Canadian offer is open for travel agents & commissionable, Rocky Mountaineer clarifies

Rocky Mountaineer is setting the record straight in response to a Globe and Mail article that noted a booking deal that specifically excluded travel agents.

The article, published on Wednesday (July 7), cited a promo for locals to ride "Canada's most iconic train." 

The deal, as published in the Globe, reads that Canadians who book by Aug. 16 can save up to $1,400 per couple, that the offer is available on all 2021 packages, has no blackout dates, that Aeroplan members can earn up to 20,000 points for travel in 2021 (an offer that's good until Oct. 9) and that the trip must be booked directly with Rocky Mountaineer (not travel agents).

"Bookings through travel agents are not eligible," reads the article.

Nicole Ford, director, communications and stakeholder relations at Rocky Mountaineer, has clarified with PAX that the Globe article is inaccurate.

Rocky Mountaineer has several offers available for travel in the 2021 season, Ford said, and the Aeroplan offer is part of a “new multi-year partnership we hope will encourage more Canadians to travel again as the travel industry rebuilds back from the devastating impact of the pandemic.”

“It is only available for direct bookings in this first year,” Ford said, “however, we have plans underway to expand this to select trade partners for future seasons.”

“The opportunity for this partnership arose and we had to work quickly to get it to market to, hopefully, encourage more Canadians to consider travelling domestically this year.”

Open to agents & commissionable

Ford clarified that the Canadian Resident Offer is available for travel agents to book and is commissionable.

“This offer can be booked through the Rocky Mountaineer call centre,” Ford said. “If an agent is looking to book a client with this offer, they can do so by calling one of our in-house vacation consultants.”

The resident offer can also be combined with a special offer available with Fairmont on eligible bookings to create "even greater value," she said.

“Our team has worked hard to create new promotions for travel in 2021 that travel agents can take advantage of,” Ford said. “Due to the pandemic, Rocky Mountaineer was forced to suspend the entire 2020 season and the start of the 2021 season. This means our first departure on July 5 was the start of what will only be a three-month travel season this year.”

“Like so many across the industry, Rocky Mountaineer is trying to do what we can to recover from the devastating impact of the pandemic, so the company, and the other businesses that support our guests, can survive.”

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