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 SHEILA
GALLANT-HALLORAN
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Executive Producer, and Luxury Travel Advisor
Contact me to arrange your complimentary consultation. www.lushlife.ca
sheila.gh@visiontravel.ca
613-837-0699
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Last weekend, I was in Toronto to attend the Power of Vision.
Power of Vision is my host agency's annual networking and professional development weekend. The top sales performers of Vision/ Direct Travel's over 400 advisors across Canada are feted and celebrated, and meet with the top travel suppliers so we can build relationships and learn more for our clients.
It was wonderful for me to be recognized in the 100 club at Power of Vision in Toronto this past weekend for being a top sales performer. I love what I do - helping clients travel the world is an honour.
But, besides the lovely trophy, the most important thing about going to this event, and the most important thing about being away from my family and office for 3 days, is the opportunity to learn what's new in the world of travel, and learn how I can leverage the terrific relationships I have with partners like Lindblad Expeditions, Tauck Tours, Big Five Tours, Uniworld, AMA, Regent, Crystal, Silversea, Intrepid, Exodus, Rocky Mountaineer, and
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How to Travel Solo But Not Alone
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I had an informal gathering at All Saints Event Space on Wednesday - more informal than planned given an unexpected day spent at CHEO with my 13 year old (all turned out well).
We had a circle chat about experiences and why people travel solo. It was nice to meet some new people, and learn about the style of travel that interested them. There were folks with a range of experiences - from backpackers to those looking for escorted small groups to those who are trying to dip their toe in the water and do some cruising.
Folks come to travel solo for all kinds of reasons - sometimes it's a life choice to be single, other times it's a life circumstance because of divorce or death of a partner, and still other times it may be that you have a travel partner (whether a spouse or a friend) who just doesn't have the same interests you do - or - maybe they don't have the same money, time, freedom from responsibility. Another emerging bucket of solo travelers is stressed out moms (or dads too, I guess) looking
for a mom-cation . Sometimes, there's been a loss of a family member or a loss of a job.
Travel is the best therapy - whatever the 'problem' is that you are trying to solve.
I work with clients to help them travel solo, and to manage the costs, in 4 ways:
1.) I help them manage the solo supplement - I track companies that are reducing the solo supplement from the full 100% to lower amounts (some waive completely, some reduce to 10-25%, and some reduce to 50%).
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Virtuoso VIP Client Event
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I had two trips to Toronto this week. The second trip was to attend a Virtuoso VIP Client Event (by invitation only) that allowed the top 25 Virtuoso travel advisors out of Ontario to invite 4 clients. The idea being that the top 100 travelers in Toronto would get feted, and be able to learn about top Virtuoso suppliers so they could gather bucket list travel ideas.
I was fortunate. I was able to invite 8. (Again, being a top sales performer gives me some extra perks.). As this was the premiere event for Virtuoso to try this set up in Toronto (with another following in Halifax, and Vancouver), I knew I wanted to be there - even if the lovely location (Bayview Golf and Country Club) wasn't close for me to fly into Pearson Airport or take the train to Union Station. So, I took another couple of days away from the office on an already busy week to
jump in t he car to drive from Ottawa.
It was a last minute plan on my part (which I only learned about while I was riding the Rocky Mountaineer last week), but I'm so glad that I was able to attend, and that 8 of my top clients did too - especially the night before the start of Thanksgiving weekend.
There were 15 Virtuoso travel partners offering tremendous perks for the clients who attended. My 8 clients got to tour the 'trade show' set up; and then sit in on some 10 minute presentations with top Virtuoso partners like :
1. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises,
2. AMA Waterways,
3. Avalon Waterways,
4. Regent Seven Seas Cruises,
5. Oceania Cruises,
6. Azamara Club Cruises,
7. Windstar Cruises,
8. Quark Expeditions,
9. African Travel,
10. Insight Luxury Gold Tours,
11. American Queen River Cruises,
12. Celebrity Expedition cruises,
13. Rocky Mountaineer,
14. Barbados Tourism, and
15. Maybourne Hotels.
There were oodles of my clients who were interested in attending, but they were already traveling, or celebrating Thanksgiving early. So, I was really pleased to have the 8 clients who came be able to make time in their busy schedules. I'll be following up with those 8, of course - but - as a top Virtuoso advisor, I'm working on swinging whether I can extend the in person offers to my entire client circle. I'm definitely won't be allowed to share it on facebook or other social media, so
if I can share, it will be via closed email list. So, if you're interested in travel with any of these 15 Virtuoso travel suppliers, please let me know.
And, of course, if you'd be interested in any future such Virtuoso VIP Client events, please let me know too. I'm sure this successful premiere event will have a follow up!
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Verified Virtuoso Client Testimonials
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I love getting client reviews. Such as this one. (Thanks, Jane!)
Sicily
By: Jane
Reviewed on: 22 Apr 2019
We've worked with Sheila before and found her to be very helpful with our travel arrangements.
Travel end date: 15 Apr 2019
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Virtuoso Adventure Download
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I invite you to download this Virtuoso adventure publication
Virtuoso Traveler focuses on welcoming new travelers to the world of Virtuoso. It offers a mix of special travel opportunities, insider tips, and expert advice readers can only get from Virtuoso.
October 2019 publication: CHEERS TO THAT!
Buzzworthy travels across the US!
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Click to Enjoy Your Digital Copy
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Egypt is hot! (Literally and figuratively.) It's back as a travel destination.
There are many ways to travel to Egypt - and I certainly work with a range of travel providers from moderate to luxury. Here is one special offer of a 2-for-1 with one of my travel partners. Nov.16-28, 2019
This is a small escorted group. You can visit the incredible Pyramids of Giza, relax on a felucca as you cruise down the Nile and discover the ancient wonders of Aswan and Luxor, before spending a few days by the beautiful Red Sea in Hurghada. This is Egypt at its best in 13 wonderful days. (Does not include air.)
Send me a note to book.
sheila@lushlife.ca
613-837-0699
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Further Details
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Cruises I'm Working on this Week
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I work on many cruises each week. I thought it'd be interesting to share with you where some of my clients are going - maybe it might inspire you to plan a trip. Lemme know if you'd like to chat.
Here are a few of examples:
1.) Viking River Cruise - a couple is looking at Pyramids and Pharaohs on the Nile
2.) Windstar Cruise - a couple looking to do a Monte Carlo getaway
3.) Uniworld Cruise - a couple looking at doing a Russian river cruise
4.) Quark Expeditions - a couple looking at doing a Greenland cruise
5.) Lindblad Expeditions - a couple looking at doing a Norway expedition
Let me know if either of these interest you, and you'd like to go!
⬇️⬇️⬇️
sheila@lushlife.ca
613-837-0699
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Land Tours I'm Working on this Week
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I work on many land tours each week too. I thought it'd be interesting to share with you where some of my clients are going - maybe it might inspire you to plan a trip. Lemme know if you wanna go.
Here are a few examples:
1.) Costa Rica - a family is doing a Tauck Bridges trip to Costa Rica during March break
2.) Napa Valley - a girls getaway with Backroads to cycle Napa Valley
3.) Prosecco Walking - a girls getaway to do a Prosecco walking and wine tour
4.) Ireland - a customized trip to Ireland for a couple with some walking and food tours added, as well as private car and driver
5.) Australia - a hotel package for a family doing an independent tour of Perth
Let me know if either of these interest you, and you'd like to go!
⬇️⬇️⬇️
sheila@lushlife.ca
613-837-0699
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A SPOT HAS OPENED
Dashing through the Danube River Cruise for 2019 Christmas Markets
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We just had a suite open on our previously SOLD OUT Dashing through the Danube. Let me know if you'd like to join us!
We're sailing December 6, 2019 river cruise -Dashing through the Danube with Shepherd's Fashions, CityLine's Lynn Spence, Live Smart's Kathy Smart, and Inspiration in Action's Kathie Donovan.
Suite 211 is now available. (We are reclaiming space that someone not in our group had booed.)
Kindly note - the bed can be separated into two twins (only the suites can separate without the partition).
Pricing:
Single – C$6635.30
Double – C$4409.30 per person
This does not include alcohol, air, pre or post cruise, transfers, etc.
Full details on the website. See
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Check out the updated link
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Contact Sheila at sheila@lushlife.ca call 613-837-0699.
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Sincerely, 
Sheila Gallant-Halloran
Vision Travel/ Lush Life
sheila.gh@visiontravel.ca
613-837-0699
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