Destinations

Inspiring People To Travel

collette-daily-DAILY

Close to 120 travel counsellors turned out Tuesday night to get the latest updates on Europe at a Toronto event co-hosted by the European Travel Commission and Collette.

The event will be repeated in Halifax on Thursday with close to 90 agents expected.

The annual ETC event, which features rotating tour operator partners, included representatives and table top stands from ETC members in Canada — Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Switzerland, followed by country presentations.

“It’s all about inspiring people to travel,” ETC vice chair Dana Welch (Ireland) told PressToday, with chair Laura Pena Alberdi (Spain) adding that the Conference Board of Canada is forecasting 9% growth in visitations from Canada this summer, thanks in part to 15% more air seats.

Collette GM Brett Walker said, “Europe is it, bar none. You need a healthy Europe.”

The tour company’s president, Canada, noted that that event was also a great way for Collette to work and interact with its tourist board partners, but added, “Tonight is really about travel agents”

Seen in the photo, from l to r, are Walker (Collette); Mauro Giacobbe (Italy); Welch (Ireland); Alberdi (Spain); Evelyn Lafone (Switzerland), Antje Splettstoesser (Germany), Willam Delgado (Portugal); and Patterson (Collette).