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A gorgeous heat rose from the paving stones of a Yorkville terrace and kept a group of Toronto travelistas well toasted last Friday afternoon. Refreshingly chilled white wine kept any stray drops of sweat in check.
The scene was Transat’s semi-annual luncheon club. Principal retail drivers rub elbows with Transat product developers while being given a 1st peak at the new season’s highlights.
As Open Jaw previously reported, the overall strategy for the coming winter is to differentiate the product. So, in addition to their refurbished inflight cabins, Transat and Nolitours are responding to consumer research by introducing more experiential opportunities for clients and focusing on unique Transat offerings.
At Transat, differentiation is taking the form of things like the Duo Collection, which combines beach and city stays in Varadero/Havana and Manzanillo/Guadalajara. A product called Escapades will give Transat’s guests the opportunity to spend most of their time at a beach resort, but also experience a 24 hr. stay elsewhere, in a local village or unique hotel.
Nolitours is working with local authorities to include unique community experiences for guests of a number of resorts in one location. CEO Jean-Marc Eustache promises a “festive environment” with a variety of activities organized during the course of the week, like a pub crawl in Havana, or a party where locals and guests alike are invited to participate. Young, social media-savvy travellers are the key targets for this initiative.
At 3:30pm, I looked up from my notes, and my 2nd molten chocolate lava cake, to see that the restaurant was empty save for a few groupies back out on the terrace, wine in hand. Was there really any point in going back to the office? I decided this article would be just as relevant in a day or two.
