by Michael Laferriere

ALERT: London- Explosive device detonated on a London Underground (September 15, 2017)

September 15, 2017

An improvised explosive device was detonated on a London Underground train on Friday morning, injuring 22 people in what police say was a terrorist incident. No arrests have been made yet.

The New York Times reports:

LONDON — Britain was hit by a terrorist attack on Friday morning, when a crude device exploded on a crowded London Underground train, injuring commuters, sowing panic, disrupting service and drawing a heavy response from armed police officers and emergency workers.

The device exploded at 8:20 a.m. on a District Line train leaving the Parsons Green station in Southwest London.

“This was a detonation of an improvised explosive device,” Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley of the Metropolitan Police, a top counterterrorism official, said at a news conference. He urged anyone who had seen what happened, or had taken photos or videos of the bombing, to come forward.

The authorities immediately beefed up security around the transit system, as hundreds of police officers and detectives combed the scene for clues.

The Financial Times reports:

An improvised explosive device was detonated on a London Underground train on Friday morning, injuring 22 people in what police say was a terrorist incident. Counter-terrorism officers took charge of the investigation and were seeking to establish who had planted the device on a packed commuter train during rush hour. Armed police and emergency services rushed to Parsons Green Underground station in west London after receiving reports of an explosion at 8.20am.

The device comprised a bucket in a carrier bag with protruding wires, according to witness accounts and images on social media. Passengers on the District Line train said it burst into flames, leaving those nearest to it with burns.

Theresa May has called a meeting of the emergency Cobra committee to discuss the event. “My thoughts are with those injured at Parsons Green and emergency services who are responding bravely to this terrorist incident,” the prime minister said.

The Washington Post reports:

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump weighed in Friday on an attack in London by a “loser terrorist” and used the episode to call for an expansion of his travel ban that has temporarily blocked entry into the United States by citizens of six Muslim-majority countries.

“The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific-but stupidly, that would not be politically correct!” the president wrote on Twitter.

Please contact the PR Team if you have any questions or concerns: TravelLeadersGroupPR@TravelLeaders.com.

 

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 by Michael Laferriere

ALERT: Hurricane Irma- Airlines Prep for Shutdown (September 8, 2017)

 

September 8, 2017

 

Hurricane Irma’s impending landfall in Florida is forcing airlines serving some of the largest airports in Florida to shutter operations for the weekend. Commercial flights will cease at Key West Airport at 8 p.m. on Friday and Orlando International Airport at 5 p.m. on Saturday and at Fort Lauderdale at 7:45 p.m. American Airlines, Delta and United Air Lines have each issued travel advisories or waivers for individuals with tickets to or from certain cities the region.

 

MoneyCNN reports:

By late Saturday, Miami, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale – home to the 12th, 13th, 21st largest airports in the U.S., respectively – will be largely dormant as the extreme weather rolls in.

But the prospect of a direct hit from Irma represents another blow to U.S. air travel in one of the busiest air corridors on the planet for business and leisure travel.

Among Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, the three airports handled more than 115 million passengers in 2016.

The scramble was so acute that the Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday evening said air traffic controllers were increasing the space between flights from Miami and nearby Fort Lauderdale to enable them to better manage the crowded skies. And American Airlines (AAL) was briefly under an FAA ground stop in Miami due to ATC rerouting outbound aircraft.

The airline had added 16 extra flights from Miami on Thursday, including 12 to Dallas, one to Philadelphia and three to New York, enough room for more than 3,600 passengers. The Fort Worth-based carrier said it has canceled more than 2,400 flights as of Thursday afternoon stretching through Sept. 11.

The biggest single carrier in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale region is American, which accounts of 38% of the flying there, according to Morgan Stanley. Southwest Airlines (LUV) is the largest single operator in Orlando at 20%.

Delta Air Lines (DAL), too, has added 2,000 additional seats on Thursday flights out of Florida and Caribbean islands, including the Bahamas, Dominican Republic and Jamaica, including 1,500 from Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

Airlines and airports operate preparedness plans in 72, 48 and 24 hour markers, evacuating aircraft and personnel and preparing stations as part of a methodical checklist ahead of a storm’s arrival, according to Ken Jenkins, principal crisis response strategist at NavAid Crisis Consulting Group.

Commercial flights will cease at Key West Airport at 8 p.m. on Friday and Orlando International Airport at 5 p.m. on Saturday due to Hurricane Irma and Fort Lauderdale at 7:45 p.m. In Orlando, 50 knot winds will shut down the airport’s outdoor tram which shuttles passengers between terminals.

The duration of any shutdown remains uncertain. American said any timeline for resumption of flights will be governed by not only airport conditions, but also the ability of airport and airline staff to get to work.

It’s not just commercial airlines getting out of Irma’s path.

Farther north in South Carolina, Boeing (BA) said it was suspending manufacturing operations starting on Saturday morning. The company’s expansive North Charleston facility is flying out any 787 Dreamliner that’s able to fly or bringing aircraft inside the factory, which is rated for a category five hurricane.

Residents were told to evacuate with a tsunami alert issued for the region and neighbouring countries.

Please contact the PR Team if you have any questions or concerns: TravelLeadersGroupPR@TravelLeaders.com.

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 by Michael Laferriere

ALERT: Tsunami Warning for Pacific Coast of Mexico After Earthquake (September 8, 2017)

September 8, 2017

A tsunami “threat” was issued by the U.S. Tsunami Warning System off the coast of Chiapas, Mexico after the most powerful earthquake to hit Mexico in a 100 years was reported off the Pacific coast of Mexico, leaving at least 29 people dead. At this time, the major U.S. airlines have not issued travel waivers for this area.

The San Jose Mercury News reports:

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System said hazardous tsunami waves were possible on the Pacific coasts of several Central American countries. Waves were possible within the next three hours for Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Honduras and Ecuador, it said. There was no tsunami threat for the U.S. West Coast.

CNN reports:

At least 29 people have died after the most powerful earthquake to hit Mexico in a century struck off the country’s southern coast.

The magnitude-8.1 quake, which was felt as far as Mexico City and Guatemala City, was registered off Mexico’s southern coast just as heavy rains from Hurricane Katia lashed the east. The epicenter was in the Pacific Ocean, some 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) southeast of the capital and 74 miles (120 kilometers) from the Pacific coast.

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto said the quake was the strongest earthquake Mexico has experienced in 100 years.

It hit just before midnight on Thursday, when many people would have been sleeping.

Alejandro Murat, the governor of Oaxaca, told CNN that 23 people were killed in his state alone. Four others have died in Chiapas state and two in Tabasco.

The Travel Weekly UK reports:

The magnitude 8.2 quake struck about 62 miles south-west of the town of Pijijiapan just after midnight on Thursday local time.

The quake was reportedly felt in Mexico City, with buildings shaking and people running into the street.

Residents were told to evacuate with a tsunami alert issued for the region and neighbouring countries.

Please contact the PR Team if you have any questions or concerns: TravelLeadersGroupPR@TravelLeaders.com.

 

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 by Michael Laferriere

Talking Points: Hurricane Irma (September 7, 2017)

Talking Points – Hurricane Irma

Copyright © 2017 – Travel Leaders Group LLC. All rights reserved.

The following Talking Points can be used in conversations with the media and clients who have questions about Hurricane Irma. (September 7, 2017)

1. The U.S. State Department has issued Travel Warnings for the Dominican Republic, Haiti, the Bahamas, and Cuba due to Hurricane Irma. Other areas of the Caribbean, as well as Florida, have been, or will be, affected by the storm.

2. We are here to assist our clients; their safety and well-being is our top priority.

3. We provide the facts so our clients can make an informed decision about their travel plans.

Below you will find additional information, supporting material, and statistics supporting each talking point.

1. The U.S. State Department has issued Travel Warnings for the Dominican Republic, Haiti, the Bahamas, and Cuba due to Hurricane Irma. Other areas of the Caribbean, as well as Florida, have been, or will be, affected by the storm.

For Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti, the State Department warns Americans to “carefully reconsider travel to Cuba due to Hurricane Irma.”

 For The Bahamas, the State Department is advising against all travel to the country, as well as Turks and Caicos.

o “We recommend U.S. citizens depart The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands if possible and work with commercial air carriers to leave prior to the arrival of the hurricane. Airports will close once conditions deteriorate and safe travel will not be possible, expected sometime on September 8. We recommend those citizens who are unable to depart to shelter in place in a secure location.”

 Hurricane Irma is currently classified as a Category 5 hurricane. The National Hurricane Center notes as of 5:00 a.m. on September 7:

o “Irma is a potentially catastrophic category 5 hurricane and will bring life-threatening window, storm surge, and rainfall hazards to the northern coast of Hispaniola [home of Haiti and the Dominican Republic] today, the Turks and Caicos tonight, and the Bahamas tonight through Saturday.”

o “A hurricane watch is in effect for much of Cuba. Irma is likely to bring dangerous wind, storms surge, and rainfall to portions of these areas on Friday and Saturday.

o “The threat of direct hurricane impacts in Florida over the weekend and early next week continues to increase. Hurricane watches will likely be issued for portions of the Florida Keys and the Florida peninsula later this morning.”

 Hurricane Irma has already caused extensive destruction in the Caribbean. Puerto Rico, Barbuda, St. Barth’s and St. Martin were deeply affected.

o According to NBC, “Irma, the most powerful Atlantic hurricane on record, skirted Puerto Rico on Wednesday night as it stayed just out to sea.” The storm caused widespread loss of electricity on the island.

 

o NBC also reported: “The Category 5 storm battered the tiny island of Barbuda and left thousands homeless on the island territories of St. Bart and St. Martin, where local officials said about 95 percent of the island was completely demolished after Wednesday’s thrashing.”

 On the United States mainland, Florida is making emergency preparations. Florida governor Rick Scott has ordered several evacuations:

o “Miami Dade has issued mandatory evacuations for zones A and B.”

o “Broward County has issued voluntary evacuations of mobile homes and low-lying areas beginning today.”

o “Collier County has issued voluntary evacuations of Marco Island beginning today.”

o “Monroe County has issued mandatory evacuations for visitors beginning this morning. Mandatory evacuations for residents will begin this evening.”

o “Individuals with special needs started being evacuated from Miami-Dade County this morning.”

o “Additional evacuations are expected throughout the state. All Floridians should pay close attention to local alerts and follow the directions of local officials.”

 Florida airports are currently operating, however this may change as the storm moves closer.

o Miami International Airport notes on its Twitter account: “We are anticipating a high volume of passengers today and if you’re traveling, [we] recommend you arrive at least two hours before departure time. Expect flight cancellations due to the storm. Please contact you[r] airline regarding flight status before heading to the airport.”

o Officials at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport note that they are experiencing numerous flight delays and cancellations.

o Tampa International Airport remains operational and is closely watching the storm.

o Orlando International Airport says that “Flights at Orlando International Airport are currently operating as normal.”

 Disney World and Universal Orlando are open. The Orlando Sentinel reports that both have cancellation policies in place.

o “At Universal Orlando Resort, the parks’ hours are operating as normal as they monitor the weather but visitors can reschedule or seek refunds, according to spokesman Tom Schroder. ‘We have an affirmative, no-questions-asked policy for guests who tell us they want to change plans or seek a refund because of a named storm involving the Orlando area or where they are traveling from,’ Schroder said in an email.”

o “Walt Disney World Resort policy allows people to reschedule or cancel their vacation packages and most room-only reservations without any fees if a hurricane warning is issued by National Hurricane Center for the Orlando area or a visitor’s residence [is] within seven days of the traveler’s scheduled arrival, according to Disney’s website.”

 Cruise lines are cancelling and rerouting their cruises leaving out of Florida and/or going to the Caribbean.

 

o USA Today writes: “With Hurricane Irma bearing down on Florida, cruise lines now have canceled every voyage scheduled to depart from the state on Friday — an unusually broad stoppage. Many of Saturday’s sailings already have been canceled, too.

“The Friday cancellations include sailings on three Miami-based ships: Carnival’s 2,758-passenger Carnival Victory, Royal Caribbean’s 2,446-passenger Enchantment of the Seas and Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2,004-passenger Norwegian Sky.

Also canceled are voyages on two Port Canaveral-based ships: Disney Cruise Line’s 2,500-passenger Disney Dream and Royal Caribbean’s 2,350-passenger Majesty of the Seas. Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s Palm Beach-based Grand Celebration also is sitting out its Friday departure.”

The publication has provided a complete list of Florida cruises that have been affected by Hurricane Irma: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2017/09/06/hurricane-irma-complete-list-cruises-canceled-delayed/636775001/

2. We are here to assist our clients; their safety and well-being is our top priority.

We are advocates for our clients; and they know that by working with a true travel professional, we are there for them before, during and after their trip should they need us – which gives them peace of mind.

 We strongly encourage all of our clients, whether they are traveling domestically or internationally, to purchase travel insurance, particularly right at the same time as travel has been booked. Travel insurance offers an additional layer of protection for travelers and can potentially help save a traveler hundreds or thousands of dollars if a medical or travel emergency occurs.

 Travel agents are trained to monitor situations, such tropical storms and hurricanes, which may impact their clients’ travel plans. As such, they also are in a position to work on alternative travel plans and have those in place the moment the need arises.

 If changes in travel plans are necessary due to weather, many times, travel agents are able to rebook clients for no additional charge or are able to obtain travel vouchers and/or refunds that clients may not know are due or available to them.

o Some U.S. airlines are now offering travel waivers due to Irma, including:

Alaska Airlines

American Airlines

Delta Air Lines

United Airlines

 With limited airline seats available, travel agents have the resources needed to quickly rebook clients and reserve the next available seat.

o Travelers who book on their own either have to “roll the dice” by calling an 800-number or standing in a lengthy customer service line to try get rebooked. Using a travel agent can essentially move you to the “front of the line.”

3. We provide the facts so our clients can make an informed decision about their travel plans.

 We closely monitor the latest news and weather updates, as well as the U.S. Department of State website, for travel alerts and travel warnings for all destinations, including those that are most popular with our clients.

 Should we become aware of an issue for a specific destination, we alert clients who may be planning to travel there so they can determine for themselves if they still wish to travel.

 Also, should we become aware of an issue for a specific destination where a client is currently located, we try to immediately contact the client to check on their well-being and work to assist them if they require alternate travel arrangements.

 

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 by Michael Laferriere

ALERT: Hurricane Irma (Updated-September 7, 2017)

September 7, 2017

Irma is still a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph. Reports state it has maintained intensity above 180 mph longer than any storm in Atlantic basin history.

This morning, the National Hurricane Center stated: “The eye of Irma should continue to move just north of the coast of Hispaniola today, be near the Turks and Caicos and southeastern Bahamas by this

evening, and then be near the Central Bahamas by Friday..”

Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina have all declared states of emergency, and mandatory evacuations took place in the Florida Keys and were set to begin today in the Miami area.

According to The Weather Channel:

Miami-Dade County ordered its first mandatory evacuation in 12 years Wednesday. The order goes into effect at 9 a.m. Thursday.

About 420,000 people living in Miami Evacuation Zones A and B along the coast are expected to be told to flee. The last time a similar evacuation was ordered was for Hurricane Wilma in 2005.

[In the Florida Keys], mandatory evacuations have been ordered for both visitors and residents ahead of the storm. An estimated 25,000 or more left the area, causing bumper-to-bumper traffic on the single highway linking the islands to the mainland.

The New York Times reports:

Hurricane Irma, one of the strongest ever recorded in the Atlantic, made direct hits on Barbuda, St. Barthélemy, St. Martin, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands, and raked the United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

The death toll from the storm stood at 11 on Thursday morning, but the authorities warned that it would rise as communications improved.

Nearly 70 percent of households in Puerto Rico were without power after hurricane-force winds and torrential rain. Almost 50,000 people were without water, according to the territory’s emergency management agency.

The Category 5 hurricane, which by 5 a.m. Thursday had slowed to 180 miles per hour from 185, left Barbuda in shambles, damaging 95 percent of its buildings and leaving the island “barely habitable.”

Major airlines have travel waivers in place, including: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Many cruise lines are also impacted, read more here.

According to the National Hurricane Center:

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…

* Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to the northern border with

Haiti

* Haiti from the northern border with the Dominican Republic to Le

Mole St. Nicholas

* Southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands

* Central Bahamas

* Northwestern Bahamas

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…

* Cuba from Matanzas province eastward to Guantanamo province

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…

* Dominican Republic from south of Cabo Engano westward to the

southern border with Haiti

* Haiti from south of Le Mole St. Nicholas to Port-Au-Prince

* Cuba provinces of Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas

Interests elsewhere in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, as well as

Cuba and Florida should monitor the progress of Irma. A Hurricane

Watch will likely be issued later this morning for portions of

southern Florida and the Florida Keys.

For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products

issued by your national meteorological service.

DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK

——————————

At 800 AM AST (1200 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Irma was located

near latitude 20.1 North, longitude 69.0 West. Irma is moving

toward the west-northwest near 17 mph (28 km/h), and this general

motion is expected to continue with some decrease in forward speed

for the next couple of days. On the forecast track, the eye of Irma

should continue to move just north of the coast of Hispaniola today,

be near the Turks and Caicos and southeastern Bahamas by this

evening, and then be near the Central Bahamas by Friday.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 180 mph (285 km/h) with

higher gusts. Irma is a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson

Hurricane Wind Scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely

during the next day or two, but Irma is forecast to remain a

powerful category 4 or 5 hurricane during the next couple of days.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

———————-

STORM SURGE: The combination of a life-threatening storm surge and

large breaking waves will raise water levels ABOVE NORMAL TIDE

LEVELS by the following amounts within the hurricane warning area

near and to the north of the center of Irma. Near the coast, the

surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

Turks and Caicos Islands…15 to 20 ft

Southeastern and central Bahamas…15 to 20 ft

Northwestern Bahamas…4 to 7 ft

Northern coast of the Dominican Republic…3 to 5 ft

Northern coast of Haiti and the Gulf of Gonave…1 to 3 ft

Northern coast of Cuba in the warning area…5 to 10 ft

Water levels around Puerto Rico should subside today.

WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected to begin within the

hurricane warning area in the Dominican Republic and Haiti today,

with tropical storm conditions beginning in the next few hours.

Hurricane conditions are expected to begin in the warning area in

the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands later

today with tropical storm conditions expected within the next

several hours. These conditions will spread into the Central

Bahamas by tonight or early Friday.

Hurricane and tropical storm conditions are possible within the

watch area in Cuba by Friday. Tropical storm conditions are

expected to begin within the warning area in Cuba tonight. Hurricane

conditions are expected in the northwestern Bahamas Friday night and

Saturday.

RAINFALL: Irma is expected to produce the following rain

accumulations through Saturday:

Northeast Puerto Rico and the British and U.S. Virgin Islands…An

additional 2 to 4 inches.

Much of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos…8 to 12 inches,

isolated 20 inches.

Northern Dominican Republic and northern Haiti…4 to 10 inches,

isolated 15 inches.

Eastern and Central Cuba…4 to 10 inches, isolated 15 inches.

Southern Haiti…1 to 4 inches.

In all areas this rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods

and mudslides.

SURF: Swells generated by Irma are affecting the northern Leeward

Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the southeastern Bahamas,

the Turks and Caicos Islands, the northern coast of the Dominican

Republic, and they should start affecting portions of the southeast

coast of the United States later today and tonight. These swells

are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current

conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.

Please contact the PR Team if you have any questions or concerns: TravelLeadersGroupPR@TravelLeaders.com.

 

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 by Michael Laferriere

Talking Points: Europe Travel (September 1, 2017)

Talking Points – Europe Travel Alert

Copyright © 2016 – Travel Leaders Group LLC. All rights reserved.

The following Talking Points can be used in conversations with the media and clients when discussing travel to Europe. (Updated September 1, 2017)

1. While there continues to be an active Travel Alert for Europe, issued by the U.S. State Department, it does not warn Americans against traveling there, and it’s important to note that a Travel Alert is quite different from a Travel Warning.

2. All travelers, no matter what country they visit, can take precautions to help ensure their safety and well-being.

3. Safety is our top priority for our clients.

Below you will find additional information, supporting material and statistics to help further illustrate each talking point.

1. While there continues to be an active Travel Alert for Europe, issued by the U.S. State Department, it does not warn Americans against traveling there, and it’s important to note that a Travel Alert is quite different from a Travel Warning.

The U.S. State Department updated its Travel Alert for Europe on August 31, 2017.

o The alert was issued to “alert U.S. citizens to the continued threat of terrorist attacks throughout Europe.”

o “Recent, widely reported incidents in France, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Finland demonstrate that the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS or Da’esh), al-Qa’ida, and their affiliates have the ability to plan and execute terrorist attacks in Europe. While local governments continue counterterrorism operations, the Department remains concerned about the potential for future terrorist attacks. U.S. citizens should always be alert to the possibility that terrorist sympathizers or self-radicalized extremists may conduct attacks with little or no warning.”

o “Terrorists persist in employing a variety of tactics, including firearms, explosives, using vehicles as ramming devices, and sharp-edged weapons that are difficult to detect prior to an attack.”

o “Extremists continue to focus on tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities as viable targets. In addition, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, high-profile events, educational institutions, airports, and other soft targets remain priority locations for possible attacks. U.S. citizens should exercise additional vigilance in these and similar locations.”

o The Travel Alert expires November 30, 2017.

Belgium: In addition, in August, Belgian soldiers killed a man in the city center after he came at them with a knife shouting Allahu Akbar (God is great). Authorities treated the incident as a terrorist attack.

o In March, a French national of North African origin was arrested in Antwerp on suspicion of driving at a crowd. The car was driven “at high speed” on the city’s main shopping street, before it was intercepted. There were no reports of any injuries.

 

France: Several small attacks have taken place in Paris in 2017.

o On April 21, Paris suffered several “lone wolf” style terrorist attacks that closed the Champs-Elysées. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack that killed one policeman and severely injured two others. The gunman was shot dead shortly after the attack. This attack came right before France’s presidential elections.

o In February, police wounded a man with a machete outside the Louvre in what the government said appeared to have been a terrorist attack.

Spain: On August 17, 2017, numerous people were killed and injured in vehicle attacks in Barcelona and in the town of Cambrils. The U.S. State Department has no Travel Warning or Alert in effect advising Americans against travel to Spain.

o In the late afternoon of August 17, a vehicle entered Las Ramblas at a high speed, hitting numerous pedestrians. Las Ramblas is an iconic area of Barcelona, popular with tourists and locals. More than a dozen people were killed in the attack and over 50 were injured.

o Early in the morning on August 18, there was also an attack in the seaside resort town of Cambrils, near Barcelona, where one person was killed and six injured.

United Kingdom: Multiple attacks have taken place in London and Manchester.

o On the evening of June 3, a van deliberately ran into pedestrians on London Bridge. Three men got out and stabbed people at Borough Market before being killed by police

o On May 22, 2017, at Manchester Arena, a suicide bomb was detonated at the conclusion of a concert resulting that killed 22.

o In April, police in the United Kingdom averted several terror plots. According to CNN: “Police in London say they have foiled a second active terror plot in 24 hours, after arresting six people in raids across the British capital and southeast England.”

o On March 22, there was a terrorist attack outside the Houses of Parliament in London. One woman died and a police officer was stabbed in the Houses of Parliament in London. The attacker, who was shot by police officers, mowed down several pedestrians as he drove a car across Westminster Bridge.

 It should be noted that a Travel Alert is quite different from a Travel Warning, and the two are not interchangeable.

o The U.S. State Department’s Travel Alert for all of Europe does not warn against travel to Europe; it advises Americans to be aware of potential risks.

o The Travel Alert for Europe is very much in keeping with the longstanding Worldwide Caution that has continuously been in effect since 9/11.

2. All travelers, no matter what country they visit, can take precautions to help ensure their safety and well-being.

We recommend that U.S. citizens follow the advice of the State Department and register their travel plans at https://step.state.gov. This will help the State Department contact travelers if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or in the event an emergency transpires in the place where the individual is traveling.

o The U.S. State Department also offers a helpful guide called Traveler’s Checklist which provides additional travel tips.

 

o Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained through the Consular Information Program documents, by downloading the free Smart Traveler iPhone App, following the State Department on Twitter or the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook. Citizens can also call 888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, Eastern Time (except U.S. federal holidays).

 We also strongly encourage all of our clients, whether they are traveling domestically or internationally, to purchase travel insurance, particularly right at the same time as travel has been booked. Travel insurance offers an additional layer of protection for travelers and can potentially help save a traveler hundreds or thousands of dollars if a medical or travel emergency occurs.

 The U.S. State Department alert also provides steps American travelers can take:

o “Review security information from local officials, who are responsible for the safety and security of all visitors to their host country.”

o “Monitor media and local information sources and factor updated information into personal travel plans and activities.”

o “Be prepared for additional security screening and unexpected disruptions.”

o “Stay in touch with your family members and ensure they know how to reach you in the event of an emergency.”

o “Have an emergency plan of action ready.”

 While no one can say with certainty that any destination is 100% safe, we strongly encourage our clients to use care and common sense – no matter where they travel – to maximize their safety and security. For example:

o Leave your itinerary, and passport data page, with a friend or family member back home so you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

o Know and respect the laws in the country you are visiting.

o Remain alert to your surroundings at all times. Follow your instincts and avoid any areas or situations that seem as though they could become dangerous.

o Avoid all demonstrations, as even peaceful ones can quickly become unruly and a foreigner could become a target of harassment. If caught unexpectedly near a demonstration, obey instructions from police and leave the area as quickly as possible.

o Ask tour guides and hotel officials about any planned demonstrations in the locations they plan to visit.

o Do not display expensive looking jewelry, large amounts of money or other valuable items, such as electronics. Also, do not leave luggage unattended in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers.

o Check with your cell phone provider prior to departure to see if your phone is capable of roaming on GSM or 3G/4G international networks.

o Check your medical insurance coverage to make sure it applies overseas. If it doesn’t, consider buying travel insurance that covers overseas medical attention and medical evacuation.

3. Safety is our top priority for our clients.

Our business is founded on repeat customers. Therefore, we want to be sure everything goes off without a hitch.

 We provide the facts so our clients can make informed decisions about their travel plans.

 We closely monitor the U.S. Department of State website for travel alerts for all destinations, including those that are most popular with our clients.

 Should we become aware of an issue for a specific destination, we alert clients who may be planning to travel there so they can make determine for themselves if they still wish to travel.

 We also work closely with respected hotels, resorts, cruise lines, tour operators and other suppliers to remain informed of security precautions they’re taking to guard our clients’ safety.

 

in Talking Points 0 comments
 by Michael Laferriere

ALERT: Hurricane Irma (September 6, 2017)

September 6, 2017

Hurricane Irma continues to barrel through the Caribbean with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph. It is being called one of the most powerful Atlantic storms in a century.

This morning, the National Hurricane Center stated: “The extremely dangerous core of Irma will move over portions of the northern Virgin Islands today, pass near or just north of Puerto Rico this afternoon or tonight, and pass near or just north of the coast of the Dominican Republic Thursday.”

Major airlines have travel waivers in place, including: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Many cruise lines are also impacted.

USA Today reports:

Carnival and Disney Cruise Line late Tuesday joined Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line in cancelling upcoming sailings out of Florida … Vessels heading back to Florida ports ahead of schedule include Norwegian Sky, Norwegian Escape, Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream.

More than half a dozen other Florida-based ships are operating drastically modified itineraries this week to avoid the storm, with many switching from Eastern Caribbean to Western Caribbean routes.

According to the National Hurricane Center: Travel Leaders • 3033 Campus Drive Ste W320 • Plymouth, MN 55441

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…

* Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts, and Nevis

* Saba, St. Eustatius, and Sint Maarten

* Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy

* British Virgin Islands

* U.S. Virgin Islands

* Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra Travel Leaders • 3033 Campus Drive Ste W320 • Plymouth, MN 55441

* Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to the northern border with

Haiti

* Guadeloupe

* Southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…

* Haiti from the northern border with the Dominican Republic to Le

Mole St. Nicholas

* Turks and Caicos Islands

* Southeastern Bahamas

* Cuba from Matanzas province eastward to Guantanamo province

* Central Bahamas

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…

* Dominican Republic from south of Cabo Engano westward to the

southern border with Haiti

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…

* Haiti from south of Le Mole St. Nicholas to Port-Au-Prince

Interests elsewhere in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, as

well as Cuba, the northwestern Bahamas, and Florida should monitor

the progress of Irma.

DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK

——————————

At 800 AM AST (1200 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Irma was located near

latitude 18.1 North, longitude 63.3 West. Irma is moving toward the

west-northwest near 16 mph (26 km/h), and this general motion is

expected to continue for the next couple of days. On the forecast

track, the extremely dangerous core of Irma will move over portions

of the northern Virgin Islands today, pass near or just north of

Puerto Rico this afternoon or tonight, and pass near or just north

of the coast of the Dominican Republic Thursday.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 185 mph (295 km/h) with higher

gusts. Irma is a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson

Hurricane Wind Scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely

during the next day or two, but Irma is forecast to remain a

powerful category 4 or 5 hurricane during the next couple of days.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 50 miles (85 km) from

the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175

miles (280 km). A wind gust to 90 mph (146 km/h) was recently on

the island of St. Eustatius located south of the eye of Irma. A

NOAA National Ocean Service station on Barbuda reported sustained

winds of 118 mph (190 km/h) with a gust to 155 mph (249 km/h)

before the instrument failed earlier this morning.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

———————-

STORM SURGE: The combination of a life-threatening storm surge and

large breaking waves will raise water levels ABOVE NORMAL TIDE

LEVELS by the following amounts within the hurricane warning area Travel Leaders • 3033 Campus Drive Ste W320 • Plymouth, MN 55441

near and to the north of the center of Irma. Near the coast, the

surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

Northern Leeward Islands…7 to 11 ft

Turks and Caicos Islands…15 to 20 ft

Southeastern Bahamas…15 to 20 ft

Northern coast of the Dominican Republic…3 to 5 ft

Northern coast of Haiti and the Gulf of Gonave…1 to 3 ft

The combination of a life-threatening storm surge and the tide will

cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising

waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water is expected to

reach the following HEIGHTS ABOVE GROUND if the peak surge occurs at

the time of high tide…

British and U.S. Virgin Islands except St. Croix…7 to 11 ft

Northern coast of Puerto Rico…3 to 5 ft

Southern coast of Puerto Rico and St. Croix…1 to 2 ft

WIND: Hurricane conditions will continue today within the

hurricane warning area in the Leeward Islands. Hurricane

conditions are expected to begin within the British and U.S. Virgin

Islands this morning and spread westward over portions of Puerto

Rico later today. Hurricane conditions are expected to begin within

the hurricane warning area in the Dominican Republic early Thursday,

with tropical storm conditions beginning tonight. Hurricane

conditions are expected in the warning area in the southeastern

Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands beginning Thursday night.

Hurricane and tropical storm conditions are possible within the

watch area in Haiti by early Thursday and in the central Bahamas

and Cuba by Friday.

RAINFALL: Irma is expected to produce the following rain

accumulations through Thursday:

Northern Leeward Islands…8 to 12 inches, isolated 20 inches

Northeast Puerto Rico and the British and U.S. Virgin Islands…4 to

10 inches, isolated 15 inches Southwest Puerto Rico, the southern

Leeward Islands, and Saint Croix…2 to 4 inches

Irma is expected to produce the following rain accumulations

Wednesday through Saturday:

Southeast Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos and eastern to central

Cuba…8 to 12 inches, isolated 20 inches

Northern Dominican Republic and northern Haiti…4 to 10 inches,

isolated 15 inches

Southwest Haiti…1 to 4 inches

In all areas this rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods

and mudslides.

SURF: Swells generated by Irma will affect the northern Leeward

Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the southeastern Bahamas,

the Turks and Caicos Islands, the northern coast of the Dominican

Republic, and portions of the southeast coast of the United States

during the next several days. These swells are likely to cause

life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult

products from your local weather office.

Please contact the PR Team if you have any questions or concerns: TravelLeadersGroupPR@TravelLeaders.com.

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 by Michael Laferriere

ALERT: Japan Airlines Plane Makes Emergency Landing (September 5, 2017)

September 5, 2017

A Japan Airlines flight from Tokyo to New York made an emergency landing at Haneda International Airport on Tuesday. The cause is pending, but has been alleged to be a bird strike during takeoff. No injuries were reported.

The Japan Times reports:

A total of 251 passengers and crew members were aboard the plane, but no one was injured.

The operator of the Boeing 777 first suspected a bird strike, but the ministry later said there was no sign that birds had been hit by the aircraft.

JAL Flight 6 took off from Haneda airport at 11 a.m., heading in a northerly direction. An onboard alarm indicated trouble with the left engine shortly afterward and the aircraft notified air traffic control.

After the pilots shut down the left engine, the plane returned to Haneda and landed at 12:09 p.m.

After the landing, the transport ministry’s office at the airport confirmed via a monitor that flames were coming from the plane’s left engine and noticed smoke rising from grass near the northern edge of the runway. The runway was closed and shattered aircraft parts were later found there.

According to the International Business Times:

Video footage broadcast by Japan’s public broadcaster NHK News showed red flames flickering from the left engine of the Boeing 777 as the aircraft ascended from the runway. 

According to Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism official, a grass field near one of the runways caught fire for a brief period after the JAL plane departed, but it was doused immediately.

Passengers on board heaved a sigh of relief as they landed safely.

“Right after taking off, we heard five bangs and the plane shook,” a 57-year-old passenger told NHK after landing. “But all the passengers were calm.”

Haneda, one of the world’s busiest airports, is reported to be the worst for bird strikes in Japan.

There were apparently 182 cases of bird strikes last year, which was followed by Osaka airport with 73 cases and Narita at 57, according to Japan’s Asahi Shimbun newspaper.

Please contact the PR Team if you have any questions or concerns: TravelLeadersGroupPR@TravelLeaders.com.

 

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 by Michael Laferriere

Norwegian Cruise Update- Hurricane Irma

Hurricane Irma Update
September 5, 2017 2:00 PM

At Norwegian Cruise Line, the safety and security of our guests and crew is of the utmost importance. The company is closely monitoring Hurricane Irma, now a major category 5 hurricane, located just east of the Leeward islands. The storm’s forecasted path includes a potential impact to South Florida this weekend.

Due to the current forecasted path of the storm, we will be making adjustments to the following cruises to ensure the safety of everyone on board:

  • Norwegian Escape, Seven-Day Western Caribbean cruise departed September 2 from Miami: We will be amending the ship’s itinerary to a five-day cruise. Instead of calling in Costa Maya on Wednesday and Cozumel on Thursday, the ship will sail for Miami this evening, arriving in the afternoon on Thursday, September 7.  Those guests who are residents of South Florida, who drove to PortMiami or who have travel plans already confirmed that will return them safely home by Friday afternoon may disembark the ship on Thursday if they wish to do so. For those guests who did not drive to PortMiami and are unable to secure a flight back home, we strongly encourage them to stay onboard the ship. Norwegian Escape will set sail from Miami on Thursday evening on a course away from the storm. While we are unable to confirm at this time when and where the ship will return to port, we welcome all guests to remain onboard to stay safe and secure. All guests will received a refund for the missed days of their cruise, along with a 25% future cruise credit of the cruise fare paid towards a future sailing on Norwegian. Guests who need to make changes to any flights will be reimbursed for any change fees up to $300 per person.
  • Norwegian Sky, Four-Day Cuba Cruise departed September 4 from Miami: We will be amending the ship’s itinerary to a three-day cruise. Instead of calling in Great Stirrup Cay on Thursday, the ship will sail for Miami following her departure from Havana tomorrow, arriving in the morning on Thursday, September 7. All guests will receive a refund for the missed day of their cruise, along with a 25% future cruise credit of the cruise fare paid towards a future sailing on Norwegian. Guests who need to make changes to any flights will be reimbursed for any change fees up to $300 per person
  • Norwegian Sky, September 8 from Miami: The ship’s three-day Bahamas cruise has been cancelled.  We will be providing a full refund to all guests, plus a 50% future cruise credit.
  • Norwegian Escape, September 9 from Miami: The ship’s seven-day Eastern Caribbean Cruise has been cancelled.  We will be providing a full refund to all guests, plus a 50% future cruise credit.
All other cruises are currently sailing as scheduled. We continue to monitor the storm’s projected path and will provide any updates as quickly as they are available.We truly appreciate our guests understanding during these unforeseen itinerary changes and apologize for any inconvenience these unexpected, but necessary, changes may cause our guests. The ships are opening phone lines and email access so that guests can communicate with family members and their travel agents, as necessary.
Any further updates will be communicated to guests & Travel Partners and posted on our social media channels, and www.ncl.com under the Weather Alert.

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