TTG Features Caribbean 60
From left: Dennis Jackson, Lesley Clements and Gail O’Donohue, all from Travel Counsellors, snuggle up to a carnival skeleton
Time for carnival
W 44
ith a huge soca band and free-flowing rum, there was no missing Trinidad and Tobago
at the Caribbean Street Party at WTM. AMG took on the Trinidad & Tobago
Tourism Development Company account in September, and used WTM to give the trade a taste of what the tourist board has in store. “After the Caribbean street party,
the ExCeL security guards had to ask us to leave the building,” said Victoria Taylor, AMG’s sales and marketing manager. “We led a procession down the road from ExCeL to the restaurant for our party, and people were waving from their balconies!”
Since WTM, a sales team has been visiting agencies up and down the UK with rum punch, roti and flamboyant
01.12.2011 Trinidad Carnival comes to WTM
objectives of Trinidad and Tobago’s new government. The Magdalena Grand is a bold step, and setting a precedent on the island. Agents are going to see a lot of the other hotels upping their game,” she said.
Trinidad and Tobago is back – with a series of store visits and new online training. Philippa Jacks finds out all the latest on the trade push
costumes. “Trinidad Carnival is a real focus for us, so we thought we’d take carnival on the road, and get agents excited about Trinidad and Tobago,” Taylor explained. Initial visits have focussed on agencies with significant VFR business; the next wave will see smaller leisure agencies targeted. Taylor emphasised she was keen to
hear from any agency that would like to do training on the destination. “We’re never too busy, even if you’re not doing big numbers, or haven’t even sold it yet. If you’re interested, I’m interested,” she said. The country’s major product news is the launch of Magdalena Grand Beach Resort, formerly the Hilton Tobago, which is now government-owned. “Boosting tourism is one of the key
Bespoke approach As well as sales calls to individual agencies, Taylor is planning a large London and Manchester trade event. Taylor also confirmed that Trinidad and Tobago’s online training is to be relaunched with interactive sales support. Educational agent visits are in the pipeline, taking the form of smaller, more tailored trips. “We’re planning a bespoke approach,
offering training and marketing support that suits the needs of agents,” said Taylor. “Trinidad and Tobago is not a mainstream destination and our strategy won’t be mainstream either.”
SECONDS WITH...
PETER GRACE
regional sales director UK & Europe, Magdalena Grand Beach Resort
WHO WILL THE NEW RESORT SUIT? It’s an excellent all-rounder, with a fine beach. Golf, diving, tennis and bike hire make it perfect for active clients. It’s family-friendly but one of the pool is adults-only. We’ll promote it for weddings and honeymoons too. Tobago is less developed than some other Caribbean islands, so sell it to clients after something less commercial.
HOW HAS THE FORMER HILTON CHANGED? The hotel needed upgrading, so in the past few months we have spent $25 million upgrading the 178 rooms and 22 suites, and public areas.
WHY IS IT A SIGNIFICANT LAUNCH FOR TOBAGO? There hasn’t been a new beach- front hotel of this size for 10 years and there’s been real demand.
Joan Briscoe Gayle (left) and Donna Hackett, both New Look Travel, with a carnival dancer at WTM
HOW CAN AGENTS BOOK IT? The resort is in Virgin Holidays’ Caribbean brochure and Kuoni’s latest. Virgin is selling a week all-inclusive from £1,499. Hayes & Jarvis, Thomson and others will feature it too. There’ll be an online training course and an incentive competition for agents as well.
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