We’re more than just sun

Air Canada Vacations kicked off its 2012-2013 winter launch season with a simple message to travel agents: “We’re more than just sun.” In fact, the theme for the operator’s Toronto event was “The Whole World Is Waiting” and, in a departure from previous years, it featured a trade show with 35 suppliers on hand and workshops designed to enlighten the close to 225 retailers on ACV’s products in Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, South America, Asia, the South Pacific, as well as its Cruise offerings. ACV’s president, Zeina Gedeon came straight to the point, telling the agency crowd that: “Your support means a lot to us, although we’d always like more. We offer the world. We have grown substantially. We have a great product.” Nino Montagnese, vice-president, sales & marketing for ACV, told Press Today that he’s expecting a good winter season. And he noted that the tour company already has its 2012-2013 consumer campaign in the market and it is designed specifically to drive consumers business directly to travel agents. Montagnese also emphasized that “we need the trade to recognize that we sell all products, not just sun. We’re a one-stop shop.” ACV has also enhanced its ACV & Me agency loyalty program, with the launch of ACV & Me Select which, depending on the numbers of packages an agent sells, will provide a host of new privileges at all three of the currently offered reward levels. Following its Toronto launch, ACV heads to Montreal and Halifax for similar events and then rolls out across the country with a series of regional events. For more, go to http://www.aircanadavacations.com . In the photo, from l to r, are ACV’s Nino Montagnese and Zeina Gedeon at the Toronto launch.