Tour Operators
WestJet Vacations names Dineen as new BDM
WestJet Vacations has named Shane Dineen to its Leisure National Sales team as the new Business Development Manager. Dineen’s addition to the sales team reinforces WestJet Vacations’ commitment to supporting its trade partners across Canada. He brings a wealth of experience from his background as a travel advisor, where he offered invaluable insights and expertise to customers and travel partners. Based in Vancouver, he joins Irene Wong (based in Calgary) and Meghan Miller (based in Toronto) as part of WestJet Vacations’ coast-to-coast National Business Development Management...
TTC Tour Brands launches Tour Week for advisors
TTC Tour Brands has unveiled details of Tour Week -- a new initiative designed to showcase the diversity of its portfolio of brands from Trafalgar, Brendan Vacations, Contiki, Costsaver and Insight Vacations. Beginning March 2025, over 500 travel advisors will embark on 13 unique itineraries worldwide, experiencing firsthand the company's mantra: "tours for any and everyone." Tour Week is designed to demonstrate the incredible range of guided tour options available to serve every traveller’s specific needs. Melissa DaSilva, interim CEO of TTC Tour Brands, explained: “Advisors...
Air Canada Vacations celebrates its 2024 GEM Award Winners
Air Canada Vacations gathered at the beautiful Hyatt Ziva/Zilara Cap Cana Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic recently to celebrate employee achievements at its annual GEM Awards. GEM, first introduced back in 2019, is a peer-nominated award program that recognizes employees within the Air Canada Vacations organization that have consistently demonstrated outstanding efforts and achievements. GEM, an acronym for “Going the extra mile,” is Air Canada Vacations highest honour, recognizing employees within one of three categories: Ruby Award for outstanding commitment to...
Sandals Jamaica Love showcase draws 1,000+ in Montego Bay
On Wednesday, Oct. 16, Sandals Resorts International welcomed approximately 1,000 key industry partners, dignitaries, brand executives, travel agent partners and local media to the 2024 Sandals Jamaica Love Tour, held this year in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The event, which officially opened on Oct. 13 and runs through Oct. 20, aims to showcase the Sandals brand portfolio in Jamaica, while highlighting the company's newest brand refresh, "Sandals 2.0", which focuses on an elevated level of service that promises to go above and beyond for its clientele, with gorgeous renovations, a greater...
Ski the World Differently with Kensington
Kensington has launched its new Ski the World, Differently experiences designed to cater to the increasing client interest in sport-themed and adventure travel and will be hosting a live webinar today – Thurs., Oct 17 at 2 pm (click here to register) – for travel advisors interested in learning more about the program. The new collection of ski-themed travel is set to offer travellers exclusive access to some of the world's premier ski destinations and unparalleled adventures on the slopes. Kensington will roll out the ski itineraries in two phases across eight countries and...
Explore Worldwide launches new small group tours
Explore Worldwide has unveiled 20 new tours for 2025, with the new collection featuring a wide array of adventures ranging from walking and cycling trips to cultural immersions along less trodden paths, including 5 new-to-Explore destinations, all grounded in the company’s commitment to low-impact and community-focused travel. Katy Rockett, regional director of North America for Explore Worldwide, explained: “We’re not alone in our love for adventure. Explore has seen a 22% increase year-over-year in North American travelers seeking out these type of travel experiences, and we...
A little incentive from Sunwing Vacations and Iberostar Beachfront Resorts
Sunwing Vacations and Iberostar Beachfront Resorts are teaming up to offer perks and ways for clients to save, plus benefits for advisors who book their getaways at select properties this October. With resorts in Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, Canadians can discover the best of the tropics while advisors earn 3X STAR Points that can be converted for cash on applicable bookings made by Nov. 2, 2024. On bookings made with Sunwing Vacations at select Iberostar Beachfront Resorts properties between Oct. 3 and Nov. 2, 2024 for travel between Nov. 1, 2024 and Oct. 31,...
Collette adds 13 new tours for new season
Collette has launched its new travel season, adding 13 new tours to its global lineup, kicking off the company's 107th year of touring. "The new season brings new tours and new destinations into our lineup," said CEO Jaclyn Leibl-Cote said. "We've added Albania to The Balkans: Coastal Croatia and Legendary Greece tour; and launched brand new programs like a Namibia and South Africa tour as well as regional deep dives like Sequoia and Kings Canyon and Utah's Mighty Five." Collette's 2025-26 season features more than 170 tours worldwide to destinations like...