by Jill James
Business travellers who work for big companies usually have a company travel department to book their trips. But independent businesspeople, or those who work for small and medium-sized companies, do not have experts to make the bookings. Travel clubs have developed to help these people.
Globetrotters Club (www.globetrotters.co.uk) has been looking after leisure travellers for decades. It has 450 to 500 company members worldwide, and the clubs newsletter is sent to all members six times a year. Its eNewsletter is e-mailed to more than 11,000 people monthly. Discounts are available to members as well as information and advice.
Another club, Wexas (www. Wexas.com), can get big discounts for its members, because it is a large organization. Annual corporate membership costs $170. Wexas negotiates discounted rates with 70 of the worlds leading airlines; it checks air fares daily and makes special deals and rates available to members. It also books flights with no-frills carriers.
It has special business rates with 34 partner hotel chains, covering more than 20,000 hotels in 190 countries. It also has direct contracts with hundreds of selected hotels at further discounts. Perhaps one of its most useful and popular benefits is its airport lounge programme, which, for a small entry charge, gives access to more than 100 lounges worldwide.
3 Decide whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F).
a) Large companies usually have a special department to make travel bookings. ____
b) Travel clubs help business travelers make bookings. _____
c) Globetrotters Club send eNewsletters six times a year. _____
d) Globetrotters Club members live in many different countries. ____
e) Wexas can offer good prices on scheduled airlines. _____
f) Wexas cannot book flights on cheap airlines. _____
g) Wexas has partner hotels in many countries. _____
GRAMMAR FOCUS 2 a lot of, many and much
i We use a lot of in positive and negative sentences and questions with both plural countable and uncountable nouns.
I have a lot of luggage. I have a lot of bags.
We dont have a lot of time. We dont have a lot of books.
Do you have a lot of money?
Do you have a lot of American clients?
ii We can use many or a lot of in positive statements.
I have many English customers.
Ive got a lot of English customers.
Many is more formal than a lot of.
iii We do not normally use much in positive statements.
Theyve got a lot of money. (NOT *much money)
iv We use many with plural countable nouns in questions and negative sentences.
Do you have many visitors?
There arent many vegetarian restaurants.
v We use much with uncountable nouns in questions and negative sentences.
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Do you do much advertising?
I dont have much time.
ASSIGNMENTS
A Customs regulations around the world are very different. Complete the questions below, using
much or many.
1 How .. bottles of perfume can you take into Japan?
2 How .. beer can you import into Britain?
3 How .. duty-free gifts or souvenirs can you take into Argentina?
4 How .. butter can you import into Andorra?
5 How .. fishing rods can you take with you to Iceland?
6 How .. potatoes can you take into Great Britain?
7 How .. jewellery can you carry with you into Algeria?
8 How ..wine can you import into France?
B Match the answers with the questions.
a You cant take any alcohol if you are a Moslem. Non-Moslems can take six bottles.
b You cant take any plants or vegetables they carry viruses.
c 1 kg. This country wants to protect agriculture, its main industry.
d As many as you want, but they must be disinfected.
e Two litres, if you live outside the European community. If you travel from a country inside the
EU, you can take up to 90 litres.
f If your personal jewellery weighs more than 100g you must leave it at customs until you leave the country or complete a temporary importation form.
g As many as you want, but the total value must not be more than US$300.
h One bottle of 57 ml.
C Correct the mistakes in these sentences. Use a lot of, many or much.
1 They dont have much vegetarian dishes here.
2 How many does it cost?
3 The restaurant hasnt got much tables left.
4 I dont have many time at the moment.
5 I drink much coffee.
6 There arent much hotels in the city centre.
7 It costs much money.
8 I dont want many spaghetti. Theres ice cream for dessert.
D Underline the correct words in this dialogue. Read the dialogue and act it out.
| ANGELA: | Jack, have you got (1) a/some moment for a chat? |
| JACK: | Of course, go ahead. Nows a good time. |
| ANGELA: | There (2) is/are (3) an/some important work that we need to do over the next few months. It should be (4) an/some interesting job, and I think youre the best (5) person/people to do it. |
| JACK: | Oh, really? |
| ANGELA: | Yes. Well, (6) an/a piece of empty land has come onto the market on the other side of town. |
| JACK: | Uh, huh |
| ANGELA: | And, as you know, we havent got (7) many/much space at our present site. Well, we think its (8) an/some ideal opportunity to expand. |
| JACK: | Yeah, we dont have much room here. |
| ANGELA: | Well, were thinking about building completely new offices. Wed like you to do (9) a/some research on the whole idea, and then write (10) a/some report on whether to go ahead or not. Are you interested? |
| JACK: | Well, I havent got (11) much/many experience of this kind of thing. I . |
| ANGELA: | I know, but there really isnt anyone else here who is suitable. |
| JACK: | Oh |
| ANGELA: | And we need to make (12) a progress /progress on this as quickly as possible. Were taking on fifteen new people in March. |
| JACK: | Um, right, but there (13) is/are (14) many/a lot of (15) information/informations to collect. I |
| ANGELA: | Well, with this new responsibility we might consider reviewing your salary. |
| JACK: | Well, OK, it sounds like (16) an/a interesting challenge. Ill do it. |
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