Maplelux makes trade debut, pitches private tours as its competitive edge

Over a breakfast spread including har gow, baked BBQ pork buns and bowls of congee, approximately 60 travel advisors gathered Wednesday (Aug. 5) alongside airline representatives from Air Canada, Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Transat at Perfect Chinese Restaurant in Toronto, for Maplelux Holidays' first official trade event.

Maplelux, based in Toronto, operates as an expanded trade name of Ali Travel Group, a wholesaler and retailer that is IATA-accredited, TICO-registered and affiliated with ACTA and CLIA.

According to the tour operator, the Maplelux brand was built to bring Ali Travel's experience serving the Chinese Canadian community to the broader English-speaking Canadian trade.

The expansion was driven by Ali Travel and Maplelux Holidays president Rose Yang, who made the call to grow the company's tour operator business to reach a wider Canadian market.

Leading that expansion is general manager Hugo Rocha and sales director Gabby Avalos, both well-known travel industry veterans formerly of Hola Sun Holidays, alongside vice president George Chang.

"The key to (today’s event) is to put a face to the name," Chang told PAX during an interview. "It's our first event today – let (agents) know who we are and just give us a try."

A long-term partnership

According to Chang, travel advisors aren't just a sales channel for Maplelux — they are treated as an extension of the business itself, with their feedback shaping how the company builds and adjusts its programs.

"We want a partnership with our agents, and it's a long-term partnership," he said. "It's not for a day, a week, a month, or a year. We're looking long term."

Asked what sets Maplelux apart, Rocha pointed first to pricing and commission levels.

"First of all, it’s competitive pricing – we have the best prices in the market, and if there is a need to do a price match, we will do our best," he said. "Number two, it’s the best commissions – minimum 10 per cent, and sometimes, for specific programs, 12 per cent or more."

According to Rocha, that pricing edge comes down to supplier relationships built through Ali Travel's history sending customers to Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Cancun and across Asia.

He pointed to a Dominican Republic 4-star package from $498 plus taxes as an example, and a Cancun package from around $1,000 before taxes — both carrying a 10 per cent commission. Excursions, he added, are commissionable too.

"The excursions are more or less 60, 70 dollars per person, U.S. – and they are 10 per cent commissionable for you," Rocha said, encouraging agents to bundle excursions into all-inclusive packages for a more immersive sell.

Private touring is the "game changer"

"The other key aspect that differentiates us is the private tours," Rocha shared with PAX. "We are offering private tours for a minimum of two people, guaranteed departure, and maximum four – so a family of four can do their own program, basically customized." 

Maplelux currently offers 17 private tour options across destinations including China, Vietnam and Japan.

"This is a game changer," he said, citing a Japan land-only private tour at roughly $4,200 for 10 nights and a three-night Xi'an option at $749.

He encouraged agents to stack multiple private tours together to build custom multi-destination programs for clients.

Group tours & growing portfolio

The product portfolio spans North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia — the company's core market — with group offerings including Amazing China (10 days/8 nights), Mystical China (18 days/16 nights), Highlights of China & Thailand (13 days/11 nights) and Icons of Japan (9 days/7 nights).

The agent presentation emphasized history and heritage (Machu Picchu, Luxor, the Great Wall, Kyoto), cultural discovery through local communities, cuisine and festivals, and fully escorted group departures, with a dedicated tour leader accompanying guests from their home airport until return.

The company also announced a new supplier partnership with Discovery the Beauty of China, a longer-established destination management company, whose CEO addressed attendees in a recorded video welcoming Maplelux as its exclusive English-speaking wholesale partner for Canada.

Agent training & FAMs

For agents wanting to sign up for FAM opportunities, product training or booking-engine walkthroughs, Rocha said the door is open.

"We have a sales team that is available and ready to provide training to travel agents. We are more than willing to go and visit the agencies and provide the training," he said.

Agents interested in seeing the product firsthand have two FAM trip opportunities on the calendar: Mystical China, led by Avalos, departs October 14, while Amazing China, led by Rocha, departs October 27. For further FAM trip details, agents are invited to email sales@mapleluxholidays.com.

For more information on the tour operator, visit here.

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