The partnership between Air Canada and Sandals Resorts is robust, Air Canada Vacations is the only tour operator to offer flights to every Sandals and Beaches resort.
They’ve also been flying to Jamaica for 75 years; offering year-round service from Toronto to Montego Bay and Kingston and adding seasonal service from Montreal.
“For over 40 years, we’ve had a wonderful relationship with Sandals and Beaches resorts. We enjoy a robust working relationship, and that’s a relationship that really is built on common strengths and common clientele.
Our model has always been, you build them, we’ll fly the passengers to you. We will keep building, keep growing, and we will continue to add the seats where needed.”
The partnership with Sandals is clearly a solid one. But it’s also an example of the importance of relationships in this business – especially when it comes to on the front lines with travel agents.
Sandals was the title sponsor at ACV’s product launch roadshows which took place across the country with over 3,000 travel agents in attendance. When Adam Stewart took to the stage in a surprise appearance in Toronto, all 1,000 agents gave a standing ovation. Stewart has been an advocate for the industry and of his home country of Jamaica, perhaps a perfect embodiment in itself of the Jamaica Love motto.
TravelPulse Canada attended the Sandals Jamaica Love Showcase earlier this month in Montego Bay. During check-in at Sandals Montego Bay, we had a casual conversation with Nino Montagnese, VP Air Canada Vacations, who was excited about recent Sandals sales. They are up dramatically; sales have broken Sandals’ 20 year record which Montagnese largely attributes to their travel agents.
“We can supply the product and educate, but it truly comes down to our agents and the strengths of our sales team in supporting agents. We couldn’t do it without them, they are a crucial part of our success at ACV.”
(Photo Credit: Lorna Cooper)
Lorna Cooper, a travel agent at Plan-it Travel who attended the event in Montego Bay is one of those agents.
“Sandals invests in and appreciates the value and expertise travel advisors have in selling and promoting the brand which is why the relationship is so strong between Sandals and TA’s,” she says.
“I was especially proud to be represented by Flemming (Friisdahl) and the Travel Agent Next Door and Air Canada Vacations as a Canadian travel advisor. It was a special event and an honor to be there.”
“When anyone is appreciated, they always do more and that is reciprocal on both ends in the Sandals and travel advisor relationship. It was refreshing and so appreciated to hear the gratitude that not only Sandals but Jamaica has for the travel advisor community.”
There’s an enthusiasm agents have for working with Sandals and ACV, at the event agents were greeting company representatives with the same enthusiasm you’d have seeing an old friend.
“The travel industry is no different from any other industry out there, it really is built on partnerships,” adds Montagnese. “And in a lot of cases, these partnerships have become friendships.”