Travelpack talks changes, new programs

It’s been another busy year for Travelpack, with changes at the Canadian office along with new programs and destinations rolling out in the coming months.

Jennifer Sampedro of Travelpack sat down with PAX recently for an update on what’s new at the company’s Canadian office.

Travelpack recently bid farewell to Fazel Baig, GM for North America, who has moved on to other pursuits in the travel industry, Sampedro said, adding that the company has not yet appointed a new North American GM. In July, Travelpack also welcomed Lionel Rozario as its new sales & marketing representative for North America, who Sampedro said will be the company’s main contact for new accounts.

Next month will see the launch of Travelpack’s 2016 India program featuring four set departures - two covering the north and two in the south – including Erotic Temples, Romantic Taj Mahal, Birds and Pink City; Mountain, Golden Temple, Sacred Haridwar, Rishikesh and Tigers; Best of South India; and Kolkata - Darjeeling & Sundarbans Tigers. The India program also features three packages which include a companion offer of 50 per cent off, including the nine-day Golden Triangle with Ranthambore, the 15-day Taste of Yoga with Golden Triangle Tour and the 15-day Coconut Tour of Kerala.

Family travel has also been a focus for Travelpack, promoting family packages over the summer in its Central American destinations including Costa Rica, Panama and Belize. The packages feature discounts for young travellers and offer two nights of adventure and three to four days of leisure at beaches in the destinations. A similar offer has been available on Travelpack’s South Africa packages, Sampedro said, adding that Africa bookings have started to increase as travellers have “moved away from the Ebola scare.”

“Kids are pretty much free in these destinations,” Sampedro said, “so it’s a great offer for families, as these destinations are somewhat expensive.”

Looking ahead, the coming year will see Travelpack add destinations in South America, with adventure and family travel packages to be offered in Ecuador, Colombia and Peru in early 2016, Sampedro said.