With travel agents now used to working from home through the pandemic, Air Canada Vacations is launching its Europe collection with a new digital platform.
The interactive design of Dream of Europe features images, video and editorial content including destination highlights and user-generated travel tips.
Digital brochures have failed in the past for the industry, but Air Canada Vacations Vice President, Nino Montagnese, believes the time is right to give advisors an interactive sales tool instead of physical brochures.
“Advisors today have been conditioned to do everything via digital options, including trade shows,” he told Open Jaw. “It’s easy and they can distribute to their entire customer list quickly while highlighting product they know their client is interested in. Also, the digital price does not bring customers back to our site to book. When agents use the trade link to email clients, they own the call to action.”
Dream of Europe covers 2021 and 2022. The collection features more than 40,000 hotels and 75 tour packages in eight countries.
Travel professionals can guide customers to destinations by sharing links of each tour package, allowing them to review the portfolio, plan trips and reach out when they’re ready to book.
“We’re always looking to provide our trade partners with innovative tools to inspire their customers,” said Montagnese. “This new platform is a digital solution to the physical gap created by the pandemic, giving agents the opportunity to entice their clients with dreams of Europe. Travel professionals can make our diverse collection come alive in an entirely new way for their customers and connect them to specific product offerings that match their individual needs.”
The Dream of Europe program features over 40,000 hotels and 75 tour packages in 8 countries, along with 18 itinerary choices to match various travel styles.
Travel Styles
Classic Europe packages provide itineraries which include activities and excursions that take travellers to the continent's most famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, the Sagrada Família.
Off the Beaten Path packages include Old World wonders through unique itineraries. These trips let independent travellers uncover Europe's hidden gems in lesser known villages and cities.
Luxury Travel packages in Greece, Ireland and Portugal include stays in luxury hotels, for consumers looking to travel in style.
Island Hopping allows customers to explore several Greek islands with seamless connections, hotels and excursions.
Book Early Bonus
Customers who book now for travel in late 2021 or 2022 benefit from free combined CareFlexPlus and CareFree protection plans. Including free seat selection, year-round Price Drop Guarantee, StormGuard, and a $50 waiver on administration change fees, these plans allow travellers to transfer their package, change their departure date, destination or hotel up to 7 days prior to departure, or cancel with a full refund up until 25 days prior to departure. Plus, travellers can take advantage of a reduced deposit of $50 per person when booking their 2021/2022 European escape through their favourite travel professional. Valid on bookings made between April 26 and June 30, 2021 for travel from July 1, 2021 to May 30, 2022. For more details, please visit Air Canada Vacations’ page.
Lower flight fares can be secured by booking a Rome or Athens package now for travel next year. Valid on bookings made between April 26 and June 30, 2021 for travel from June 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022.
COVID Coverage
The COVID-19 Coverage & Assistance Plan administered by Allianz Global Assistance is included with any flight and hotel-inclusive package (excluding cruise) for travel from May 1, 2021 to October 31, 2021. For more details, please visit Air Canada Vacations’ page.
Cruise
Air Canada Vacations’ Europe Cruise Offer is available for clients looking to see Europe by sea. If advisors find a lower price for a European cruise adventure, Air Canada Vacations will beat it by 10%. Valid for bookings made between April 26 and June 30, 2021 for travel from September 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022.
Europe Promise
The ‘Europe Promise’ offers an exchangeable deposit in the form of credit up to 45 days prior to departure, the ability to connect a clients’ Air Canada European flight from 54 Canadian airports starting at $49, and one free checked bag per person when booking with Air Canada Vacations.
ACV&ME
With the ACV&ME loyalty program, travel agents who book hotels and groups will receive 500 points per room for packages of 7 nights or more; 500 points per room for packages of 3 to 6 nights; 500 points per cabin when you book a Filght & Cruise package and 200 points per cabin when booking a cruise only, and on every 3 to 7 nights hotel-only, and 300 points per passenger for Group bookings.
