Travel Agent - February 4, 2008 - (Page 51)

Joseph Walker of Club Vacations on the island of Ilha Grande, 90 minutes south of Rio. DESTINATIONS Practical Facts Climate: It’s summer for more than nine months of the year in Brazil. The lowest temperature you might experience there is about 50 degrees, and that’s in the south. Winter is similar to winter in northern Florida or Georgia. Language: Portuguese. Currency: Brazil uses the real. One American dollar equals about 1.8 reals. Our sources recommend exchanging a little cash at the airport. Although you won’t get the best rates there, it’s good to have local money in your pocket when you arrive. Tour operators: Club Vacations (www.clubvacations.net, 866-413-6557) hosts about 7,000 clients a year. Half of them come from Europe, and the rest from Latin America and North America. But executive director Joseph Walker says U.S. business is growing at about 25 percent a year. Agents can call him at 011-55-21-200-4113 or e-mail joseph.walker@clubvacations.net. They may also call specialist Atila Iglesias at the same number. The general e-mail is clubvacations@clubvacations.net. Bookings are accepted online from agents. TAM Vacations (www.tamvacations.com) is the in-house tour operator for TAM Airlines. Agents can contact executive director Edson Akabane in his Miami office, 305-4554200 or akabane@tamvacations.com. Borello Travel & Tours (www.borello travel.com) is a tour operator and boutique travel agency that specializes in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Greenland. Contact Sandra Borello, president, at 212-695-3200 or info@ borellotravel.com. Avanti Destinations (www.avanti destinations.com), formed in 1981, is an FIT wholesaler. Agents can call Latin product manager Susan Buchanan at 503-821-9405. Getting there: Delta flies to São Paulo from New York Kennedy and from Atlanta. Both Continental Airlines and American Airlines offer flights to São Paulo from New York, Atlanta and Miami. United has flights to São Paulo out of Washington, DC, while the Brazilian carrier TAM has twice-daily flights to São Paulo from Miami and New York, with connecting service from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro. From Miami, TAM also flies to Manaus daily and to Salvador once a week. Club Vacations’ Joseph Walker doesn’t recommend that first-time travelers to Brazil take cabs or buses from the airport to their hotel; rather, you should set up transfers with their hotel beforehand. Resource: Agent contacts at Embratur, Brazil’s tourist board, are Miguel Jose Jeronimo in New York, 646-3782126 or ebt.us@embratur.gov.br, and Enzo Avezum in Los Angeles, 310-426-2556 or ebt.us2@embratur.gov.br. says, seven to ten days would give your clients enough time to experience the country and have some time to relax. Akabane says, “Brazil has a variety of attractions [that will appeal to] travelers’ interests. Brazil is a blend of cultures, music and exotic cuisine. You have the Amazon, people from all around the world, São Paulo—which is one of the five biggest cities in the world—and some small and untouched fisherman villages.” He continues to list the country’s assets: “resort destinations, sports, watersports, golf, birdwatching, fishing, adventures and wildlife.” Younger travelers are driving much of the U.S. market to Brazil. According to Embratur, more than half the U.S. vacationers in Brazil in 2006 were under 40. Thirty percent were under age 32, and 25 percent were between 32 and 40 years old. The 41-50 demographic made up 24 percent, and travelers 51 and older represented 21 percent. Brazil’s appeal to a younger market may stem from its casual and fun ambiance. “There’s never really a great reason to wear a shirt and tie in Brazil,” Walker says. For nightlife, the incredible party city of Lapa, near São Paulo, sees thousands of people fill its streets, dancing, drinking and mingling. Brazil is the world’s fourth largest market for beer. Pilsner is the most common type of beer consumed. Because of the country’s humid temperatures, light beers are quite common, with the most popular one being Skol. Walker told Travel Agent that he’s never had a Skol there that wasn’t as “cold as ice.” As far as mixed beverages go, look no further than a caipirinha, the national cocktail made with cachaça (liquor similar to rum), sugar and lime. If you substitute vodka for cachaça, then you’ve got yourself a drink called the caiporoska. In Rio, some interesting things to do include a helicopter ride around the Christ the Redeemer statue and a trip up to Sugarloaf Mountain, with its incredible views of the city. The mountain is reached by cable car in two stages, with a transfer at the top of Urca Hill. Among resorts, Windsor Martinique Copa Hotel (www.windsorhoteis.com.br) in Rio de Janeiro is a great lower-priced option for your clients and is just 50 yards from the famous Copacabana beach. It offers 117 standard and superior rooms in a modern seven-story building with a glass facade. Nearby is the city’s main commercial center, restaurants and tourist attractions, including the Rio Sul shopping center. Agents should call Ana Lúcia Domingues, the hotel’s director of sales, at 011-55-21-9186-7979. Rio’s Astoria Palace (www.hotelastoria palace.com) has been totally refurbished and is suitable for families and individuals alike. Ask for a view of the ocean, as the hotel is well located along the main avenue of Copacabana. Agents should contact Carlos Borges, director of sales, at 011-55-21-8631-5731. Pestana Rio Atlantica (www.pestanario atlantica.com.br) offers clients elegance and a prime location on Copacabana. This property is CONTINUED ON PAGE 52 February 4, 2008 TravelAgent | 51 http://www.borellotravel.com http://www.borellotravel.com http://www.avantidestinations.com http://www.avantidestinations.com http://www.clubvacations.net http://www.tamvacations.com http://www.windsorhoteis.com.br http://www.hotelastoriapalace.com http://www.hotelastoriapalace.com http://www.pestanarioatlantica.com.br http://www.pestanarioatlantica.com.br

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - February 4, 2008

Travel Agent - February 4, 2008 Online Now Contents From the Editor From the Publisher Contributors Europe: Mid-Priced Hotels in Paris Europe Briefs Africa: Morocco’s Must-See Cities of Fez and Marrakech Africa News & Notes Pacific/Asia: What's New in Tokyo Pacific/Asia Briefs Hawaii: Lanai, Famous for its Pineapple Production, Repositions as “The Private Island” Oahu Hotels and Activities Las Vegas: New Nightclubs in Sin City California: San Francisco Keeps Pace with Demand Ski/Snowboard: The Ritz-Carlton Denver, Luxe Gateway to the Rockies Central & South America: North American Travelers are Discovering Brazil Latin America News & Notes Caribbean News & Notes Caribbean: Three Smaller U.S. Virgin Islands Resorts Cruises: Wave Season Rolls In Cover Story: Cayman Islands Transportation: Airline Issues Facing Agents Agent Profile: New Tzell VP Lisa Benzakein Aims to Pump Up the Agency’s Leisure Sales Technology: TRAMS Marketing Alliance Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar ASTA's Key Issues State of the Cruise Industry Caribbean Hotel News Australia Promotes Shorter Visits In the Spotlight Classified Marketplace Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch Victoria Clipper/Clipper Vacations Special Outsert

Travel Agent - February 4, 2008

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