TravCorp puts Europe in the spotlight

It was an evening full of European flair as The Travel Corporation hosted select travel partners for an event showcasing its top product throughout the world's number one tourist destination.

Delegates from Spain, Ireland, Italy and Germany were on hand to share product highlights for the upcoming summer season, while Laura Pena Alberdi, consul in charge of tourism affairs at the Embassy of Spain, spoke on behalf of the European Travel Commission.

Offering a reminder of the region's experiences, Alberdi pointed to Europe's culture, gastronomy and mix of modern and historical elements. She said it is the third-most popular choice for Canadian travellers, behind the U.S. and China, though arrivals have been increasing steadily over the past years. This upward trend is projected to continue for the next decade, she said.

TravCorp's brands in Canada are benefiting from this growth, as numbers indicate that 2015 will see growth over last year.

President Jeff Element admitted that March was a bit soft in terms of bookings - a trend that was noted widely throughout the industry - though a strong February and even stronger April have made up for the downturn in a month that has historically been the most popular time for bookings.

Taking to the stage to highlight offerings within the Contiki, Trafalgar and Insight portfolios, Element emphasized how each brand stands on its own, though together, they cover the entire lifespan of a traveller.

"You start off with Contiki, maybe for your first trip out into the world on your own," he described. "You may meet someone on that trip and you get married, and a few years later, you're off on your honeymoon or anniversary trip with Trafalgar. After that, children come along and you're on a Family experience with Trafalgar, which is wonderful. I travel that way with my daughters who are now 10 and 16. In a few years, they're going to move away and I'm going to move into that next demographic and travel with Insight."

The opportunities to cater to every budget and demographic paired with strong airline capacity for the 2015 season means that now is the time to visit Europe, Element said, noting how delivering value and ensuring guests have experiences that make them come back again - to TravCorp and the agent who booked them - is the ultimate goal.

Sharing his observations of the marketplace, Element told PAX that in terms of what people are looking for, "it's that authentic, insider experience. As for destinations, we're seeing Ireland taking off, which in part has to do with the great capacity in the marketplace - good airlift makes it that much easier for us to sell."

Various promotions are available for travel consultants to offer clients with each Contiki, Trafalgar and Insight, which are available by contacting your local sales manager.

PHOTO: Cris David, president, Insight; Jeff Element, president, The Travel Corporation - Canada; Tony Celio, manager, leisure sales, Air Canada; Doug Patterson, president, Trafalgar; & Brad Ford, president, Contiki