubans have delivered health services around the world, and it's not something we hear about at all."

Guild said it's bizarre that the U.S. restricts travel to Cuba but not to Iran, Iraq, North Korea, China, Vietnam or Saudi Arabia.

Since travel to Cuba was eased, tour groups have quickly filled.

National Geographic scheduled a dozen trips for 30 people each. By the end of the weekend of the announcement, all groups were filled. A dozen more groups were planned, and those are nearly filled as well, Guild said.

On the trip sponsored by the Tempe and Glendale chambers, some of the sights in Havana will include the Cathedral de la Havana, the Museo Fine Arts, the Museo de la Revolucion that displays historical documents and artifacts and La Marketa de Havana in Old Havana, a collective of small-craft workers.

Among other sites will be author Ernest Hemingway's farm and Playa Giron/Bay of Pigs Museum.

The cost is $3,874 per person double with a $600 single supplement. Price includes airfare, visa, eight nights in first-class hotels and 19 meals.

For details, visit tempechamber.org and click on the Events tab. To register, contact Mary Ann Miller at 480-967-7891 or maryann@tempechamber.org.

  

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2011/12/28/20111228tempe-glendale-chambers-sponsor-trip-cuba.html#ixzz1iAwL282j

Fresno Chamber of Commerce Trip in June

The Fresno Chamber of Commerce and Chamber Explorations have announced plans to “Discover Cuba” in June 2012 in a new opportunity for local residents to see the island.

Chamber Explorations is a division of Premier World Discovery, a Redondo Beach-based company that focuses on world travel. The White House greatly expanded Cuba travel for Americans earlier this year, and specific licenses issued by the Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control authorize registered guests of programs such as the Chamber’s to visit Cuba legally. It will be the Chamber's first time offering a trip to the island.

“We’ve had a few calls in the last couple of weeks,” said Angela Vasquez, event coordinator for the Chamber. “In the next two weeks, we’ll get a lot of interest.”

On Thursday, Jan. 12 at 5:30 p.m. there will be a presentation on Discover Cuba at the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. Vasquez said there was “a group of usuals” who would make the trip, but there were still spots available.

The cost is $3,799 per person, double occupancy, with a $600 supplement for those who wish to have their own room. The fee includes round trip airfare from LAX, a Cuban Travel Visa, Cuban Health Insurance, 8 nights of first class hotel accommodations, 21 meals, sightseeing and admissions, a professional Cuban bilingual host/guide, hotel and airport transfers and baggage handling, and transportation by deluxe air conditioned motorcoach.

Anyone interested in the June 12 trip is asked to call the Fresno Chamber of Commerce to reserve a spot at (559) 495-4800 or email Info@fresnochamber.com for a brochure.

http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/tourism/12628-fresno-chamber-offers-first-ever-cuba-trip

Chamber of Commerce in Florida Organizes P2P Trip

Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011

 

Manatee chamber offers cultural trip to Cuba

Interest high in the island country

By CARL MARIO NUDI - Special to the Herald

BRADENTON -- This spring, a group of local travelers will be walking in the footsteps of Hemmingway during the day and practicing their salsa moves at night.

They will be part of a nine-day trip starting April 26 to Cuba offered by the Manatee Chamber of Commerce. The trip, with space for 30 people, costs $3,299 per person.

Carey Miller, office administrator at the chamber and trip coordinator, said the tour was picked because of the interest in traveling to the island since the relaxation of the travel and trade restrictions earlier this year.

It is part of the Travel with the Chamber program started about 1½ years ago as a chamber fundraiser, Miller said, with a trip to China.

Because that trip was so popular -- more than 100 people went -- the chamber decided to offer trips every six months.

“There was an interest to go to Cuba,” Miller said.

The trip starts with a short flight from Miami to Havana, Cuba’s capital, where travelers will be given a quick orientation before being given a guided tour of the city markets, churches and museums

“With the U.S. government opening up travel to Cuba with its People-to-People Program, this will be more of a cultural trip,” said Jacki Dezelski, chamber vice president of East County and community development.

“I think this will be one of our more popular trips because travel to Cuba has been so restrictive in the past.”

A highlight of the trip is traveling to the four United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Heritage Sites of Old Havana, Cienfuegos, Trinidad and Sugar Mill Valley, Miller said.

“Cuba is not only difficult to get to as a destination, but people feel more comfortable traveling with a group,” she said.

Travel for U.S. citizens to Cuba has become easier since President Barack Obama authorized people-to-people exchanges at the beginning of this year.

“Bolstering ties to Cuba is very import to the Tampa Bay area,” said U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, who has been in the forefront of the fight to open the island nation for travelers.

“There are dramatic changes happening on the island of Cuba,” Castor said. “People can now buy and sell property and cars, and the trend (toward a more open economy) will continue.”

The congresswoman said Port Manatee and the Port of Tampa could see more business with agricultural product shipments.

Steve Tyndal, senior director trade development and special projects for Port Manatee, said new port director Carlos Buqueras arrives in early January and has expressed an interest in the Cuban issue.

“Once he gets here, I’m sure we’ll explore all options,” Tyndal said.

Castor said the area also will benefit now that Tampa International Airport is designated as one of the airports permitted to offer flights to the island.

“With the relaxation of travel restrictions to Cuba for families,” she said, “the opportunity is great for Tampa International Airport to build on the Gateway concept.”

Three charter airlines began offering four flights a week from Tampa to Cuba in September, said Janet Zink, director of communications for Tampa International Airport.

Tampa is one of only two airports in the country that fly to two different cities in Cuba, Zink said. Three land in Havana, and one goes to Holquin.

“The flights are selling very well,” she said.

“By the end of the year about 9,000 people will have taken advantage of these flights.”

Zink said she believes the flights have been so popular because of pent up demand.

“Previously, area Cuban Americans didn’t have that easy connection,” she said. “They would have had to travel to Miami, which precluded them from traveling to Cuba.”

For more information about the Manatee Chamber of Commerce trip to Cuba visit the chamber web site at: www.manateechamber.com/cuba.pdf or call Miller at 941-745-1877 or send an email to careym@manateechamber.com.

Read more: http://www.bradenton.com/2011/12/14/3723892/chamber-offers-cultural-trip-to.html#ixzz1gWguizGb