News from Trafalgar, Pleasant Holidays, Air Jamaica and more
Tour News
Trafalgar and Contiki Vacations Field Sales Teams Unite to Increase Agent Support
The Travel Corporation has announced that the Contiki Vacations field sales team will be joining forces with Trafalgar Tours with aim to increase the field strength of both brands. They plan to collaborate in cross-training to capitalize on additional opportunities and lay groundwork for the upcoming selling season with the goal of increasing the level of agent support for the Contiki product by increasing the reach of sales force and incorporating the Contiki product line into all of the sales activities.
Trafalgar and Contiki will remain separate business units within The Travel Corporation, each with executive sales, marketing and reservations departments that will continue to support trade partners with specialized initiatives that speak to their respective demographics. In combining the two, Greg “Fish” Fischbein, president of Contiki Vacations, said he has “tripled Contiki’s ‘brandwidth’ within the travel agent community,” adding that “Contiki continues as the leader in travel for 18-35’ers, ‘echo-boomers’ that represent over 40% of the U.S. population. “ Agents can expect enhancements in sales and product training to coincide with the new brochure launches from both brands late this summer.
For more information, call (866) 544-4434 or visit www.trafalgartours.com. Brochures can be ordered at www.trafalgartours.com. Or call Contiki Tours, (866) 266-8454) or visit www.contiki.com. Brochures can be at www.contiki.com.
Pleasant Holidays Expands Costa Rica Program, Adding New Eco Options; ‘Webinar’ Set for June 22
Pleasant Holidays has announced the expansion of its Costa Rica program for 2010/2011 with the publication of a new Costa Rica brochure and the addition of Tortuguero to the product portfolio. Situated in the lush tropical forest on Costa Rica’s Northern Caribbean Coast, Tortuguero is a popular nesting site for endangered green sea turtles as well as leatherback, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles. The most northern extension of the Amazon, the area teems with wildlife and is a favorite destination for animal enthusiasts and ecotourism.
Featured are two meal-inclusive properties in Tortuguero: Laguna Lodge-Tortuguero is an exclusive 100-room lodge nestled between the Caribbean Sea and Tortuguero Lagoon that boasts beach access, separate adult’s and children’s pools, over-the-lagoon dining, guided tours and more. Mawamba Lodge-Tortuguero features exclusive tours of Mawamba Park that explore its two butterfly gardens (flower and fruit), iguana farm, hydroponic garden of native plants growing without soil, frog farm and garden; as well as a private trail tour and a night walk, all lead by a resident naturalist. Additional guided excursions available through both hotels include turtle nesting tours from July to September, morning boat ride tours and kayak tours that allow for a close look at the abundant and exotic flora and fauna.
Travel agents interested in learning more about booking travel to Costa Rica in general and Tortuguero specifically are encouraged to attend Pleasant Holidays’ TRACK webinar scheduled June 22 at 11 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time. The live webinar is part of Pleasant Holidays’ TRACK program (Training Resources to Achieve Continuing Knowledge) specifically designed to provide travel professionals with the educational tools to increase their sales and commission income by serving their clients better and faster. To register for the live, interactive webinar visit the Agent Resource Center at www.PleasantAgent.com. (The site features real-time inventory and pricing for Costa Rica’s most popular attractions, including zip lining, river rafting, horseback riding, coffee plantations and more.) Pleasant Holidays participates in the USTOA $1 million travelers assistance program.
Cruise News
Rita Sandy is New Paul Gaugin Cruises Director of Sales, Southwest Region
Luxury Paul Gauguin Cruises has announced the appointment of Rita Sandy as their Director of Sales, Southwest Region. She will be responsible for developing business opportunities with travel companies located in Southern California (from West Los Angeles, including Malibu, to San Diego County), Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and Hawaii. Prior to joining Paul Gauguin Cruises, she represented resorts, hotels and wholesale tour operators, including Posadas USA, Runaway Tours and Creative Leisure International.
Visit the Travel Agent Center at www.pgcruises.com. Rita Sandy can be contacted directly at (425) 440-6171 (corporate office), (949)-212-9551 (mobile) or rsandy@pgcruises.com.
Hotel & Resort Deals
Puerto Vallarta Marriott Celebrate Mexico Milestones with Packages
This year Mexico celebrates 200 years of independence and the centennial of the Mexican revolution. To commemorate these national milestones, CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta is offering a new Heart & Sol package that includes newly renovated deluxe garden or ocean-view room with private balcony, tequila tasting for two adults hosted by the resort’s tequila sommelier, breakfast buffet for two adults and up to two children daily (children aged 12 and under eat free from the children’s menu), fourth night free, a Mexican recipe souvenir booklet, and complimentary welcome amenity and drink upon arrival.
The resort also hosts a “Secretos de la Familia” program that offers guests an insider’s view of local culture and traditions. Discovery programs range from culinary lessons, marine life education and language exploration to tequila tasting (the resort is one of the only in the world that grows its own agave and has a proprietary tequila brand).
Booking are through June 30, for stays through December 31. The Heart & Sol package, starting at $169 per room, per night, requires a four-night stay and is based on availability.
Call (800) 228-9290 (800) 228-9290 or visit www.puertovallartamarriott.com. Include promotional code P51.
Air News
Air Jamaica Adds New flights to Nassau, Toronto and New York; Baltimore Suspended
Air Jamaica kicks off summer with the addition of flights to New York and Toronto, the reintroduction of service to Nassau and the suspension of flights to Baltimore. Starting July 1, Air Jamaica’s summer schedule will be five daily flights to New York; four daily flights to Fort Lauderdale; two daily flights to Toronto; daily flights to Philadelphia; and daily flights to Nassau.
Service to New York offers two daily flights from Montego Bay and three daily flights from Kingston, including the Nitebird, departing Kingston at 11.55 p.m. and arriving in New York at 4:40 a.m.
The additional daily flight between Kingston and Toronto will depart Kingston at 1:25 a.m. Passengers destined for Kingston will have the option of an early arrival.
Air Jamaica’s summer schedule will see the return of flights to Nassau with an increase to daily service. Service to Baltimore will be suspended effective July 1 to use the aircraft on other routes with stronger demand.
Visit www.AirJamaica.com or call (800) 523-5585.
