Canadian travel agents experience Ja first-hand

TWENTY-FIVE chief executive officers (CEOs) of top-producing retail travel agencies in Canada were gathered in Jamaica recently for the annual Air Canada Vacations (ACV) president's trip.

The event was held at the new Sandals Whitehouse European Village and Spa in Westmoreland from January 20 to 23 and was initiated in recognition of the presidents, vice-presidents and owners of the highest-performing preferred chain and independent agencies that sold in excess of CDN$40 million.

RECOGNISED OPERATOR

As a wholesaler of vacation packages, ACV is a well recognised tour operator, networking in several tourist destinations and partnering with various resorts in different locations.

The president's trip affords ACV the opportunity to assess the performance of the market in the previous year and to discuss future plans with its top customers.

As a premier destination for tourist business, Jamaica was chosen as the venue for this year's event.

The occasion has allowed travel agents to experience the island first hand and to better appreciate the wide range of culture, food and accommodation which they promote to their customers.

Canada is the third largest market for Jamaica's tourism after the United States and the United Kingdom with more than 100,000 visitors coming to the island last year.

In October 2005, ACV was one of two Canadian tour operators that were honoured at the JTB's Blue Mountain Awards for the number of visitors they send to Jamaica.

JTB'S SUPPORT

In recognising the contribution of ACV in growing the Canadian business to Jamaica, Deputy Director of Tourism, David Shields, reiterated the Jamaica Tourist Board's support for the company and expressed profound appreciation for the volume of business it generates for the island through its sales of vacation packages.

"I am pleased with the relationship that the JTB and several of our local stakeholders have with Air Canada Vacations and hope for a deepening of those partnerships in 2006 and beyond," Mr. Shields said.