After four decades of ITCs, Sunquest moves to FunSun flexible model

May 2, 2013
Volume 41 Issue 17
C A N A D A ’ S
T R A V E L
T R A D E
P U B L I C A T I O N
After four decades of ITCs, Sunquest
moves to FunSun flexible model
TORONTO — Sunquest Vacations began with a single inclusive tour charter
program to Acapulco in 1972 and was
profitable every year its founder Pat
Brigham ran the company before he
sold it in 1995.
ITCs made a number of operators a
lot of money as long as there were few
empty seats on those chartered aircraft
but there is risk as well.
And with consumers having more
choice and seeking more flexibility,
THISWEEK
4
IATA NDC BLOG
10 AC, ETIHAD CODESHARE
IATA has launched a blog to clear up
‘myths and misinformation’ on NDC
Air Canada and Etihad Airways have
signed a codeshare agreement
6
26 SELLING INSURANCE
CANADIAN TRAVEL UP
The number of Canadian visitors
abroad was up 1.5% in February
PM40015622
The lesser-known benefits can be
top-selling points too
last week Sunquest decided to call it a
day on the one- and two-week holiday
on chartered aircraft and follow sister
company FunSun Vacations in offering
flexible packaging in conjunction with
scheduled air.
The model was tested with FunSun
Vacations (FSV) packages earlier this
year and Sunquest will transition to the
same business model, taking over the
sun program, while FSV will continue
to offer packages to the U.S., a market that has been traditionally underrepresented by Canadian tour operators.
Moving forward, Sunquest will focus on the Caribbean and Mexico and
FSV will continue to offer its extensive
programs in Hawaii and Florida, as well
as packages to places like New Orleans,
Phoenix and San Francisco, and allinclusive city breaks in New York City
and Las Vegas, among others.
“The new business model for our Mainstream division was initially launched
under FSV only to avoid potential confusion with the traditional risk model
that was being operated by Sunquest for
winter 12/13,” said Dean Moore, CEO,
Thomas Cook North America, parent
company to both Sunquest and FSV. “We
started by rolling it out to our in-house
retail team, followed by a subset of B2B
and B2C channels, which has, along with
valuable input from over 3,000 agents,
allowed us to identify and address any
issues, and more importantly refine the
product offering and overall shopping
experience.
“Last week the product was opened
up across all channels, making it the
perfect time to launch these packages
under Sunquest. Given the universally positive feedback we’ve already
received from our retail partners, and
& Caicos, Bermuda and Barbados;
tЅFTFOFX4VORVFTUQBDLBHFTPGfer almost any duration — from as
little as one-night to long weekend esDBQFTUIFTUBOEBSETFWFOPSOJHIUT
to multiple weeks;
t 'MJHIUT PO B DIPJDF PG TDIFEVMFE
DBSSJFSTЅJTJODMVEFTMPOHUJNFQBSUner WestJet, as well as Air Canada
and a variety of U.S. carriers, with the
initial search displaying the cheapest,
most direct flight, however a choice of
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offering the ability to customize the
package by carrier and/or flight time.
Customers can also choose to fly via
the U.S. to take advantage of even better pricing;
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program with WestJet. “WestJet has
been a fantastic partner for Sunquest
and we look forward to continuing that
relationship as we continue our transformation journey and move forward
with our new operating model,” said
Moore.“We have already booked tens of
thousands of passengers during the soft
launch period and it is clear that there is
an extremely high propensity for bookings to be made utilizing WestJet invenUPSZXJUIPWFSPGCPPLJOHTUPEBUF
featuring a WestJet flight. As a result, we
ENDEARING MEMORIES...
ENDURE THE TEST OF TIME
“WE STARTED BY rolling it out to our in-house retail
team, followed by a subset of B2B and B2C channels,
which has, along with valuable input from over 3,000
agents, allowed us to identify and address any issues”
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the volume of business generated during the soft launch, we are extremely
confident as we move forward with
this full market launch.”
Sunquest, like FSV, will now offer:
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across Canada (with more being
added on a regular basis), along with
the ability to connect from smaller
airports. Sunquest can now take customers to all the perennial favourites
in Mexico and the Caribbean, including offering expanded programs in
$VCB BOE UIF %PNJOJDBO 3FQVCMJD
and packages in such places as Turks
t 4VORVFTU VTFT JUT DPOUSBDUT UP BDcess seat sales, bulk fares and published
fares to obtain the lowest priced scheduled seat fare available the instant the
customer wants to book, and then
combines it with the customer’s hotel
of choice to create a customized vacaUJPO QBDLBHF ЅF SFTVMU JT UIBU 4VOquest can now offer great prices yearround and is particularly competitive
in the early and mid-booking period
PVUTJEFEBZTGSPNEFQBSUVSF
Under this new model, Sunquest will
no longer operate under the traditional
charter package model which has, since
$
465
+ $290 Taxes
FOR FULL SELECTION OF HOTELS, VISIT WWW.SUNWING.CA
Signature.ca
T h e D a y s Yo u
Re member
;VYVU[V+LWHY[\YLZ‹6UL>LLR‹(SS0UJS\ZP]L
1HTHPJH
++++Plus
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May 2, 2013 Travelweek 3
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“This launch also means that the
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long as there is a flight available on the
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The definitive remote business to client (B2C)
of their choice, and take advantage of
very competitive pricing while also enjoying all the traditional benefits of an
all-inclusive vacation, such as transfers
in their destination and the services of
a destination representative.
“The combined Sunquest/FSV offering will be unmatched in the Canadian marketplace in terms of scale,
flexibility and choice,” concluded
Moore. “Following the extremely encouraging results we’ve seen so far
with FSV, we are very excited about
the new direction for Sunquest and
are confident that it will be a hit with
travel agents and customers.”
In the interim, until the full transition of these sun packages from FSV
to Sunquest is complete, FSV will continue to sell packages to the Caribbean
and Mexico. Agents can continue to
book packages as normal under FSV
and rest assured that their clients’ vacations are fully protected.
For more information and to book,
visit SunquestAgent.ca.
IATA launches
New Distribution
Capability (NDC) blog
to tackle ‘myths and
misinformation’
GENEVA — Claiming that there is a
lot of misinformation out there on its
New Distribution Capability (NDC),
the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched a blog on
the subject.
The blog site will present program
updates, commentary and thought
leadership pieces regarding the NDC
initiative.
“Since the approval of Resolution
787 last October a vigorous public
debate has evolved on how NDC — a
Communications manager
Revolutionary
marketing technology
Editor
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Web Application Developer
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Online & Production Coordinator
Michael Smith, Ext. 125, michaels@travelweek.ca
Business Development Manager
Sue Winiecki, Ext. 127, swiniecki@travelweek.ca
Business Development Manager
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Director of Special Projects
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Director, Product Development
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Circulation
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Accounting
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new communications standard between airlines and travel agents — will
impact the travel value chain. This includes considerable misinformation
from some entrenched interests in current distribution standards,” said IATA.
“NDC has energized the travel value
chain. The NDC blog provides an opportunity to connect with stakeholders and the distribution community
to share ideas, facts and information
about this project. As such, it will be a
reference point to correct the numerous
myths and misinformation that have
been introduced into the debate. NDC
is an important IATA-led and industry
supported collaborative effort to modernize distribution. It’s important that it
is debated on fact, not fiction,” said Eric
Leopold, IATA Director Passenger.
Canadian travel abroad
up 1.5% in February
OTTAWA — Canadians took 5.6 million trips abroad in February, up 1.5%
from January.
Travel to the United States rose 1.7%
in February to 4.9 million trips. In addition, trips to destinations other than
the United States rose 0.4% to 768,000.
Travel of one or more nights to the
United States rose 3.1% to 2.0 million
trips, as travel by car increased 3.7%
to 1.2 million trips and travel by plane
increased 2.9% to 669,000 trips.
Same-day car trips by Canadians to
the United States increased 0.7% to 2.8
million trips, the fourth consecutive
monthly increase.
Travel to Canada fell 1.5% in February to 2.1 million trips, as a decrease in
trips from the United States offset an
increase from overseas countries.
Just under 1.7 million visitors came
to Canada from the United States, down
2.1% from January. This was the lowest
monthly level since February 2011.
Travel of one or more nights from
the United States decreased 0.7% to
just under 1.0 million trips. Travel by
car was down 1.3% to 576,000 trips,
while travel by plane increased 1.1%
to 296,000 trips.
Same-day car trips from the Unit-
ed States to Canada declined 3.3% to
591,000.
Travel to Canada by overseas travellers rose 1.0% to 391,000 trips. This
was driven by increases from countries in Asia, mainly, China, Japan, India and South Korea.
The number of Chinese travellers
to Canada hit an all-time high in February with 29,400 trips. Overall, Chinese trips to Canada have doubled on
an annual basis from 147,900 trips in
2006 to 298,100 in 2012.
The United Kingdom remains the
top overseas market to Canada, with
53,900 travellers in February. However, this is the second-lowest number
of travellers since May 2003.
Transat’s Graham
retiring, Lemay adds
GM to his title
MONTREAL — Transat A.T. is shaking things up at Air Transat with the
appointment of a new general manager for the business unit and the elimi-
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Introducing
THE NEW ns!
catio
a
V
t
s
e
u
q
n
u
S
Check out the all new
Sunquest !
In May
We’re doing things a little
differently now, giving
you a lot more choice
and amazing flexibility!
Now you have more
options than ever before!
Book a Sunquest package to the Caribbean & Mexico, you get…
Q
W
E
R
Choice! You’ll fly on a scheduled airline like WestJet, Air Canada or a
major U.S. carrier and have the ability to choose from up to 16 different
flights for every vacation you search.
(Tip: save a bundle by flying via the U.S.!)
Flexibility! Travel when you want for however long you
want: we offer packages that range in length from 3, 4, 5,
7, 10, 14 nights and more!
Convenience! Transfers to your hotel (and back again at
the end of your trip) are always included.
Price! All this flexibility and choice and all at a really great
price, especially when you book early (outside 45 days from
departure).
Your clients fly who they want,
when they want, and stay in the
sun for however long they
want… only with Sunquest !
FunSun Vacations features the
same great brand attributes!
Offering packaged vacations to the US, including extensive programs in Hawaii and Florida, as well
as packages to places like New Orleans, Phoenix and San Francisco, and all-inclusive city breaks
in New York City and Las Vegas, among others, FunSun’s pakages offer what no one else can!
FunSun will continue to sell packages to the Caribbean and Mexico until the transition to Sunquest is complete. Agents
can continue to book FunSun packages as normal and rest assured that their clients’ vacations are fully protected.
FunSun Vacations & Sunquest are wholly-owned divisions of Thomas Cook Canada Inc. 75 Eglinton Ave. E., Toronto, ON M4P 3A4, Ont. Reg: 50012702. PG30974
nation of 47 positions.
“With this move, our structure will
be better adapted to face the challenges of tomorrow,” said Jean-Marc Eustache, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Transat A.T. Inc., explaining
that the changes are part of the company’s three-year plan to return to
profitability announced in 2011.
Effective immediately, Jean-François Lemay is appointed General
Manager, Air Transat. Lemay will occupy this position concurrently with
his duties as Transat’s Vice-President,
Human Resources and Talent Management. A long-time Transat colleague, he joined the company’s senior
management team in October 2011.
Allen B. Graham, President of Air
Transat, will retire from the organization on June 30, 2013.
“Air Transat was named World’s
Best Leisure Airline by Skytrax in
2012, and we fully intend to build on
that momentum,” Eustache said, adding: “On that note, I would like to acknowledge the outstanding work that
Allen has accomplished at Air Transat,
and convey to him my deepest appreciation. There was much to do when
he took over the reins, and he and his
team succeeded in imparting the discipline and professionalism that, over
the years, has brought Air Transat to
where it stands today — among the
benchmark companies in its category.”
Air Transat is also preparing to
begin implementation of measures
called for in its program to reduce
structural and operating costs, with an
eye to reaching the targets announced
in 2011 for fiscal years 2012, 2013 and
2014. None of the planned initiatives
implies any reduction in services to
customers, said Eustache.
TIC highlights
expertise with new
brand, website
TORONTO — TIC Travel Insurance
(TIC) has launched a new brand that
tells a more dynamic story about who
they are and what they’re all about.
The company introduced their
brand with the debut of a new website designed to provide an enhanced
online experience while strengthening their web presence.
The new brand centres around
TIC’s travel insurance expertise.
This, combined with the company’s
new tagline ‘We know’, is designed
to be a platform for making a statement that resonates with partners
and travellers.
“Travel insurance is everything we
do so our new brand is one that truly
fits us. It highlights the fact that we
know our job and we do it well on
behalf of our partners and their clients,” says David Hartman, President
of TIC. “Our new brand is the right
vehicle to help build stronger partner relationships, spread the value
and benefits of travel insurance and
support our future growth.”
TIC’s unique focus on travel
insurance means employees are
highly knowledgeable and skilled
at delivering products, service and
YOU ARE AN
AGENT OF CHANGE
You don’t just sell vacations.
You present opportunities.
A chance to do something great.
Travel changes people.
And people change the world.
LET’S CHANGE SOME
LIVES TOGETHER.
1 800 708 7761
gadventures.com/travelagent
8 Travelweek May 2, 2013
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support. From offering industry insight and assistance that helps partners grow their business to lending
a helping hand to make their clients’
situations better, TIC’s employees
demonstrate their expertise every
day, said Hartman.
One of the first expressions of TIC’s
new brand is travelinsurance.ca. It
offers a fresh look and new features
that effectively highlight the company’s strengths and capabilities. This
includes engaging and user-friendly
travel insurance-related information
and support for travellers. Reflecting
the value TIC places on their distribution partners, the site now also includes
a secure partner hub with tools, information, learning and other resources
that are accessible quickly, easily and
conveniently — all in one place.
“We look to our brand to ensure
we’re delivering a consistent experience that makes it easy to do business
with us — whether by phone, online
or in speaking to us in person.”
Etihad Airways and Air
Canada to introduce
codeshare services
MONTREAL — Etihad Airways and
Air Canada have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a
commercial cooperation agreement
that will enhance travel services between the United Arab Emirates and
Canada.
While the two carriers currently
have interline agreements in place for
passenger and cargo services, Etihad
Airways and Air Canada intend to offer customers through-checked bags,
reciprocal codeshare services and frequent flyer benefits.
The MoU provides for reciprocal
codeshare services to Etihad’s Abu
Dhabi hub and select points in North
America served by Air Canada via
its Toronto hub. The two parties have
commenced discussions to finalize
details with the objective of introducing codeshare services in the third
quarter of 2013.
The agreement will also allow frequent flyer mileage accrual on codeshare flights by members of Etihad
Guest and Aeroplan programs and
reciprocal premium lounge access at
Toronto and Abu Dhabi airports for
eligible passengers of both airlines.
This announcement follows the recent decision by the Governments of
the UAE and Canada to restore the
previous visa regime which means Canadian nationals can once again obtain a free visa on arrival in the UAE.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer,
said: “This is without doubt a significant development in the relationship
between Etihad Airways and Air Canada and very much supports the aim
to simplify travel between the United
Arab Emirates and Canada.
“The benefits contained within the
agreement give Etihad Airways and
Air Canada passengers far greater
choice, flexibility and convenience
and will greatly enhance business and
Continued on page 21 ...
Ag
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A full serving of Italy for your
clients and some dough for you.
Talk about a win/win.
It starts with your clients getting to explore spectacular Italy on Trenitalia “Frecce”
trains. Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, and Frecciabianca trains offer maximum comfort
as they connect all the major cities in Italy including Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan,
Bologna, and Naples. Plus, on Frecciarossa and Frecciargento high speed trains, your
clients will find WiFi and a friendly bar with top quality Italian products. Those in first
class will start with a drink to welcome them.
With such easy access to these major art and cultural centers, planning day tours is
a breeze, especially since the train always takes you to the middle of the action in
the city center. And getting to smaller Italian towns and destinations is made just as
convenient. Rail Europe is your one stop shop to booking all that Trenitalia offers - over
220 Frecce services and approximately 8,000 trains every day.
And the win for travel agents? For every booking of 1st class Trenitalia high speed
tickets that you make through Rail Europe from April 16 through May 7, 2013, you’ll
receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card to keep for yourself. Again, first class all the way.
10
$
© Archivio Gruppo FS Italiane
You get a $10 Amazon.com®
Gift Card to keep with each
eligible booking.
In collaboration with
agent.raileurope.com
First Class appears as “Comfort Class” on the Rail Europe agent website. Bookings of Trenitalia “Le Frecce” First Class tickets booked through Rail Europe (at agent.raileurope.com or through Rail Europe
Contact Center, 888-438-RAIL) on or before 5:00 pm ET on May 7, 2013, will be eligible. Valid for travel from April 16 to June 8, 2013. Bookings of train tickets to destinations outside of Italy are excluded
from this offer. Upon the awarding of 1,500 Amazon.com Gift Cards, or until the promotion’s end date at 5:00 pm ET on May 7, 2013, whichever comes first, the promotion for the Amazon.com Gift Card
will end immediately. Only the first 1,500 bookings that qualify will be notified via email with the gift card. Amazon.com Gift Card offer is not valid in Mexico nor Quebec. Amazon.com is not a sponsor of
this promotion. Amazon, Amazon.com, the Amazon.com logo, and the Amazon Gift Cards logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. See agent.raileurope.com for complete terms and conditions.
10 Travelweek May 2, 2013
Photo courtesy of Island Routes Caribbean Adventures
SPOTLIGHT CARIBBEAN
Island Routes Caribbean Adventures
is rebranding and expanding
Island Routes, the Caribbean excursion company, is in the midst of
a rebrand, while continuing to expand into new islands and ports and
strengthening its relationship with the
travel trade.
The company is rebranding itself
as Island Routes Caribbean Adventures — dropping the word ‘Tour’
from its original name to make it
more inclusive — and adding a new
‘Live Funner’ mantra to encapsulate
the variety of fun experiences on offer around the Caribbean.
‘Live Funner’ perfectly embodies Island Routes because “it’s about giving
our clients the experience of their life
and sharing the joy that those experiences bring. Fun and adventure follow
everywhere we go,” says David Shields,
General Manager.
Island Routes is a marketing, sales
and distribution excursion brand and
part of the Sandals and Beaches family
of companies, ensuring high standards
of quality and service. Pick-ups can be
arranged at any resort across the destination, however. The company uses its
own 100-point inspection criteria and
meets insurance requirements.
“Our policy is that any guest problem must be solved within three hours
or it must be brought to my personal
attention, no matter where I am at
the time. This is our promise to our
guests,” says Shields.
Island Routes currently operates
in seven destinations: Jamaica, Saint
Lucia, Antigua, Turks & Caicos, Barbados, Bahamas (Exuma) and Grand
Cayman. It will also be operating in
Grenada by the end of April well in
advance of the opening of Sandals
LaSource in Grenada in December
— and is exploring options in the Dominican Republic as well.
Island Routes is also selling to passengers arriving on cruise ships and
is currently operating in seven ports
and set to expand into four more by
September. This offers agents booking cruises additional commission
options, not usually available if clients book shore excursions on board
the ship.
Excursions include everything from
catamaran sunset cruises to dolphin
encounters, canopy ziplining, bamboo
river rafting, deep sea fishing, sightseeing and much more. The most popular
tour continues to be the catamaran
tour, regardless of the island, and is a
fun way to see the sunset.
There is increasing demand, however, for highly customized tours and
Island Routes is happy to oblige with
the Island Routes Limited Edition
sub-brand. Adventurers will be able to
create bespoke tours — for example,
guests could tour Kingston’s military
history or explore Jewish culture within Jamaica — while resting easy that all
components adhere to Island Routes
standards and quality assurances.
With Island Routes, agents get another commissionable opportunity
above and beyond flights and hotels,
allowing them to sell the entire des-
SPOTLIGHT CARIBBEAN
tination. According to Richard Moss,
training and development officer, vacationers are consuming an average
of 2.8 excursions per week, offering a
significant potential revenue stream as
Island Routes offers 10% commission
on all bookings.
“Some 30% of our 16,000 listed
agents are Canadian, representing a
very important part of our business,”
says Moss. “We support the travel
agent by allowing them to sign up online or add affiliate marketing to their
agency website.”
Island Routes also offers a call centre and e-chat for further support and
a variety of marketing opportunities
including co-branding. For more information visit islandroutes.com
Tranquility awaits in
the U.S. Virgin Islands
The U.S. Virgin Islands have a lot to offer vacationers when it comes to spas,
wellness and good old pampering. All
three islands offer visitors a myriad of
treatment choices, consultations and
everything to make guests feel healthy,
revived and relaxed.
On St John, the upscale Caneel Bay
Hotel is the home to a Caribbean original, ‘The Self Centre’. First opened in
2000, this unique spa offers sophisticated self-discovery through proven
mind and body techniques.
There are private consultations in
Ayurvedic Lifestyle, Primordial Sound
Meditation, Personal Astrology and
other studies.
Group wellness sessions are available to enhance individual well-being
via inspiring tutelage of Vinyasa Flow
Yoga, Chakra Meditation, the Rhythm
of Relationships for couples, and even
star gazing. For more information visit
caneelbay.com.
The newest addition to the U.S.V.I.
spa scene is Eco Serendib Villa and
Spa, offering sweeping views of the
Caribbean Sea and the magnificent
southern coast.
Eco Serendib introduces a new level
of eco-friendly luxury offering eight
individually designed and elegantly
appointed suites that incorporate energy-saving elements. On-site amenities include a full-service spa and Life
Fitness gym for exclusive use by Villa
guests, an Epicurean Theater kitchen
with private-chef service available and
a meditation garden. To find out more
see ecoserendib.com.
The Drift Away Day Spa, also on the
island of St. John, is designed to offer guests all the luxuries associated
with destination spas at a price range
within reach. The spa offers an array of
treatments, from facials and massages
to manicures and pedicures. For information visit driftawaystjohn.com.
On The Island of St Thomas, The
Ritz-Carlton Spa features 11 Mediterranean-style treatment rooms, a
beachside cabana and salon. For more
information, visit ritzcarlton.com/en/
Properties/StThomas/Spa.
On St. Croix, the Kalima Center for
Health & Holistic Living offers opportunities for guests to take charge
of creating their own health, simply
SOMETHING BLUE.
SOMETHING VERY, VERY BLUE.
Invite your clients to get married in a wondrous paradise of storybook
romantic settings. Here, they can exchange vows hillside near a sugar
cane windmill. Beside a centuries-old fort. In a historic church, cathedral, or
synagogue. Even standing in our crystal-clear waters. The choice is theirs.
After all, it’s their special day. And it deserves the most special booking.
You, unscripted.
Find their something blue at visitUSVI.com.
/visitusvi
/usvitourism
©2013 U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism
12 Travelweek May 2, 2013
FUN & FRIENDLY
This all-inclusive resort is close to the main tourist attractions.
Perfect for a getaway with family or friends, it features over
200 rooms and 4 suites overlooking the ocean, buffet-style and
à la carte dining, a daily activities program, nightly entertainment
and a reputation for being the friendliest place in town!
NOLITOURS
CONSIDERS
MARGARITAS
A FOOD GROUP
SPOTLIGHT CARIBBEAN
and naturally. The Kalima Center includes a yoga studio, juice bar and raw
food restaurant, nutrition and health
consultants, Reiki, and energy healing
consultants to nourish and support
body, soul and spirit to achieve optimal health and well-being. For more
information, see kalimacenter.org.
Along with these choices there are
many other options to choose from
within many of the resorts in this
tropical paradise including the Sugar
Bay Beach Resort and the Yacht Haven
Grande on St Thomas, The Westin on
St. John and the Renaissance Carambola on St. Croix. See visitusvi.com.
Ports of Call’s spring
sale runs through June
Ports of Call Resort in the Turks &
Caicos is promoting its spring sale, offering 20% off deluxe pool view and
deluxe balcony rooms, for guests staying a minimum of five nights during
the months of May and June.
Billed as ‘the most affordable boutique hotel in the Turks & Caicos’,
Ports of Call Resort features 99 spacious accommodations with modern
décor and an adjacent shopping and
entertainment plaza with 20 retail
shops, restaurants and bars, situated
on five acres of land on Providenciales.
The resort provides free shuttle service to run guests to and from spectacular Grace Bay Beach across the
street, where they provide a dedicated
area with chaise lounges, umbrellas,
towels and a beach attendant. Additional amenities include a fitness
room, business centre, children’s playground and more.
For information and reservations
contact your favourite tour operator
partner or call 1-888-678-3483, or see
portsofcallresort.com.
From two days to a
month and beyond,
Sunspots has the
Caribbean covered
Sunspots Holidays specializes in custom trips to favourite Caribbean destinations and beach vacations, and all
14 Travelweek May 2, 2013
trips are designed individually according to the client’s preferences, “so they
can range from a two-day getaway to
a full month and beyond of leisure by
the crystal clear Caribbean waters,”
says company director Christy Kurian.
Sunspots’ collection of properties
ranges from budget to luxury, beachfront to city.
“Try the astounding beachfront
Halcyon Cove Resort by Rex in Antigua for as low as $1,640 per person
all inclusive, including airfare and all
taxes,” says Kurian. Rates are double
occupancy for a standard room, for
select dates in June and July.
For clients who like to experience
the local cuisine, this deal also is available with no meals for a lead-in rate of
$1,275 per person, double occupancy.
Sunspots’ first class promotion with
American Airlines, to any island in the
Caribbean, offers savings worth up to
30%. “Clients can experience ultimate
luxury, flying first class and staying
at Barceló Bavaro Palace Deluxe, a
top rated resort, in Punta Cana from
$2,370 per person all-inclusive, double
occupancy and including all taxes,”
says Kurian.
Sunspots also offers one of a kind
escapes to popular islands such as the
Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Cuba, the
U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Barbados, St. Martin, Anguilla, Saint Lucia,
Aruba and Trinidad and Tobago, as
well as the rest of the islands of the
Caribbean. Sunspots also has luxury
private villa rentals that can accommodate from two to 40 people. Sunspots also offers private vehicle
rentals in several of the Caribbean islands. Vehicles can be rented out for
the full duration of the holiday or for
a few days.
Group and private transfers from
the airport to the hotels are also available. Packages can also be personalized by adding excursions, such as city
tours, rafting, diving and snorkeling.
Sunspots Holidays continues to
offer service with more than 40 major international air carriers with net
rates, commissions and incentives. See sunspotsholidays.com or call
(416) 484-8144 or 1-800-657-8721.
R I V I E R A M AYA › I @ M @ < I 8 E 8P8 I @ K › G L E K8 : 8 E 8 › D F E K < > F 9 8P › J 8 CM8 ; F I ; < 9 8 ? à 8 9 i X q ` c
Entering the world of all-inclusive Palladium Hotels &
Resorts is like walking into an exotic paradise. The sheer
beauty and grandeur of our carefully created, natural tropical
gardens and ample spaces, extensive soft sandy beaches,
exquisite first class culinary delights, refreshing pools and
exciting entertainment offer the ideal escape for a perfect
vacation. Our dedicated team will do just about anything to
go that extra mile for magical and unforgettable moments.
www.palladiumresorts.com
Call Center: 800961 7661
callcenter.america@palladiumhotelgroup.com
Photo courtesy of Palladium Hotels & Resorts
SPOTLIGHT CARIBBEAN
inclusive properties offer an extensive range of dining options, beaches,
recreational sports facilities, botanical
gardens and even mini-zoos. As part of a US$10 million property
renovation, the Punta Cana resort recently unveiled its Convention Center. The Convention Center in Grand
Palladium Punta Cana features seven
multi-purpose halls of various sizes
for 30 to 500 guests.
See palladiumhotelgroup.com.
The Crane offers
35% deal for
summer getaways
Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort & Spa
Palladium Hotels &
Resorts offers
new incentive to
MICE groups
Palladium Hotels & Resorts, known
for its service and facilities particularly for meeting and incentive groups,
has launched a new incentive to attract MICE bookings to all of its five
destination properties.
Located in high-demand locations,
including Mexico (Riviera Nayarit
and Riviera Maya), the D.R. (Punta
Cana), Jamaica (Montego Bay) and
Brazil (Bahia), meeting planners will
find that Palladium Hotels & Resorts
has the destinations, facilities, services
and proven expertise to handle any
kind of meeting, special event, or incentive, says the company.
Palladium’s new incentive program
for 2013 meetings comes with a host
of value-adds, including (subject to
availability):
t 0OFDPNQMJNFOUBSZSPPNGPSFWery 15 rooms paid;
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every 20 rooms paid (not applicable for Grand Palladium Imbassaí
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amenities per night for every 20
rooms paid);
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during group private check-in;
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amenity.
Palladium Hotels & Resorts’ all-
The Crane is inviting guests to experience summer in Barbados with its
new Summer Deal.
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of all accommodations.
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The Crane is comprised of the original historic hotel building, built in the
late 1700s and expanded in 1887, and
a new all-suite development. Eight of
nine phases of The Crane’s new development are complete. The upscale resort also features a
Barbadian village offering retail shops,
jazz bar and art gallery; a full-service
spa and a modern fitness centre; a
choice of gourmet and casual restaurants and flood-lit tennis courts. See
thecrane.com.
P O RT S O F C A LL R E S O RT
The Most Affordable Boutique Resort in
the Turks & Caicos
Recently renovated and just a few steps from famed Grace Bay beach where
dedicated chaise lounges, umbrellas and beach attendants await. Spacious
accommodations with modern and trendy décor. Tropical Pool and Bar. Free
Continental Breakfast & WiFi. Adjacent to the “Shops of Ports of Call” featuring
a variety of Restaurants, Boutiques, Spa and Dive Center.
Toll Free: (888) 678-3483
www.portsofcallresort.com
16 Travelweek May 2, 2013
SPOTLIGHT CRUISING
Photo courtesy of Avalon Waterways
Cochem, Germany
Three new ‘Suite’ ships just the start of
Avalon Waterways’ plans for 2014
by Kathryn Folliott
Avalon Waterways says it will continue to expand in Europe and beyond
in 2014.
The company, which recently released its 292-page brochure for next
year, reports sales are already steadily
coming in.
Plans are afoot to launch three new
Suite ships in Europe: the Poetry II,
the Illumination and the Impression.
Each will feature 200-square foot
staterooms with 11-foot picture windows, opening a full seven feet to create the cruise line’s trademark ‘open air
balcony’ experience. The ships will ensure Avalon keeps its position as offering the youngest fleet in Europe, with
an average age of just over two years,
says the company.
Next year will also see the addition
of more theme cruises in Europe, with
golf, beer-tasting, wellness and World
War I boosting a lineup that already
includes food, wine, music (jazz or
classical), Jewish heritage, European
history and politics, President’s cruise
and Christmas market sailings.
On the retail side, the company will
also continue to offer MyAvalon, allowing agents to help customize their
clients’ experiences including booking
additional shore excursions, commissionable at 5%.
Elsewhere in the Avalon world, the
company will launch its first Amazon
itinerary, ‘From the Inca Empire to the
Peruvian Amazon’, on the M/V Aria.
In the Galapagos, Avalon is introducing a new ship, the 21-stateroom luxury expedition ship Isabella II.
And the cruise line will continue to
offer sailings along Egypt’s Nile and
Lake Nasser, China’s Yangtze, Southeast Asia’s Mekong and America’s
Mississippi.
“All in all it’s going to be a very busy
and exciting year,” says Avalon’s Stéphanie Bishop.
The response in the Canadian market
to Avalon’s stylish ships and spacious
staterooms has been wonderful,” she
adds. “We are seeing a lot of repeat business from travellers who love the itineraries, the food, the ambience — and
those lovely Panorama classstaterooms.
Find out more at agentlingo.ca.
AmaWaterways
unveils 2014
Africa Safaris &
Wildlife brochure
AmaWaterways has released its new
2014 Africa Safaris & Wildlife Cruise
brochure featuring luxurious cruiseand-land safari itineraries.
The brochure provides complete
details about AmaWaterways’ one-ofa-kind program in Africa, with four
different land safari itineraries — Discover Africa, Stars of South Africa,
Rivers & Rails of Africa and Golden
Trails of East Africa — all of which
include a wildlife river safari on Botswana’s Chobe River.
AmaWaterways is the only river
cruise company operating in Africa
SPOTLIGHT CRUISING
SPOTLIGHT NAME
that offers both river and land-based
safari programs.
Guests aboard AmaWaterways’
wildlife river cruise will enjoy a fournight stay on the 28-passenger Zambezi Queen. As a modern ‘eco-ship’ the
Zambezi Queen offers deluxe accommodations, fine dining and floor-toceiling panoramic windows, making
it an excellent vantage point for gameviewing. Following the cruise, guests
will spend two full days at the legendary Victoria Falls.
“Africa is a truly magical destination, and our goal was to convey some
of the ambiance of a classic African
safari with this beautiful brochure,”
said AmaWaterways’ Executive Vice
President and Co-Owner Kristin
Karst. “Our African itineraries offer
our guests up-close, unhurried and
unforgettable wildlife viewing opportunities, as well as unique cultural encounters and other in-depth, authentic travel experiences.”
New enhancements to the 2014 program include the ‘Rivers & Rails of Af-
Save $200
per couple*
On Flights!
Cruise Vacation
already booked?
Make the most of your clients’
cruise holiday by adding a
Trafalgar guided vacation before
or after their cruise. Experience
more than just the port cities
with a true insider’s
perspective.
Contact your Sales Manager or
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*Conditions apply.
18 Travelweek May 2, 2013
rica’ option, which features two nights
aboard the Rovos Rail luxury train, as
well as exclusive use of some of the most
incredible accommodations in Africa,
such as Singita Sweni Lodge and Singita
Sabora Tented Camp, both of which
have been ranked among the world’s
‘Top 10 Hotels’ by Travel + Leisure.
Other program highlights include
city tours, wine tastings, morning and
afternoon game drives, an excursion
in a traditional dugout canoe, private
game reserve picnics, a traditional
African boma dinner onshore, a visit
with local villagers and a guided tour
of Victoria Falls. See amawaterways.com. Goway launches new
expedition cruise to
Madagascar
Mighty Baobabs and majestic volcanic
mountains between untouched rainforests and wonderful beaches make
Madagascar the jewel of the Indian
Ocean.
Now Goway is offering an expedition cruise to Madagascar in December onboard the MS Bremen, specially
built to provide intensive exploration
in the most elegant surroundings for a
maximum of 164 guests.
“An exotic flora and fauna has developed on Madagascar that does not
exist anywhere else on earth. There
are more than 12,000 species of plants
recorded on Madagascar, the fourth
largest island in the world. Guests will
experience lemurs in pristine nature,
animals in the wild, and wonderful beaches on romantic coasts,” says
Emma Cottis, Product and Marketing
Manager, Goway Travel.
The MS Bremen has shallow drafts
which affords high maneuverability
to allow the ship to enter waters larger
cruise vessels cannot reach, she adds.
Zodiacs (small motorized boats) are
used with capacity for only 10-12 guests.
Onboard experts include a team of experienced scientists, expedition leaders
and specialists who guide landings and
offer guests the rare opportunity to observe plant and animal life up close.
The 17-day Indian Ocean Voy-
age starts in Mauritius and ends in
Cape Town with a week spent exploring Madagascar. Rates start
at $7,020. See goway.com/africa/
cruises/indian-ocean-voyage.html.
Crystal’s ‘edible
adventures’ showcase
the best of local
Europe cuisine
Crystal Cruises is celebrating ‘la buona cucina’ (good cuisine) in Europe
this year, with more than 60 shore excursions that offer an ultra-local taste
of the rich culinary regions where
Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony are sailing.
Hands-on cooking classes, multicourse meals, comestible history lessons, food sourcing, and sampling will
be hosted in traditional homes, farms,
chateaus, Michelin-starred restaurants and markets, according to the
cruise line.
From spring through fall, Crystal
offers 65 five- to 15-day European
cruise itineraries visiting Spain, Italy,
France, Malta, Greece, the UK, Sweden, Norway, Russian, Estonia, Romania and Morocco.
“Today, there are more and more
Crystal ‘foodies,’ who relish connecting with the culinary nuances and
culture of a region in a very authentic, memorable and intimate way,” says
John Stoll, vice president of port and
land operations. Ports offering edible excursions
include:
Southern Europe/North Africa
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as arancine di riso (rice and tomato
croquettes) and pennette alla eoliana (pasta with capers, olives, and
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from paella to Crema Catalana, in
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cheese, one of the world’s finest, in
the land of Laxta sheep, or explore
three types of pinchos, a typical
bread-based appetizer of the region.
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See trafalgar.com for more details.
Clients can cruise
the Greek Islands
with Trafalgar
ACV covers the
Caribbean with its
cruise product
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May 2, 2013 Travelweek 19
SPOTLIGHT CRUISING
CRUISE
THE
GREEK
ISLANDS
Western Caribbean.
Southern Caribbean cruises feature
the beautiful beaches of Aruba and Barbados and the rain forest of Martinique.
Eastern Caribbean cruises may call
on ports in the Bahamas, San Juan,
Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands
and Turks and Caicos.
No matter what the itinerary, ACV
recommends passengers cruise in the
fall before the peak season and stay an
extra few days to discover the areas of
Florida, San Juan, New Orleans, Galveston (Houston) and New York, all ports
of departure for Caribbean cruises.
ACV offers San Juan direct from
Toronto, with direct weekend flights
and connectors available from other
cities starting November 2013 and
continuing until April 2014.
The operator highlights four ships
sailing from San Juan: the Celebrity
Summit, Adventure of the Seas, Jewel
of the Seas and Carnival Valor.
“These ships include incredible
itineraries such as Royal Caribbean
International’s Adventure of the Seas,
travelling to St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Aruba, Curacao and with two days at sea,”
says the company.
New ships in the Caribbean include, of course, Royal Caribbean
International’s Oasis of the Seas and
Allure of the Seas.
Celebrity Cruises has its SolsticeClass ships, and the Norwegian Breakaway launches in the spring of 2013
with sister ship Norwegian Getaway
coming in spring 2014.
Finally, the spectacular Dream-Class
ships of Carnival “cannot be outdone,”
says ACV, with expansive play areas,
aqua parks, adults-only retreats and
beautiful wellness areas.
Visit aircanadavacations.com for
more details.
20 Travelweek May 2, 2013
airliners.ca
877 727 6387
grecianholidays.com
800 268 6786
Travellers can take
their time to explore
the Greek Isles with
Grecian Holidays’
Mystical Adventure
If there’s one thing Grecian Holidays
knows for sure, it’s that the Greek Isles
are meant to be explored by sea and,
more importantly, at a leisurely pace.
The Canadian-owned and operated
wholesaler offers just that with its 14day ‘Mystical Adventure’, a relaxing
cruise that highlights the country’s
most sun-drenched destinations.
“Our ‘Mystical Adventure’ tour is
perfectly paced to allow travellers to
soak up the sights and really take in
their surroundings,” said John Andrepoulos, President of Grecian Holidays.
“And with stunning backdrops of the
Mediterranean Sea, golden beaches
and white-washed houses, trust us,
they’ll want the time to enjoy the view.”
The tour begins in Athens with a
city tour and a day of leisure to explore
all the sights, including Constitution
Square, the Memorial of the Unknown
Solder and the Acropolis.
At Piraeus port, participants board
a cruise vessel headed to Mykonos
where they’ll spend three nights soaking up the rays on the island’s many
famous beaches. They’ll also have the
option to take a day trip to the nearby
island of Delos.
From there, the cruise continues
to Kusadasi, Turkey where travellers are encouraged to sign up for an
optional tour to Ephesus, an ancient
city characterized by 2,000-year-old
marble streets and a remarkably preserved library.
After a quick stop in Patmos, best
known for being the site where St.
John the Devine wrote the Book of
Revelations, passengers will arrive in
Rhodes, also known as the ‘Island of
Roses’. Highlights here include the
Palace of the Knights of St. John and
an optional shore excursion to Lindos.
The vessel then makes a stop at
Heraklion, the capital of Crete, before
arriving at the breathtaking island of
Santorini. Travellers will arrive just in
time to catch the legendary Santorini
sunset, considered a not-to-be-missed
attraction in its own right.
The final five nights of the tour
will be spent in Santorini, the perfect
amount of time for travellers to sample local delicacies, visit the Acrotiri
Excavation, cruise around the island’s
volcano and visit Oia Village.
‘Mystical Adventure’ is priced
from $2,499 per person, double
occupancy at four-star hotels, and
$2,799 per person, double occupancy at five-star properties. Single
and triple occupancy rates are also
available.
Prices include two nights accommodation in Athens with breakfast, a
half-day tour of Athens, a four-night
Greek Islands & Turkey cruise (inside cabin), three nights accommodation in Mykonos with breakfast, five
nights accommodation in Santorini
with breakfast, one-way airfare from
Santorini to Athens (including airport
taxes), all transfers, and local taxes
and service charges.
The ‘Mystical Adventure’ package is featured in Grecian Holidays’ 2013 Greece brochure, which
is available now for bookings.
For reservations, call (416) 5108811 or 1-800-268-6786, or e-mail
traveldesk@grecianholidays.com.
For more information visit grecian
holidays.com.
... Continued from page 10
leisure travel between the UAE and
Canada and feed passengers onto each
other’s flight networks.”
The UAE is Canada’s largest merchandise export market in the Middle
East region and more than 40,000 Canadians reside in the UAE. Furthermore approximately 150 Canadian
companies are based in the UAE.
Calin Rovinescu, Air Canada’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said:
“We are pleased to establish a mutually beneficial commercial cooperation
that will provide our customers with
more travel options and frequent flyer
benefits. We look forward to introducing Air Canada codeshare service on
Etihad Airways’ flights to Abu Dhabi,
via Toronto and London Heathrow,
and welcoming their customers on Air
Canada in the near future.”
Subject to regulatory approval, Etihad Airways will place its EY code on
Air Canada flights between Toronto
and select North American points.
ORDER YOUR
BROCHURES
TODAY
In return, Air Canada will place
its AC code on Etihad Airways’ nonstop services between Toronto and
Abu Dhabi, as well as Etihad Airways’
flights between London Heathrow
and Abu Dhabi.
Next stop, growth and
profit: the escorted
motorcoach tour is
alive and well
By Kathryn Folliott
TORONTO — You’ve got to hand it to
them.
After years of hearing that their touring styles were too old-fashioned, too
regimented, and that the whirlwind
whistle-stop itineraries — ‘If it’s Tuesday, it must be Belgium’ — looked more
like to-do lists than bucket lists, motorcoach tour companies have come roaring back with a flexible and modern
approach to escorted travel, offering
vacations that are heavy on experiential
tourism with lots of free time.
What choice did they have? In what
seemed to be a blink of an eye, the target market went from senior sightseers
to ‘been there, done that’ Baby Boomers who shudder at the thought of seeing the world from a bus. All things
considered, the motorcoach tour companies have done remarkably well,
transforming their operations in just a
few years and taking agents along for a
commissionable ride in the meantime.
Anderson Vacations, Jim Warren,
Director Business Development —
USA has more than 40 years of experience with developing, marketing and
escorting tours, and he’s seen his share
of changes in the industry.
“The main attraction of the escorted
tour was that it created a problem-free
opportunity for inexperienced travellers to see a snapshot version of many
places in the world. The concept of
visiting a different city (or even country) each day was very popular.” How
things have changed!
The advent of the FIT in the late 1980s
and mid-1990s, coupled with strong
growth in the cruise industry and later,
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May 2, 2013 Travelweek 21
Terra Nostra Botanical Park with Collette Vacations
the Internet, kept escorted tour companies on their toes, says Warren.
“For the first time in decades, most
tour operators realized that they had to
adapt to the arrival of the hard-charging Baby Boomers in order to halt the
decline in their escorted tour business.”
The response of the trend-setting
tour operators — including Anderson Vacations, which offers escorted
motorcoach tours as well as FIT/customized product in Canada, the U.S.
and Australia/New Zealand — was to
transform their escorted tour product
to appeal the next generation of travellers, he says.
“The industry-leading tour operators have seen excellent recovery dur-
ing the past three years and most are
now predicting the first growth in the
escorted tour market in over a decade.”
At two of the biggest names in touring, Insight Vacations and Trafalgar,
operations have evolved dramatically
over these past several years. “I think
the changes we have seen recently have
been focused mainly on three specific
things: making our tours more experiential, more leisurely and more unique,”
says Insight President Cris David.
New selling points include wine
tastings and privately hosted winery
visits, cooking classes, Dine Around
Evenings and Highlight Evenings featuring local entertainment and cuisine, such as the Flamenco evening in
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22 Travelweek May 2, 2013
Seville and waltzing in Vienna.
Capping group sizes at 40 passengers and offering business-class legroom proved hugely popular for Insight. And its Easy Pace tours, with late
starts and early arrivals, and Country
Roads itineraries are selling well.
At sister company Trafalgar, the lineup of Family Experiences developed in
the last three years provide a cross-generational way for young travellers (five
to 18) and their parents/grandparents
to gain different trip experiences, from
the Gladiator School in Rome, to dude
ranching in Montana. These programs
are selling out year after year, says Wolf
Paunic, Trafalgar Canada Vice President of Sales.
When it comes to closing a sale on an
escorted tour, Collette Vacations’ General Manager — Canada, Brett Walker,
says it’s helpful to ask clients how independent of a traveller they are.
“Find out if they are interested in
the history of a place, or if they choose
destinations based on their cultural
appeal, or are they more interested in
rest and relaxation. Have they travelled with a group before or other likeminded travellers?” says Walker.
Perks like Collette’s roundtrip
home-to-airport sedan service on all
air-inclusive departures (within 100
km radius from most major Canadian gateways) can help clinch a sale,
he adds. Collette also has a Full Cash
Refund travel waiver for cancellation
right up to the day prior to departure.
A few years ago Collette launched
its Explorations line that provides
more immersive activities in a small
group setting. Based on the line’s
growing popularity, the company
introduced four new tours for 2013:
the nine-day Inspiring Iceland, 11day Countryside of the Emerald Isle,
16-day Ecuador: Avenue of the Volcanoes & Galapagos Islands, and 14day Exploring South Africa, Victoria
Falls & Botswana.
It’s not just the big brand-name tour
companies that are seeing success. At
Burlington, Ontario’s DHTour, specializing in London and the UK, President
Gordon Burwood says his mini-coach
business continues to grow, along with
unique tours focusing on British Roy-
alty, gardens, stately homes and so on.
For clients used to travelling independently, the thought of large groups
and being on and off buses all day can
be a bit off-putting, notes Burwood.
“Agents could suggest the mini-coach
type of touring with a maximum of 14
travelling companions and more flexible itineraries. They could also suggest a mixture of a tour with independent time in cities such as London,
Paris or Rome.”
Tom Armstrong, Corporate Communications Manager at Tauck, says
selling tours to people “who might not
typically be tour clients” can also work.
“Clients comfortable on their own in
Europe might appreciate a guided safari, or the structure and insights of a
tour in Asia or South America,” says
Armstrong.
Tauck’s lineup has grown and diversified to include an entire portfolio
— the Tauck Bridges collection — of
guided tours designed specifically
for families, plus a Culturious collection of small-group tours using minicoaches with a more regional focus.
What do passengers want from an
escorted tour, circa 2013?
“They want authentic, enriching experiences they can’t get on their own,”
says Armstrong. “They also want a very
high level of personalized service, so everything is taken care of for them and
they can spend their time and attention
immersed in the destination. And they
want a simple, all-inclusive price that
delivers real and honest value.”
Kudos to the escorted tour companies for giving clients exactly that.
This article is re-printed from the
new Travel Professional: The Groups
Edition, polybagged with this issue of
Travelweek.
Blue Diamond Hotels
& Resorts brings back
the Grand Lido name
in Negril
NEGRIL — Blue Diamond Hotels &
Resorts has acquired Breezes Negril
Resort & Spa here and will rebrand it
as a Grand Lido.
The all-inclusive resort’s 210 rooms
Blue Diamond Hotels & Resorts Grand Lido, Negril
and suites will continue to welcome
guests with no interruption.
“After much consultation with our
tour operator and travel agent partners and based on feedback from
loyal repeat guests, we are pleased to
announce that the resort will continue offering many of the unique
and friendly features that many of
its guests have been accustomed to,
including its extensive food and beverage program,” said Jordi Pelfort,
Managing Director of Blue Diamond
Hotels & Resorts.
“Furthermore, the resort will remain
adult focused and will continue to only
accommodate guests over the age of 16.”
A complete fact sheet will be made
available shortly at bluediamond
resorts.com.
Porter Airlines boosts
service to Boston,
Chicago
TORONTO — Porter Airlines is
boosting service from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to Boston’s Logan
International Airport and Chicago
Midway International Airport, with
one additional weekend roundtrip
available immediately.
Summer service to Chicago will
also include an extra weekday flight
from June 24 until Aug. 30.
This has increased the number
of weekly options to as many as 43
roundtrips, for both Boston and
Chicago, including eight weekend
roundtrips to both cities.
“Boston and Chicago have always
been popular markets, but with the
launch of Porter Escapes, our new
packaged vacations platform, we are
seeing even higher demand for leisure travel to these two cities,” said
Robert Deluce, president and CEO
of Porter Airlines. “The additional
Saturday flights allow greater flexibility for weekend travel, providing
convenient options for any schedule.”
CITC members agree
to ACTA integration
TORONTO — CITC members have
agreed to a resolution that will see
CITC integrate into ACTA.
“In the short term neither association anticipates any surprises as we
make our way through the formalities
(due diligence) and complete the integration by the end of May,” said ACTA
President and COO David McCaig.
“The two associations hope to be
moved into a single location for the
first week of August and members
should not expect any interruption of
service during these final stages.”
NOTES
Contiki guarantees all
2013 Asia trips
Following the announcement earlier
this year that Asia departures had
been significantly increased from
2012, Contiki has revealed that 100%
of departures are now definite for
May 2, 2013 Travelweek 23
2013. With 266 departures for trips to
Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam
and China, the demand for Asia is
strong and Contiki hopes to build off
of the success of last year’s inaugural brochure. All internal flights and
cruises are included, as well as Backstage Pass inclusions like lunch with
a local family in a Beijing hutong and
a guided bike ride through the Vietnam countryside. Clients can also
save up to $140 on their 2013 Asia
trip with Contiki’s Early Payment
Discount if they book and pay in full
by May 31, 2013.
PEOPLE
Air Canada Vacations has named
two new area sales managers for Ontario and Quebec regions. Anthony
Dentamaro will assume his position
in Toronto metro east. With years of
expertise working with travel agents,
Dentamaro will be part of a sales
team under the supervision of Denise Graham. Mireille Moutou, having been a well-known figure with
Quebec agencies in a commercial
capacity for many years, will be covering the northern part of Montreal,
the area of Lanaudière, as well as the
western part of Montérégie under
the supervision of Guy Marchand.
Susan Chow, from Red Tag’s Toronto
office was selected as the winner of
Palladium’s Weddings Away Contest
hosted on Travelweek.ca. Susan won a
7-night holiday for two at The Royal
Suites Punta de Mita. Designed exclusively for adult travellers, The Royal
Suites Punta de Mita by Palladium in
Riviera Nayarit, Mexico offers privacy
and personalized service of a small
VIP resort, as well as unlimited access
to the services available at the Grand
Palladium Vallarta Resort & Spa. This
contest was promoted through Travelweek’s Travel Professional: Weddings
Away Edition.
Tourism Ireland has named Alison
Metcalfe as its new Head of North
America, Ireland’s second largest
tourism market which experienced a
strong performance in 2012 and delivered almost a million visitors and
$1 billion in revenue. Metcalfe will
take up the position June 1 replacing
Joe Byrne. Metcalfe has worked with
Tourism Ireland and the Northern
Ireland Tourist Board since 1992,
initially in Canada and since 2007,
as Vice President Marketing —
USA, where she led the recent USA
Re vie w,
Make Ireland Jump
Out.
She
pre viously
also worked
for VisitBritain
(formerly BTA)
in London,
Portugal and
Toronto.
MARKETPLACE
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independent agencies
In today’s travel economy, we all have to make tough choices.
Margins are slim, costs are high, competition is fierce.
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24 Travelweek May 2, 2013
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ȸ̅ ɩʼ˨̅Ŏ̈Ƨ̈ɗʎʼɩʎ̈ʌɗʎ˨̈̅ŎƧȮ˨ɗʎȮƧ˷ɗɊ̅
V̒V̅V̒Z̅ÐVp
ȸ̅ º̕ʞʞʎ̈ʏʧɗ̅ʼ˨̅ĸƧ˨̈ʎ̈ʏʧɗ
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Please send your resumé in full confidence to
ú˨˕̅ÐʭɊɗ˨̅ÌƧʭɊƧ̅Ƨ̈Ɇ̅̅
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ŎʎŘ˨ʏˎɧ̅ʎ̅̅ÌƧʭɊƧ̅Ř˨Ƨ̾ɗʞ̅À˨ʼ̕ˎ̅Ȯ˨ƧʭɊɇ̅
̿Ƨ˷̅ʭƧʧɗɊ̅Ȯ͆̅jɗʞʼʏ̈̈ɗ̅Ƨ˷̅ʼʭɗ̅ʼɩ̅̅
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ÌƧʭɊƧ̅Ř˨Ƨ̾ɗʞ̅ʎ̅ÌƧ˷̅Ȯɗɗʭ̅Ƨ̿Ƨ˨ɊɗɊ̅̈ʌɗ̅
Zʼʭ˷̕ʧɗ˨˥˷̅Zʌʼʏȹɗ̅̿Ƨ˨Ɋ̅˅ɶ̅ƇɗƧ˨˷̅ʏʭ̅Ƨ̅˨ʼ̿
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May 2, 2013 Travelweek 25
Getting to know the lesser-known benefits that are
included in travel insurance
By Cindy Sosroutomo along with Dan Keon, Director, Marketing and Communications Canada, Sales and Marketing,
Allianz Global Assistance
Everyone knows travel insurance can include major benefits
like emergency medical coverage and trip cancellation. But
what about the less obvious benefits, many of which can
make all the difference between an unforgettable trip and
one your clients would rather soon forget?
One example is trip cancellation coverage in the event your
client is summoned for jury duty. Though many people never
get the call to serve their community, jury duty has interfered
with trips before and it surely will again. That’s why trip cancellation coverage in most policies includes this as a covered
reason for cancelling a trip.
Or a traveller may receive more exciting news — the arrival of
a newborn baby! What happens to a cruise that was booked
months in advance? If your client purchased trip cancellation,
pregnancy is often a covered reason. There are stipulations,
though. For example, the pregnancy may need to be diagnosed after the trip was booked, and the departure date may
need to be scheduled within nine weeks before or after the
expected date of delivery.
There are also several benefits included in most emergency
medical travel insurance plans that may surprise you. The vehicle return benefit covers costs to return a vehicle to your
client’s home in case they have a medical emergency while
travelling that prevents them from driving home as planned. If
your client rented a car, the travel insurance provider will pay
to have the car returned to its origin. These situations can be
expensive to rectify, which is why most travel insurance companies include support and reimbursement for this scenario.
Beyond logistics, it is often an emotional experience when a
traveller experiences a medical emergency abroad. This is why
most emergency medical travel insurance policies include a
bedside vigil benefit. If your client is travelling alone and is
hospitalized for a certain amount of days in a row (usually
three to seven days), the provider may pay the cost of return
transportation for a family member or close friend to be at
their bedside. Additionally, the provider will allocate a certain
amount of money for meals, accommodations and expenses
like taxi fare for the visitor.
Lastly, remind your clients that reviewing the terms and conditions around a benefit is just as important as knowing about
the benefit itself. And as always, their travel insurance provider
is available to explain benefits in more detail and answer any
questions they may have.
q&a
When can travel insurance be purchased?
The timeframe for purchasing travel insurance depends on
the type of travel insurance as well as the provider. Emergency
medical travel insurance can usually be purchased right up
until the day the traveller leaves their home province. Some
travel insurance providers require the traveller to purchase
travel insurance with trip cancellation benefits within two to
10 days of booking the trip or paying a deposit for the trip. As
a travel agent, the best time to offer travel insurance is during
the booking process to ensure that the client is eligible for trip
cancellation coverage. From a selling standpoint, the client is
also immediately aware of the investment they’re making, so
it’s easier for them to understand the value in purchasing coverage. Remind them of the ‘Free-Look’ period most policies
offer, which allow them to cancel the policy without penalty if
they do so within a specified window after purchase.
Stumped on a question?
Here’s your chance to ask the experts! Simply send us your travel insurance inquiries for a chance to win great prizes.
The agent whose question we select for each month’s column will win a $100 gift card courtesy of Allianz Global Assistance.
E-mail your questions to insurance@travelweek.ca.
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