LETTERS

Regarding Catharine Hamm’s “If You Need a Pro” on finding a good travel agent [“On the Spot,” April 12].

There are several good sources for finding reputable travel professionals:

* American Society of Travel Agents: www.travelsense.org/agents. All travel agents in this directory are ASTA members and adhere to a code of ethics.

* Virtuoso: www.virtuoso.com. Virtuoso is the world’s most exclusive network of travel advisors, with only 1% of travel agencies invited to join.

* Signature Travel Network: www.signaturetravelnetwork.com/find-travel-consultant.cfm. Signature travel professionals are ranked among the best in their field.

* Ensemble Travel Group: www.ensembletravel.com/custom/agencylocator.php.

Please share these with readers so that they have a more complete and accurate picture of when, how and why to use a travel professional.

John Clifford

Owner, Luxury

Travel Consultancy

San Diego

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If someone wanted a list of my satisfied customers, I would not give it to them, nor do I think any good agent would share that information. My client’s business is confidential.

Sonia Robledo

Riverside

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Most travel agencies that sell cruises are members of CLIA (Cruise Line International Assn.), which manages the professional certification program for cruise-selling agents.

A consumer shopping for a cruise agent should inquire if the agent is a certified cruise specialist. Certification does not guarantee professionalism, but at least it certifies that training has been completed.

When it comes to finding preferential cruise deals, for the most part all cruise

agents have access to the same deals from the cruise lines. However, larger agencies and travel consortia do have preferential benefits based on their volume and can offer great values.

Some agencies also create their own preferential deals, usually by negotiating a group rate from a cruise line, or by being creative in leveraging better value on a particular sailing.

Dan Ilves

Vice president, TravelStore

Los Angeles