Canadian Agents Should Focus on Canada, Virtuoso Study Suggests

LAS VEGAS - Canadian agents who want to maximize their bookings should think about trips close to home this fall and winter.

A study from Virtuoso revealed during Virtuoso Travel Week here in Nevada finds that Canada is the number one destination for Canadians looking to travel this autumn and over the winter.

Number two is Mexico, a perennial favourite, followed by Italy, also a country you’d expect to see near the top of the list. Occupying the fourth spot is Australia, followed by the UK, the United States, Japan, Chile, Ireland and The Netherlands.

“Always strong for summer travel, Europe’s allure extends into the fall, with four countries placing on the list,” Virtuoso officials noted. “Australia, perennially fashionable for families and adventure travellers, is a compelling choice for seasonality, as it heads into its spring and summer.”

Toronto-based Virtuoso advisor/agent Wendy Davis of Zebrano Travel told a panel at Virtuoso Travel Week that she’s getting a lot of requests for Portugal, as well.

Officials also released a list of where American clients want to go in the coming fall and winter. Here’s what they came up with: 1. Italy, 2. France, 3. South Africa, 4. Israel, 5. Germany, 6. Japan, 7. Greece, 8. USA, 9. New Zealand, 10. Switzerland.

Notice the only three countries that made both countries’ top 10 are the USA, Italy and Japan. I don’t know about you, but that surprises me.

Virtuoso clients in the US clearly have different tastes than those in Canada, which I think is a great argument for tourism boards having Canadian representation and Canadian offices and outreach.

One of the great things about Virtuoso Travel Week is you get to meet with all sorts of folks. On Monday morning I attended an Accor Hotels breakfast, where I learned that Accor, once it acquires Movenpick Hotels next month, will be the number one hotel group in Europe, South America, Africa, The Middle East and Asia (excluding China). I didn’t know that.

Accor is expanding around the world, with new Fairmont properties and also new hotels under the MGallery by Sofitel brand, a result of the company acquiring the artsy, boutique 21C hotel chain in the United States.

Journalists on Monday also were treated to a rehearsal/demonstration of a new production that will be featured on the new Celebrity Edge cruise ship, which looks like nothing else on the ocean that I’ve seen. Several cast members from a production called The Jewelry Box put on a fantastic show at The Bellagio Hotel on Monday, wowing the crowd with wonderful singing and dancing.

Celebrity Edge will feature unique “infinite verandas” that have floor to ceiling glass that can be tucked/rolled out of sight, thus providing 23 per cent more space, Celebrity Senior Vice President Hotel Operations Brian Abel told TravelPulse Canada in an interview.

Bathrooms will be bigger than most ships, as well. Ninety nine per cent of staterooms will have king-sized beds, too.

Celebrity Edge is being given its finishing touches and will be delivered in November of this year. The first cruises for the public will take place in December.

Abel also said Celebrity is spending $500 million to renovate the other ships in its fleet. They’re also building a small ship that’s designed specifically to service the Galapagos Islands; the first of its kind.