For more information, contact:

Karen Chircop or Lorna Elve, Witte Travel & Tours

(616) 942-5112

ALASKA COMES ALIVE WITH VIVID IMAGERY AT THE HILTON GRAND RAPIDS AIRPORT AT 11:00AM ON FEBRUARY 4, 2012

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (January 4, 2012) – Witte Travel & Tours will host ON STAGE ALASKA, a free multi-media Alaska travel presentation created to provide a glimpse of the history, scenic grandeur, wildlife and friendliness of the people to those planning an Alaska vacation.

The program, sponsored by Witte Travel & Holland America Line and produced by Holland America Line, features their Alaska CruiseTour destination film and live performance of an entertaining duo who have extensive travel experience in Alaska and the Yukon.  The entertainers also work in the Great Land; one as a river guide on the Nenana River in Denali and one performs at Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre in Denali National Park. They are honored to serve as ambassadors for Alaska and look forward to sharing their passion, experience, and recommendations for a great vacation in the Great Land.

The show is open to the public and will take place at the Hilton Grand Rapids Airport, 4747 28^th Street S.E. (Free parking) on February 4, at 11:00am.

Alaska, with its popular travel season beginning in May and ending in mid-September, is one of the best summer travel destinations to see by both land and sea.  Travelers plan early, and so there’s no better way to get started on planning than to attend this show.

In addition, ON STAGE ALASKA provides information on 2012 Holland America cruise and cruisetour itineraries to Alaska and the Yukon.

Admission is FREE however; seats must be reserved by January 26.  For information or reservations, call Witte Travel at 616-942-5112 or 800 GO WITTE

Witte Travel & Tours, in business for over 36 years, is one of West Michigan’s premier travel companies, providing travel consulting to individuals, families, and honeymoon couples for their vacation packages, cruises and more at destinations throughout the world.  Witte Travel also custom-designs group tours to destinations in Europe, the British Isles, Scandinavia, Africa, Australia, the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, South America, Vietnam, and the continental United States.  Specialty group tours include performance tours for vocal and handbell choirs, student study programs, tours focusing on religious, art, architectural, cultural and/or historical themes, and family heritage.

About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE:  CCL and CUK)] 

Holland America Line’s fleet of 13 ships offers nearly 500 cruises to 314 ports of call in 97 countries, territories or dependencies.  Two- to 108-day itineraries visit all seven continents, including Antarctica, South America, Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages; a Grand World Voyage; and popular sailings to ports in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal.

In the 2006 Portrait of Affluent Travelers survey by Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown and Russell, Holland America Line topped the list of cruise lines sought after by affluent leisure travelers.  Fleetwide, the company features Signature of Excellence enhancements, totaling more than $225 million,  that showcase the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine — a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchen where more than 60 celebrated guest chefs and culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and classes — Explorations Café powered by The New York Times, teens-only activity areas and all new stateroom amenities highlighted by flat-panel TVs and plush Euro-top Mariner’s Dream Beds.  

World’s Leading Cruise Lines

The highest-rated premium cruise line in the world, Holland America Line is a member of the exclusive World’s Leading Cruise Lines alliance, which also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line and Costa Cruises.  Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, these lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets.  The World’s Leading Cruise Lines offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world’s most desirable destinations.

###

Marketing Manager

Witte Travel & Tours

616-957-8113

For Immediate Release

November 21, 2011

2011 BBB of Western Michigan Integrity Award Finalist

Grand Rapids, Mich. – Witte Travel & Tours was named a finalist in the BBB Integrity Awards for 2011.  “While you did not win the Integrity Award this year, your business is deserving of recognition and praise as a finalist.  The judges evaluated numerous nominations and we are pleased to have you represent trust and integrity in our 38 county regional business community,” wrote Phil Catlett, President of the BBB of Western Michigan.

Witte Travel & Tours is a retail vacation travel agency and a tour operator.  The company, locally owned and operated by Henry I. (Henk) Witte, was established in Ada, Michigan in 1975.  Witte’s staff includes over 35 travel professionals with a combined experience of over 350 years.  Witte Travel is a member in good standing of many business and professional organizations and associations: among them the Grand Rapids Area Chambers of Commerce, the Better Business Bureau of West Michigan, the National Tour Association, and the American Society of Travel Agents.  In addition, many of Witte Travel’s staff members have earned Certified Travel Consultant and Destination Specialists designations from the Institute of Certified Travel Agents.

For information contact Witte Travel & Tours, 3250 28^th Street S.E., Grand Rapids, at (616) 957-8113 or 800-469-4883.  Witte Travel is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and Wednesday evenings until 7 p.m.

This article originally ran in the March 2011 issue of the Courier. NTA Online

This article originally ran in the 2011–12 NTA Trip Planner for Student Travel. NTA Online

NTA tour operators offer experience, customization in student travel

This article originally ran in the 2011–12 NTA Trip Planner for Student Travel. NTA Online

Later this month the voices of 82 Libertyville High School choir singers will echo across the walls of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

Led by Choir Director Jeff Brown, the singers have been rehearsing day and night to perform during a Lent mass at one of the most sacred places in the world on March 27.

To read the rest of the article, see the Chicago Tribune TribLocal website.

This year marks 35 years of business for us. Our success would not have been possible without you!

We celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce and . It’s been a great trip so far and we look forward to continuing our journey through the next 35 years–or more!

For more information, contact:
Lorna Elve
616-942-5112

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALASKA COMES ALIVE WITH VIVID IMAGERY AT THE PRINCE CENTER AT CALVIN COLLEGE AT 11:00AM ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 2010

Grand Rapids, Mich. — Witte Travel & Tours will host another ON STAGE ALASKA, a free multi-media Alaska travel presentation created to provide a glimpse of the history, scenic grandeur, wildlife and friendliness of the people to those planning an Alaska vacation. The program, produced by Holland America Line, features their 2011 Alaska CruiseTour Destination Film and live performance of an entertaining team who will share their passion of the Great Land.

It is open to the public and will take place at the Prince Conference Center at Calvin College on Saturday, August 21at 11:00AM.

Alaska, with its popular travel season beginning in May and ending in mid-September, is one of the best summer travel destinations to see by both land and sea. Travelers plan early, and so there’s no better way to get started on 2011 planning than to attend this show.

In addition, ON STAGE ALASKA provides information on Holland America cruise and cruisetour itineraries to Alaska.

Admission is FREE however, seats must be reserved by August 11. For information or reservations, call Witte Travel at 616-942-5112 or 800-469-4883.

Witte Travel & Tours, in business for 35 years, is one of West Michigan’s premier travel companies, providing travel consulting to individuals, families, and honeymoon couples for their vacation packages, cruises and destination weddings throughout the world. Witte Travel also custom-designs group tours to destinations in Europe, the British Isles, Scandinavia, Africa, Australia, the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, South America, Vietnam, and throughout the continental United States. Specialty group tours include performance tours for vocal and handbell choirs, student study programs, tours focusing on religious, art, architectural, cultural and/or historical themes, and family heritage.

About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE:  CCL and CUK)] 

Holland America Line’s fleet of 13 ships offers nearly 500 cruises to 314 ports of call in 97 countries, territories or dependencies.  Two- to 108-day itineraries visit all seven continents, including Antarctica, South America, Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages; a Grand World Voyage; and popular sailings to ports in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal.   

In the 2006 Portrait of Affluent Travelers survey by Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown and Russell, Holland America Line topped the list of cruise lines sought after by affluent leisure travelers.  Fleetwide, the company features Signature of Excellence enhancements, totaling more than $225 million,  that showcase the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine — a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchen where more than 60 celebrated guest chefs and culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and classes — Explorations Café powered by The New York Times, teens-only activity areas and all new stateroom amenities highlighted by flat-panel TVs and plush Euro-top Mariner’s Dream Beds. 

World’s Leading Cruise Lines

The highest-rated premium cruise line in the world, Holland America Line is a member of the exclusive World’s Leading Cruise Lines alliance, which also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line and Costa Cruises.  Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, these lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets.  The World’s Leading Cruise Lines offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world’s most desirable destinations.

###

For Immediate Release

WITTE TRAVEL WINS TOPS IN GR

Grand Rapids, Mich. –Witte Travel & Tours recently won the “Top Travel Agency” award for 2010 in the TOPS In GR contest sponsored by the Grand Rapids Press.

Winners were selected in various categories including eating establishments, retail stores, hospitals, and more.

“Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who voted for us. It’s a real honor to know we won because our clients took the time to vote for us”, says Lorna Elve, Marketing Manager for Witte Travel.

Witte Travel & Tours is a retail vacation travel agency and a tour operator. The company, locally owned and operated by Henry I. (Henk) Witte, was established in Ada, Michigan in 1975. Witte’s staff includes over 35 travel professionals with a combined experience of over 300 years. Witte Travel is a member in good standing of many business and professional organizations and associations: among them the Grand Rapids Area Chambers of Commerce, the Better Business Bureau of West Michigan, the National Tour Association, the World Religious Travel Association, and the American Society of Travel Agents. In addition, many of Witte Travel’s staff members have earned Certified Travel Consultant and Destination Specialists designations from the Institute of Certified Travel Agents.

For information contact Witte Travel & Tours, 3250 28th Street S.E., Grand Rapids, at (616) 957-8113 or 800-469-4883. Witte Travel is open from 8:30am to 5:30pm Monday through Friday and Wednesday evenings until 7pm.

###