Special collaboration: Maude Carrier
TravelPulse is in destination with Transat and 20 travel advisors who are very happy to discover or "re-discover" Varadero.
After a short stay in Havana, 16 hotels will be visited by the group to present their improvements, new features and facilities.
Valérie Gagnon, Transat business development representative, explains: "We received a lot of questions about Cuba. There are several hotels that opened just before the pandemic and travel agents hadn't had a chance to see them yet."
"Other properties are better known, but this FAM Trip shows how things have changed post-pandemic. »
"It was natural to start from the basics. And for those who don't know, because we have some new agents in the group who are new to the industry, it's interesting to introduce them to this super popular destination. It's super educational."
New to Varadero, the Sirenis Tropical Varadero is a new addition to the Transat portfolio with its 443 rooms, 4 swimming pools and 6 restaurants. Completely renovated in 2015, this is a very interesting property in terms of value for money for customers.
Chambre du Melia International (Maude Carrier, TravelPulse Québec)
The advisors were also able to see the comfort of the Mélià International, The Level section, during their stay and visit, among others, the following properties:
• Iberostar Bella Vista, a 2017 4.5-star hotel offered in duo with the Iberostar Parque Central in Havana.
• Playa Vista Azul which impresses on arrival with its infinity pool on the edge of the cliff, a property with two separate beaches 200 meters from the main building.
• Sol Varadero Beach, a very popular hotel with customers, tastefully renovated in 2019, with 356 rooms and a festive atmosphere in the evening.
• Paradisius Varadero, a 5-star property which includes The Reserve, superior category for families, and Royal, for adults only.
The impressions of the travel advisors
For Linda Roy-Longpré of Voyage Direct Anjou, who has come to Varadero twenty times in her life, it was important to see first-hand the most recent changes to the destination: "there have been a lot of changes since then, a lot of progress , a desire to have cleaner, more up-to-date hotels. I see that we eat well, that the buffets seem quite full".
For Thélème Domon from Club Voyages Mille et une nuits, who came here 8 years ago, "it's easier to come and see the hotels there. I want to refer clients to properties that I have seen myself. I came with "family" and "celebration of life" eyes, and I think that the Mélià International and the Iberostar Varadero would be my favourites".
Jo-Anne Mazza of the Louise Drouin agency in Sorel is new to the travel industry. "It's my first time in Varadero and I find it very very good, I eat well and I love it."
Nathalie Pigeon of Voyage Bellaro is planning to come back with her family in duo with Havana with a big penchant for the Mélià International, especially thanks to its extraordinary beach.
"I was left with the impression that it was old, but there are many renovated hotels, beautiful modern rooms, I can't believe it."
Geneviève Martel of the Terre et Monde agency had a crush on Varadero and several favorites at the hotel level, she who had not been to her destination for 22 years.
"It feels good to be back and see all the modernity, it feels good to see the hotels refreshed," she said.
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