Glen Dierker, Corporate Sales Rep., WestJet & Carlos Botelho, Director, SATA Canada
Ron MacEachen, Sales & Marketing Rep. – USA & Canada, Azores Tourism Association; Consul General of Portugal, Carlos de Sousa Amaro; Carlos Botelho, Director, SATA Canada & Nuno Cardoso, GM, Star Travel Holidays
Attendees at the breakfast presentation
Not many Canadians know that they can get to Europe in under 5 hours. That was the message SATA and Azores Tourism were driving home to YVR agents at the breakfast presentation held at the Coast Vancouver Airport Hotel.
In town to promote its interline ticketing agreement with WestJet that was inked in January, SATA Canada’s Director Carlos Botelho met with industry partners in YEG and YYC before YVR. With the WS connection, pax now have easy access to S4 flights from YYZ to PDL, and then onward to other parts of Portugal and Spain.
What’s the draw for the Azores? Ron MacEachen, Azores Tourism Assocation’s Sales & Marketing Representative for the U.S. & Canada, compared the destination to Hawaii and Ireland for its volcanic history and lush green landscapes respectively. Comprising 9 islands lying in the Atlantic Ocean, the Azores is the only place in Europe with a tea plantation and where pineapples grow. Due to its proximity to Canada, the tourism board is hoping to draw more incentive travel away from the usual places in the U.S. such as LAS.
Although it has a temperate climate, the Azores is not sold as a beach destination due to its unpredictable weather. However, much can be said about the wide range of outdoor activities on offer, and its friendly and spontaneous residents. Carlos Botelho who hails from the Azores, was gushing with enthusiasm for his homeland.
This is the 1st time SATA is promoting itself in YVR and Botelho promised to make it out west at least twice a year. The airline operates A310 aircraft from North America and flies out of YYZ’s Terminal 3. In operation on a year-round basis, S4 also offers seasonal services from YUL between June and September. It is 6% commissionable to travel agents.
The Azores’ biggest selling points I reckon are that it costs about the same amount (during peak period) to travel between YVR and YYZ. Plus, it takes about the same amount of time (slightly over 4½ hr.) to travel to the Azores as it does to get from YVR to YYZ. Who says getting to a piece of paradise can take forever?
