Air Canada Vacations Celebrates The Dream Makers

with Suzanne Christie

ACV is in the midst of launching their Sun Collection across the country
celebrating their partnership as Dream Makers with the travel trade and their
close cooperation with Air Canada. Their event in the AC hangar at YYZ last
week took their fall launch to a whole new level with a large scale, very
professionally produced presentation. The hangar floor provided ample room for
a “village” set up of partners’ exhibits as well as food and beverage stations
and seating for the big screen stage speeches. AC rouge’s A319 was also on
display to showcase its new Premium rouge cabin configuration.

 
The enormous venue was very well attended by over 900 agents.

Air Canada Leisure Group President & CEO Michael Friisdahl kicked
off the formal portion of the evening with a message of growing their business
in collaboration with the travel trade supporting... “Mutual shared goals,
mutual growth and mutual success!”

Overall the evening was punctuated by light hearted fun, plenty of
enthusiasm and lots of prizes including the grand prize trips fired into the
audience with a T-shirt cannon by AC’s Global Account Manager, Colin Skeritt.

“We are all the dream makers, said Amr Younes, Vice President, Sales,
Air Canada Vacations. “Together with our travel agents partners, we have the
privilege of making Canadians’ travel dreams a reality.”

This winter’s Sun Collection is the largest in the operator’s 35 years.
40 destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean at 525 3 to 5 star resorts – 73 of
which are new to the operator – and 10 of which are exclusive to ACV.

ACV has added capacity in double digits (18%) coast to coast – ranging
from 40% more seats ex YVR to 15% more ex YYZ and YUL.  Both a big
challenge and a big opportunity.

New this year is ACV’s Play Collection – a selection of 73
family-friendly resorts where kids aged 12 and under, eat, play and stay free!
Families also receive free seat selection, pre-boarding and $10 per person
inflight meal vouchers.

ACV offers a broad selection of resort collections each geared to
provide added value and unique options for specific markets and traveller needs
or interests including Family, Adults, Luxe and Spa.

ACV’s Privileges added-value program for the winter 2015/2016 sun
collection now includes 255 participating resorts providing preferred room
location, early check-in and late check-out, complimentary wifi and 3
guaranteed à la carte dinners. 

And, their agent reward program ACV & Me now features 2 additional
tiers  – Gold & Platinum with exclusive benefits for top producers
including free seats and lots of waivers!

AC’s Vice President of Global Sales Duncan Bureau says the carrier is
enjoying its success during an unprecedented period of growth... with more new
route announcements to come. During this past year, the carrier has grown its
available seat miles (ASM’s) 14.8% and is managing to fill most of the new
seats!