Travel Agent Day returns!

Today (May 4) marks the return of Travel Agent Day, an annual celebration of all the hard work done by agents in an increasingly challenging industry.

The annual occasion, which takes place on the first Wednesday of May each year, began in 2012 as a way of recognizing the value that agents continue to provide their clients. The event’s official Facebook page can be found here.

Once again, a number of travel companies are marking the occasion by offering special deals for agents:

- Until May 31, 2016, agents booking with Air Canada Vacations will save 25 per cent when they redeem their ACV&ME points for travel vouchers. That means that 3,750 points - instead of the standard 5,000 - can be redeemed for a $50 voucher.

- Transat is offering five times the Bonbon points on all individual bookings made for Europe, Cruises, Packages, FIT and Air Only today.

- Today only, TravelBrands is offering agents two times the loyalty for all bookings made online.

- Sunwing Vacations is celebrating Travel Agent Appreciation Day with a one-time special offer. On May 4, 2016, agents can earn 2x STAR Agent Reward points that convert into cash on any new vacation package with departures between May 5, 2016 and Oct. 31, 2017. Full details can be found at www.sunwingagents.ca.

- WestJet's TA Appreciation month celebrations will include the return of their Hooray for TAs contest, taking place from May 2 to 31, 2016. Eligible agents can submit their WestJet flight and WestJet Vacations bookings or correctly answer WestJet-themed trivia questions for a chance to win one of 30 prizes. Prizes include 10 WestJet Vacations packages and 20 round-trip airfares for two. Plus fare bookings or bookings that include advance seat selection will provide travel agents with an even greater chance to win. Travel agents are encouraged to visit www.westjetagentcontests.com for full contest details and registration.

- Throughout May, Club Med is holding a series of contests for agents; each week, a new video will be released by Club Med and agents are challenged to find the hidden object in the video to win. Full details are available at https://en.clubmedagents.ca/club-med-contest/.

- G Adventures celebrates Travel Agent Day with the launch of the #GLovesAgents program. From May 4 – 10, 2016, Canadian agents will have a chance to win a number of prizes including a trip for two from the recently launched National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures collection. To enter the contest, agents must share their most memorable travel experience on Instagram or Twitter with hashtag #GLovesAgents while also tagging @gadventures. Entries can also be submitted at http://bit.ly/1SUJ8ZC.

- Insight Vacations celebrates the contributions and work done by its loyal and valued travel agent partners with a special bonus – agents who book an Insight Vacations escorted journey from May 2 through to May 6, 2016 will automatically receive an additional $50 Bonus Commission. This year, seven of the top selling agents in Canada will earn a spot on Insight’s air included journey to Italy in November on its annual Top Sellers FAM. In addition, the top four producing agents (selling Luxury Gold) in Canada will be eligible to earn a spot to experience France in style with the Luxury Gold by Insight Vacations agent FAM.

- Intrepid Travel has launched a social media contest exclusively for agents across Canada. The “Travel is…” giveaway will reward one agent with a $3,000 trip voucher for sharing online what travel means to them. The contest, which launched April 28, accepts submissions using the hashtag #IntrepidLovesAgents. For full details, visit intrepidtravel.com/agent-day2016.

- Exodus Travels is celebrating Travel Agent Appreciation Day by donating to Nepal on behalf of agents across the country. For every Canadian Travel Agent who subscribes to Exodus’ trade e-newsletter, joins Exodus’ Agent Facebook Group or shares Exodus’ recent Nepal: One Year On video, the tour operator will donate a high performance NOKERO solar light to a rural Nepalese family affected by the devastating earthquake that shook the country in April 2015.

- PAX is celebrating Travel Agent Month with a series of weekly contests for agents across Canada. Each week in May, a new contest will be featured on PAXnews.com, PAXnewsWest.com and PAXnouvelles.com, giving agents the chance to win great prizes. Click here for details on the first draw.