Virtuoso members around the world honoured Martin Luther King, Jr. – with a full day of pay to do so; MSC Cruises Canada announced its annual travel partners awards; and TraveBrands has rolled out its “Wheel of Rewards” promotion for travel advisors.

Virtuoso

In support of its ‘Realize the Dream’ initiative and in honour of Martin Luther King Day Jan. 20, Virtuoso offered its global staff – including Canada – the opportunity to give back to their favourite causes while receiving a paid day of service.

Inspired by the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s vision to create a society rooted in peace, justice, equality and love for all, ‘Realize the Dream’ aims to create 100 million hours of community service by the 100th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birth in 2029.

Virtuoso first announced its support of Realize the Dream during its 2024 Virtuoso Travel Week with Virtuoso Chairman and CEO Matthew D. Upchurch, along with Vice-Chair and Sustainability Strategist Jessica Hall Upchurch, jointly commenting: “Realize the Dream’s message of promoting love and unity through local community support is universal. We’re proud to back this meaningful cause by offering a paid day of service to all of our team members worldwide. Serving others not only strengthens communities, but it also brings significant benefits to those who give their time and energy.”

As an ongoing initiative, Virtuoso’s paid day of service benefit is available to its team on an annual basis. Virtuoso’s team members have the flexibility to choose charitable organizations and service initiatives that personally resonate with them. They can also self-select which day they will participate in the service.

MSC Cruises Canada

MSC Cruises recognized its top Canadian travel advisors in its annual excellence awards, this year featuring three new award categories – MSC Yacht Club Retail Partner of the Year, True Partner of the Year, and MSC Cruises “NUOVO” Partner of the Year.

The awards are designed to honour MSC travel partners who have gone above and beyond to share MSC Cruises’ vision with Canadian travellers.

This year’s three new award categories include:

• MSC Yacht Club Retail Partner of the Year: Awarded to Trevello Travel Group, this recognition honours their outstanding efforts in promoting MSC Cruises’ exclusive luxury experience, MSC Yacht Club. By elevating awareness of this ship-within-a-ship concept –offering lavish suites, 24-hour butler service, private dining, and exclusive amenities –Trevello Travel Group has helped showcase the pinnacle of MSC Cruises’ luxury offerings.
• True Partner of the Year: Presented to Rosa DeRienzo of Expedia Cruises Laval, this award recognizes the partner who has gone beyond the role of selling cruises, by also embracing MSC Cruises’ core family values and commitment to creating meaningful travel experiences. The winner exemplifies our dedication to sharing the beauty of the world with current and future generations, fostering deep connections and inspiring a sense of global discovery.
• MSC Cruises “NUOVO” Partner of The Year: Awarded to Le Voyagiste de Québec, this category recognizes the top-performing new partner of the year for their outstanding collaboration and contributions to MSC Cruises’ success.

Additional awards highlight excellence across key market priorities:

• Consortia Partner of the Year: Expedia Cruises
• Ontario Partner of the Year: UCruising
• Western Quebec Partner of the Year: Accès Croisières et Voyages
• Eastern Quebec and Atlantic Canada Partner of the Year: Expedia Cruises Newfoundland
• Western and Central Canada Partner of the Year: Expedia Cruises False Creek

“The success of MSC Cruises Canada wouldn’t be possible without the incredible dedication of our travel partners,” said Ian Patterson, Country Manager of MSC Cruises Canada. “We are incredibly fortunate to work with such passionate and experienced travel partners and agencies who share our unique cruise experiences, including the unparalleled luxury of the MSC Yacht Club, and have been vital in expanding our presence and creating unforgettable experiences for our guests.”

TravelBrands

Through Feb. 9, TravelBrands’ “Wheel of Rewards” promotion enables travel advisors to earn rewards with every eligible booking they make. Applicable on select products such as TravelGenie packages (flight + hotel), hotel-only bookings, and add-ons such as tours, attractions, transfers, and shore excursions, the incentive promotion ensures that every booking leads to a prize. Once a qualifying booking is made, agents will receive an invitation to spin the Wheel of Rewards to win up to 10,000 Loyalty Rewards points, up to $100 travel certificate, or up to $100 e-Cards;

To make qualifying bookings or learn more about this offer, including full terms and conditions, visit www.travelbrandsaccess.com.

At the same time, TravelBrands has also launched an opportunity for travel agents to maximize their earnings with car rental bookings! Through Feb. 16, the following applies to new car rental bookings commencing on or before March 31:  15% Commission applied at the time of booking on all eligible rentals; $25 Gas Card earned for every 5th car booking made during the promotion period. The e-gift card will be sent to the booking agent at the latest departure date. The exclusive offer is available for online bookings across a wide selection of top suppliers, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Europcar, Fox, Hertz, National, and Thrifty. To make qualifying bookings or learn more, visit www.travelbrandsaccess.com.

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