Keoni & Hulali performed at the intimate group dinner.
(L to R) Manju Maniyan, Escapes.caLily Kilbey & Don MacKay, Expedia CruiseShipCenters Burnaby chat before dinner.
(L to R) Dave Emery with the Transat Travel Team - Jelena Jado Oshelia Hong Robin Fast & Ally Guidi
The Maui Visitors & Convention Bureau dropped in on Vancouver last week for an evening of fun, entertainment and information. The exclusive event was by invitation only to 25 lucky agents. The group was treated to performances on the ukulele by Keoni Manuel and hula by the lovely (and aptly named) Hulali Brede. After dinner, Chris Kai'aokamalie of the MVCB, along with Julie-Ann Bicoy of Moloka'i Visitors Association gave an update on their islands as well as sister island Lana'i. Representatives from Maui properties were also on hand to share the aloha spirit and educate the group about their resorts.
Captivating, Enlightening & Embracing are the buzz words MVCB uses to describe their islands - Maui, Moloka'i and Lana'i. Maui captivates with a myriad activities with its diverse geography and climate zones. Visitors to Moloka'i and Lana'i will find unspoiled beauty and native culture, but the real charm is the warmth of its people who treat visitors like family. These qualities are what resonate with clients, said Lily Kilbey of Expedia CruiseShipCenters Burnaby. Travellers who have been to Oahu naturally look for different experiences, and she felt the uniqueness of each island is a great opportunity for an immersive island hopping experience.
Always there to help agents grow their Maui business are Tracy Poole and Bruce Lidberg of TravelBrands, who were the cohosts of the evening. The Access by TravelBrands booking engine provides an efficient way to quote and book, and the We've Got Your Back 24/7 customer support line takes care of afterhours emergencies. Pre-bookable add-ons such as transfers, car rentals and excursions mean extra commission for agents, and most importantly - clients can prepay in CAD. As always, Tracy and Bruce made it clear that agents can call on them personally at any time for assistance.
The team from Transat Travel was honoured to be one of the invited agencies and are proud of their relationship with TravelBrands. Robin Fast especially appreciated the intimacy of the event and will definitely be encouraging clients to pre-book add-ons to increase revenue and customer satisfaction. Oshelia Hong and Ally Guidi both learned many new things and look forward to introducing clients to these beautiful islands.
Tracy, who has been to Maui more than 30 times, told us she still finds new things to do every time she visits. But, truly off-the-beaten path, Moloka'i and Lana'i are definitely must-sees, and MVCB and TravelBrands will make doing that a breeze.
The Gang's all Here: (L to R)Tracy Poole, TravelBrands Dave Emery,Honua Kai Resort Chris Kai'aokamalie, MVCB Hulali BredeCindi Rosete, Hawaiian Hotels & Resorts
Julie-Ann Bicoy, Molaka'i Visitors Association Tiffany Rosenthal, Ka'anapali Beach Hotel
Keoni Manel, Aumakua Productions & Bruce Lidbergh, TravelBrands
