Memories Forever Travel Group: Marianne Herring

18/09/2024

The United States Department of State announced that Americans can now renew their passports online. According to Reuters.com, the State Department has been running a beta program allowing U.S. citizens to renew their passports online, and the success of the two-month test has resulted in enough confidence to open the program to all Americans.
To accommodate the surge in people renewing online, the State Department revealed that it hired additional staff, brought in experts, and improved its website to handle processing passport renewals and issuing travel visas. In total, around 200,000 Americans participated in the beta program.
“Tomorrow online passport renewal will go live for the first time ever for the entire country,” Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma said. The State Department estimated that nearly 50 percent of passport renewals will be done online soon.
To take advantage of the service, U.S. citizens must be in the country, and passports that have been expired for more than five years are not permitted to be renewed online.
While some Americans hope the new service will speed up the passport renewal process, Verma said it “won't necessarily be faster.”

28/11/2020

Some $20,000 in coins that tourists tossed into Walt Disney World’s wishing wells and fountains became a Thanksgiving gift for Central Florida’s largest homeless shelter.

26/11/2020

Wishing all my clients and friends a Happy, Healthy Thanksgiving!!

28/07/2020

TUESDAY JULY 28, 2020   REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. A RECORDING OF THE PROGRAM WILL POSTED TO THIS SITE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE SUMMIT Add to Google Calendar Add to Outlook Calendar PROGRAM AND PANELIST INFORMATION BELOW WTTC & Carnival Corporation invite you to join us as we convene the world’...

25/07/2020

The first large cruise ship is back in service as TUI's Mein Schiff 2 left on its first

22/07/2020

How does the air you breathe on board stay clean? It's a combination of fresh air and high-efficiency (HEPA) filtered air. Learn more about the ways we are k...

03/07/2020

10/05/2020

06/05/2020

Thank you to all my clients....we're in this together!!

Travel Advisor Day - May 6th 2020 A Special Tribute from Travel Advisors Amanda Storm, Amanda’s Travels (Lawrence, KS) Dawn Stark, Dawn's Destinations (Ocean...

03/04/2020

A New Level of Clean!!
Delta Air Lines is transforming expectations for cleanliness across airports and on aircraft to deliver a new standard of clean for customers: Delta Clean. Now the global airline is committing to these elevated cleaning measures for the long term. “The highest levels of clean should not be reserved for times of crisis – customers deserve to feel confident and safe whenever they decide to travel,” said Bill Lentsch, Delta’s Chief Customer Experience Officer. “That’s why we are extending our overall safety focus to include our new standard of clean.” Here are some of the cleaning measures our teams will use so customers can feel confident when traveling with Delta: Starting April 1: All domestic aircraft will undergo the same interior fogging overnight that Delta has been using to disinfect international aircraft in the U.S. since February. Before every flight, aircraft will be cleaned using the same extensive checklist used during overnight cleanings. This industry-leading work disinfects high-touch areas customers care most about being clean, like tray tables, seat-back entertainment screens, arm rests and seat-back pockets. Spot checks will take place before each flight by a Customer Service Agent and a Flight Leader to ensure the aircraft is up to the Delta Clean standard. The team can resolve any issues immediately, and are empowered to request a cleaning crew return to the aircraft for additional cleaning. By early May: Aircraft will be fogged before every flight in Delta’s network. The disinfectant used in fogging is immediately safe to breathe and is similar to what hospitals and restaurants use to sanitize. In addition, customers will notice Delta continuing to offer hand sanitizers at various touch-points, while disinfecting surfaces across the airport experience. The same level of attention and care is given to employee work spaces like lounges and break rooms.The Delta Clean standard is largely driven by Delta employees, who are committed to delivering safe experiences for customers and each other.
“The character of Delta people is shining brighter than ever in these unprecedented times,” Lentsch said. “They are the Delta Difference and the reason we’re ready for our customers when they’re ready to fly.”

20/03/2020

These are just a few of the heartening headlines on the world's response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, from the US to China and South Korea.

02/03/2020

26/02/2020

DISNEYLAND WINS 2019 SEAL BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
Disneyland® Resort landscapes play a vital role in our immersive storytelling and the Horticulture team continues to use resources are safe, attractive, healthy and using our water resources wisely. In recognition of these efforts, Disneyland Resort has been selected as a winner of the 2019 SEAL Business Sustainability Awards for its environmental efforts and ongoing commitment to water conservation and the use of technology to drive efficiencies in water use.

Our Horticulture team has diligently worked to reduce water usage by planting water-savvy plants, using advanced technology such as water saving devices, such as weather based irrigation controllers and proficient teamwork.

One of the many ways the Disneyland Resort’s Horticulture team has implemented various water saving is by planting water-savvy plants. When walking around Frontierland, guests are immersed in nature that is fitted to the theming of the land. Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante, a guest-favorite restaurant in the land, welcomes diners with the warmth of a hacienda in Mexico, featuring water-savvy plants such as the Echeveria and Russelia.

Strolling over to Tomorrowland, the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage queue landscape is created to feel as if you are in ocean habitat, complete with their own water-savvy plants such as the Crassula ovata and Phoenix reclinata. Throughout each land, the beautiful plants not only add to the park’s signature storytelling, but also have a low environmental impact.

Today, the resort consumes less water than it did a decade ago, even with the considerable growth of both parks. Disneyland Resort’s Horticulture team has continued to strive for excellence in environmental efforts for our parks to sustain the magic.

26/02/2020

Air New Zealand plans to introduce new lie-flat sleeping pods for its Economy Class customers, called Economy Skynests.

The carrier operates some of the world’s longest flights, such as the upcoming Auckland-New York service, which can take up to 17 hours and 40 minutes one way. Although they are still in the prototype stage, the Economy Skynests are designed to maximize passenger comfort and significantly improve the experience of long-haul travel.

“We have a tremendous amount of development work underway looking at product innovations we can bring across all cabins of the aircraft. A clear pain point for economy travelers on long-haul flights is the inability to stretch out. The development of the Skynest is a direct response to that challenge,” said Mike Tod, chief marketing and customer officer, for Air New Zealand.

When they are installed, each pod will include a full-size pillow, sheets and blankets, ear plugs, privacy curtains and lighting designed for sleep. The carrier will also offer features such as separate reading light, personal device USB outlet and ventilation outlet.

“We see a future flying experience where an economy-class customer on long-haul flights would be able to book the Economy Skynest in addition to their Economy seat, get some quality rest and arrive at their destination ready to go. This is a game changer on so many levels,” said Nikki Goodman, general manager of customer experience, for Air New Zealand.

“We’re sure this innovation is going to be a game changer for the industry and bring significant improvements to long-haul flying.”

The project, part of the airline’s “Future Aircraft Cabin Experience” program, is the result of three years of research and development, with input from more than 200 customers. The project is nearing its final phase of development, and Air New Zealand will make a decision on whether to operate the Skynest next year, after it assesses its performance during its inaugural year of Auckland-New York operations.

26/02/2020

SPACESHIP EARTH NEW TRANSFORMATION
Spaceship Earth is more than just the physical icon of EPCOT – it’s a symbol of how the park continues to evolve. The attraction is a crucial piece of the historic transformation already underway at EPCOT, and the team at Walt Disney Imagineering is excited to start implementing a new vision for Spaceship Earth beginning May 26.

This means Spaceship Earth in its current form will close for a time starting that day, and the ideas WDI are working on inside that geosphere will be well worth the wait. The next iteration of Spaceship Earth will focus on the story of humanity, following our long journey from prehistoric humans to today brought to life with magic and depth that only Disney can deliver. Many of the moments you know and love will be updated in amazing ways, blended with brand-new scenes to tell a story about our human experience.

Today we’re excited to share a few additional details of what guests can expect when this icon returns. Guests will visit Egypt, which is part of the current version of the attraction, but it will be an Egypt like you’ve never seen before, transformed through the power of light.

Throughout the attraction, guests will hear new narration and see how light plays a central role in our shared human journey, coming to life in dynamic ways in a celebration of the magic that’s possible when we all come together.

Walt Disney once said EPCOT “would always be in a state of becoming,” and Spaceship Earth has lived up to that vision for generations. This will be the attraction’s fourth – and most ambitious – update since the park’s grand opening on Oct. 1, 1982.

21/02/2020

The Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas offers great activities such as the Flo Rider, Rip Cord and the North Star lifting you 300 ft above the ship for a panoramic view!!

21/02/2020

Beautiful past 3 days, Cocco Beach, Nassau and of course a perfect day at Coco Cay, Royal Caribbean’s private island!!🌴

20/02/2020

Discovering the Anthem of the Seas!!