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In a career which has included several of the biggest vacation companies in the world, Chris has travelled to over 150 countries
In his Top Ten Favourite Places he selects his personal best destinations in a range of categories.
This week he picks his favourite “Beaches”. I tend to be maniacally active on my travels, but every once in a while even I get seduced by dazzling-white powdery sands lapped by rhythmic turquoise wavelets…. Rio and Provo, Tahiti and Thailand: these are among my top Ten.
1. Seychelles Like sparkling emeralds on blue velvet, these lush granite mountains in the Indian Ocean each have their own set of dramatic beaches, often backed with lush palms and studded with huge rounded granite boulders. I have spent time on four: Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and tiny Frégate, and each is idyllic.
2. St.Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida This part of Florida’s Gulf Coast regularly picks up the awards for the Best Beach in the U.S. and with good reason. There are a whole string of white sand beaches that range from crowded to deserted, and from adjacent to resorts to a ferry ride away. My favourites are Fort De Soto, Caladesi and Clearwater.
3. Grace Bay Beach, Provo,Turks and Caicos Provo, Turks and Caicos Grace Bay Beach on the island of Providenciales – or Provo to its many devotees – is 20 kilometers of beautiful, fine white sand edging spectacular clear, turquoise water and pristine coral reefs. I had a nose-to-beak encounter with Jo-Jo, the wild but friendly dolphin, off this beach.
4. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Possibly the most famous beach in the world, Copacabana does not disappoint. These golden sands in the glamorous south zone of Rio de Janeiro offer surfing, swimming and diving plus sand volleyball or a barefoot soccer game…and of course: beautiful people watching, my favourite sport!
5. Pembrokeshire, Wales The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path in southwest Wales links many wonderful beaches, but my favourite is Marloes Sands, a truly impressive and expansive beach with amazing rock formations. And that’s the secret of Pembrokeshire’s coast: the unending mix of broad beaches, rugged cliffs, islands and sea stacks.
6. Wineglass Bay, Tasmania Wineglass Bay, Tasmania This is a stunning beach located in Freycinet National Park, on the east coast of Tasmania. I hiked to a viewpoint high above to marvel at the most perfect curve of the whitest sand imaginable, fringed by azure water and lush green forest.
7. French Polynesia So difficult to choose between the famed black volcanic sand at Mahina Beach on Tahiti and the coral sand of Temae Beach on Moorea, but ultimately my vote goes to any of the numerous tiny, powder-beached ‘motus’ that dot the tropical lagoons of many islands in this part of the Pacific Ocean.
8. Gambia The Gambia I spent my honeymoon on the palm-shaded beaches of this tiny West African river nation, where long strands of dazzling sands shimmer in the tropical heat and then glow as the sun sets over the Atlantic Ocean. Look up this country in an atlas and then plan a visit.
9. Thailand Beaches The islands (100’s) and coastlines (it has 3) of Thailand boast so many beautiful beaches that you can find whatever your heart desires: solitude, glitz, soft adventure, culture, coral reefs and dramatic landscapes. One tip: choose the timing of your beach destination in Thailand carefully as the rainy season differs on each coast.
10. Antigua A small Caribbean island but one that fits an amazing 365 beaches into its crinkled coastline – one for each day of the year…so you can find the perfect one for you. Try Hawksbill. I haven’t seen them all yet, but I’m working on it!
By Chris Robinson. Host of the Chris Robinson Travel Show, CFRB 1010
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By Matt Hannafin & Heidi Sarna
Traditionally, the rule of thumb is that the higher up your cabin sits in a ship and the more daylight it has, the more you pay; the lower you go into the bowels of the ship, the cheaper the fare. On some of the more modern ships, however, that old rule doesn't always ring true. On ships launched recently by Carnival, for instance, designers have scattered their most desirable suites on mid-level decks as well as top decks, thereby diminishing the prestige of an upper-deck cabin. For the most part, though, and especially on small ships, where cabins are virtually identical, cabins on higher decks are still more expensive, and outside cabins (with windows or balconies) are more expensive than inside cabins (those without). Outside cabins whose windows are obstructed by lifeboats will be cheaper than ones with good views.
Evaluating Cabin Size
Inch for inch, cruise ship cabins are smaller than hotel rooms. Of course, having a private balcony attached to your cabin, as many do, makes your living space that much bigger.
A roomy standard cabin is about 170 to 190 square feet, although some of the smallest are about 85 to 100 square feet. Disney has some of the more spacious standard cabins at sea, at 226 square feet. Celebrity's standards are spacious enough at around 170 to 175 square feet, with those on its Millennium-class ships sometimes as big as 190 square feet. Carnival's and Holland America's are about 185 square feet or more. By way of comparison, equivalent standard cabins on a good number of ships in the Norwegian and Royal Caribbean lines are quite a bit smaller -- try 120 to 160 square feet -- and can be cramped. Cabins on the small-ship lines such as ACCL can be very snug -- on the order of 70 to 100 square feet.
All the standard cabins on the high-end lines are roomy -- in fact, many of the high-end ships are "suite only." For example, on Silversea's Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper, cabins are 287 square feet, plus a 58-square-foot balcony. Across the board, from mainstream to luxe, suites and penthouses are obviously the most spacious, measuring from about 250 square feet to more than 1,400 square feet, plus private verandas.
Most cruise lines publish schematic drawings in their brochures, with square footage and, in some cases, measurements of length and width, which should give you some idea of what to expect. (We also include square footage ranges for inside cabins, outside cabins, and suites in the cruise ship descriptions in chapters 6 to 8.) Consider measuring off the dimensions on your bedroom floor and imagine your temporary oceangoing home, being sure to block out part of that space for the bathroom and closet. As a rough guideline, within a cabin of around 100 square feet, about a third of the floor space is gobbled up by those functional necessities.
Now, while you may be thinking, "Gee, that's really not a lot of space," remember that, like a bedroom in a large house, your cabin will likely be a place you use only for sleeping, showering, and changing clothes.
The Scoop on Inside Cabins vs. Outside Cabins
Whether you really plan to spend time in your cabin is a question that should be taken into account when deciding whether to book an inside cabin or an outside cabin (that is, one without windows or one with windows or a balcony). If you plan to get up bright and early, hit the buffet breakfast, and not stop till the cows come home, you can probably get away with booking an inside cabin and save yourself a bundle. Inside cabins are generally neither as bad nor as claustrophobic as they sound. Many, in fact -- such as those aboard most of the Carnival and Celebrity fleets -- are the same size as the outside cabins, and most cruise lines design and decorate them to provide an illusion of light and space.
If, on the other hand, you want to lounge around and take it easy in your cabin, maybe ordering breakfast from room service and eating while the sun streams in -- or, better yet, eating out in the sun, on your private veranda -- then an outside cabin is definitely a worthwhile investment. They're also vital for smokers (though some lines prohibit smoking on cabin balconies). Remember, though, that if it's a view of the sea you want, be sure when booking that your window or balcony doesn't just give you a good view of a lifeboat or some other obstruction (and remember, there are likely to be balconies on the deck right above your balcony, so they're more like porches than actual verandas). Some cruise line brochures tell you which cabins are obstructed, and a good travel agent or a cruise line's reservation agent can tell you which cabins on a particular ship might have this problem.
Other Cabin Matters to Consider
Unless you're booking at the last minute (a few weeks or less before sailing), as part of a group, or in a cabin-share or cabin-guarantee program (which means you agree to a price, and find out your exact cabin at the last minute), you can work with your agent to choose a particular cabin. If possible, try to have some idea of what cabin category you'd like, or at least have a list of must-haves or must-avoids. Need a bathtub rather than just a shower? That narrows your choices on most ships. Want connecting cabins so you and your kids, friends, or relatives can share space? Most ships have 'em, but they sometimes book up early, as do cabins with third or fourth berths (usually pull-down bunks or a sofa bed). Almost all ships have cabin TVs these days, but a few don't. Want an elevator close by to make it easy to get between decks? Is the view out the cabin's windows obstructed by lifeboats or other ship equipment? Most important, keep cabin position in mind if you suffer from seasickness. A midships location on a middle deck is best because it's a kind of fulcrum point, the area least affected by the vessel's rocking and rolling in rough seas
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1. You've Googled "Mexico vacation," and come up with 17.8 million responses. Need a little help editing those choices?
2. Remember when you used that obscure website to book your hotel, and when you got there you spent your beach vacation overlooking a parking lot?
3. How many hours were you on hold with the airline when your flight was canceled because of a snowstorm?
4. Did you really mean to spend your honeymoon at that resort whose one tiny pool was filled all day with 12 screaming children?
5. Who knew that when you booked that "villa" in Tuscany, it would be a small room with a kitchenette and no air conditioning? Funny, it looked much better on your computer screen.
6. No one explained to you that in July, it's winter time in Rio, and so you showed up there with nothing but five Hawaiian shirts and three pairs of swimming trunks.
7. How about the time you really needed a restful vacation, and you ended up in New Orleans during Mardi Gras and someone threw up on your shoes?
8. Yes, I guess that hotel must have used a telephoto lens when they took a picture of those guest rooms that you saw on their website.
9. I suppose contacting the Attorney General to resolve the fact that that Internet site has billed your credit card three times instead of once is the only route to take at this point.
10. It was definitely odd that there were no cab drivers at the airport at 3 o'clock in the morning when you finally landed in Costa Rica, but booking a transfer to your very remote hotel would have been a good thing to remember when you purchased your airline ticket and hotel online.
Ok maybe some are extreme - but do you really want any of these to happen to you? No? Maybe you should use a travel consultant.
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In Defense of British Food
By• Eva Holland •
World Hum Travel Blog
Over at The Titanic Awards, Britain has easily carried the win in a poll on the world’s worst national cuisines, with 25 percent of the vote. I’m not surprised—“British food is bad” is a truism that even many Brits buy into—but I do want to take a moment for some spirited dissent.
The truth is, the meals I had in Britain remain some of the things I miss most about my time living there. I loved sitting down in the pub for a ploughman’s lunch, gorging myself on mulled wine, mince pies and Jaffa Cakes at Christmastime, grabbing a cheese and onion pasty at Gregg’s on an early morning or seeking out a full English fry up on a late, lazy one.
Pimms and lemonade with fresh fruit on a summer afternoon? Perfection. Beans on toast in front of the TV on a winter night? Maybe even better. And that’s not even getting into the country’s adopted (and adapted) imports—chicken tikka masala, for instance, or the much-loved spag bol. Seriously, people, put your preconceptions aside. Sit down at the British dinner table. And then, just maybe, go back and tell those poll respondents how wrong they are?
More Info: http://www.worldhum.com/travel-blog/item/in-defense-of-british-food-20090624/
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Our home and naked land
The True North may be even more "free" than our national anthem implies, if a new list of the world's best clothing-optional beaches is any indication.
According to the countdown, commissioned by USA Today and compiled by the American Association for Nude Recreation, Canada is one of the Top 10 greatest places to "leave the swimsuit at home."
Vancouver's Wreck Beach, this country's first and largest legal clothing-optional beach, won Canada a spot on the list alongside such famed locales as France's Cap d'Agde, also known as "the naked city;" the Caribbean's postcard-pretty Orient Bay in the Virgin Islands; Florida's Haulover Beach, which attracts a million visitors -- clothed and unclothed -- to Miami every year; and Little Beach, a Hawaiian hotspot where sun worshippers prefer birthday suits to grass skirts.
Carolyn Hawkins, spokeswoman for the Nude Recreation association, says Canada is simply a great place to be naked.
"When you're talking to someone, you see who they truly are inside -- from the heart -- and not some front that they're putting on," she says, adding that there are association-sanctioned nudist clubs in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario. "It's a very stress-free atmosphere; when you shed your clothes, you shed your stress."
Judy Williams likens Canada's foremost nude playground, Wreck Beach, to "a beacon in the night of naturism."
"It brings people from all over the world because it has the rare combination of physical beauty, a sense of place and a sense of history," says Ms. Williams, chairwoman of the Wreck Beach Preservation Society.
"Where else can you ski in the morning on the mountains surrounding Vancouver and be on (the beach) in the afternoon enjoying the sun as nature intended -- in other words, au naturel -- while eating the finest food on the West Coast and being accompanied by musicians ... who come together to jam in perfect harmony? It doesn't come any finer."
A survey released this week suggests bare derrieres are also good for tourism's bottom line.
According to the YPB&R/ Yankelovich 2007 National Leisure Travel Monitor, access to nude recreation such as Wreck Beach is more appealing to adult vacationers (12 per cent) than proximity to golf (10 per cent), mountain biking (10 per cent) or tennis facilities (six per cent).
Out of 1,882 men and women polled, 16 per cent of those born since 1979 consider a nude recreation experience "desirable" or "very desirable." Interest drops a bit to 14 per cent among Gen-Xers born between 1965 and 1978, followed by 12 per cent of adults born before 1946, and 10 per cent of baby boomers.
"People are learning more about (naturism). They don't have the old visuals that they used to," says Steve Vickers, a 26-year-old college student who was raised in a nudist resort.
"They aren't thinking that we're hippies, out there dancing around with flowers and stuff."
He believes many adults his age view their virgin foray into naked recreation as a kind of campfire yarn in the making, with built-in bragging rights on a par with having gone skydiving.
"They want to have that story to tell," says Mr. Vickers.
No Canadians were questioned in the Leisure Travel survey, which is considered accurate within 2.3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. But a 1999 Federation of Canadian Naturists survey found that 2.7 million Canadians were open to visiting clothing-optional beaches or nudist resorts, while 3.5 million enjoyed skinny-dipping.
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WINNIPEG, CANADA – Travel Professionals International (TPI), Canada’s largest network of independent travel consultants, announces strategic changes within its organization involving the realignment of its Regional Manager structure to meet the varying training and business development needs of TPI Associates across its nation-wide network.
Eighteen months following the successful introduction of Regional Managers to TPI's structure, continued growth of TPI's membership base coupled with the need for greater national training coverage specialised to individual Associate markets and needs has resulted in the restructuring of the Regional Manager positions to become Training and Development Managers, effective immediately.
In explaining the change to TPI's membership base, Phil Sproul, TPI President, stated, "Our sole purpose in realigning the organization is to better understand and serve each of you. We will continue to seek your input and collaboration in our journey together and look forward to much future success with each of you."
TPI's Western Canada Regional Manager, Christal Bauer, CTC, becomes the Training and Development Manager for British Columbia and Alberta, additionally focusing on national training initiatives and the personal development program for all TPI Associates. Bauer is based out of British Columbia and can be reached at cbauer@tpi.ca.
A new member of the TPI team, Lisa Prost, becomes the Training and Development Manager for Manitoba and Saskatchewan, additionally focusing on product and program development. Prior to joining TPI, Lisa held sales positions with Signature Vacations, Nolitours, and RBC Insurance, respectively. Prost is based out of Manitoba and can be reached at lprost@tpi.ca.
TPI's Eastern Canada Regional Manager, Penny Martin, CTM, becomes the Training and Development Manager for Ontario, additionally focusing on TPI's exclusive Velocity agent rewards program and new Associate and Affiliate training programs. Martin is based out of Ontario and can be reached at pmartin@tpi.ca.
A member of TPI's Business Development Team, Lisa Geddes, CTC, becomes the Training and Development Manager for Atlantic Canada. Geddes is based out of Nova Scotia and can be reached at lgeddes@tpi.ca.
"With this further commitment to their national training platform, TPI continues to solidify its position that continuing education and designation are necessities for Associate success," said Coralie Belman, CTM, former National Certification Manager of the Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors (CITC).
TPI's new Training and Development Managers will report to Melanie Carter, CTM, TPI's Manager, Training and Marketing, based at TPI Head Office in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
"This restructure will enable us to work even more directly with Associates to identify their needs and trends. We are excited about being able to deliver more customized programs and initiatives to help our Associates succeed," said Carter.
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For over fifteen years, Travel Professionals International (TPI) has been the premier provider of outsourced travel solutions to independent travel consultants and agencies. Backed by a head office support system with over forty highly skilled travel professionals, a world-class reservation system, and excellent supplier relationships, over 800 TPI Associates are ready and available to provide full-service travel solutions. More information is available at www.tpi.ca. TPI - We'll Take You There
TPI’s 15th Anniversary celebrations are well underway for the fifteen months from May 2009 onward and include special incentives and prizes each month for TPI’s partners – staff, suppliers/industry partners, associates, and consumers, respectively. In celebration of its fifteen years, TPI has released a video telling its story as well as sending well-wishes from preferred partners and team members: www.tpi.ca/fifteenth.asp.
TPI is a member of the I.A.S. - Independent Agency Services Corp. group of companies. www.iascorp.ca
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WINNIPEG, CANADA – Independent Agency Services Corp. (IAS), home to Travel Professionals International (TPI), Canada’s largest network of independent travel consultants, is proud to announce the appointment of, IAS President, Phil Sproul to the Board of Directors of Hope Air – the national charity that provides free air health-care transportation services to Canadians who cannot afford the flight costs.
"What Hope Air does is truly what travel is about at its core - making the World and all it has to offer accessible," said Phil Sproul, IAS President, " and that is why I'm honoured to be part of this organization's great work."
During the length of Sproul's term, the board has been charged with consolidating the charity's mission, communications network and community outreach programs.
"We're pleased to welcome Phil, whose knowledge of the travel industry coupled with his business and not-for-profit experience will greatly benefit Hope Air and its clients," commented Doug Keller-Hobson, Hope Air's Executive Director.
Hope Air has provided more than 60 000 flights to Canadians in need over its 24 years of existence thanks to the generous support of individuals and corporations including, but not limited to, WestJet, Air Canada, Bearskin Airlines, Central Mountain Air, Hawkair, Pacific Coast Airlines, Harbour Air Seaplanes, Air North, First Air, Canadian North, Swanberg Air Inc., and HeliJet, respectively.
For more information on taking part in Hope Air's volunteer programs, visit www.hopeair.org.
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About Independent Agency Services Corp. (IAS)
Since 1994, Independent Agency Services Corp. (IAS) has been the back-office services provider of choice to the most innovative companies in the travel industry. With its unique combination of management, technology, marketing, training, accounting and quality control solutions, IAS helps travel organizations provide top-notch services worldwide. More information is available at www.iascorp.ca.
About Hope Air
Hope Air provides a beacon of Hope for Canadians in financial need who must travel to non-emergency medical care outside their home communities. Many of the charity’s flights are for children and their escorts with transportation donated by national and regional airline partners and a team of volunteer private pilots who contribute their time and aircraft. More information is available at www.hopeair.org.
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WINNIPEG, CANADA – Travel Professionals International (TPI), Canada’s largest network of independent travel consultants, held its 2010 Annual Conference, "Action! Take, lead, and inspire in 2010", in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, 18-21 April 2010. Over 165 Associates, industry partners, and TPI staff members took part in educational, networking, and volunteer events as part of the conference at the RIU Palace Punta Cana. A further contingent of over 100 Associates took part in TPI’s second ever “Domestic Edition” of the annual conference – a live webinar broadcast from TPI's Winnipeg Head Office that took place concurrently with opening day events in the Dominican Republic.
The theme of the conference, "Action! Take, lead and inspire in 2010", engaged attendees to take charge of their professional lives, be leaders in the industry and their communities, and inspire and be inspired through awareness, networking, and volunteerism.
Keynote speaker and 35-year industry veteran, Joanie Ogg, kicked off this message while imparting best-practices for being a productive and successful independent travel consultant.
TPI President, Phil Sproul, continued on the theme while speaking to attendees about taking control of their relevance in a world of exponential change. Sharing TPI's corporate strategy for remaining relevant within the industry, Sproul outlined the importance of understanding industry consolidation and preferred partnerships. He went on to specifically address how Associates' and TPI's corporate relevance with consumers and communities will focus heavily on specialized training and marketing plans and programs, the latest in technological advancements, and becoming more involved in volunteerism and charitable organizations.
Sproul congratulated the assembled Associates on their success and noted that in addition to double-digit travel sales growth for its fiscal year 2009, TPI's overall travel sales were up 14% and travel commissions were up 19% for its fiscal year-to-date 2010, with the largest area of growth being cruise vacation sales (up 35%). He noted the growing desire among consumers and agents for FIT and dynamic packaging, and the impact that has had on TPI's segmented travel sales, with car rental sales up 46% and hotel sales up 25%.
Encouraging Associates to be leaders in their fields, delegates were given the opportunity to complete their Certified Travel Counsellor and Certified Sandals Specialist designations during the conference, with 20 Associates completing their CITC designations during the conference.
Inspiring volunteerism, Associates took part in a volunteer excursion that included an opportunity to visit elementary school children, tour a local village and Dominican home, and visit a coffee and chocolate plantation.
At the "Our Stars are Out" Gala Awards, Associate and supplier successes were highlighted, including but not limited to Transat Holidays which took home the "Agents' Choice Award" as voted by TPI's Associates during the 2009 TPI Annual Associate Survey, December 2009.
"Action! Take, lead, and inspire in 2010" was generously sponsored by TPI Preferred Partners, including the Thomas Cook Group of Companies, RBC Insurance, Transat Holidays, WestJet, Trafalgar Tours, Royal Caribbean International, Sandals & Beaches, AMA Waterways, GAP Adventures, Alio, Air Canada Vacations, Holland America, Cruise Strategies, hotelconnect, SuperClubs, Sol Melia, Princess Cruises, and Carnival Cruises, respectively.
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For over fifteen years, Travel Professionals International (TPI) has been the premier provider of outsourced travel solutions to independent travel agents and agencies. Backed by a head office support system with over forty highly skilled travel professionals, a world-class reservation system, and excellent supplier relationships, over 700 TPI Associates are ready and available to provide full-service travel solutions. More information is available at www.tpi.ca. TPI - We'll Take You There
TPI’s 15th Anniversary celebrations are well underway for the fifteen months from May 2009 onward and include special incentives and prizes each month for TPI’s partners – staff, suppliers/industry partners, associates, and consumers, respectively. In celebration of its fifteen years, TPI has released a video telling its story as well as sending well-wishes from preferred partners and team members: www.tpi.ca/fifteenth.asp.
TPI is a member of the I.A.S. - Independent Agency Services Corp. group of companies. www.iascorp.ca
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WINNIPEG, CANADA – Travel Professionals International (TPI), Canada’s largest network of independent travel consultants, today announces the details of its forthcoming 2010 TPI Annual Conference, 18-22 April 2010, at the RIU Palace Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
The theme of the conference, Action! 2010, Take, lead and inspire, engages the over 100 registered delegates to take home great ideas, be leaders in the industry, and be inspired through awareness and networking opportunities.
Kicking off this message is keynote speaker and 35-year travel industry veteran Joanie Ogg who will be imparting expertise on working in an engaging and productive environment.
"Joanie's wealth of knowledge, specifically in the independent travel consultant market, is sure to inspire Associates to take action in 2010, bringing them much success as they grow their own travel businesses," said Melanie Carter, TPI's National Marketing Manager and Conference Chair.
Encouraging Associates to be leaders in their fields, delegates are being given the opportunity to complete their Certified Travel Counsellor and Certified Sandals Specialist designations during the conference. Technological education will take place in the form of sales workshops related to advancements in social media and the importance of using TPI's various customer relationship platforms to enhance communication and the customer experience.
Inspiring voluntourism, Associates will be taking part in a special volunteer exercise including an opportunity to help elementary school children, tour a local village and a Dominican home, and visit a coffee and chocolate plantation.
Associates will be able to take advantage of networking opportunities with over 20 preferred partner representatives along with numerous property site inspections.
The 2010 TPI Annual Conference is platinum-sponsored by the Thomas Cook Group of Companies and the RIU Palace Punta Cana.
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For over fifteen years, Travel Professionals International (TPI) has been the premier provider of outsourced travel solutions to independent travel agents and agencies. Backed by a head office support system with over forty highly skilled travel professionals, a world-class reservation system, and excellent supplier relationships, over 700 TPI Associates are ready and available to provide full-service travel solutions. More information is available at www.tpi.ca. TPI - We'll Take You There
TPI’s 15th Anniversary celebrations are well underway for the fifteen months from May 2009 onward and include special incentives and prizes each month for TPI’s partners – staff, suppliers/industry partners, associates, and consumers, respectively. In celebration of its fifteen years, TPI has released a video telling its story as well as sending well-wishes from preferred partners and team members: www.tpi.ca/fifteenth.asp.
TPI is a member of the I.A.S. - Independent Agency Services Corp. group of companies. www.iascorp.ca
WINNIPEG, CANADA – Travel Professionals International (TPI), Canada’s largest network of independent travel consultants, announces the details of its 2010 Club Velocity Trip - a yearly reward given to its top travel consultants and their invited guests as a thank you for their continued sales success and commitment to TPI through its exclusive Velocity travel consultant rewards program.
Previously taking top associates to Dunn's River, Jamaica, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and Barbados, TPI along with partners Celebrity Cruises and Air Canada Vacations will take top-tier Velocity travel consultants on a 10-day Mediterranean journey, including a 7-night cruise aboard the Celebrity Equinox, in September 2010. Upon arrival in Spain, associates will enjoy a guided tour of Barcelona before embarking on a luxurious cruise with ports of call in France, Italy, and Croatia.
"The Velocity trip is a reward I look forward to every year as it gives me time to network with my peers, preferred partners, and TPI staff in a relaxing and casual destination away from the busy day-to-day of the business," said Amanda Carter, a TPI Platinum-level Associate.
Built as both a motivational and incentive program, TPI Associates gain status in the various Velocity reward tiers through participation in TPI and TPI Preferred Partner functions (such as the TPI Annual Conference, Air Canada Vacations trainings, etc.), by receiving certifications and designations (such as those offered by CLIA, CITC, etc.), and by earning points through their yearly commission volumes.
In return for their acceptance into the various Velocity reward levels, Associates have access to such rewards as higher commission levels, and complimentary registration in a variety of TPI programs (such as the TPI Annual Conference), among other rewards.
More details on TPI’s exclusive Velocity travel consultant rewards program can be found at www.velocitybytpi.ca.
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For over fifteen years, Travel Professionals International (TPI) has been the premier provider of outsourced travel solutions to independent travel agents and agencies. Backed by a head office support system with over forty highly skilled travel professionals, a world-class reservation system, and excellent supplier relationships, over 700 TPI Associates are ready and available to provide full-service travel solutions. More information is available at www.tpi.ca. TPI - We'll Take You There
TPI’s 15th Anniversary celebrations are well underway for the fifteen months from May 2009 onward and include special incentives and prizes each month for TPI’s partners – staff, suppliers/industry partners, associates, and consumers, respectively. In celebration of its fifteen years, TPI has released a video telling its story as well as sending well-wishes from preferred partners and team members: www.tpi.ca/fifteenth.asp.
WINNIPEG, CANADA – Travel Professionals International (TPI), Canada’s largest network of independent travel consultants, has released the results of its 2009 Annual Associate Survey.
As one of the largest single measures of how TPI services rate year-on-year with agents, the survey gives important measurable insight into how the performance of TPI's support offerings matches up with agent expectations.
Consisting of 45 multiple choice questions, the survey is an added opportunity for Associates to rate areas of TPI including each operational department’s program offerings and customer service, as well as each of TPI’s preferred partners.
The voluntary survey was submitted by 230 TPI Associates during December 2009. Ratings for the survey are based on a scale of 1.0 to 5.0, where 1.0 is defined as "Strongly Disagree" and 5.0 is defined as “Strongly Agree”.
Samples of responses from all who participated in the survey include:
“Overall, I am satisfied and happy to be working with TPI.” received a grade of 4.5 out of 5.0.
- Up from 4.4 out of 5.0 in 2008.
- Up from 4.4 out of 5.0 in 2007.
“I would highly recommend being a TPI Associate to family and friends interested in the travel industry.” received a grade of 4.4 out of 5.0.
- Up from 4.3 out of 5.0 in 2008.
- Up from 4.3 out of 5.0 in 2007.
Following the release of the survey results, individual department managers and their teams are tasked with ensuring that the results of the survey are reviewed and appropriate adjustments made.
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For over fifteen years, Travel Professionals International (TPI) has been the premier provider of outsourced travel solutions to independent travel agents and agencies. Backed by a head office support system with over forty highly skilled travel professionals, a world-class reservation system, and excellent supplier relationships, over 700 TPI Associates are ready and available to provide full-service travel solutions. More information is available at www.tpi.ca. TPI - We'll Take You There
TPI’s 15th Anniversary celebrations are well underway for the fifteen months from May 2009 onward and include special incentives and prizes each month for TPI’s partners – staff, suppliers/industry partners, associates, and consumers, respectively. In celebration of its fifteen years, TPI has released a video telling its story as well as sending well-wishes from preferred partners and team members: www.tpi.ca/fifteenth.asp.
WINNIPEG, CANADA – Following four record-breaking years for its exclusive Velocity agent rewards program, Travel Professionals International (TPI), Canada’s largest network of independent travel consultants, continues the trend with the release of the 2010 Velocity results.
Highlights of the recently announced Velocity year include:
- An increase to 268 participating Associates for the 2010 reward year, up 3% from 260 Associates for the 2009 reward year, and
- The number of Associates in the three highest tier levels of the program (Platinum, Diamond, and Elite) increasing by 25% over the 2009 reward year results.
Built as both a motivational and incentive program, TPI Associates gain status in the various Velocity reward tiers through participation in TPI and TPI Preferred Partner functions (such as the TPI Annual Conference, Sunquest trainings, etc.), by receiving certifications and designations (such as those offered by CLIA, CITC, etc.), and by earning points through their yearly commission volumes.
In return for their acceptance into the various Velocity reward levels, Associates have access to such rewards as higher commission levels, complimentary registration in a variety of TPI programs (such as the TPI Annual Conference), and a complimentary land and air package for the Associate and a guest on the annual ultra-exclusive Club Velocity trip – with previous reward trips taking Associates and their guests to Jamaica and Barbados.
More details on TPI’s exclusive Velocity agent rewards program can be found at www.tpi.ca.
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For over fifteen years, Travel Professionals International (TPI) has been the premier provider of outsourced travel solutions to independent travel agents and agencies. Backed by a head office support system with over forty highly skilled travel professionals, a world-class reservation system, and excellent supplier relationships, over 700 TPI Associates are ready and available to provide full-service travel solutions. More information is available at www.tpi.ca. TPI - We'll Take You There
TPI’s 15th Anniversary celebrations are well underway for the fifteen months from May 2009 onward and include special incentives and prizes each month for TPI’s partners – staff, suppliers/industry partners, associates, and consumers, respectively. In celebration of its fifteen years, TPI has released a video telling its story as well as sending well-wishes from preferred partners and team members: www.tpi.ca/fifteenth.asp.
WINNIPEG, CANADA – Travel Professionals International (TPI), Canada’s largest network of independent travel consultants, has wrapped up its 2009 Fall Regionals – an annual series of seminars from coast-to-coast that provide education and networking opportunities for its agents.
The 2009 edition of the annual event brought together over 230 TPI Associates from across Canada for day-long events highlighting advancements in TPI’s program offerings, preferred partner product updates, and educational opportunities including keynote training by Duncan Macintosh. Sponsored by Air Canada Vacations, Macintosh’s keynote taught agents the importance of each component in the sales process and need-to-know points essential to selling top destinations with confidence.
Networking opportunities with peers, TPI head office staff, and preferred partners were plentiful during the breakfast, lunch, cocktail hour, and successful trade show portions of the day’s agenda.
TPI’s 2009 Fall Regionals were held in Moose Jaw, SK; Edmonton, AB; Calgary, AB; Vancouver, BC; Toronto, ON; Halifax, NS; St. John’s, NL; and Winnipeg, MB.
The 2009 TPI Fall Regionals were generously Platinum-sponsored by, TPI preferred partners, Air Canada Vacations, Princess Cruises, Thomas Cook Group, and Transat Holidays. Gold sponsors included RBC Insurance, Royal Caribbean International, Sandals & Beaches, Signature Vacations, and WestJet Vacations. Silver sponsors included Insight Vacations, Goway, Hotel Connect, Silk Holidays, Tourcan, and Trafalgar Tours.
More information on Duncan Macintosh can be found at www.duncanmacintosh.com
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For over fifteen years, Travel Professionals International (TPI) has been the premier provider of outsourced travel solutions to independent travel agents and agencies. Backed by a head office support system with over forty highly skilled travel professionals, a world-class reservation system, and excellent supplier relationships, over 700 TPI Associates are ready and available to provide full-service travel solutions. More information is available at www.tpi.ca. TPI - We'll Take You There
TPI’s 15th Anniversary celebrations are well underway for the fifteen months from May 2009 onward and include special incentives and prizes each month for TPI’s partners – staff, suppliers/industry partners, associates, and consumers, respectively. In celebration of its fifteen years, TPI has released a video telling its story as well as sending well-wishes from preferred partners and team members: www.tpi.ca/fifteenth.asp.
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