New Carnival Cruise Tool For Agents, Plus AIC Hotel News And More JimBits

Carnival Cruise Line is launching a completely redesigned version of its popular Travel Agent Finder. The upgraded tool is more user-friendly and provides enhanced individual agency information, as well as displays more agencies to help consumers find a local travel professional within Carnival's extensive network.

In the first phase of the redesign, which is complete, the look and feel of the page was updated to better match the cruise line's main site, www.carnival.com. Further, it now uses Google Maps to display agency locations, providing a greater degree of detail and accuracy than was possible before.

"As we continue to deliver on our commitment to support our travel agent partners as they grow their business, we've significantly enhanced the functionality and the design of our Travel Agent Finder to make it easier for visitors on our website to find a local travel agent," said Adolfo Perez, senior vice president of sales and trade marketing for Carnival. "The new and improved Travel Agent Finder on our site is a more powerful tool for both our partners and their potential clients. We hope everyone takes full advantage of its usefulness."

The user experience is enhanced by now displaying search results on the universally familiar Google Maps platform. In addition, users can input search criteria besides a ZIP Code to produce more accurate results when seeking a travel agent.

Those results provide more individual agency information, including phone number, email address and a website link, when available. From the travel agents' perspective, functionality was improved to generate more agencies in the results.

The second phase of the redesign is expected to be complete in spring 2019, with the next upgrade providing home-based travel agency owners the ability to add their information to the system. Users will be able to see home-based agency locations displayed on Google Maps if the agency opts in to the program.

AIC Hotel Group, the experiential brand redefining vacation experiences, is thrilled to announce the restructuring of its Inside Sales department with the recent appointment of Paula Aguila as Senior Inside Sales Department Manager.

Eleven years ago, Aguila joined the company as a Customer Service Coordinator and spent eight years under Ash Tembe's leadership helping build the Field Sales Department as an Inside Sales Manager. Aguila has been instrumental in contributing towards the growth and success of the company, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to the department, and establishing strong business relationships within AIC Hotel Group.

In her new role, she will continue to support overall company objectives, and oversee the Inside Sales Coordinators, Amplified Rewards, RnR, and Vacation Experts Departments. Aguila will continue to report directly to Ash Tembe, Vice President of Field Sales.

"Our goal as a company is to maintain a continuous flow of growth and innovation to support our travel partners," said Tembe. "Equipping our staff with the necessary tools for professional growth is one of our main priorities, and we are excited to continue working alongside Paula towards the overall continued success of the company."

Ultra-luxury cruise leader Silversea has launched a new collection of voyages to Cuba, enabling guests of all nationalities to discover the remarkable destination. Departing for Cuba from the United States for the first time in the cruise line's history, the 17 voyages will unlock authentic experiences for Silversea's guests, showcasing the best of the country through immersive land excursions in various destinations.

Available to book now, five voyages will immerse Silversea's guests in the country's delights in 2019:

Silver Wind will inaugurate the collection of voyages to Cuba when she sets sail on Feb. 14, 2019, on a 7-night voyage from San Juan to Fort Lauderdale. The itinerary will include visits to the Cuban cities of Havana and Santiago de Cuba, and the Bahamian island of Bimini.

Silversea's recently lengthened Silver Spirit will depart San Juan on a 10-night voyage on Feb. 22, 2019. An overnight in Santiago de Cuba will be complemented by calls in Cienfuegos and Havana, as well as stops in George Town, Key West and Bimini, before finishing in Fort Lauderdale.

Departing San Juan on March 31, 2019, Silver Wind will unlock Santiago de Cuba and Havana on overnight calls, as well as Cienfuegos, on a 10-night voyage. The itinerary will also incorporate George Town in the Cayman Islands and Bimini.

Also aboard Silver Wind, a 9-night round-trip voyage from Fort Lauderdale - departing April 10 - will call in Santiago de Cuba overnight and Havana, in addition to Bimini, Nassau and Port Canaveral.

Concluding the selection for 2019, a 14-night sailing aboard Silver Whisper will depart Fort Lauderdale on November 22. The round-trip voyage will feature a visit to Cienfuegos, plus overnight stays in Santiago de Cuba and Havana, offering ample time for guests to experiences the local way of life. The itinerary also includes calls in Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize City and Key West.

Intrepid Travel, the world's largest provider of sustainable, experience-rich travel, has launched a new line of tours consisting of more than 80 trips exclusively designed for 18- to 29-year-old travellers, with a focus on affordability, sustainability and immersive activities.

With tours priced from $435 CAD per person and up, the company will also be offering $99 deposits on all of its 18 to 29s trips, making sustainable and ethical travel more accessible to a younger demographic while providing this socially-conscious generation with a stress-free alternative to backpacking and big bus tours. Highlights from the brand new tours include a seven-day camping trip in Iceland, a nine-day tour in Egypt that includes a cruise along the Nile River and an eight-day trekking trip to Machu Picchu in Peru.

"Sustainable travel doesn't have to be expensive," said James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Travel. "This age group will increasingly influence travel trends. Their buying decisions can help to reduce demand for unethical activities like visiting orphanages or riding elephants."

Results of a new study commissioned by Intrepid Travel revealed that travellers under 30 consider the ethical impact of their trips more than any other age demographic. The survey of 2,000 North American travelers, conducted by OnePoll, confirmed that sustainable and ethical travel options are increasingly important considerations for millennials

Other key findings:

- Eighty six per cent of 18- to 29-year-olds consider it important when booking a trip for a company to offer sustainable travel options.

- The two things 18- to 29-year-olds consider the most important when booking travel are affordability (52 per cent) and knowing their travel dollars are supporting local communities (51 per cent).

- Fifty eight per cent of 18- to 29-year-olds would spend more on their travel if they knew their money was going into the local communities they're visiting, compared to just 32 per cent of travellers aged 51+.

Reach Global Marketing Ltd. today announced Kathy Motton as the new Director of Communications and Marketing. In her new position, Kathy will lead the Reach Global communications team and will report to President and Owner Charmaine Singh.

"Kathy Motton is a passionate and driven leader with excellent relationships in the Canadian media and a strong gut for storytelling," said Charmaine Singh, President and Owner. "It's my pleasure to welcome her to our dynamic team, where we will continue to deliver the exceptional."

Motton will manage communications and marketing for NYC & Company and the Arizona Office of Tourism. But she's not new to the account, having managed both under Singh's leadership from 2010 to 2012. With more than 10 years experience, Kathy has also worked with San Francisco CVB, North Carolina Tourism, Travel South USA, Proexport Colombia, Tourism Toronto, Petit St. Vincent Private Island Resort, Vail Resorts (Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, and Keystone in Colorado, and Heavenly in California), and the King Edward Hotel in Toronto.

AmaWaterways today announced that Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-owner, has been chosen as the 2018 Family Travel Association's "Person of the Year." She was selected for her vision and commitment in opening the river cruising category for families and for her role in developing key family-related initiatives like AmaWaterways' thriving relationship with Adventures by Disney.

"I am especially honored to be selected for this recognition by the Family Travel Association as I have such a deep passion for travel and river cruising, stemming from my early memories of discovering the world with my own family," said Karst. "AmaWaterways is a family-owned company, and I am very proud to accept this award on behalf of the sales, operations and technical design teams whose innovative work contributes to creating unforgettable vacation experiences for all our guests, including families, on board our ships."

AmaWaterways paved the way for multi-generational river cruising by introducing active shore excursions that appealed to three generations of travelers. The leading luxury river cruise line was the first to introduce bicycles onboard in 2006 and sparked by the collaboration with Adventures by Disney, designed the first connecting staterooms and rooms with triple occupancy in 2015 with AmaSerena. Today, all AmaWaterways' new ships are designed with a selection of connecting staterooms and suites- including AmaMagna, which will debut in May 2019 at twice the width of traditional river cruise ships -- accommodating the needs of families.

The close collaboration between AmaWaterways and Adventures by Disney flourishes today, offering itineraries and excursions designed for all ages and lifestyles. Combining the award-winning service and luxury of AmaWaterways with the family travel expertise of Adventures by Disney, these itineraries deliver an unmatched experience that is immersive, all-inclusive and hassle-free for the whole family. In 2019, Adventures by Disney will host a total of 21 sailings on board AmaWaterways' ships on the Rhine, Danube and Seine rivers.

"We are pleased to name Kristin Karst as the FTA Person of the Year," said Rainer Jenss, president and founder of Family Travel Association. "Her passion is unmatched, and we believe that her dedication to providing family-friendly river cruise experiences has had a major impact on the travel industry and has created positive and long-lasting benefits to young people."