Ensemble agents got cooking on a Silversea FAM to Iceland and beyond, TRAVELSAVERS Canada has a new marketing manager, and First in Service reveals its top-selling destinations.

Ensemble

A select group of Ensemble members recently completed the first trip as part of the consortium’s new ‘Further Your World’ FAM program. In partnership with Silversea Cruises, the 10-day trip to Iceland aboard Silverseas’ Silver Moon included several experiences and excursions to gain firsthand knowledge about the destination as well as the myriad benefits and services offered by Silversea.

Among the itinerary highlights were a visit to the Faroe Islands as well as to Akureyri, located 100 km from the Arctic Circle where participants saw the Godafoss Waterfall and soaked in the Myvatn Nature Baths.

Members also took part in numerous activities aboard the ship, including participating in the S.A.L.T program – Sea And Land Taste – (banner photo) aimed at giving passengers access to true local flavours and approaches to food based around their itinerary and ports of call.

In keeping with the objective of providing in-depth destination and product knowledge, there were two onboard training sessions along with opportunities to connect with other members through organized group dinners and receptions.

“We are so grateful to our partners at Silversea for hosting our first Further Your World FAM and to our members who embraced every aspect of this journey bringing back a wealth of knowledge and deeper understanding of the destination that can be shared with clients whose bucket list includes a cruise to Iceland,” said Jenn Kotacka, Senior Director of Training and Development for Ensemble. “The response and feedback we’ve had perfectly synthesizes what we hoped the trip would be.”

Ensemble announced the launch of the FAM trip earlier this year with a schedule that includes four other 2023 trips:

• AMA Waterways (Sept.) – Featuring a cruise along the Mekong River through Cambodia and Vietnam
• Egypt&Beyond (Sept.) – An immersive experience to learn about ancient Egypt
• G Adventures (Oct.) – An exploration of the culture, nature, and people of Ecuador with an optional extension to the Galapagos
• Intrepid – (Dec.) – An Antarctica Adventure

A schedule for 2024 Further Your World FAMS will be announced later this year.

TRAVELSAVERS Canada

TRAVELSAVERS Canada has appointed Clare Burke as manager of marketing. With a 20-plus year career in the travel industry in marketing and events, Burke will play a key role in the expansion of the TRAVELSAVERS CANADA network of travel advisors and preferred partners through unique marketing products and networking events.

Previously, Burke served at Ensemble Travel Group for 13 years, specializing in network care and event management.

“Clare’s adaptability and wealth of knowledge as a travel professional is a force to be reckoned with,” says Jane Clementino, Sr. VP. and GM of TRAVELSAVERS CANADA. “Clare’s passion to spark innovation and ignite brand awareness in the Canadian marketplace is exactly what we need to help our agency partners accelerate their sales and revenue.”

First in Service (F1S)

Paris is far outpacing every other international city being booked for 2023 by First in Service travel advisors in Canada, according to recently released survey results.

When F1S advisors were asked to name the top three locations they are booking outside Canada, Paris ranked first with 21.7%, followed by London (13%), and a four-way tie for third place among Lisbon, Rome, Sicily, and Tel Aviv (8.7%).

F1S’s top 5 countries from Canada include:

• Italy (52.2%, with Florence, Milan, Puglia, Rome, and Sicily all named)
• France (43.5%, with Paris named)
• Portugal (26.1%, with Lisbon and Porto each named)
• Morocco (21.7%, with Fez and Marrakesh each named)
• Greece (17.4%, with Athens named)

“While Italy, France and Greece are all returning favourites with good reason, the big surprise this year is how much our clients are seeking out destinations that are less familiar and more exotic, including Portugal and Morocco,” says F1S CEO Fernando Gonzalez.

Willa Griffin, who leads the F1S Canada operations, agrees: “People have been flocking to Italy and Greece since the pandemic and now are returning to destinations like Morocco that were very locked down and offer something a bit different.”

Meanwhile, top regional destinations included:

• Africa: South Africa (39.1%), followed by Morocco
• Asia: Thailand (30.4%), followed by Japan
• Australia/NZ/South Pacific: Australia (17.4%), followed by New Zealand and Tahiti
• Caribbean: Dominican Republic (26.1%), followed by Turks & Caicos
• Central America: Costa Rica (43.4%), followed by Belize
• Europe: Italy (43.5%), followed by Portugal
• Mexico: Cancun (34.8%), followed by nearby Riviera Maya
• Middle East: Israel (52.2%), followed by United Arab Emirates
• South America: Argentina (17.4%), followed by Chile and Colombia
• US: Florida (30.4%), followed by California and Hawaii