Transat celebrates 2015-16 Sun product launch

Transat will be adding greater capacity across the board for the upcoming season, including new routes and destinations along with brochure changes, enhanced training sessions, and consumer travel tools, the Transat team told trade partners during its 2015-2016 Sun product launch on June 25.

"It’s been a great year of support from all of you,” Denise Heffron, Transat’s vice-president, national sales & commercial, told those in attendance, referring to the recognition Transat has received from travel agents by way of award programs in recent months.

“Business moves fast, and we don’t always know if we’ve made the right decisions, so when we have the confidence of the retailers, we know we’re doing something right.”

The 2015-2016 Sun lineup, released earlier in June includes 35 destinations, with close to 500 hotels as well as 55 properties exclusive to Transat. Four new collections are set to make their debut this season, along with 19 new routes including Curaçao from Toronto (where an incoming property by Decameron Resorts will be its flagship property) and Rio Hato in Panama direct from Toronto and Montreal.

Annick Guérard, general manager, Transat Tours Canada, told the assembled partners that while the value of fuel posed a challenge for managing product costs, Transat was satisfied with its 2014-15 winter season results, and attributed the upcoming developments to an increase in consumer loyalty.

“More and more Canadian consumers are trusting the Transat brand this year,” she said, explaining that Transat measures its brand status with Canadians every two years. “When we asked them the reason [for the trust], they all gave the same answer: it’s all about quality of product, and quality of service.”

As a result, Nicole Bursey, commercial director for Transat, maintained the company will continue to invest in new product offerings and enhanced training for agents, in the interest of "giving agents an edge when it comes to selling Transat products."

Below is an overview of what’s new with Transat for the coming year:

New routes are en route

Transat customers can expect service to Curaçao from Toronto; Rio Hato in Panama from Toronto and Montreal; La Romana from Toronto and Quebec City; Ixtapa from Montreal, Calgary and Edmonton; and Cayo Santa Maria from four gateways in Western Canada. Weekly flights will also be added to Cancun from Fredericton, Cayo Coco from Halifax, and Orlando from St. John’s. A new gateway will also be opening in Windsor, ON, with further details to come.

For Florida

Florida is a key destination in Transat’s Sun program, with service to Fort Lauderdale from Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City and to Orlando from Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City, Moncton, Halifax and St. John’s.

New collections

• Solo Collection - For the traveller on vacation with themselves, who don’t necessarily want to be by themselves, this collection includes free WiFi and room service, no singles supplement, and a communal table where solo Transat guests can share meals.
• Sun Savvy Collection – Nineteen resorts are part of this collection designed for the budget-minded consumer, made up of primarily four- and three-and-a-half star properties.
• Adults Collection – Although this collection was introduced last season, it has since been revamped with new sub-products, with a choice of 35 resorts in six countries for adults looking for a grown-up getaway or a little R&R.
• Waves of Fun – Part of the existing Family Collection, the Waves of Fun product features a collection of five water park resorts selected by Transat that offer a range of experiences for all ages.

Air-only services

There will an increased focus on air-only services for the brand’s sun destinations, in an effort to provide options for travellers looking for cost-effective transportation to apartments or timeshares that exist outside of Transat’s property offerings

Summer reading for agents

Transat will introduce a group agent guide in August 2015, responding to feedback from agents calling for Transat’s entire lineup to be included in one place, as well as a separate brochure for its guided tours, with its Europe tours and Transat Discoveries Collection product in Asia, Africa, Europe, South Central America. The season’s coach tour information will also be included in the guided tours brochure.

New toy for Transat

The new iOS Air Transat application is now available for iPhone users, giving travellers access to their flight status, electronic documents and information on the destinations offered by Transat. The application is free of charge and available in English and French on the App Store.

Transat Academy 2015-2016

As such, Transat confirmed that its Academy program will return on Aug 31 this year, hosting 22 of the events across Canada. Afternoon training sessions will be a new addition to the agenda, whereby agents will be invited to in-depth product training on topics such as multi-generational travel and using collections to close a sale.

Other key points

• Additional goals for Transat include a greater focus on product offerings for groups, destination weddings, and cruises.
• Part of Transat’s enhanced product offerings will include an emphasis on niche products, such as Transat’s Azule Fives Gourmet Inclusive Resort - new exclusive featured in the 2015-2016 lineup.
• Transat’s yet-to-be-released winter Europe programme will include its newest destination, Italy’s Amalfi Coast.

PHOTO: Of Transat, left to right: Suzanne Diefenbaker, director, customer care centre; Erin Oddleifson, director, commercial marketing; Dan Prior, sales manager Ontario and Atlantic; Mary Santonato, director, groups Ontario and Atlantic; Annick Guérard, general manager Transat Holidays; Nicole Bursey, commercial director; Ursula Leonowicz, public relations and marketing advisor; Denise Heffron, vice-president, national sales & commercial; Alyson Thompson, inside sales co-ordinator; Patricia Brady, national groups director; Robert Reed, director of national accounts & Carmen Wakileh, inside sales manager.