Selling the $200,000 ticket

From the Alamogordo Daily News By Elva K. Sterreich, Associate News Editor (Photo by J.R. Oppenheim - Alamogordo Daily News) Tumbling, screaming, racing, surfing down a dune of white sand, 60 travel agents took a load off their feet Tuesday as they took turns riding sled discs to the bottom of the slope. A rumble in the air made all 60 go silent as they watched and pointed at the F-22 moving above White Sands National Monument. No ordinary travel agents, this group, hailing from around the world, have a special directive. They sell $200,000 tickets to space on flights that begin at Spaceport America. As part of a tour of southern New Mexico Virgin Galactic accredited agents are looking at what they will be booking. Michael Broadhurst with Vision 2000 is based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and has seven clients already signed up for the ride. Vision 2000 is a member of the Virtuoso travel group which is affiliated with Virgin.
"It is the best group of luxury travel professionals in the world," Broadhurst said. For every one who comes for the ride, several will come to look at the area, he said. Ticket holders will bring their families, friends and more with them as they visit southern New Mexico. "I sense there is just a growing realization this (space tourism) is happening fairly soon," Broadhurst said. Already some of his ticketed clients are coming down soon with their families to check out southern New Mexico. Read more

Selling the $200,000 ticket