Part of the impressive TS team at the launch: Nicole Bursey, product directors Paula De Campos, Brenda McInerney and Joe Couto with Susan Kooiman from business development
Mike Price of Bahia Principe with Susan Bowman of Transat Distribution
Brenda Bradley of Melia Cuba (centre) with travel colleagues and friends Dina Clarke of Marlin Travel in Brampton and Jacqueline Davis of TS internal sales
With some 400 agents and 44 suppliers on hand, it’s safe to say that the Toronto fall
product launch for Transat was a standing room only success.
Nicole Bursey, commercial director, says that even in the
day of webinars and e-blasts, getting face to face is still crucial in our
industry. “We also take the time to thank the agents for all their support –
after all we wouldn’t be here without them.” In fact, getting facetime with
hoteliers, tourist boards and TS staffers is so important that, Bursey told me,
three of the 20 fall nation-wide seminars were at full registration within two
weeks of the invitation going out.
New product from TS this season includes service from YYZ to
SJU (A330) and FLL (B737). Cruises and
hotel packages will be available at both destinations. A winter Europe brochure
was distributed at the show, featuring flights from YYZ and YUL to Britain,
France, Spain and Portugal as well as packages, FIT and rental cars in Spain
and Portugal.
Front and centre were the national sponsors of the series of
shows, Bahia Principe, represented by Mike Price, who heads the Canadian
division, and Sal Buccellato, super-popular sales guy. “We have a really strong relationship with Transat
that’s always worked for us,” Price told me, adding that Bahia Principe has
just introduced an agent reward program which clearly was being well received
by the travel agents present. Also,
worth noting: of all their properties, his personal fave (and one featured by
TS) is the Luxury Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado.
Another key player at the launch was Melia Hotels
International of Cuba, sponsor of TS’s Ontario launches and represented by
Brenda Bradley. Clearly a great colleague and supplier to many of the agents
present, Bradley is jazzed about the Gaviota Travel Market, taking place
October 2-5 this year on Cayo Santa Maria. Accommodation is free and presentations and hotel inspections are
included.
Other suppliers present included NCL, Celestyal, Sandals,
Sirenis, Costa, Iberostar, AM and more.
All in all, one-stop-shopping for the many travel agents present!
