ACV DreamMakers tour kicks off in Calgary

A new city and a new venue marked the kick-off for Air Canada Vacations' (ACV) fifth annual ACVDreamMakers Tour.

More than 350 travel agents and 45 travel partners flocked to the Telus Convention Centre in Calgary yesterday (Sept. 10) to celebrate the new Sun Brochure 2019/2020 Collection.

READ MORE: ACV's 2019/2020 Sun Collection adds 63 new hotels

Dana Gain, senior director, sales, groups & partnerships welcomed the change. 

“In previous years, we have always started our launch in Vancouver," Gain said. "Yet in the last two years, Calgary had the best energy of all our product launches in all cities. So this year, we wanted to start with that energy from Calgary to kick off the product launch tour."

“First and foremost in ACV style, this event is to thank the travel agents for their support," added Marigold Frontuna, general manager sales, Western Canada. "Our success is not possible without them and their success is our success. We’ve got some new updates coming up that we're excited to share, which will be great selling tools not only for customers but to help motivate agents to support ACV this winter.”

New resources for agents

As a part of the digital transformation process, ACV launched an enhanced website to increase distribution and flexibility, with plans to launch a travel agent portal website in the next phase.

Launched this week is the ACV Inner Circle, a private Facebook group for travel agents as another tool for direct communication between ACV and the agent community.

A new groups guide is available to highlight the key benefits of booking groups with ACV, including a minimum of ten passengers, and a group price match offer. As an added incentive to book groups, a free air seat giveaway promotion is in effect for agents to receive free air seats with group bookings.

The enhanced ACV & Me Loyalty Program will be in effect on Nov. 1, 2019. The program will provide more opportunities to earn points, including land-only and cruise-only bookings as well as instant redemption with added choice from 28 redemption partners.

New program for home-based agents

The ACV@Home Program is specifically geared towards host agencies and home-based agents. The program will offer unique opportunities for learning and training, FAM trip opportunities, local BDM support, marketing tools and brochure delivery to homes.

And for the first time, ACV is presenting regional awards to travel agent partners to recognize their success. In Calgary, awards were presented to the following travel agencies:

• 2019 Western Groups – Agent (Alberta): Courtenay McKinnon, AMA Travel
• 2019 Western Regional – Diversification Partner (Alberta): AMA Travel 42nd Ave Edmonton
• 2019 Western Regional – Partner Award (Alberta): Flight Centre Associates

“The main message from ACV is that we heard you and we’re providing you with what you want," Gain concluded. "This is our effort to demonstrate to the travel agent community that we are easier to do business with, we are listening and we’re taking your feedback and doing something about it. We’re paying close attention and there is much more coming.”

The ACVDreamMakers tour continues in Vancouver and Halifax this week before heading to Montreal and concluding in Toronto next week.

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