Escape with Porter

As previously reported by Baxter Travel Media, Porter Aviation Holdings Inc. (PAHI) is opening a new division, Porter Escapes, headed by industry veteran John Kirk, to offer vacation packages to customers. Packages built around Porter Airlines destinations will combine flights and hotel accommodation, with car rental and travel insurance available as further options. Individual pieces of the package may also be booked separately. Working with tourism partners in each destination, the next phase for Porter Escapes will include theatre, spa, adventure and other package themes that meet individual tastes. “Porter Airlines has developed a strong leisure travel following,”says Porter president Robert Deluce. “Many of our passengers are already creating these personal getaways on their own. Now, we want to offer more than just flights to get them there and back.”While all 19 current Porter destinations are candidates for Porter Escapes packages, the initial focus is primarily on leisure areas, including Myrtle Beach, S.C., Mont Tremblant, Que., and Burlington, Vt. Other popular cities, such as Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec City, Montreal, Boston, New York, Washington and Chicago, are also intended to be part of the initial rollout before growing to other locations. “Packages will be available at various price points and provide the level of quality that people have come to expect from Porter,”added Deluce. “We are talking with a number of potential partners, some of which will offer packages exclusive to Porter Escapes.”Specific prices will be set when packages are ready for sale as early as the second quarter of 2012. Purchases can be made through a dedicated Porter Escapes web site, registered travel agency partners or by telephone at that time. Porter Escapes will operate as a subsidiary of PAHI. It is a separate Travel Industry Council of Ontario-registered business led by a dedicated team with tour and travel industry experience, including licensed in-house agents. (http://www.flyporter.com)