More than 500 agents. Sixty vendors. And dozens of happy prize winners.

WestJet held its fifth annual Travel Trade Expo at the International Centre in Mississauga on Wednesday night, delighting agents with outstanding prizes and doling out updates on WestJet’s expansion plans and shiny new planes.

Vendors from some of the world’s top hotel groups, along with representatives of such destinations as Jamaica, Barbados, Mexico and Florida, chatted with a group of hand-picked agents for 90 minutes and nibbled on pasta, Italian cheeses and other treats. That was followed by a fine presentation from Jane Clementino, Director, Agency Sales and Kim Barbisan of the WestJet sales team.

Clementino said WestJet has made remarkable strides as it moves from an economy airline with a single type of plane to major international carrier with a full-on business class that now flies Boeing 787 Dreamliners and other new aircraft.

“We’re adding complexity to the market, which is good for agents,” Clementino said. “We have new destinations and more partnerships.”

“We love the trade,” she told agents between bouts of handing out prizes, including WestJet gift certificates, free flights and vacation stays ranging from three to seven nights in some of the airline’s most beautiful destinations. “We need more product to compete with the red guys, but by this time next year the shelf will be full.”

Clementino said rough financial waters in Canada have made things tricky for an airline that made its name as the fun, casual flying choice.

“We’re the same caring brand but we have to make to some tough decisions.”

With the emphasis on attracting high-paying business travellers, Clementino said regular WestJet fliers might notice the corny jokes from flight attendants are being pushed aside.

“But we’ll still be fun and friendly,” she said. “Fun and kindness is what has made us successful. Now we want to take that overseas.”

WestJet’s first overseas 787 Dreamliner flight goes on 10 days; a trip from Calgary to London Gatwick on April 28.

Clementino said the 787 has 16 business class seats and 28 in premium economy, formerly WestJet “Plus.” There are 276 seats in economy, 63 of which have “preferred” seating designations.

The airline’s business class attendants have been given an extra three weeks of training, so they’ll know how to deal with frequent fliers at the front of the plane.

WestJet’s 787 business class features lie-flat seats, tons of space, large screen entertainment centres, meals on demand, French champagne on the wine list and even turn-down service.

“We’ll tuck you in, but we won’t read you a bedtime story,” she said with a laugh.

Another benefit for business class passengers on the 787 are Matt & Nat amenity kits, which are valued at $200.

Premium economy passengers on the Dreamliner also get terrific service and great wine and food, as well as extra room for those longer flights. There’s even a “self-serve social area” where passengers can mix and mingle.

“Forget the dating sites; just go hang out there,” Clementino quipped.

Passengers in economy on the 787 will get plush new seating, free meals and other benefits.

Clementino said WestJet makes an average of just $3.59 per seat sold, which is a remarkable figure. She also said it’s been rated Canada’s best airline for several years in a row and is the country’s most on-time carrier.

In addition to the new Calgary-London flight on the 787, Clementino said WestJet will begin flights between Toronto and Barcelona late in May, which marks the airline’s first foray into Spain.

She also said WestJet Vacations’ sun destination capacity is up 10 to 15% and that WJ wants to grow its Canadian destinations and Canadian product.

Clementino thanked the evening’s sponsors, including platinum sponsors Barbados and AM Resorts,.

Brian Joseph of AM Resorts talked about the company’s Reflect Brand, which is for travellers who want to get beyond the resort when they go on holidays. He also AM Resorts is adding a Secrets St. Martin in March of next year, with 258 rooms, as well as a NOW Emerald Cancun next June with 427 rooms.

TravelPulse Canada chatted with some destination folks and picked up a few nuggets. Rick McCauley of Barcelo Hotel Group said the new Barcelo Maya Riviera will have the largest convention centre in the area. The hotel opens in December of this year and the convention space next March.

The new Barceló Maya Riviera resort will be a luxurious escape for adult guests, offering, 850 spacious guest rooms (more than half with ocean views), hot tubs in all guestroom balconies, 110 swim-up suites and junior suites, five restaurants, and much more.

We also caught up with a representative of Serenity at Coconut Bay, which has 36 suites on the south end of Saint Lucia (just a few minutes from the international airport, which is a huge plus), all with plunge pools and butler service. It’s a five-star property billed as “Saint Lucia’s newest luxury suite resort” and has been rated number one in the country on Trip Advisor, I was told.

Sobeida Feliz of the Warwick Paradise Island Bahamas filled us in on her property, which is an all-inclusive, adults-only affair that’s quite different from many Paradise Island properties. It’s the only Warwick property in the Caribbean. The company has five hotels in the U.S. and 55 around the world.