Sunwing Vacations Group (SVG) reports that advance bookings this winter are strong and trending ahead of last year, with customers particularly keying in on Caribbean and Latin American destinations as demand shifts from transborder.
SVG revealed the trend at its third annual Amplify leadership event, which brought together 160 EPIC leaders from across its vacation and retail brands, held in conjunction with partner NexusTours.
“We are excited to see the momentum for the 2025-26 winter season,” said SVG president Andrew Dawson, who shared key wins and ambitious plans for the winter season.
“Advance bookings are running ahead of last winter and we are excited to see so many vacationers taking advantage of the great Early Booking Bonus offers,” he said, adding, “We are especially thrilled to be expanding our reach with new destinations like Samana (Dominican Republic), Managua (Nicaragua) and San Andres (Colombia) for Sunwing Vacations and direct to Havana (Cuba) for WestJet Vacations.”
Highlights from this year’s Amplify event included:
- John Weatherill, WestJet Group Executive VP and CCO reinforced WestJet’s commitment to growing the tour operator to ensure continued success for a strong winter season
- WestJet’s continued investment in guest experience that benefits Sunwing Vacations guests, including in-flight Wi-Fi, was highlight by Samantha Taylor, WestJet Group Executive VP and Chief Experience Officer
- NexusTours’ enhanced offerings will include investments in new branded catamarans, more transfer vehicles, while a new Travel Agent Portal is now available to all travel advisors booking through the Sunwing Vacations Group brands
- Recognition of significant brand achievements, including:
- WestJet Vacations’ increase in Latin American-Caribbean destination offerings
- WestJet Vacations Quebec’s incredible year-over-year growth
- (U.S.-based) Vacation Express’s record year and the group’s impressive growth, especially in Jamaica
- Rahul Singh, head of GlobalMedic, highlighted the longstanding relationship between GlobalMedic and Sunwing Vacations, future plans and volunteer opportunities
- Celebration of Cuba’s tourism resurgence, with improved product, infrastructure and higher guest reviews driving renewed confidence
- Acknowledgment of Luxe Destination Weddings as the star performer, generating volume throughout the ecosystem, for sister brands Vacation Express, Sunwing Weddings and WestJet Vacations.
“We’re excited that Sunwing guests are now travelling onboard WestJet flights and experiencing the enhanced service,” noted Taylor. “We recently celebrated a major milestone of 100 of WestJet’s 737 aircraft now offering WestJet Wi-Fi, presented by TELUS. This transforms the way guests can stay connected, stream content and browse seamlessly throughout the flight.”
Cuba call-out
Presenters also highlighted destination and product performance across the group’s portfolio, notably Cuba – a destination that is “absolutely thriving again,” according to Dawson.
“We’re seeing Canadian travellers rediscover what makes this destination so special,” he enthused. “The combination of authentic culture, beautiful beaches, great value and improved guest experiences is creating incredible momentum. Canadians are finding they can enjoy an amazing vacation experience without breaking the bank. Overall, winter is off to a great start with group vacations and new destinations, with some key dates and prime hotels already selling out.”
The company noted that these developments signal a significant opportunity for travel advisors, who can leverage the expanded product portfolio and enhanced guest experience to meet strong client demand for the upcoming winter season.
“We’re seeing momentous growth from travel advisors this winter,” said Steph Ng, WestJet Group VP of Marketing. “That’s why we continue to recognize our advisor community in this year’s winter campaign – they’re the driving force behind connecting Canadians to their dream vacations and we’re committed to supporting their success.”
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