TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

"WELCOME TO THE RIVIERA MAYA"

Vancouver-area travel professionals learn the secrets to selling this booming region

Freddie Marsh, Trips Marketing; Clemen Del Tejo, Riviera Maya Tourism Board; Sonia Casaubon, Valentin Imperial Maya Resort; Orlando Hidalgo, Destination Ventures

More than 50 travel professionals turned out to a training seminar and dinner presented by the Riviera Maya Tourism Board and the Mexico Tourism Board in Vancouver on Tuesday. The ballroom at the Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside was a comfortable classroom for agents learning everything about the Riviera Maya region, from the relatively short history of the area’s tourism industry, which began in earnest in 1995 with 1,400 hotel rooms, to all the latest news from this unique Mexican Caribbean setting which now boasts 34,000 rooms. [Full text and pictures]

SUNWING ADDS YVR-YYZ HOLIDAY FLIGHTS

Round-trip fares from $299 on flights starting December 17

Just in time for the busy festive season, Sunwing Vacations has added flights between Vancouver and Toronto. The flights will operate from on December 17, 18, 19, 24, 25 and 31; and January 1, 7 and 9. Rates start at $299 round trip, plus taxes. All Sunwing Airlines flights offer passengers a host of complimentary inclusions most other airlines now charge for. These include a welcoming glass of champagne, a choice of hot meals at lunch and dinner, served with a choice of red or white wine, and in flight entertainment including first-run movies. For more information, visit flysunwing.com or sunwing.ca.

FLEXI-FAMS FROM INDUS

New program offers agents flexibility to choose destination, dates

Tangier, Morocco, one possible destination on an Indus Travels Flexi-Fam

Indus Travels is introducing new flexible fam trips to India, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, Dubai, Jordan, Vietnam, Thailand and Peru. The new "flexi-fam" program gives agents the power to choose exactly when they take off on a fam trip, instead of tying them down to specific schedules and ironclad agendas. Agents plan their fams around their own calendar, instead of working their schedules around the specific fam dates allotted by other travel companies. “We want to give travel agents the same flexibility that they give their clients,” says Praveen Syal, managing director of Indus Travels. “It is easier to recommend destinations when you have experienced the destination for yourself and are able to share insights and adventures. Fams should be seasonable and hassle-free for agents, rather than just convenient for tour operators.” [Full text and pictures]

BIG SAVINGS ON MONARCH MED CRUISES

Encore CruiseEscapes offers savings up to $350 per couple now through Feb. 29, 2008

Ocean Monarch

For a limited time, booking clients on select Monarch Classic Cruises through Encore CruiseEscapes will save them up to $350 per couple and earn agents double Holiday Points plus 15% commission. Now through February 29, 2008, clients will save $350 per couple on the seven-day Golden Fleece or 3 Continents/5 Countries cruises, $150 on the four-day Aegean Discovery cruise and $100 on the three-day Aegean Discovery cruise. Encore CruiseEscapes is also offering free transfers (hotel/pier/hotel) for all 2008 cruise packages and a free Cape Sounion tour. Monarch Classic Cruises’ three ‘human-size’ ships were all refurbished in 2007 and accommodate between 452 and 800 guests. [Full text and pictures]

ACTA ID CARD OFFERS ADDED VALUE FOR AGENTS

ACTA’s ID card program underway; more value-added deals for agents
Yesterday afternoon, TRAVELHotNews.com spoke with ACTA President and CEO, Christiane Théberge about the organization’s new ID card program. Travel agents with an IATA card that expires in 2008 have a chance to get the ACTA ID card for free. The ACTA card gives a value-added industry identification card, which goes beyond savings on hotels, said Theberge. The dozens of partners who offer travel agent rates for their products include tour operators, airlines, attractions, cruise lines, rental car companies and more. “We’ve had a good response with the travel agent community, and we are going after new partners,” adds Théberge.

WESTJET ANNOUNCES INBOUND CANADA SALES MANAGER

WestJet veteran named to newly created position

Louis Gosselin

WestJet today announced the appointment of Louis Gosselin to the newly created position of sales manager, inbound Canada. WestJet has created this permanent sales position to manage Inbound Tour Operators, Tourism Organizations along with net programs for Canadian tour operators and consolidators. Gosselin was previously sales manager for Quebec and Ottawa and will now focus his efforts on building relationships with inbound and Canadian tour operators, specialty consolidators and various tourism organizations. “On behalf of the WestJet Sales team, I am pleased to announce Louis to the role of Inbound Canada Sales Manager,” said Duncan Bureau, vice-president sales for WestJet. "Louis brings more than 15 years of key experience in sales and business development. His proven track record will help execute WestJet's inbound sales initiatives and growth opportunities moving into 2008 and beyond.”