Agents Talk Travel in Oshawa

In the midst of several weeks on the road, the Let’s Talk Travel show came to Oshawa Thursday night, bringing nine presenters to agents in the eastern reaches of the Greater Toronto Area.

Now in its 14th year, the 2014 edition of Let’s Talk Travel has brought together a wide range of presenters to update agents on new developments and attractions for the coming year, with stops across Ontario including its upcoming show in Sarnia on Oct. 20. At the Oshawa dinner event this week, held at Durham College's Champlain campus, agents learned more about the upcoming year from the following presenters:

Universal Orlando Resort

In addition to the destination’s movie-themed attractions and existing deluxe accommodations, visitors to Universal now have the option of a fourth hotel - the Cabana Bay Beach Resort, described by Universal sales representative Lidia Markser as a moderately-priced hotel aimed at travelling families. A fifth hotel at the resort - the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort - is currently under construction with a summer 2016 opening date.

Tourcan Vacations

Offering customizable itineraries for exotic vacations, Tourcan is offering a number of new tours to travellers this year, said general manager Philip Solomon, adding that 99 per cent of the company’s business is still conducted through agents. Among those are faith-based tours in Israel and Jordan; winery tours in regions such as South Africa, Chile, and Argentina; yoga excursions to India, Bali and Brazil; photo tours through regions of Africa; and golf getaways in Australia and South Africa. He added that Tourcan is also offering a number of pre- and post-cruise excursions as well as several luxury train packages in South Africa and India, as well as the famed Orient Express in Turkey.

Jordan

A land of diverse cultures, breathtaking landscapes and unforgettable architecture, Jordan continues to draw a wide range of travellers, said Marie LaFleche, of the Canadian market development branch of the Jordan Tourism Board. In addition to ongoing tourist draws such as the ancient city of Petra and Wadi Rum, recently-established attractions include a new automobile museum (featuring cars from the personal collection of King Hussein) and the “totally green” Wadi Feynan Eco Lodge. The Wadi Mujib nature preserve offers opportunities for extreme adventure travellers while tourists looking for a culinary experience can take in the markets and Saint George winery of Amman.

Cruise Strategies

Catering to the niche small cruise market with ships holding between 22 and 540 passengers, Cruise Strategies offers a wide range of packages around the world through a variety of companies, said Kim Barbisan, director of sales. Cruises on a variety of waterbodies are available through Un-Cruise, ranging from Alaska’s Glacier Bay and Mexico’s Sea of Cortes to river cruise packages on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, which include visits to nearby wineries. Other packages include Swan Hellenic’s range of cruises including those on board the recently refurbished Minerva; tours of the Hebrides archipelago and nearby Norwegian fjords with Hebridean Island Cruises; and the return of Windstar Cruises to Tahiti this year.

Myrtle Beach

The Secret is Out - Myrtle Beach is currently enjoying 60 More Days of Summer, said Kim Hartley of Visit Myrtle Beach, with a number of great travel deals available while the weather's still warm and the crowds have thinned. The destination also features 60 Best Kept Secrets, Hartley said - unique, off-the-beaten-path things to see and do like tour local craft breweries and wineries, a visit to the original Hammock Shop in Pawley’s Island, or taste some 'chicken bog,' a local regional dish. In 2015, the Myrtle Beach area will see the construction of a new Penguin exhibit and expansion planned for Ripley’s Aquarium, as well as a new live show called “Thunder & Light” featuring the renowned “All That” clogging group (as featured on America’s Got Talent) and a multi-million dollar laser light show that toured with Pink Floyd and Madonna. A new Homewood Suites Resort and new Hilton Vacation Club Resort are also scheduled to open in the coming year, said Hartley.

Alio

Working exclusively with travel agents to offer clients flexible packages around the world, Alio Tours has introduced a number of new tools to make booking even easier for agents, said Product and Marketing Manager Kostas Tsimiklis. By Oct. 31, the company will offer secure Verified by Visa credit card transactions, an initiative undertaken in the wake of increasing online fraud, said Tsimiklis. As Alio continues to add hotels to its roster, the company will also list its Featured Hotels for each destination, helping narrow the list for agents seeking city-centre accommodations ranging from two to five stars, which have been verified by Alio representatives, said Tsimiklis.

DeNure

A wide range of packages await travellers booking with DeNure Tours, said Philip Solomon (filling in for Andrea Mendelsohn, Director of Sales, National Accounts for DeNure). With coaches equipped with satellite and free WiFi or the option to book flights, DeNure continues to offer its portfolio of South Carolina and Florida destinations, including tours of Myrtle Beach, Daytona, St. Petersburg and Destin. For travellers seeking something different, packages to New York City, Washington DC and Newfoundland/Labrador are also offered. DeNure is also known for its Christmas tours (departing Dec. 23), including packages to New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Cape Cod for the holiday season.

Scenic Tours

New ships are set to sail the waterways of Europe and beyond with Scenic Tours and Emerald Waterways in 2015, said Neil Dudley, Scenic’s Director of Business Development for Canada. Bookings on board the Scenic Opal and Jasper (both launching next year) for 2015 and 2016 are already taking place, said Dudley, adding that the Scenic Gem will travel the Rhone next year. The company is also offering its exclusive Scenic Enrich shore tours on various itineraries, as well as the new Scenic Tailormade program, which allows travellers to explore destinations through a GPS-enabled guide, offering information on local attractions and landmarks. Part of the Scenic Tours Group, Emerald will offer itineraries on all of Europe’s major rivers at an affordable price point, said Dudley.

Turks and Caicos

Relaxation and an escape from everyday life is the angle that Turks and Caicos is taking to promote the destination for 2015, said Rosemarie Wilson, tourism promotions executive. Offering more niche “experiences” over “mass tourism,” Wilson said that attractions such as the spa at Parrot Cay, an abundance of diving and snorkeling opportunities along the destination’s 340 miles of coral reef, and prime wedding locations is just a taste of what Turks and Caicos has to offer travellers. Those looking to relax on vacation can also unwind at the destination’s Beaches and Club Med resorts, and with Turks and Caicos anticipating ever-increasing tourism numbers (more than one million from cruise ships alone, said Wilson), it would seem many travellers are looking to make their escape.