It was a sunny day in beautiful Budapest when a group of over 100 advisors from across Canada boarded the Avalon Passion on 28OCT, to participate ACTA’s second destination summit.
Over the next week the group will have the opportunity to experience some of Europe’s most charming cities before disembarking in Vilshoven, Germany 04NOV. Ports of call include Bratislava, Vienna, Krems, Linz and Passau.
The ship is stunning and the mood was upbeat as the group – a mix of seasoned cruisers and newbies to the industry – got to know each other over glasses of bubbly served in the sleek ship’s lounge. “We will entertain and host you, and you will experience all that your clients enjoy on Avalon,” ACTA President Wendy Paradis told the group. Certainly the Summit was a hot ticket with over 400 advisors vying for the coveted spots. As well as shore excursions, the group will be participating in a series of PD sessions on board.
And what are advisors looking forward to over the next few days? Sarah Berry of Emerald Escapes Travel in Nova Scotia – not just a first-time river cruiser, but experiencing Europe for the first time – told Open Jaw she’s looking forward to learning all that she can from ACTA and the Globus family of brands, of which Avalon is part. A sizeable group of Globus staffers are also on board.
France Cloutier of Transat Travel in Quebec City, another first time river cruiser, says she already has a group back home waiting for her insights. She loves the ship – especially the beds facing the floor-to-ceiling windows in the staterooms.
As I write this, the group is preparing for the first of their shore excursions (which are included on Avalon). Some will be on a city walking tour, others biking, others munching their way through a guided foodie tour. The sun is shining brightly and the buzz is palpable!
