BLUE DANUBE

Open Jaw Sets Sail for ACTA Summit On Avalon Waterways

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.

Sarah Berry and Melissa Johnson of Kaleidoscope Travel in Saskatchewan

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.

Avalon Passion. Martha Chapman Photo

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.

The impressive and welcoming Globus team. Martha Chapman Photo

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.

Along the Danube

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!

Martha Chapman

Contributor

A contributor to Open Jaw since 2006 - and known to all in the business - Martha has worked in the travel industry all of her career and covers events, destinations, personalities and issues in the travel world.

You may also like
WestJet Becomes Official Airline of Northern Super League
The Northern Super League proudly announced WestJet as the Official Airline of Canada's first professional women's soccer league and all six ...
BermudAir Announces Montreal Service, Adds Eastern U.S.
BermudAir will begin flights between Bermuda and three new cities this spring: Montreal, Providence, Rhode Island and Richmond, Virginia.
WestJet Granted Licenses for Code Shares to Africa, Maldives
WestJet requested and was granted licenses by the Canadian Transportation Agency for code shares to Nigeria, South Africa and the Maldives.
Canadian Demand at “All Time High” as Intrepid Logs Record January
Intrepid Travel reports a 61% increase in Canadian bookings for January 2025, higher than U.S. counterpart.
ACTA Publishes Yearly Event Schedule
ACTA has issued its 2025 events roster with more details to come.

Talk Back! Post a comment: