Travel Agent - February 4, 2008 - (Page 66)

COVER STORY CAYMAN ISLANDS Water activities, historic sites, natural attractions are among the threeisland destination’s selling points BY JOE PIKE I F YOUR CLIENTS DON’T LIKE THE WATER, keep them away from the Cayman Islands. Sure, there are some lovely things to do on land, but just about any pleasure you can get out of being wet is found in the Caymans. Before your clients go soak up the fun there, we figured we’d start by getting your feet wet with information on the destination. An abundance of exciting activities awaits visitors, including swimming with stingrays; some of the world’s best scuba diving amid pristine seawalls and fascinating shipwrecks; horseback riding along the coast; boarding a submarine to venture 150 feet below the water’s surface; and taking a helicopter ride at sunset for an unparalleled aerial view. have to offer, they will also qualify for rich rewards every time they register their Cayman bookings,” says Lisa Pisaturo, general manager of the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, U.S. region. The Three Sisters Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman make up the Cayman Islands. The largest, Grand Cayman, is by far the most popular. That is where you find the capital city of George Town, which boasts excellent dining and shopping. Each of Grand Cayman’s sister islands is distinctive in its own right. Little Cayman is home to a population of around 2,000 indigenous rock iguanas. Cayman Brac’s rugged topography—bluffs of ancient coral limestone and caves—makes for great rock climbing, hiking and exploring. Clients can enjoy scenic nature tours and hikes, historical sites and even great flyfishing on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Some of the best snorkeling and diving in the Caymans is done off their shores. On Little Cayman, check out the Booby Pond Nature Reserve (www.nationaltrust.org.ky/info/boobypond.html), a 206-acre habitat for red-footed booby birds—their largest colony in the Western Hemisphere. Frigate birds, egrets, herons, West Indian whistling ducks and black-necked stilts also live there. Call 345-948-1010. Nature Cayman (www.naturecayman.com) on Cayman Brac was created to enhance and promote ecotourism in the smaller Caymans. Visitors experience the islands’ endemic flora and fauna with a trained nature guide. Contact Chevala Burke at 345-948-2222, ext. 4420, or e-mail naturecayman@gov.ky or chevala.burke@gov.ky. Become a Specialist To become a Cayman Islands Family and/or Dive Specialist, visit www. travelagentuniversity.com. Once you complete the course of study and pass a final exam, you will be listed on a travel agent referrals list published on the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism’s web site (www. caymanislands.ky), receive invites for fam trips and become enrolled in the Cayman Rewards program, which gives $500 to both the top booking agent and his/her agency (for a total of $1,000). The next nine top booking agents and their agencies receive $100 each ($200 total). “Travel agents need to know that when they sell the Cayman Islands to their clients, they will not only feel 100 percent confident that they are offering them an idyllic vacation with all that the Cayman Islands Grand Cayman Attractions Stingray City (www.stingraycitytrips.com) is a must. Here, clients touch and feed stingrays and have the opportunity to snorkel among magnificent coral reefs and colorful tropical fish. This “city” developed after stingrays began gathering in the area decades ago when fisherman used to clean fish on the shallow sandbars—leaving behind a feast for the rays. Soon the creatures began to associate the sound of a boat motor with food. In the late 1980s, divers started feeding them squid, a favorite stingray food. Cayman Islands National Museum (www.museum.ky) overlooks Hog Sty Bay in George Town and is one of the islands’ few remaining 19th-century structures. Over the course of its 150 years, it has served as a jail, a courthouse and a place of worship. The museum collection CONTINUED ON PAGE 68 66 | TravelAgent February 4, 2008 PHOTO BY ALBA N. NEGRÓN-DIAZ http://www.travelagentuniversity.com http://www.travelagentuniversity.com http://www.caymanislands.ky http://www.nationaltrust.org.ky/info/boobypond.html http://www.caymanislands.ky http://www.naturecayman.com http://www.stingraycitytrips.com http://www.museum.ky

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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