Optimism for Travel Running High
Hiya, !
This week's Lush Life Travel newsletter will focus on:
1. Optimism for Travel Industry Running High
2. One Story - Renewing a Passport
3. Air Issues Continue
4. Virtuoso Life - Some Recent Issues & Newsletters
5. Extended to July 31st - Uniworld River Cruises- 2 for 1
6. The Body Holiday, St. Lucia - new date -Jan.29-Feb.5.23
7. Hotel Programs - Pearl Partner Oetker Program
8. Special Offers from Lush Life, Vision/ Direct, Virtuoso
Let me know if you'd like to schedule a complimentary consultation!
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1. Optimism for Travel Industry Running High
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Last week, I was proud to be a repeat guest on the podcast “Thanks for Asking”, hosted by Helen Nodland of Virtuoso Travel.
And this week I was interviewed by Travelweek, Canada's leading travel trade publication, about optimism for the travel industry.
GETTING CLIENTS TRAVELLING AGAIN
Asked about the biggest impediments to getting clients travelling right now, agents cite reasons ranging from perceptions about travel restrictions, to nervousness about airports, airplanes and the like, to lack of awareness about how relatively open travel has become.
Sheila Gallant-Halloran with Lush Life Travel in Ottawa says she’s fortunate to have many clients already travelling – or about to. “I have a client’s family finally headed to Kenya today for a bucket list trip that was cancelled twice before because of the pandemic; and have had multiple client couples and families do the Rocky Mountaineer, take Alaska cruises, go to Hawaii and
Costa Rica; visit Newfoundland, Vancouver, California, and Florida; head off to Italy, France, Greece, Portugal, Monaco, and Ireland; and take different European river cruises and small ship ocean cruises. Several more river cruises and an Iceland cruise coming up. And even some world cruises.”
Gallant-Halloran adds: “I think most of my clients are aware they can travel now – at least I’ve been preaching that in my weekly newsletter throughout the pandemic, and have certainly shared with clients every time there’s been a lessening of rules and regulations impacting Canadians’ travelling.
For those clients still hesitating, or not yet ready to travel – “and yes, I have whole swaths still in this camp” – Gallant-Halloran says it’s a combination of factors, including fear, and hesitancy after two years at home, insurance worries, continually changing entry, exit, and vaccination rules, and of course airport delays and congestion worldwide.
“There are things I can’t really help with though – like the inordinate delays to get passports, and the lineups they will encounter everywhere. But I am very upfront with my clients about these complications, and while I can guide them and give advice and recommendations, I have to let their stress level guide them,” she says.
To see the full article I was quoted in, and details on the the survey,
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2. One Story - Renewing a Passport
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So, I planned a mid-morning arrival, and was prepared with work I could do while waiting, along with magazines, my own folding chair. etc., along with proof of travel (which had to be shown to gain entry), and was surprised to be able to walk right in, finding many seats available and while the office was busy, it certainly wasn't the crazy I was expecting.
I got to the first wicket pretty quickly, and wicket attendant said he'd never been this short before. (Ottawa office doesn’t do queuing that Gatineau office does, so I guess each office is different. At Gatineau, they only take inside a week. At Ottawa, they take only applications with proof of travel within 45 days - they also post date windows and if you are outside that, you pay for expedited. See
photo.)
I got through to the next wicket for processing (after the first attendant had ensured I had everything required) only to have my daughter's passport photo rejected. It wasn't easy to find places still taking passport photos, and I thought I'd lucked out with the 3rd Walmart I'd tried being able to do it (Costco photo labs no longer do), but apparently not. I had to go collect my daughter and get
another photo (there's a photo lab in Ottawa's Meadowlands office strip mall), and queue up again.
So, other than the extra driving around because of a rejected photo, and having to queue up the 2nd time (which was WAY more busy in the afternoon when I returned), we got through the process pretty quickly, and was able to pay for pick up in two weeks. A new 10 year passport for $180.
So, if you need to renew a passport, check the wait queues posted online. And make sure you have all your paperwork and a very good quality passport photo when you go. (Two others in line behind me in the afternoon were returning with new photos - Walmart photos apparently had a bad day for getting rejected by passport officers.)
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The issues with air are continuing. Ugh.
At Toronto Pearson International Airport, more than half of the scheduled flights between May 26 and July 19 were delayed, according to data compiled for CNN Travel by flight tracking site FlightAware. Read more: https://bit.ly/3z6NBB8
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Here are some recent Virtuoso Life issues for you to peruse.
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5. Extended to July 31st
Uniworld River Cruises - 2 for 1
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If you're interested in sailing on the rivers, there is also a terrific offer from Uniworld with their friends and family sale.
2022 FRIENDS AND FAMILY SALE
Two-for-One for a limited time!
Share your passion for travel with the people you care about during our Friends & Family Sale. With fares on select 2022 sailings reduced by half for a short while only, you can book two guests for the price of one on our all-inclusive, luxury river cruises!
Offer expires July 31, 2022.
See https://www.uniworld.com/ca/current-offers/2022-friends-and-family-sale
Let me know if you'd like to go! There are 3 Christmas markets sailings included in this sale!
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6. The Body Holiday in St. Lucia
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Solo travelers - who wants to head to St. Lucia?
I am holding 10 rooms for solo travelers at The Body Holiday in St. Lucia, and starting to book them for clients.
I'm booking directly through the hotel, rather than book as a package with Air Canada Vacations, etc. (in that case, would have had air, transfers and all inclusive hotel wrapped in), because ACV could not guarantee my clients the solo room rates, nor could I get my clients the special Virtuoso perks I get (as a Virtuoso travel advisor) if I book directly with the
hotel.
The dates are Jan.29-Feb.5.23. 7-nights.
Standard Garden View– US$569.00 per night per room based on single occupancy. (Please note rooms are limited and is not guaranteed until booked.)
Virtuoso additional perks:
• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• $100 Resort Credit, per room, per stay
• Complimentary
o 50 minute treatment on departure day or arrival
o 30 minutes BodyScience or Nutrition & Lifestyle Consultation
o 30 minutes Fitness Session (stretch, beach fit, pole fitness, dance, tennis or golf lesson)
• Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Air would be additional.
As my partners at the resort have noted: Of course , it is an excellent time to be on island as weather is beyond sublime at that time of year with excellent sunshine in conjunction with Tradewinds cooling effect.
You can watch the presentation with Randall Jackson of The Body Holiday St. Lucia above that talks all about visiting St. Lucia, and this fantastic wellness getaway at The Body Holiday on a recent Travel Tuesday.
And one client asked some questions that I dug into with Randall. I thought Randall's answers were worth sharing.
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Q- are all the exercise options included, such as Pilates etc.- other than activities such as diving, sailing, etc. (it appears that a lot of the wellness options are add-ones.)
A – Good question and I get this all the time as it seems too good to be true. ALL of our classes (unless otherwise indicated) on the daily activity board (and in the weekly activity booklet) are included. In the PDF I sent, there is a slide which shows 3 samples of “daily activities” written in chalk. Daily, it equates to 4 activities per hour to choose from starting at
7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Totaling 40+ activities a day.
That said, we also offer certifications for Sailing and SCUBA. All guests are welcome to join for an inclusive consultation or introduction to SCUBA. If the guest wants to be certified during their stay there is a charge. Sailing works the same way.
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Q- if you wanted to start with the personalized assessment/plan with the health team what is the total cost (or breakdown of costs if there are various options). I note that there is a 30-minute consultation.
This too is a very good question. The consultation with the MD is included for every guest. There are several programs and or services under the BodyScience umbrella. The cost all depends on the recommendation for each individual guest and what their goal is. I.e. better aging, longer life, weight loss/nutrition, mobility ore overall wellness. Initial testing and services start around $1,500 and
go from there depending on scope, testing etc. This probably would require a conversation, in which, I would connect you and client to our in house MD once booked.
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Q- any other costs to be aware of (other than air and transport)
A -Actually there are not. The rates we quote are “all in” taxes, resort fees etc. Ground transport is it. For the record Shelia, on my last trip for 5 nights, I bought supplemental items in restaurants, freely like Fresh Susi grade tuna & Salmon platter in TAO ($25 USD). Just to see if I did “everything I desired regardless of cost” and my incidental bill was $150 at check out excluding
ground transport. My study combined with data reports I have access to on guest ancillary spend confirm. Our Ultra inclusive offerings satisfy our guests without the need to supplement.
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7. Hotel Programs - Pearl Partner Oetker program
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One of the things we love most about what we do is matching our clients tastes' with the greatest hotels in the world. And with our preferred status with these industry leading hotel brands it means our clients are instant VIP's with
upgrades and special perks that you only get working with an elite partner. So, not only do we have the best rates, but more importantly you get an exceptional experience over and above what you would booking direct or with a credit card.
Today, I'll share a little about the Pearl Partner Oetker program.
The Oetker Pearl Partner program is an exclusive, invitation-only network of high-end travel advisors from around the world. Thanks to our status as Pearl Partner, you enjoy special value-added benefits at all Oetker hotels and resorts worldwide.
Take advantage of the offers below, which include the Pearl Partner standardized amenities:
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One category room upgrade at time of booking, upon availability
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Allocation of best room in the category
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Personalized welcome amenity and note from the senior management
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Daily unlimited internet access for unlimited number of devices
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Priority access to courtesy car, when applicable
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Daily complimentary breakfast for 2, including buffets
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Spa or food & beverage credit of 85€ for each one-night stay; credit increased to 170€ for two-nights or more:
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Spa credit: Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa, Le Bristol Paris, Fregate Island Private, Jumby Bay Island
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Food & Beverage credit: Hotel du Cap, L’Apogée Courchevel, Château Saint-Martin, Eden Rock – St Barths, Palácio Tangará
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Food & Beverage or Spa credit: The Lanesborough
Let me know if you'd like to discuss a specific hotel stay.
For specific articles about why you should book with an advisor, rather than book by yourself, see here:
Why Wouldn't You Do It Yourself
Booking a Cruise Yourself vs With Advisor
Booking Hawaii Yourself vs Through Advisor
Booking Rocky Mountaineer Yourself vs With Advisor
Hotel Programs
Peninsula Fan Club
Rocco Forte Knights Program
The Belmond Bellini Club Program
Hotel Programs - Four Seasons Preferred
Dorchester Diamond Club
The Mandarin Oriental Fan Club
Marriott Stars & Luminous
The Couture by Langham
Accor Step & Fairmont
Luminous Hotel Program
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8. Some Special Travel Offers
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I run my boutique travel agency, Lush Life Travel, as an affiliate of Vision Travel. Vision Travel is a Direct Travel company, and one of the largest Virtuoso luxury travel network partners.
Here are some offers from partners of Lush/ Vision/ Direct travel as well as the Virtuoso luxury travel network. Here are some offers from a few of our favourite travel supplier partners.
Let me know if you are interested in taking advantage of any of these special offers.
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When You Work with Lush Life
When you work with Sheila at Lush Life Travel, you get access to our in-depth knowledge, honed over 17 years experience in travel (with another 20 years in financial services). Atop our foundation of financial risk
management skills; we have layered the bricks to build a wall of travel knowledge and relationships. We leverage all of our expertise to help you live your lush life through travel.
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Live a Lush Life - Travel!
Lush regards,
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