In this week’s round-up, a Travel Agent Next Door advisor is honoured by G Adventures, AMA introduces a home-based program, Virtuoso talks Turks and Caicos, and TTC Tours Brands delivers a special BIPOC FAM trip invitation.
TTAND/ G Adventures
TTAND agent Chen Yu has been named the No. 1 “ChangeMaker” both in Canada and globally by G Adventures in its recent four-month long incentive campaign, which recognized agents responsible for “most lives changed” across eight markets worldwide.
“Chen has been the most amazing agent of change for G Adventures over many years. She is the perfect partner, she’s someone who works closely within her own local community, she’s someone who recognizes the importance of supporting community tourism when she travels and she cares passionately about delivering great service to her clients,” said David Green, VP Sales and Managing Director Canada, G.
“We’ve fostered an incredible relationship over the years that has focused on creating life changing experiences for her travellers, and throughout this journey Chen’s client base has grown through word of mouth on the back of some amazing experiences. We are really proud of Chen, for all her hard work and for winning the GX- Most Lives Changed Award.”
Advisors who booked any of their clients with a G Adventures trip through the tour operator’s dedicated Sherpa portal were automatically entered into their region’s Change Makers challenge.
“This is an incredible achievement for Chen Yu,” said Flemming Friisdahl, TTAND CEO. “We are extremely proud of her.”
Winners were invited to the GX Summit, the inaugural event in Peru that brought together over 350 people to celebrate community tourism and see firsthand the impact that the company makes when travelling responsibly.
“As a travel advisor in Chinese communities, I have a passion for building a bridge between the Chinese travellers with wonderful tour operators,” said Yu. “As a Chinese immigrant, this achievement is a milestone for me and for our Chinese travellers too. I know how brave they are to explore the world. I would like to thank G Adventures for making this possible.”
AMA Travel
The Alberta Motor Association, Alberta’s largest retail travel agency has introduced Escape Artist by AMA Travel, a home-based, contractor travel agent program that combines the flexibility of business ownership with the benefits, trusted reputation, and valuable partnerships of AMA, which boasts a million members provice-wide.
The model is ideal for established travel agents who want to work from home, as well as trained agents just starting their industry journey or newly retired travel professionals looking to supplement their income and stay connected to the industry.
Escape Artists will receive a wealth of resources to help them grow their business, among them strong partnerships with preferred AMA suppliers; competitive compensation; exclusive CAA/AAA pricing and deals for members; operational support; personal website, complete with an advanced booking engine; plus industry discounts, benefits, and familiarization trips.
BIPOC FAM trip
TTC Tour Brands is inviting members of the BIPOC (black, indigenous, and other people of colour) travel advisor community on a specially designed Trafalgar FAM trip taking place March 11-17, 2024. The seven-day “Sense of Europe” itinerary will travel from Prague to Vienna and Budapest. The Eastern European travel experience is designed to give advisors the opportunity to engage and network with peers within the BIPOC community and discover the history, architecture, culture, and cuisine of the region with Trafalgar.
According to Melissa DaSilva, President of TTC Tour Brands North America, the new fam trip was designed in alignment with the organization’s sustainability strategy, specifically the brands’ DEI goals, which are in part, to bridge the gap between TTC and underrepresented communities in the travel industry. “Studies have shown that black travellers are more likely to visit a destination if they see themselves represented and if they feel secure,” she said DaSilva.
“Diversity is the foundation of meaningful travel,” added TTC Tour Brands Senior National Account Manager Tonya Leigh, who will be escorting the trip this March. “Eastern Europe is an emerging destination for North American travellers of colour and selected with intention. Rich in history, and with incredible architecture, food, music, and art, this is a place for all travellers to discover. By sharing this incredible experience with our partners in the BIPOC community, we are helping them to bring this experience confidently to their customers while expanding and strengthening their professional network.”
Advisors on the FAM will begin their trip in Prague, then pass through Bratislava on their way to Vienna for a special, before-hours guided visit to the Kunstkammer, amongst visits to other attractions. Stops also include Budapest and the medieval town of Szentendre, the latter featuring a Goulash cooking demonstration. Advisors will spend their last night together with dinner alongside a local Schieszel family.
Twin share prices is $1.321 p.p. For more info and to apply, click HERE or email fams@ttc.com.
Virtuoso
Experience Turks and Caicos has been accepted into Virtuoso’s exclusive portfolio of luxury travel partners, comprising over 2,000 preferred suppliers in 100 countries. According to Racquel Brown, Interim CEO/Change Manager of Experience Turks and Caicos, inclusion in Virtuoso will present new sales and marketing opportunities to the network’s more than 20,000 luxury travel advisors and their “highly desirable” clientele.
The Turks and Caicos Islands currently has eight properties that have met the requirements to become Virtuoso properties: Amanyara, Beach Enclave, COMO Parrot Cay, Grace Bay Club, The Palms, The Ritz-Carlton, The Shore Club, and Wymara Resort and Villas.
Experience Turks and Caicos adds that as a luxury lifestyle destination, marketing and promoting through the travel trade is just as crucial as securing bookings since visitors often seek comprehensive vacation management — from initial booking to their return journey.