JimBits: Virtuoso Awards, Expensive Canadian Cities and Sandals' Webinars For Agents

Virtuoso gave out a series of prestigious awards during Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, which TravelPulse Canada attended. Here's a look at some of the highlights.

- Hotel of the Year: Adare Manor, Limerick, Ireland

- Best Dining Experience: Meadowood Napa Valley - The Restaurant, St. Helena, California, U.S.

- Best Bar: Brown's Hotel, A Rocco Forte Hotel - The Donovan Bar, London, U.K.

- Best Wellness Program: BodyHoliday Saint Lucia - Castries, St. Lucia

- Best Virtuoso Newcomer: Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel - Paris, France

- Hotelier of the Year: Patrizio Cipollini, Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, Florence, Italy

- Best Escorted Tour Partner: Tauck

- Best Multi-Generational Program - Cruise: Royal Caribbean International

- Best Culinary Experience - Cruise: Oceania Cruises

- Most Luxurious Guest Experience - Cruise: Crystal Cruises

- Best River Cruise Line: AmaWaterways

- Tourism Board of the Year: Switzerland Tourism

- Most Comprehensive Advisor Program: Tourism Australia

- Hottest Destination of the Year: Portuguese National Tourist Office

- Top Destination of the Year: German National Tourist Office

- Ambassador of the Year: Petra Roach, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.

As part of their recently launched Flying Start initiative, Sunwing Foundation has partnered with non-for-profit organization, Sisters Keeper Elite Basketball, to help 100 kids in Jamaica develop their love of basketball and get ready for the school year.

In addition to their participation in this year's Caribbean Hoop Fest taking place in Montego Bay August 17-22, the Sisters Keeper team, which includes athletes from the Canada Elite Ontario Basketball women's team will also be taking time off the court to give back.

On August 18 they will host a basketball camp in partnership with Sunwing Foundation at Montego Bay Community College for local children and aspiring athletes. Attending kids will receive a backpack filled with books, school supplies and athletic gear, packed earlier this week at Sunwing's head office by the team, family and friends.

The team, including Toronto homegrown athletes Aaliyah Edwards, Rebecca Demeke, Latasha Lattimore and Shyanne Day-Wilson, will also get the chance to play against the women's National Team, top U19 team and college team during their time in Jamaica.

"The Sunwing Foundation is committed to supporting youth and education projects in the destinations that we serve," says Stephen Hunter, CEO of Sunwing Travel Group. "It's an honour to be able to support these young and talented women, as well as connect them with young, local aspiring athletes. This partnership only further embodies Sunwing Foundation's determination to help young people to succeed in both their education and personal development."

For more information on the Flying Start program, please visit www.sunwingfoundation.com. For more information on Sisters Keeper Elite Basketball, please visit https://www.sisterskeeperelite.com/.

Looking to save money on your clients? Or perhaps plan a getaway of your own before summer's over?

The folks at Cheaphotels.org have come up with a study of hotel rates for cities across Canada, and you'll find some definite surprises.

The survey compared hotel rates of 30 Canadian destinations for the month of August 2018. It should be noted only centrally-located hotels, rated 3 stars or higher, were included in the survey.

The report found Banff to be the most expensive spot in the country, with an average rate of $336. Nearby Canmore wasn't much cheaper, placing third in the survey with an average rate of $316. Vancouver was in second spot, with an average rate of $324 for the least expensive double rooms available.

Toronto was smack in the middle at #15, with an average rate of $156 a night; less than half the cost of a night in Vancouver. Montreal was 19th, down at just $146 per night, while Calgary was 26th at a very reasonable $114 per night.

The cheapest big cities in the country? Saskatoon came 29th in the survey, with rooms costing just $99 a night. The least expensive was Edmonton, in the 30th position with rooms for only $98 a night.

You could spend the night at a hotel in Edmonton or Saskatoon and enjoy a $150 meal at one of their best restaurants (and both have increasingly wonderful options) and then go for an after-dinner drink and still spend less than you would for just a room in Vancouver.

Here's the cheaphotels.org top ten:

Banff $336
2. Vancouver $324
3. Canmore $316
4. Richmond $236
5. Niagara on the Lake $235
6. Halifax $234
7. Kingston $234
8. Kelowna $ 221
9. Quebec City $187
10. Victoria $184

For the full results of the survey, visit: https://www.cheaphotels.org/press/canada18.html

As part of their ongoing, weekly webinar series created exclusively for travel agents, Sandals Resorts is getting "social" this Friday, August 17. This week's topic shares Social Media tips - and more specifically - how agents can incorporate engaging social media content, with Sandals & Beaches Resorts as a partner, as an integral part of their marketing strategy to ultimately grow their business.

Friday August 17 - Let's Get Social with Sandals & Beaches Resorts, 12:30pm - 1:00pm EDT, with Stephanie Shayevitz, Social Media Community Manager - Trade

The succinct webinars are just 30-minutes long and by registering, agents also receive a recorded version that they can play back at their leisure.

To register, Canadian agents can send an email - that includes their IATA number - to [email protected] in order to receive further details and log-in instructions.

For more information, agents can contact their local Sandals Business Development Manager or call Inside Sales at 1-800-545-8283.

Visit California and Central Coast area destination partners recently celebrated the reopening of Highway 1 with a historic convoy of more than 80 cars representing eight decades - from classic vintage, to sleek and modern, to hydrogen-fueled and electric models.

The iconic highway reopened in late July after more than 18 months of roadway closures, which resulted in tremendous economic losses for businesses along the iconic corridor, especially in northern San Luis Obispo County as travellers rerouted their trips en masse.

The caravan highlighted the iconic highway's historic past connecting California's northern and southern regions on one of the world's most spectacular coastal drives.

"Driving Highway 1 is a bucket-list experience many travelers dream about, and its closure made headlines around the world," said Caroline Beteta, Visit California President & CEO. "Many communities along this stretch have suffered while the road has been closed. We're proud to announce to the world today that Highway 1 is open and better than ever, and the Central Coast is ready to welcome travellers looking for the ultimate California road trip."

Nearly 200 tourism industry leaders, media from around the world and automotive enthusiasts participated in the Dream Drive, which kicked off at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey with a commemorative lap around the raceway track. The convoy proceeded down Highway 1, across the new $54 million, quarter-mile mudslide repair, before ending with a sunset beach barbecue in the shadow of Morro Rock in the coastal town of Morro Bay.

Last month Danielle Berton, a Travel Consultant at Groupe Voyages VP in Montreal, became the 1,000th Aussie Specialist in Canada, marking a major milestone for the program.

The Aussie Specialist Program (ASP) is Tourism Australia's global training program for international travel sellers and one of the world's leading destination training courses. In 2015 the ASP underwent a significant re-launch, introducing a new digital platform which featured interactive training modules. At the time of the re-launch, there were just under 300 qualified agents in Canada. Since Berton became the 1,000th specialist, the number has continued to grow successfully with now 1,076 qualified ASP agents and 309 trainees from coast-to-coast.

Tourism Australia celebrated the occasion with a surprise visit to the Groupe Voyages office in Montreal to congratulate Berton in person. Berton was presented an Aussie-inspired prize which included a retro-style Tourism Australia carry-on bag to celebrate the organisation's 50th anniversary, a fine bottle of Aussie wine, a cap, thermal bottle, notebook and pen plus a Visa gift card.

Benefits of becoming an Aussie Specialist include access to bespoke training modules and sales resources, travel club offers, invitations to attend exclusive events and monthly e-newsletter updates.

Those interested in becoming a qualified Aussie Specialist can enroll online today:
www.aussiespecialist.com/en-ca.

Whether dreaming of unveiling the magic of India, pilgrimaging to the "Roof of the World" in Nepal or taking an epic odyssey along Peru's Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, leading adventure tour operator Exodus Travels is encouraging fellow responsible travellers to embark on the journey of a lifetime and SAVE on wanderlust-worthy classics that sell out months in advance.

For a limited time only, Exodus Travels is offering adventurers CAD$270 off 2019 Inca Trail journeys and CAD$180 off ALL Nepal and India adventures running from September 2018 through April 2019. Additional terms and conditions apply.

PERU: Save CAD$270 per person
Journey up into the Andes and through time on one of our exotic quests presenting Peru's Machu Picchu and the ancient lost civilization of the Incas. Adventure awaits!
Book by September 30, 2018.
https://www.exodustravels.com/ca/peru-sale

NEPAL: Save CAD$180 per person
Challenge yourself with Everest trek, visit monasteries, sip tea with villagers, visit an elephant sanctuary, go rafting and prepare for the trip of a lifetime.
Plus enjoy a free Kit Hire if you opt to trek! Sleep well and stay warm with a 4 season sleeping bag and down jacket hire at no extra cost.
Book by September 19, 2018.
https://www.exodustravels.com/ca/nepal-sale

INDIA: Save CAD$180 per person
Delve into a multi-dimensional world of sweet spices, golden tigers, ancient temples, lush jungles & fairy-tale palaces - by bike, boat or foot.
Book by September 19, 2018.
https://www.exodustravels.com/ca/india-sale

For more information, visit: www.exodustravels.com/ca/special-offers