Sunwing And Transat Put Canada On Sale, Plus Important News For Agents

Sunwing is making it easier than ever for Canadians to discover the beauty of their own backyard with the return of its domestic flight service this summer. Back by popular demand for a 14th consecutive season, travellers who book by April 30, 2019 can enjoy savings of $200 per couple on domestic flights to some of Canada's most beautiful cities.

Canadians can look forward to daily flights between Toronto and Vancouver available starting May 13 until September 4, 2019 and weekly flights departing Thursdays from September 5 to October 10, 2019. In Toronto, travellers can explore gourmet dining experiences, world-class nightlife and a blend of different cultures from around the world. In Vancouver, vacationers can explore the city's picturesque coastal landscapes and vibrant downtown centre surrounded by the breathtaking mountains.

Those looking to explore the dramatic landscapes of Canada's East Coast can take advantage of flights from Toronto to three cities in Newfoundland. From June 12 to September 4 travellers can take advantage of five weekly flights to St. John's from Monday to Friday where they can take in spectacular ocean vistas on a hike along North Head Trail and admire the picturesque Cape Spear Lighthouse. With twice-weekly flights to Gander on Tuesdays and Fridays from June 18 to September 3, vacationers can discover the unspoiled Kittiwake Coast-one of the few places in the world where you'll see sand, water, vegetation and icebergs in the same area. From June 12 to September 4 the tour operator is offering weekly flights departing on Wednesdays to Stephenville where travellers can hike along the majestic Long Range Mountains dating back 1.2 billion years.

For more information or to book, visit www.sunwing.ca

Air Transat is inviting travellers to discover Canada with affordable flights for under $249. More than ever, Air Transat offers the flexibility to Canadians eager to discover their great country, thanks to numerous flights between several major cities.

This summer, travellers will be able to count on the following flights:

· Between Toronto and Montreal: 14 flights a week

· Between Montreal and Quebec: 4 connecting flights a week

· Between Toronto and Vancouver: 11 flights a week

· Between Vancouver and Montreal: 5 connecting flights a week

· Between Toronto and Calgary: 7 flights a week

· Between Calgary and Montreal: 3 flights a week

This promotion is valid until April 16, 2019

For all details, visit www.airtransat.com or Get Connected.

Intrepid Group-the world's largest B-Corp certified, carbon-neutral travel company-is concluding the last month of its largest Purpose-Driven Agent Incentive in the Americas with more chances to win.

This month only, in addition to earning Purpose Points toward a free trip to Nepal, the 10 top-selling agents will earn $100 Intrepid Bucks, which they can use toward any of Intrepid Group's sustainable, small-group adventures-through Intrepid Travel, Peregrine Adventures and Urban Adventures-on every continent. Intrepid Group will also be offering a 2% bonus commission to all agent partners for the full month of April. Terms and conditions apply.

Concluding the three-month Purpose-Driven Agent Incentive, the top Purpose-Driven Agents with the most accumulated Purpose Points (earned by booking customers on Intrepid Group tours and by sharing on social) will win a free trip to Nepal, led by Co-Founder Geoff Manchester, to celebrate Intrepid's 30th anniversary.

The 10 Purpose-Driven Agent winners will join a free 10-day Experience Nepal FAM trip departing Nov. 3, 2019, which includes a variety of experiences like hiking stunning landscapes and a cooking class with Seven Women, a social enterprise that has changed the lives of more than 1,000 disadvantaged women in Nepal, supported by Intrepid Group's not-for-profit The Intrepid Foundation.

Any new registration will retroactively receive Purpose Points for all Intrepid Group trips sold and social media posts within the incentive period. For more information on the terms and conditions of the incentive, agents can visit: http://incentive.intrepidgroup.travel/Purpose.

Air Canada Vacations recently held a Get to Know Europe game contest that encouraged travel agents to become familiar with their Europe products.

The online game was housed on the agent portal, ACV & ME, and ran through the month of February, concluding with a prize draw for a $3000 future travel voucher. Utilizing a digital learning format, the interactive experience allowed agents to learn about the benefits of booking Europe Packages with Air Canada Vacations. The grand prize draw for a $3000 future travel voucher can be used towards their next European Package Holiday with Air Canada Vacations.

Air Canada Vacations is thrilled to announce Claire Banman from Roblin Travel as the Get to Know Europe winner.

Air Canada Vacations reminds travel agent of a limited time offer - five per cent bonus commission when booking your clients on any Europe package for bookings made between March 25 and April 8, 2019 for travel between March 25, 2019 and December 21, 2020 and Special NET Group rates. Please contact Air Canada Vacations for a quote.

For the month of April, agents can earn 4X STAR Agent Reward Points that convert to cash on all new package bookings departing between May 1, 2019 and April 30, 2020 to Princess Hotels & Resorts properties. Boasting prime beachfront locations across Mexico and the Caribbean, Princess Hotels & Resorts are one of the most popular resort chains with a high repeat guest rate, varied dining options and an abundance of land and water activities.

To help agents secure their bookings, Sunwing is offering an array of incentives, such as reduced rates at each participating property, resort credits and generous group rates where the eighth passenger travels free. Vacationers can also benefit from room upgrades for a Suite for the price of a Junior Suite at Bavaro Princess All Suites Resort, Spa and Casino and a Deluxe Junior Suite for the price of a Junior Suite at Grand Sunset Princess All Suites and Spa Resort. Travellers that book before April 17, 2019 can also take advantage of the tour operator's Price Drop Guarantee promotion that allows vacationers to claim up to $200 cash back per person should the price of their vacation package drop closer to their departure date. This promotion also includes a reduced deposit of $100 per person and a $50 travel voucher per person to be used towards their next vacation.

One of the resorts included in this promotion is the beachfront Family Club at Grand Riviera Princess All Suites and Spa Resort, a top-rated property in Riviera Maya with activities and amenities for all ages, including rooms that accommodate families of five or more. Another popular five-star choice is Grand Sunset Princess All Suites and Spa Resort, also located in Riviera Maya, which features ten restaurants, 12 pools, a daily supervised kids club and a wide range of complimentary water sports. Those seeking an adults only getaway can choose to stay at the luxurious Platinum Yucatan Princess All Suites Resort and Spa, featuring world-class service, lavish spa treatments and unlimited à la carte dining at gourmet restaurants around the complex.

Each time an agent makes a booking at a participating resort, they will be entered into a weekly draw for a chance to win a seven-night vacation for two at a select Princess resort, including Platinum Yucatan Princess All Suites Resort and Spa, Bavaro Princess All Suites Resort, Spa and Casino and Punta Cana Princess All Suites Resort and Spa. The more bookings an agent makes, the more chances they have to win.

For more details on the current promotion, visit www.sunwingagents.ca.

Up-to-date information on vacation packages can be found at www.sunwing.ca.

Kim Clarke, director of sales for the Globus family of brands, is pleased to advise agents of a series of Avalon Waterways info sessions to soon take place across Canada.

The 90 minute sessions will outline some of the attractions of river cruising in Europe and Southeast Asia and detail the numerous advantages of sailing on Avalon's charming "suite ships."

Travel agents are welcome to attend the free seminars and invite clients - though space is limited and pre-registration is definitely necessary.

There will be two sessions in each city, to take place as follows: British Colombia (Burnaby - May 23, Kelowna - May 22, Langley - May 1; Victoria, May 2); Alberta (Calgary - April 25, Edmonton - April 24); Saskatoon - April 11; Winnipeg - April 9; Ontario (Ajax - April 30, Burlington - April 4, Etobicoke - April 2, London - May 8, Ottawa - April 25, Peterborough - May 15, Richmond Hill - April 16, St. Catharines - May 2); and Atlantic Canada (Charlottetown - May 23, Halifax - May 21 and St. John's - May 27).

There will be a special booking incentive for clients who attend the show.

To find out more and register, agents are requested to visit www.globusfamily.events/events.

A representative of the Park Royal Beach Resort in Cancun was in Canada this week and took time to meet with TravelPulse Canada.

The 310-room, four-star resort is located on a wide stretch of white sand in the hotel zone, just 20 minutes from Cancun International Airport and just a few steps from some of the area's best shopping areas, La Isla Cancun.

General manager Luz del Carmen Ruiz said the resort has rooms ranging from studios that can sleep four people to a presidential suite with a huge terrace. There are nine bars and restaurants on the property, including a new rooftop bar, and three swimming pools; one a children's pool with a slide.

The hotel also boasts a set of Mayan ruins that guests can explore, and there's a kids' club for the youngsters.

Del Carmen Ruiz said the resort, which is an all-inclusive hotel, is launching a new family program tat provides guests with a taste of Mexican family traditions and culture. Special family activities at the resort include making an authentic Mexican pinata, the choice of a special family beach dinner or a kids pajama party, as well as other treats. In-room refrigerators are stocked with Mexican sodas and local snacks, as well as "scents of Mexico" aromatherapy kit.



"We want our guests to truly experience Mexico," she said.

The resort works closely with local Mayan communities, which provide the hotel with special shampoo and soaps made with honey from local, endangered Mayan bees, she said. The hotel can take guests to meet with local Mayan families and learn how the products are made.

The Park Royal Beach Resort is part of the Park Royal Hotels and Resorts Group, which is based in Mexico and has hotels all over the country, as well as in Florida and Argentina.

Del Carmen Ruiz said the resort works with Air Canada Vacations, Transat and Sunwing.

WestJet this week was recognized as the Best Airline in Canada in the 2019 TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines. The airline also was one of three honoured as travellers' favourite Mid-Size Airline in North America

WestJet remains the only airline in Canada to win TripAdvisor's Best Airline in Canada recognition.

TripAdvisor has awarded the world's top carriers based on the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for airlines by TripAdvisor customers, gathered over a 12-month period.

"These awards validate the hard work and dedication of almost 14,000 WestJet employees who exceed our guests' expectations throughout the entire travel experience," said Arved von zur Muehlen, WestJet Chief Commercial Officer. "We are honoured to be named Canada's Best Airline for a third year and winner, Mid-Size Airline North America for 2019. The recognition is cherished and makes us strive to continue enhancing and improving the experience for our valued guests."

TravelBrands' annual brochure dedicated to all things travel in Europe is now available to travel agents and clients. The brochure highlights multiple Europe and Great Britain destinations, hotel options, unique activities and more for any type of traveller. It is a helpful tool for both the end consumer and travel agents looking to help plan a trip of a lifetime.

"In our latest edition, we make it even easier for travellers to get away, their way," says Nathalie Tanious, senior vice president, TravelBrands. "We want clients to experience Europe however they want to. Whether it's having a local beer in Germany, touring a castle in England or laying on a beach in Greece, TravelBrands can make it happen."

are hundreds of customized options for every itinerary to choose from. Travellers can take advantage of multi-destination trips, long or short stays and flexible travel options. TravelBrands offers hundreds of property choices, tours and excursions, airline options, car rentals and more in cities and towns all over Europe.

are diverse and unique destinations featured in this brochure including Great Britain, Ireland, Western Europe, Southern Europe and the Mediterranean. European cruises are also showcased in TravelBrands' brochure.

Travellers looking to learn more about Europe travel can receive a copy from their local travel agency once available. Any travel agents wanting to learn more about TravelBrands' dynamic Europe packaging can visit www.travelbrandsaccess.com. Agencies will receive copies of the brochure in the weeks to come.