Platinum DMC and partners showcase offerings in Toronto

Elite international destination service providers, Platinum DMC Collection, hosted a breakfast event at Toronto’s Auberge de Pommier restaurant this week aimed at familiarizing travel professionals with its partners’ range of unique offerings.

Dallyce Macas, Canadian regional director, Platinum DMC, presided over the event, which was also attended by Brad Williams – the company’s managing partner. The eclectic variety of partners in attendance, Macas said, reflected Platinum DMC’s commitment to promoting ‘not just travel, but experiences.’

The morning took the form of a ‘speed-dating’ type breakfast, which saw each representative afforded time to briefly introduce their company and products to the travel professionals present at each table.

Motivate China

Barbara Wang, general manager, showcased China’s second-tier cities, which she said are very developed, in addition to its dramatic beach cities. Chengdu, the city famous for the panda, is accessible from North America – serviced twice a week by United Airlines – while Shanghai is a mere two-hour flight from Beijing. Wang highlighted a unique travel experience in China: the ability to help rebuild the Great Wall by re-laying one of the original bricks. Tai Chi classes and calligraphy events, she added, are also extremely popular.

Turavion Chile

Chile was described by Patricio Zamorano, sales & marketing manager, North America, Australia, NZ & UK, as a ‘land of contrast,’ with the chance to combine Patagonia with the country’s wine district representing an enticing blend for travellers. He said that the country is an emerging destination for incentive travel, bolstered by the fact that no visa is required to enter Chile, and Air Canada services Santiago directly from Toronto. Turavion, which has been in operation for more than 81 years, has an office at the airport in Santiago.

Faus Incentives (Argentina)

Faus Incentives, represented by its president, Nuria Faus, has been in operation for 25 years. Faus highlighted Buenos Aires, which she described as an ‘elegant and sophisticated’ cosmopolitan city whose opera house has the best acoustics in the world. She also said that the city’s tango culture is a highlight for tourists, who can enjoy lessons as well as shows.

VAT IT (Value Added Tax Reclaim)

Dean Swift, vice president, sales & marketing, said that his company allowed clients to recover VAT in for business travel. VAT IT, he said, only gets paid once the VAT is successfully claimed back. The process applies only to genuine business travel.

SHE Spanish Heritage

This fully specialized DMC, represented by managing director Victor Canizares, has three offices in Spain – in Barcelona, Madrid and Sevilla. Describing Barcelona as the ‘jewel of Spain,’ Canizares said that the city also offers some irresistible experiences on its outskirts, from paella-making classes to incredible wineries and a host of gastronomic events. Madrid, meanwhile, is located just over two hours drive from Barcelona and offers its own variety of attractions, from markets to the Prado Museum.

Experience Scotland

Scotland’s status as a land of dramatic contrasts and diverse offerings was showcased by Yves Lemarchand, managing director, Experience Scotland. ‘We do any tour you want,’ he remarked. The Scottish Highlands retain strong appeal for tourists, while Lemarchand also noted that Edinburgh comes alive in August for the city’s famous Fringe Festival – although the city remains a popular destination year-round.

Turista Internacional Panama

Kenelma de Paredes, vice president, sales & marketing, Turista Internacional, described Panama City as ‘three cities in one’: tourists can enjoy old Panama City, the old quarter, and its more cosmopolitan areas. Train trips are offered through the rainforest in Panama from Monday to Friday, while the San Blas Islands Experience, rum tasting tours, salsa classes and the biodiversity museum are just a handful of the country’s other travel attractions.

Creative Travel

Sanjay Bhatt, general manager – incentives, told guests that the tour operator, which has been in operation for 40 years, employs a staff of 120 in Delhi. The company’s tours facilitate numerous experiences in India, including Henna painting, mock wedding experiences, and dinner at Jaipur City Palace. The range of tours and participative events on offer, he said, are designed to deliver ‘not just a trip, but also a memory.’

Raising Stones Events, France

This DMC, based in the south of France and Monaco, promotes a range of destinations including St Tropez, Marseille, Nice, Cannes and more. Pierre Oudine, the company’s managing director and co-founder, said that 60 per cent of its business comes from booking incentive travel and meetings from 10 people upwards.

KeyCall France

Represented by its director, Karine Berberian, KeyCall France is based in Paris. Berberian highlighted the appeals of Normandy, Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux – with the latter, in particular, offering a wide variety of things to do even if you aren’t interested in its renowned wine scene. She also recommended Biarritz, near the Spanish border, which features some of France’s famous châteaux.

Swiss Travel (Costa Rica)

Sales Manager Carlos Montero said that the company, which employs 350 people, specializes in MICE travel, and works with its own tour guides. Guanacaste remains the most popular destination, while the presence of more than 100 volcanoes in the country – six of which are currently active – offers some dramatic vistas. A convention centre is scheduled to open soon, hosting over 5,000 people, while Costa Rica continues to enjoy excellent air access from both the U.S. and Canada.