Ming with Edna Ray of Air Canada and Christy Aldanese of HVCB
Christy addresses the group with her Aloha spirit and enthusiasm
Air Canada rouge flight attendants flank Edna and Christy
Vancouver was the debut Canadian city for the newly revamped Hawaii Destination Specialist Program created by the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau (HVCB). On a rainy morning, Christy Aldanese from HVCB brought images and stories from the sunny isles to brighten the day for the 29 local travel agents on hand. Born in Oahu, Christy spoke about her home state, her people and culture with much enthusiasm.
While most of us have been to Hawaii or have sold Hawaii, it is surprising how much there is to these islands beyond the beach. Hawaii's rich history, geographical features, flora and fauna, and the genuine warmth of its people offer the right mix of exotic diversity, yet with familiarity and safety for visitors of all ages, tastes and interests.
Luxurious oceanfront accommodations, golf packages, convertible car rentals and helicopter tours all give clients unforgettable experiences. According to the HVCB, many travellers to Hawaii are well-educated and well-travelled, affluent, and looking for unique experiences. Christy emphasized the importance of agents taking advantage of cross selling and upselling opportunities.
Most importantly, clients look to travel agents as experts and counsellors to guide them towards the best Hawaiian vacation they deserve, agents should be vigilant in keeping up with continuing education. It was great to see many senior agents taking the time to attend the 3 hr. program.
Sonya Orr of Travel Masters, an industry veteran with almost 30 years experience, appreciated learning the history and the unique attractions each island has to offer, to help her better serve her regular Hawaii clients. Jessie Stevens of Uniglobe Specialty Travel has 19 years experience and has lost count on the number of times she has been to Hawaii. She still learned many new things from the training and hopes to cross Molokai and Lanai off her bucket list soon.
Edna Ray of Air Canada was the morning's cohost. After speaking briefly about AC's rouge service into Hawaii, she presented agents with an exclusive 20% off promo code, which was met with great applause. In conclusion, the group was joined by 2 Air Canada rouge flight attendants who answered questions from agents.
The Hawaii Destination Specialist program, as well as a wealth of information and marketing tools on Hawaii are available online at www.agents.gohawaii.com. More information on AC's service to Hawaii can be found on www.flyrouge.com. The spirit of Aloha awaits you and your clients!
Ming Tappin is a cruise veteran with over 20 years’ experience in the industry and has sailed on 37 cruises and counting. Based in Vancouver, Ming is Owner of www.yourcruisecoach.com.
