Travel Agent - August 6, 2007 - (Page 10)

Vital Signs News You Can Use senior vice president, chief operations officer worldwide; Betty Van Dyke to senior vice president of research, development and special projects; and Eileen Lowe Hart to senior vice president of marketing and product development. Hart will also head the tour operator’s newly launched luxury division. Isram’s new Elite Services offers such extravagances as suite-only accommodations, private jets and bodyguards. The option to go upscale can be applied to all itineraries within Isram’s four divisions, which include travel to places like Israel, Egypt, China, Spain and Latin America. A single brochure featuring these new luxury products are available to travel agents. The tour operator’s new team will work closely with IsramWorld President and CEO Ady Gelber on plans to expand the company, including mergers and acquisitions, as well as in sales and marketing. — Jennifer Merritt Continued from page 8 time. Just last week, however, Adventures By Disney released its new destinations for 2008, which include Australia, China, Germany, Peru and the Czech Republic. For more, agents will need to keep their Mouse Ears perked up. Changes at IsramWorld Finally, IsramWorld (www.isram.com) late last month announced the promotion of three vice presidents to the senior level. Ilana Apelboim has been promoted to The Latest on Azamara Cruises Azamara Cruises has only been operating for three months now, but it’s already gaining traction in the industry, said Dan Hanrahan, president of both Azamara and its operator Celebrity Cruises. Hanrahan was aboard Azamara Journey’s seven-day Bermuda itinerary last week, with stops in St. George and Hamilton. (The St. George call was nixed after a strong storm prevented entry into the port.) Journey’s sister ship, Quest, begins service in October. Caribbean International, the brand’s parent company, to serve an “underserved market,” as Hanrahan put it. The basis for Azamara, which was born out of Royal Caribbean’s acquisition of Spanish tour operator Pullmantur in November (Azamara’s two ships are former Renaissance Cruises vessels that were sold when the line went out of business), was to one, address an underserved market and two, travel to exotic, off-the-beaten path destinations. At first, said Hanrahan, Azamara was to be a brand extension of Celebrity, until it was decided to create a totally separate brand. The process was daunting. “I was scared to death,” Hanrahan unequivocally stated. So far, so good: Hanrahan noted Azamara is already pulling passengers from luxury brands Crystal and Regent and even from Azamara’s direct competitor in the segment, Oceania Dan Hanrahan Cruises, which also operates past Renaissance ships. Interestingly, Azamara is selling more 18-night itineraries than it expected, but the 12-night varieties are catching up. After fulfilling its Bermuda contract, Journey will begin South American itineraries, and, ultimately, will operate a 114-day, 54-port world cruise, the actual terms of which will be announced within the next two months. Quest will travel to 63 new ports of call, operating a European season next year followed by a season in Asia. Of course, building up the brand is a question Hanrahan often fields. He’s curt on that point. “Yes,” he said on acquiring or building more ships to pump up the brand. “Two ships are nice, but it would be nice to get to a bigger point.” Actual plans have yet been discussed. Editor’s note: To read the author’s account of his Azamara Journey Bermuda sailing, go to www.travelagent central.com/azamara. — David Eisen Brand Positioning The much talked about new brand is positioned in the deluxe segment, sandwiched between premium and luxury. It was the brainchild of Royal Azamara Journey, one of two ships in the new brand 10. TravelAgent August 6, 2007 Photo by David Eisen http://www.isram.com http://www.travelagentcentral.com/azamara http://www.travelagentcentral.com/azamara

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - August 6, 2007

Contents Editor's Letter News You Can Use Cover Story - Passports and Visas: What Clients Should Know About Them EUROPE: Capella Debuts Two Properties This Year LAS VEGAS: The De-Theming of Luxor HAWAII: Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea Renovates CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA: Cruising the Panama Canal Lavishly CARIBBEAN & BAHAMAS: Bahamas’ Grand Isle Resort & Spa News and Notes Meet the U.S.V.I.’s Tourism Commissioner CRUISES: Defining Regent Seven Seas HOTELS: InterContinental Harbor Court Baltimore Agent Exchange Luxury Travel Expo Update Ad and Edit Index Classified Marketplace People & Places

Travel Agent - August 6, 2007

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