Club Benefits

Despite the hundreds of postings I have made on our forums over the last several years .... few people seem to really understand what the Brazilian Travel Club is all about, and the benefits they can receive. So this morning I decided to sit down and try, again, to explain.

First of all, the Brazilian Travel Club (Associaçao ABTC-BRASIL ) is a non-profit organization (ONG) created to promote substanable tourism in Brazil, specifically adventure, rural, cultural and ecotourism. The concept was created by Andetur founder Edna Maria Pontes Martins Reid in 1987. Edna, the first woman in Rio Grande do Norte to have an university degree in tourism, created the small receptive tour agency Ande Turismo Ltda. , tourism designed to benefit local communities. In the year 2000, Ande Turismo Ltda. joined with the Brazilian Status Hoteis Regional Nordeaste to form the present day Andetur Brasil.

Most of our forum members are business men and understand the concept of wholesale or bulk purchasing to achieve discounts with suppliers. The Travel Club operates on this theory. By approaching hotels, pousadas, and other tour operators with a membership basis of some 4,000 travelers, we are able to obtain fantastic discounts on tour packages, often as much as 50 - 60% discount on their published prices.

The ONG is supported by membership fees, in Brazil the fee for lifetime membership is R$ 600 +/- ... in the exterior is approximately US$ 350.00 at present due to devaluation of the dollar. We are allowing the old price of US$ 250.00 to continue until the end of the year 1007. Using the options, the fees may be paid in payments.

We also receive donations for certain specific projects ... especially after members have visited our projects. These membership fees and donations allow us to continue this great work which benefits several communities now.

So, bottom line, "What does the member receive?"

Besides the satisfaction of participating in worthwhile community projects or helping some needy rural child obtain an education which normally he/she would normally not be able to afford (i.e. Acari School), the member receives the following benefits:

1.> 7 days (together or separated) each year during high season (December, January, February and July) with an economical hotel tariff from 7% to 20% of the minimum base salary existent in Brazil at the time per person, with free meals or 'half pension' (breakfast and dinner) in participating hotels ** throughout the country.

OBS: The salary minimum existant today is about R$ 350.00 (or US$ 203.50 +/-).

** participating hotels - we already have several hundred hotels that we work with, BUT note .... if you are interested in a hotel that we don´t yet have a contract with, let us know .... often we can contact that hotel and effect a contract. We do this every day.

2.> During periods of low season, the member has no limit on the days per month, and can also transfer their rights to third parties (guests) if they so desire.

3.> A member can qualify their immediate dependents or relatives on their membership. (i.e. mother, father, in-laws, and single sons and daughters) In order to issue separate cards in their names, their is a charge of 5% of the minimum salary (today R$ 17,50 or US$ 10.30 +/-)

4.> All reservations must be made through the offices of Andetur Brasil, the official club operator, with an advance reservation during high season of 30 days; low season 10 days, except for theme parks and special promotions. Be sure and advise your club m emberstip number.

5.> Memberships are registered 'TITULOS' and as such may be given, sold or transfered to third persons upon approval of the directors. There is a 15% transfer fee applicable as new cards must be issued and the membership changed in the association ledgers.

6.> There is an adminstration tax every 6 months of 20% of the minimum salary (i.e. today R$ 70,00 or US$ 41.20 +/-) .....

7.> AIR FARES - Unfortunately there is little discount, per sie, on air fares ... but the association tries to stay aware and advise members of the best promotional air fares available. See note below!

Other benefits:

Every day we receive hundreds of promotions from hotels, pousadas, tour operators and airlines ... not just in Brazil, but also the entire South America, Europe, the United States and Canada, and many other places in the world. Far too many for us to publish each and every one. We ask members to advise us when they are planning a trip, and to give our staff sufficient time to research the best offers.

Often we have specific specials, like Fernando de Noronha, and in August every year the 'Festa do Peao in Barretos'. Also the Wine and Grape festivals in Rio Grande do Sul. Great discounts for those that participate.

Other notes:

A Travel Club is like the Frequent Flyer programs offered by the airlines ... or the various loyality programs offered by large hotel chains or car rental companies. The more you use your club, the greater the benefits we can offer.

All membership fees and donations are applied directly to our projects.

Andetur (the Club) has some great ideas for the future, including the planned guest-ranch/ ecological reserve in Gargalheiras, Acari, RN where we would offer specials for VIP guests from the club. We also have planned tours for special events like the Carne-de-Sol festival in Picui, Paraiba, each year and exploration tours throughout the northeast.

Consider the benefits of being able to contact directly, by email or phone, your own travel agent where you are considered a VIP CLIENT. Join now!

OBS: Members receive a framable membership certificate with their cards. Photos (3 x 4 cm) must be mailed to Andetur at Rua Ulisses Caldas, 272 - LJ 11, Cidade Alta, Natal, RN 59025-090. Be sure and write the name of the cardholder and number on the reverse side of the photo.

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Learning Portuguese, join the EnglishPortuguese forum on Yahoo. Be sure and tell the moderator that you are from our forum and wish to learn and practice your Portuguese. Send an email with this information to:
englishportuguese-subscribe@ yahoogrupos. com.br

For further information, contact: dreid@andetur. com.br

Capt. Donald Reid - Andetur Brasil Ltda., and ABTC-Brasil
Brazil 55 (84) 3086-4366 Cell 55 (84) 9952-0658
Websites (Brasil): http://www.andetur.org http://www.andetur. com.br http://www.acari-rn.com.br

December 6, 2007