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Become a Collette Specialist
Designed with travel professionals like you in mind, our e-Learning program has one purpose – to help you earn more and travel more. Collette’s agent e-learning program (Collette University) has been updated with a new course and increased incentives. This year Collette Specialists GET MORE:
For Agent:
- 50% off Land** and 10% off Air**
- $20 Travel Credit per passenger booked!*
For Agent’s Companion:
- 30% off Land** and 10% off Air**
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"Someday" - It’s Why We Travel
"Together" - It’s Why We Travel
Exploring Australia - A Guest's Perspective
Meet your mentor: Meaghan McMahon
This piece originally published in the Key Notes on Travel summer issue. In this special section, we take pause to recognize and profile the many dedicated professionals who work to support Canadian travel advisors every day. Selling travel involves wrangling a lot of moving pieces and we tip our hats to those who help bring it all together.
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Costco: How they've changed the travel landscape and where do we go from here?
Costco’s expansion into the Canadian leisure travel market did not go unnoticed – not by shoppers and certainly not by advisors, suppliers, consortia and advocacy bodies. The question is: how real is the threat?
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How Travel Can Expand Your Palate To Extend Your Life
Just about every advisor knows the importance of food in a travel context, but what about selling clients on travel for a better diet or longevity? To shine a spotlight on the health benefits of travel, Collette has launched Your Health with Joan Lunden, a 12-part series. Canadian Traveller, in partnership with Collette, invites you to discover how to sell travel to your food-focused client.
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We Asked Canadian Travellers: What Sparks Your Sense of Wander?
What sparks your sense of wander?
It's a question that Collette's new Explorations brand is asking travellers, as a way to understand the reasons people love to travel. So we thought we'd ask Canadian Traveller contributors the same question. What did we find? While everyone might have different responses, the things that spark our sense of wander are never tactile – it's never the desire to eat great food or visit certain monuments or hike a certain trail. Instead, it's always visceral and deep; it's about connecting with a feeling and experience much greater than ourselves. Here's what they had to say:
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What you should know about Collette's enhanced Explorations product
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT 2018 MARKS 100 YEARS in business for group tour company, Collette. Over that time, the company has obviously figured out how to evolve and remain relevant – because how does one stick around for so long if they don’t? Well, there’s no sign of slowing down and proving that point is the relaunch of its Explorations product line. Sound familiar? It might – the Explorations brand has existed for a few years, but it’s been revamped, refined and completely redefined.
To understand exactly what the new Explorations looks like, we spoke with Ron Lonsdale, vice-president of sales, for some insider scoop:
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Mary LaRocque, Marlin Travel, talks selling group travel & tricks of the trade
We sit down with veteran travel advisor and agency owner Mary LaRocque to chat key strategies for growing sales and how to stand out in a noisy marketplace.
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Life lessons from three important trips
Michele Peterson / A Taste for Travel
Why do we travel? I was invited by Collette, one of the world’s leading small-group tour operators, to share the reasons I travel. It took me several days to narrow the reasons down. There are so many! From wanting to spend time with family (such as taking a Christmas market cruise with my mother) to learning a new skill (such as Studying Spanish in Guatemala) the truth is, ever since I turned 19 and left my hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba headed to Mexico, I’ve wanted to travel and see the world.
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Collette's Brett Walker & Ron Lonsdale discuss the company's 100-year milestone
Reaching a 100-year milestone is no small feat as a business – especially one in the travel industry. So it's no wonder that Collette is marketing their milestone with special events, incentives and promotions.
Where did it all begin and where is it going from here?
We speak with Brett Walker, general manager - Canada, and Ron Lonsdale, vice-president of sales, for their insights.
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Canadian Traveller Contributors Share Inspiring Reasons Why We Love Travel
Chances are that if you’re reading this, it’s because you love travel. But have you ever taken time to think about why? Is it that you live for adventure and discovery? It is the incessant desire to experience that which is unfamiliar and to learn about the world around you? Collette recently introduced a new campaign that touches on the reasons people travel, and it inspired us at Canadian Traveller to look at our own motivations. So we asked our contributors to share their reasons, and hopefully, you’ll be inspired to tell us yours.
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Your guide to selling small group tours in Europe with Collette
To appeal to different types of travellers, Collette offers up various tour styles, whether to appeal to those seeking river cruises, faith-based tours or city stays. Explorations is Collette’s small group tour option and in high demand, as more travellers seek the type of trips this style represents, which are more personal and authentic experiences. How do you know if Explorations is right for your client and what do you need to know to close the sale? Collette and CT Magazine have compiled this useful sales tool for your information.
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Collette's guide to selling South & Central America
It's hard to deny the appeal of South and Central America; the Amazon Jungle and the Galapagos Islands are just a sampling of the natural beauty in the region, not to mention other bucket list sights such as Machu Picchu. But because of its diversity, this corner of the globe can be. But because of its diversity, this corner of the globe can be a very complex one for travel advisors to sell, especially considering its mass appeal to various audiences. Catering to this broad range of travellers, Collette continues to expand, refine and differentiate its product offering. To guide travel advisors to better sales success within the region, CT Magazine spoke with Ryan Mikucki, the tour operator’s director of sales – Canada, for his expert insight, as follows:
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Myth Busting: Forget Everything You Think You Know About Guided Travel
Guided travel seems like the ultimate solution for every type of traveller, with its expert guides, exclusive local experiences and customizable itineraries. Yet, there are still some who fail to see its full potential.
We busted some of the most popular myths around this vastly underrated travel style, in the hopes of setting the record straight.
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Wicked & Whimsical:
How to Live-Out a Real-Life Fairytale in Germany
Germany is the stuff of fairytales: crumbling castles, enchanted forests, gingerbread houses, and numinous tales. If you think fairytales are for just kids, be forewarned, it's not all lollipops and rainbows. Travellers who wander Germany's Romantic Road are sure to discover that this playful itinerary contains some darker narratives. To chase the whimsical and the wicked, start in Berlin and travel south to Bavaria, making these 10 bewitching stops.
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4 Dream Trips Better Suited to Travelling Empty Nesters
Dollar Photo Club
When your youngest child spreads his wings and starts paying his own rent, an empty house can seem sad. But joyously you'll realize you've done all you can do to transform tot into teen, teen into functioning adult. From here, it's all up to them. Now you can get to those dreams that were put on the back burner.
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Cliff-Side Cities you Need to Visit This Summer
Dollar Photo Club
There’s nothing quite as beautiful as seeing nature and civilization come together. Hovering precariously on the edge of Europe's sheer cliffs lie some of the world's most spectacular cities, made all the more majestic with their dramatic setting and sweeping views. We rounded up six of the best cliff-side cities to hit this summer that should fall at the very top of your bucket list.
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Collette's Travel Brochures
Travel with your own personal travel guide. Order one of Collette's free travel brochures. Before you know it, you'll be holding the whole world in your hands!
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Trip of A Lifetime with Collette
Travel is about so much more than going places. Our world contains so many experiences for us to enjoy. But there's one thing those experiences -- the brilliant sunsets, the lost cities, the soaring peaks, the dramatic landmarks, and the incredible meals -- all share. They remind us what life is all about. The laughter...the tears of joy...the being a part of something greater.
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Collette: Big Moments on Tour
Looking for an experience that goes beyond just a vacation? Well, with Collette, you can awaken your senses with BIG touring moments, and BIG trip ideas. Amazing wildlife sightings, truly unique encounters and thrilling excursions are just a few reasons why guided travel with Collette is the ONLY way to travel! Want to see what we mean? Take a glimpse at some of our favorite jaw dropping, smile-inducing, just-have-to-go-there moments!
South & Central: Exploring the 'Exotic Americas'
For those of us craving exotic adventure the allure of South America has never been stronger. It's a continent of mysticism, from hidden jungle cities to high tempo capitals to eclectic festivals. It's a continent of passionate people, incredible wine and raw wilderness. And for Canadians, it's a continent easily accessed; flights from Vancouver to Lima or Toronto to Rio de Janeiro involve only one stop and are more affordable than ever.
In case you need to indulge your wanderlust with some inspiration, here are 10 must-see highlights of lower Central and South America. See you on the trail!
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Australia & New Zealand: 10 Otherworldly Wonders
Oftentimes we travel abroad to admire world wonders, structures constructed by epic feats of human engineering and labour. We imagine standing in awe atop the Great Wall of China, or at the base of the Egyptian Pyramids. But as Canadian temperatures dip, it's not these iconic landmarks we're daydreaming about. We're wanderlusting over the natural wonders of Australasia; the ones born of Mother Nature's vision. Think the barren, rust-coloured landscapes of the Australian Outback, geothermal pools resembling an artist's palette in New Zealand, or a reef so vast it can be seen from the heavens. If you're ready to don your walking shoes and make for warmer climates, here are 10 breathtaking reasons to take flight this winter.
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Guided by Giving: The Fiji Story
Over 100 volunteers from Collette's charitable arm, Collette Cares, took to Fiji in December 2014 for a massive give-back effort in Koroipita Village. Learn more about our Fiji project at www.collettefoundation.org.
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Connect With Collette
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Want to chat?
Get in touch with Collette!
Call 844.269.4583 or find an expert travel agent in your area.
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*Travel Credit and Discount is valid for travel professionals who become a Collette Specialist by completing the required e-Learning curricula. Travel Credits have no cash or refundable value. Travel subject to availability and all travel restrictions and Travel Credits are non-transferable/non-endorsable/non-refundable. Travel Credits will not be replaced if lost or stolen. Travel Credits are valid for future travel only. Travel must commence within 24 months of certificate issuance. If total value of Travel Credit is not used, no refund of the difference will be offered. Any Travel Credit deemed null and void, even if previously redeemed, carries no cash value and the recipient will be responsible for paying the full cost of the booking prior to the departure. Any changes to the reservation once booked may be subject to change fees to be paid by the recipient. Original insurance is non-transferable. Travel Credit cannot be used for deposit. Travel credits cannot be applied towards Instant Purchase airfare. Valid towards final payment only. Travel Credits are combinable with the travel professional discount. Travel Credits can be used on FAMs but the travel professional discount does not apply. To redeem your Travel Credits, contact our reservations team at 855.232.8687. If you redeem and have to cancel, Collette will reissue Travel Credit with original expiration date. Upon becoming a Collette Specialist, the Travel Professional will start to receive Travel Credits after the guest(s) have travelled. Other restrictions may apply; call for details. To view your Travel Credits earned, please visit gateway.gocollette.com to see your Travel Credit status.
** A Travel Professional may request a reduced rate for their personal travel on any retail booking within a 180 day time frame prior to departure, once they become a Collette Specialist. Travel Discount excludes Instant Purchase airfare. No discount is allowed on Antarctica. Once required e-Learning curricula are completed you will become a Collette Specialist and will be eligible for (as of 1/1/17):
• Standard 50% off the land; 10% off air (excluding Instant Purchase airfare)
• Companion receives 30% off land; 10% off air (excluding Instant Purchase airfare)
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