| Travel agents testing TCI at Beaches |
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| Thursday, 03 November 2011 15:08 | |||
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Hundreds of North American travel agents will be experiencing the Turks and Caicos Islands first hand this month, thanks to a unique partnership between Beaches Resorts Villages and Spa and its Miami based marketing arm, Unique Vacations Inc. During the month of November, Beaches will welcome hundreds of top-producing wholesalers and tour operators to its 3rd annual Mega Familiarization trip showcasing the TCI as an ideal vacation destination. The travel agent familiarization tour, also known as Mega Fam, has proved a whopping success for the resort, spearheaded and organized by Resort Sales Manager Tanya Swann. Last year the resort saw the arrival of more than 3,500 travel agents as well as significant increase in tourist traffic on the islands. Originally planned for September, the tour suffered a major setback with Hurricane Irene and the closing of the resort for renovations, according to Swann. The setback rerouted many agents to other Beaches and Sandals properties across the Caribbean. “We are delighted to announce that we were able to secure seven of the 20 Mega Fam tours for the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Swann said. The goal of the trip is not only to familiarize the agents with Beaches resort property, but “also to showcase our beautiful by nature Turks and Caicos as a premiere tourist destination,” Swann said. The tours not only promote the country with the agents, but also help to bring in some added tourist dollars during this slower season. “As evidenced throughout the islands, everybody is on a stand-still mode with the slow season, the income revenue for our taxi drivers, our local musicians and even our porters at the international airport are down, and our goal is to use Mega Fam to keep a steady income for local partners,” Departure Lounge Manager for the resort Michelle Parker explained. The Mega Fam experience includes a two-day familiarization process which commences with a welcome check-in session with local band Corey & the Boys, followed by a Sesame Street Parade with Kitch Penn’s We’funk Junkanoo band. Agents are also taken on a resort tour, visiting various room categories of each village and also experience a “dine-around” experience at specialty restaurants. Other entertainment includes a chocolate and martini buffet, Wet Fete festivities at Pirate Islands, and a fun night of dancing at the Liquids Night Club. Travel agents are flown to the island via North American Airlines on a Boeing 757 chartered by Sandals and Beaches Resorts International.
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