Date: Wednesday, July 09, 2003 Contact: Alma Megeath (408) 558 9565 F O R I M E D I A T E R E L E A S E EcoAdventures, Inc. Sponsors Travel Agent Seminars & Exciting Weekend Getaways Seminars feature the Growing Latin America Market San Jose, CA EcoAdventures, Inc., long known as one of the leading sponsors of travel agent seminars, is inaugurating an innovative series of travel agent workshops, combined with fun and exciting Weekend Getaways. "Agents have told us that they are less and less able to attend workshops on weekdays," says Alma Megeath, President of San Jose, CA-based EcoAdventures. "Yet, at the same time, destination training is such an integral aspect of the profession! Therefore, we have shifted our focus from weekday to Saturday seminars, hoping to reach those agents that are desk-bound during the week." To further aid the agents in attending these very popular seminars, and to also extend the opportunity to those more far-flung agents, EcoAdventures has partnered with nine top hotels in nine exciting venues, to offer special travel agent rates from as low as $59 per room per night, for both the Friday and Saturday nights of the seminar weekends. EcoAdventures, Inc. is a leading travel wholesaler since 1992, specializing in Latin America, and the seminars will offer detailed destination training for Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Brazil - "Our top sellers" quotes Megeath. "Sales to Latin America are up 20% over pre-911 levels, and it is important for agents to gain the skills to sell this rapidly growing destination. Besides valuable destination training, we will also share important sales tips on common pitfalls to avoid, common misconceptions to dispel, etc., all designed to give the agents self-confidence and to help them close on the bookings." There will be two separate Saturday sessions: a morning session, from 8:30 am - 12:00 noon, will be repeated Saturday afternoon from 1:30 pm - 5:00 pm. The seminars will be operated like mini-trade shows, with supplier literature from the cruise lines, hotels, lodges and programs on display tables. The complete line-up and details for the seminars can be viewed on the EcoAdventures website, www.ecoadventures.com/seminars, and are listed below. Agents may register for the seminars online, or may call EcoAdventures at (800) 818-8707. Instructions for booking the hotel rooms at these greatly reduced rates are also on the website. Seminar and hotel booking information can also be faxed or emailed upon request. Space is limited and subject to availability, so early registration is important! Saturday Workshops Dates, Venues and Special Travel Agent Room Rates*: Aug 23 San Francisco, CA Hyatt Regency Embarcadero $ 60.00 Sept 13 La Jolla, CA Hyatt Regency $ 85.00 Sept 20 Denver, CO Hyatt Regency $ 69.00 Nov 08 Bend, OR KahNeeTa Resort & Casino $ 59.00 Nov 15 Seattle, WA Crowne Plaza $ 60.00 Nov 22 Redondo Beach, CA Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club $ 99.00 Dec 06 Morro Bay, CA The Inn at Morro Bay $ 60.00 *Rates are per room/per night and do not include tax or parking, and an IATAN card must be presented upon check-in. Visit the EcoAdventures website: www.ecoadventures.com/seminars for details on how to book these special rates, and to register for the seminars. Or call the EcoAdventures seminar hotline at (800) 818-8707, and they will fax or email details to you. EcoAdventures, Inc. was founded by a group of dedicated travel people who collectively represent over 75 years of travel industry experience, with the belief that ecologically responsible tourism will heighten awareness of global ecological issues, and further the efforts to preserve fragile and endangered ecosystems. We represent only those tour programs that specialize in small groups and take every precaution to minimize the ecological impact of tourism on the areas visited. We also believe and hope that the growing economic sector of "ecotourism" will supplant more exploitative and harmful pursuits. Our staff has been to all of the destinations featured in our brochures, usually more than once. This first-hand knowledge assures an expertly planned tour. We are also dedicated to high quality services, and believe in a healthy mix of enjoyment and education. EcoAdventures specializes in customized itineraries for individuals. All of our programs are specially designed and priced for as few as one or two travelers, with the choice of several hotel levels, suitable to individual tastes and budgets. The traveler benefits from the attention and assistance of our local guides and representative offices, while still enjoying a high level of freedom. * * *