[nagdu] Fw: [Travelandtourism] Article from Agent Life Magazine

[cheryl echevarria]

> Agent Life Magazine is the monthly magazine for NACTA - National 
> Association of Career Travel Agents, they did an interview with me a few 
> months ago, and it just came out today.
>
> I got the word document so that I can post the story here.
>
>
> A Day In the Life: Making Travel Possible
>
> A NACTA agent advocates for the importance of travel for everyone with the 
> help of Norwegian Cruise Lines.
>
> By Julie Anne Long
>
> When Cheryl Echevarria lost her sight in 2001 due to complications of 
> diabetes, her life changed. She had to learn how to use a cane and get 
> used to a service animal and learning Braille. Her previous career as an 
> administrative assistant was put on hold for four years while she 
> underwent dialysis daily. In 2005, when her health had stabilized, she 
> assessed both her options and her desires. She had a love of travel and 
> had often acted as an unofficial travel agent in her role as an 
> administrative assistant. With help from a member of the National 
> Federation of the Blind, she was connected with a host agency, Montrose 
> Travel, and opened Echevarria Travel in 2009.
>
> "I want everyone to be able to travel," says Cheryl. "Right now, I would 
> say 75% of my time is spent advocating for impaired travel and 25% of my 
> time is spent booking travel for the disabled."
>
> As she has navigated the world of travel and how it relates to the 
> disabled, Cheryl has found a great partner in Norwegian Cruise Lines.
>
> "With Norwegian Cruise Lines, I can contact them through Facebook, 
> Twitter, or e-mail, and I am immediately put into contact with the right 
> person," says Cheryl.
>
> Recently, Cheryl scheduled a ship tour on the Norwegian Gem for a group of 
> blind people and the parents of blind children.
>
> "It was the first time I had ever done anything like this," admits Cheryl. 
> "And for many people with us, it was their very first time on a cruise 
> ship."
>
> The ship tour allowed the group to explore the Norwegian Gem at their own 
> pace and ask questions relevant to their own travel needs and wants. 
> According to Cheryl, instances like this are educational for everyone: the 
> people on the tour and the travel partner, as well.
>
> "They were so accommodating to us," says Cheryl. "At lunch, they brought 
> out menus in Braille."
>
> As the president of the travel and tourism division of the National 
> Federation of the Blind, Cheryl is passionate about travel for the 
> impaired.
>
> "I sell what I know," says Cheryl. "And it all comes down to asking your 
> client questions. It's not about where you can't go, or what you can't do. 
> It's about what is possible."
>
> Leading the Way in Independent Travel!
>
> Cheryl Echevarria
> http://www.echevarriatravel.com
> 631-456-5394
> reservations at echevarriatravel.com
>
> For daily updates read our blog at
> http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> Travelandtourism mailing list
> Travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/travelandtourism_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Travelandtourism:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/travelandtourism_nfbnet.org/cherylandmaxx%40hotmail.com
>