HORIZONS ONLINE FEATURES

Get Your Game On for AAA Travel Marketplace
By Kimberley Edgar

You never know who you might meet at Marketplace.

Members ready to kick off the 2010 Travel Marketplace have their game-day strategies in place well before they ascend the escalators at Gillette Stadium.
They are equipped with vacation dates and budgets – and a handful of other plays to take advantage of sizzling deals available during the March 5 to 7 extravaganza. They are in uniform – sturdy and comfortable walking shoes and dressed in layers so they don’t overheat or have to lug around a heavy winter coat.
AAA Travel Director Carl Richardson and others suggest: Be prepared. “The first part of most adventures is to do some research before and to get an idea of what you want,” he said. “And you have to allow some time to investigate.”
Your game plan should include scouting out show-only specials on AAA.com/travelmarketplace before leaving home and planning enough time to visit more than 100 booths, including the Show Your Card & Save Mall, as you exit the show.
“The best advice I can give is to be sure to stop at every boothand in all the nooks and crannies,” said William Sutherland, AAA Travel Vice President. “There are numerous brochures, catalogues and other literature that may be of interest.”
When you reach the top of the escalators, where AAA employees distribute reusable bags to carry what you collect – some might want to bring a backpack.
And AAA’s expert and trusted travel counselors and partners will be on hand to coach you through your questions.
“A lot of times, people come with their traveling companions so everyone’s questions can be answered at once,” said Charlotte Nichols, AAA’s Travel Sales & Marketing Manager.
With three days of extended hours – 2 to 9 p.m., March 5; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., March 6; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 7 – it’s easy to answer those questions.
“You can ask someone who lives in Canada or who works for the Bermuda tourism bureau their thoughts and insights,” Mr. Richardson said. “These folks hope people will come to them with detailed questions.”
And any planning before the show will help position you to score touchdowns with the best availability for destinations, types of cabins or rooms and with airline flight schedules and seating.
“Every year, the bookings are quite high the first hour of the show,” Mr. Sutherland said. “Many people who come know in advance exactly what they want.”
After heading to reservations to book their trips, they hit the booths and presentations to scout their next excursion.
And the presentations – in the second-floor theaters – are a great spot for anyone looking for inspiration. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to ensure a good seat in the auditorium, especially with Worlds of Discovery, where some of the animals will star.
“Come and see the presentations – it helps bring destinations to life,” Ms. Nichols said.
Newlyweds-to-be might want to make a dash to the upstairs pavilion next to Theater A dedicated to honeymoon travel and featuring the AAA gift registry.
When you need a break, don’t hesitate to call a time-out and head to the sidelines – tables and chairs line the promenade on the second floor, and enjoy refreshments from the downstairs concession stand – to assess where you are and where you want to go on your next vacation.
And then get back out on the field and score.

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE

Show-Special Sampler

As part of your AAA Travel Marketplace game-day strategy, take a sneak peek at these show-only deal highlights:
CELEBRITY – Collect up to $400 onboard credit per stateroom on select Alaska and Europe cruise-tours and an onboard coupon booklet valued at $150. With select Caribbean, Europe and Alaska sailings, save up to $200 and receive a 50 percent reduced deposit and coupons valued at $150.
MEMBER CHOICE VACATIONS – Save $100 a person on any air-inclusive Explorations vacation or $50 a person on air-inclusive bookings of Canyon Country, National Parks or Trains and Canyons of the Southwest. AAA members save an additional $25 a person on these specific packages.
DISNEY CRUISE LINE & WALT DISNEY WORLD – Gain up to $100 in shipboard credit by booking a cruise or cruise and add-on package of seven nights or more. Or get a $50 Disney gift card when booking a qualified three-night-or-more vacation in the Magic Kingdom.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN – Save $200 per stateroom and receive a 50 percent reduced deposit. Choose an Ocean View cabin or above on 2010 sailings and receive free onboard value booklets.
UNIVERSAL – Receive $100 in Universal Dollars with a vacation of six nights or more or $50 in Universal Dollars with a four- or five-night stay. Enjoy Early Park Admission to Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and exclusive show-only pricing on tickets to Universal Studios and Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
For more, visit AAA.com/travelmarketplace.

Outreach Key for Tweeting DOT Chief
By Christine E. McDermott

There were 2 fatal accidents on our roads today. Roads are being treated for the storm. Please slow down and be safe. Happy New Year. —JM. 8:53 a.m. Dec. 31, 2009 from TwitterBerry
  Take public transportation tonight. MBTA running free service as we approach 2010. Happy New Year from MassDOT. —JM. 5:16 p.m. Dec. 31, 2009 from TwitterBerry
  Happy New Year from the Tobin Memorial Bridge. —JM. 9:47 a.m. Jan. 1, 2010 from TwitPic
  As 2010 rolled in, Jeffrey B. Mullan not only had his finger on the pulse of the state’s transit system, but also on his camera phone, snapping photos during a meeting at the Tobin Bridge.
  With frequent Twitter updates, blog posts and YouTube videos, Mr. Mullan is leading the charge of a major culture shift in Massachusetts transportation – with mantras like transparency, accountability and customer service.
  Mr. Mullan is Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the new Massachusetts Department of Transportation, established Nov. 1 as part of a landmark transportation reform law. The department oversees four divisions — Highway, Mass Transit, Aeronautics and the Registry of Motor Vehicles — in addition to an Office of Planning and Programming.
  Appointed by Gov. Deval Patrick, Mr. Mullan has been involved in Massachusetts transportation issues for more than 20 years.
The Suffolk University School of Law graduate held leadership positions at state transportation agencies since 2007 and was a key architect of the reform plan to create the MassDOT.
  Introducing himself and the new department in a YouTube video, Mr. Mullan proclaimed, “It’s a new day for transportation in the Commonwealth.”
His first order of business: help his workforce of roughly 10,000 settle into the merged organization and feel part of MassDOT as a whole, as opposed to MassHighway or the now-defunct Turnpike Authority.
  Mr. Mullan stressed, “We’reall one — one mission, one vision. It’s all about one. That’s really critical for a large bureaucracy.”
The mission: to provide a safe, reliable and efficient network for the citizens of Massachusetts.
  Mr. Mullan sought employees’ input for a new customer-friendly Web site designed around a central theme of “How do I …?”
  The site’s where residents can find out how to calculate a toll, get Logan Airport arrival and departure times, plan a trip on the MBTA, renew a driver’s license, view traffic conditions, and much more. There are project updates, reports on MassDOT initiatives, and a transportation calendar for events, meetings and public hearings.
  “The Web site is designed to show our workers the importance of communicating with customers,” Mr. Mullan said. “The Web site is a huge communication device for us. It’s a good opportunity for us to become more transparent about who we are, how we think and what our priorities are.”
  The use of technology to better serve customers goes beyond the Web site and the use of social media. Late last year, MassDOT released a real-time feed of MBTA bus locations on five popular routes. Developers were able to access the feed and incorporate the information into mobile phone and Web-based applications to help MBTA customers know the actual location and estimated arrival of their buses.
  “To have this done at almost no cost to the taxpayer and having our customers see a benefit is terrific,” Mr. Mullan said.
  He foresees similar scenarios playing out with apps for traffic advisories and construction updates and for motorists to communicate with MassDOT.
  “We’re encouraging people to develop customer service apps for us,” he said. “If you see a pothole, you could send MassDOT an update through this application. That would pop out a work order, something we would pay attention to.”
  Early in his tenure, Mr. Mullan was aware that a big part of his job was to regain the public’s confidence in Massachusetts’ transportation entities.
  “It took us a long time to get into the situation that we’re in,” he said. “It’s not going to be solved overnight. We’ve chosen the path of reform, but I don’t know where it’s going to end up. We’ll be working on saving money and making people more satisfied with the transportation services we deliver."

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE