AmaWaterways Agent Academy, Bermuda Sale And More JimBits

AmaWaterways has announced the launch of AmaAcademy, an all-new interactive online education platform designed to help travel advisors sell luxury river cruise vacations. AmaAcademy is an integral part of the AmaWaterways' Travel Advisor Portal which also provides access to a range of travel advisor tools including:

Online Booking Engine;

Webinar Wednesdays, a series of webinars hosted by AmaWaterways executives;

Beyond the River Banks, a quarterly past guest magazine;

Expanded suite of marketing collateral including a new Social Media Toolkit.

Those who successfully complete AmaAcademy's first interactive course titled "'Ama' Means Love: The AmaWaterways Difference," will receive an AmaWaterways certified advisor certificate and qualify for reduced FAM rates starting at CA$1,030* per person to experience an unforgettable AmaWaterways river cruise first-hand. In addition, all new Course 1 graduates who book a new reservation with a deposit within 90 days of completion of the first course qualify to earn a $50 digital Mastercard**.

"The launch of our new AmaAcademy is very exciting, as it has always been a priority for us to provide valuable resources to support our travel advisor partners, especially as we continue to grow and expand our offerings," said Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-founder of AmaWaterways. "We've received wonderful feedback from travel advisors during AmaAcademy's soft launch, and we are confident this new tool will allow our partners to grow their sales through a deeper understanding of the special river cruise experience that AmaWaterways offers their clients."

Graduates under the previous learning platform are grandfathered into the reduced FAM rate but are still encouraged to complete Course 1 of the new AmaAcademy to update their knowledge and benefit from the new booking incentive.

Bermuda's annual Splash Sale kicked off this week, offering 30% off select hotels, with rates starting at $159.

It's a great and surprising destination with a good deal of variety. Not to mention those famous pink beaches.

Promotions include (but not limited to):

- Royal Palms - starting from $305/night

- Newstead Belmont Hills - starting from $225/night

= The Reefs - starting at $276.50/night.

For more information: https://www.gotobermuda.com/promotion/splash-sale

Canadian residents made 3.6 million trips to the United States in June, down 0.6% from May and a 2.8% decrease on a year-over-year basis, according to StatsCan.

June marked the third consecutive month of declines in trips by Canadians to the United States, after adjusting for normal seasonal variations.

On the other hand, U.S. visits to Canada were up 2.2% for the first half of 2019 compared to last year. Car trips were down marginally but airplane arrivals in the first half of the year climbed 8.9%.

The 2026 Ryder Cup will be played at Adare Manor golf course in Ireland, it was announced this week.

"Coming hot on the heels of the truly superb Open at Royal Portrush and the fantastic win by Shane Lowry, today's announcement that the Ryder Cup will take place at Adare Manor in 2026 is excellent news for tourism," said Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland. "The Ryder Cup is one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world and this promises to be a wonderful sporting occasion, which will undoubtedly bring significant exposure globally for Ireland as a golfing destination."

Adare Manor is a stunning castle near Limerick in western Ireland, with fabulous food and luxurious rooms.

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the world's leading luxury hospitality company, is enabling guests to seamlessly plan their travel through an industry-first update to its award-winning Four Seasons App. A new trip planning itinerary feature, alongside a complete App design refresh, means it is simpler than ever for Four Seasons guests to customise a stay exactly to their preferences, all in the palm of their hand.

Every moment of a Four Seasons stay can now be seamlessly curated in one place from start to finish using the Four Seasons App, from ordering an in-room meal to requesting a morning newspaper, reserving a spa treatment, booking once-in-a-lifetime adventures in the world's most captivating locales, arranging transport or securing a hard-to-come-by dinner reservation. All while in contact with a concierge on-call. A new elegant and modern App layout also makes arranging activities (on-or-off-property) simple and intuitive, with scheduled items conveniently displayed on the in-App itinerary.

"We know from guest feedback that now, more than ever, the luxury traveller is looking for digital tools that can make their lives easier," says Christian Clerc, President, Worldwide Hotel Operations. "This is why we are choosing to invest in thoughtful technology where it matters most to our guests, using an intuitive and relevant mobile-first approach."

The App design refresh also includes increased integration with Four Seasons Chat. The company's best-in-class industry leading Chat offering is available on nine platforms globally, including the Four Seasons App, and enables guests to communicate in real-time with property teams in 100+ languages before, during and after their stay. Using Chat alongside trip planning means guests can connect with Four Seasons at any time, for any need while making travel arrangements. Instant translation and best-in-class global response times give travellers the peace of mind that no matter how they choose to travel, planning is made easy with legendary Four Seasons service at their fingertips.

Canlink Travel Representatives have announced that they have been selected as the Canadian representatives for Round Hill Hotel and Villas in Montego Bay, Jamaica and will be responsible for all of the property's sales and marketing activities across the Canada.

Round Hill Hotel and Villas provide their guests with timeless elegance, understated luxury and a warm Jamaican heart. Steeped in rich history, the property welcomes guests with genuine Jamaican hospitality while captivating them at every turn. With its 110-acre private enclave of luxury villas, boutique oceanfront rooms, award-winning seaside dining and an exquisite spa nestled in a lush tropical hillside, guests will experience true luxury in an idyllic setting.

Recognized as one of the most beautiful and elegant resorts in the Caribbean, Round Hill caters to every guest - families getting away for quality time, couples escaping to paradise and friends celebrating life. No matter the occasion, Round Hill's impeccable service and warm Jamaican heart makes everyone feel right at home in Jamaica.

The property boasts 36 Ralph Lauren designed oceanfront guestrooms and 27 private, luxury Jamaica villas. Every accommodation across the property is meticulously maintained with dedicated staff to ensure every comfort and desire is met. Each of the 27 complete luxury villas evoke a personality of their own, yet all share a common thread of modern refinement, classic style and exceptional service. The two- to six-bedroom villas include a selection of fine amenities such as private pools, guest houses, event lawns and the epitome of indoor/outdoor living. Within each complete villa are individual villa suites which are available for those who don't require a complete villa.