Open Jaw :: On The Town ::

with Bruce Parkinson
28NOV08

Insight's John Boulding and Doug Patterson flank Tourism Ireland's Jayne Shackleford

A Sears Travel gathering by the glittering Christmas Tree in Casa Loma's Great Hall, l-r: Quita Hayes, Sherway; Gillian Newell & Shannon Gasko, Upper Canada Mall; Mini Bedacha, Toronto Eaton Centre & Melanie Leko, Sherway.

Castles & Coaches With Insight Vacations

When you’ve just added castles, palaces and Moroccan riads to your touring accommodation menu, you can’t hold a product launch in a suburban banquet hall. Thus a Christmasy Casa Loma was the setting for the Toronto launch of Insight Vacations’ 2009 product lineup.

The 140 agents on hand enjoyed cocktails under the 70 foot oak-beamed ceiling in the Great Hall followed by a Mediterranean dinner in the library and entertainment by Robert Michaels, Canada’s foremost Spanish Flamenco style guitar player.

Spain is one of Insight’s leading destinations and its Flamenco culture is featured in a dramatic photo on the cover of Insight’s 2009 European Essentials brochure. Insight’s value brand has added several new tours with the promise of first class touring at affordable prices.

Insight’s flagship ‘Blue Book’ was also launched. The 2009 Europe & Britain Premium brochure features 80 different packages, including several additions to Insight’s Elegance tour series and stays in the abovementioned castles and palaces.

Insight Vacations CEO John Boulding entertained agents with his engaging presentation style, and the photo of his 6’6” frame sitting comfortably on an Insight coach made the perfect illustration for the extra legroom Insight offers with its maximum coach seating for 40. Boulding reminded agents that they are Insight’s exclusive distribution channel, and pointed out the average commission of $455 per person on an Insight booking.

A large contingent of Insight staffers were on hand to greet agents at the event, including Travel Corporation of Canada president Jeff Element, Insight Vacations Canada president Doug Patterson, recently added marketing manager Andrea Theophilos, business development managers Carla Brake and Heidi Schnitker, and representives from the reservations, groups and documents departments.