Velas Resorts Mexico and Air Canada Vacations joined forces last week to wine and dine a select group of travel agents at West Vancouver’s Salmon House restaurant.
Pedro Luna, Velas Resorts sales manager, with Lynne White, Velas Resorts regional
sales manager for Western Canada.
Industry professionals enjoyed unparalleled city views as they dined on indigenous West Coast cuisine and heard the latest news from two of the industry’s most stylish brands.
Martha Redaon, ACV area sales manager for BC, kicked off the night by stating that Velas Resorts “tick off all the categories” of ACV’s collections, from the family-friendly vacations of ‘Play’ to the glamour and sophistication of ‘Ultimate Escapes.’
Elena Farbehi and Fariba Rad of Maureen K Travel Ltd.
Pedro Luna, Velas Resorts sales manager, then took to the floor to run through details of Velas’ six uber-luxurious properties: Velas Vallarta, Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, Grand Velas Maya Riviera, Casa Velas, Grand Velas Los Cabos and Mar del Cabo.
Flying in from Puerto Vallarta especially for ACV’s events in Western Canada, Luna was especially happy that the “hands-on” family-owned brand marks its 30th anniversary next year.
He highlighted many of the added-value amenities agents can offer clients, such as included golf fees at Casa Velas and the spacious suites at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit (the smallest is 1,000 square feet).
Ana Vazquez of Flight Centre and Betty Alemzadeh of Take Off Now.
Lynne White, Velas Resorts’ regional sales manager for Western Canada, then expanded on the line-up of extras, highlighting the free city and shopping tours for guests at Velas Vallarta: “The added value of that, if you’re talking about a family of four, is probably about $175 to $200 US per tour.”
She also spotlighted the impressive check-in process at the company’s Grand-branded properties. “When clients enter the Grand properties, they don’t line up to check in,” she said. “They are greeted by the concierge, offered a seat and a glass of champagne, and then the staff come to them to register them. And within five minutes the spa concierge comes and gives them a complimentary neck massage. The guests are in their element -- it’s the best thing!”
A winning partnership: Marigold Fortuna, ACV general sales manager for Western Canada;
Lynne White, Velas Resorts regional sales manager for Western Canada;
and Martha Redaon, ACV area sales manager for BC.
Vickie Sam Paget Western Correspondent
Hailing from the UK, Vickie Sam Paget is a travel and tourism storyteller located in Vancouver, BC. When she’s not on the road, creating engaging travel content or gazing at the North Shore Mountains, you can usually find her curled up with a good book or sipping a pint of the good stuff in her local Irish bar.
