Recommend May 2013 - (Page 68)

⏟ “To appreciate both countries, one would need at least 10 to 13 nights. It is so easy to take advantage of their proximity and to learn the history of the area.” – Neomie Menahem, Vice President, Operations & Reservations, Eastern Mediterranean, IsramWorld culturally immersive SITA World Tours makes it a point to not offer combined tours to Israel and Jordan because, says Lee, the operator’s product manager for Africa and Middle East, “we ﬁnd that travelers are often looking for only one or the other, or often add on Jordan as an extension on the tours we offer in Africa.” That said, they do offer a 4-day Petra Express itinerary that was designed in mind as an add-on to the Treasures of Israel program or any other tour they offer. Also, she adds, “a stay in Aqaba or Eilat is a great stopover point to relax and enjoy the beaches before continuing overland into the other country.” In whichever destination the traveler chooses to spend their vacation, SITA offers a culturally immersive itinerary. “The cultural heritage is a strong draw for many travelers,” she says, and so in Israel, for example, “we touch on the cultural highlights of the country and are not geared toward faith-based travels.” Which makes it an ideal choice for its target clientele to these destinations, which tend to be in the 40 to 65 age bracket. Package it: To that end, one of the company’s most unique tours is its 6-day Jewels of Jordan package, in which “we not only touch the highlights of Petra and the Kings Highway, but also include visits to Jerash and Ajloun on a day tour from Amman. The tour also includes a not-to-be-missed 4WD desert safari in Wadi Rum.” Another special highlight is a visit to the Temples of Zeus, the mile-long Street of Columns, Cardo Maximus, and the colonnaded streets, theaters, baths and over 17 churches that were found in Jerash. Rates start at $1,780 dbl land-only. Why should agents book with SITA: “In addition to our brochure tours,” says Lee, “SITA specializes in customized travel and can tailor the tour to accommodate the traveler’s interests and budget. SITA is also a USTOA tour operator and celebrating 80 years of experience in travel.” two in one “Jordan and Israel combine so beautifully,” says Goway’s Smith. “It is easy to ﬂy into one and out of the other with a road transfer between the two.” She adds that if the client has at least 12 days or more, then a combination of the two countries makes perfect sense. In terms of new offerings, Smith says that after her trip there last month, “we have so many ideas for wonderful new products,” so the operator will be launching new trips to 68 may 2013 62-69 ME IsraelJordan.indd 68 both destinations in September with the new Africa and Middle East brochure. “One really special offering will be our Ancient Civilizations tour, which is a combination of Istanbul, Israel and Jordan and will be fully escorted from North America.” According to Smith, Israel and Jordan are two destinations that should not be missed because although one expects incredible historic sites in Israel, “one doesn’t expect the incredible food and wine. Also there are fantastic restaurants and Tel Aviv is really cosmopolitan and vibrant. In Jordan, the hotels are exceptional and signiﬁcantly better priced than comparable hotels elsewhere. Jordan offers an incredible value.” Package it: For clients who want to combine both countries, recommend as a ﬁrst stop the 4-day Cosmopolitan Tel Aviv where clients can truly enjoy the city at a relaxing pace, even spending time on the beach. Combine that with the 6-day Soul Searcher in Jordan, which arrives in Amman where clients have plenty of time at leisure, then continues on to Madaba, known as the city of mosaics for the famous mosaic map ﬂooring the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, the oldest map in the world depicting the Holy Land. Then it’s on to Mount Nebo and Petra, and explorations of the Desert Castles. Both are private tours and can be customized, so call for rates. Smith also points out a unique product that’s part of the operator’s Stays of Distinction offerings—Feynan Eco-Lodge in Jordan. It’s located in the pristine Dana Biosphere Reserve, and is a ﬁrst for eco-tourism in Jordan. It’s owned by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) and operated by EcoHotels, and integrates conservation and socio-economic development while promoting the importance of the natural environment. Why should agents book with Goway: “Goway takes the scary out of selling the Middle East,” says Smith. “Our staff are experts and will seamlessly assist agents and their clients to the point that we are happy to do a combined conference call with the agent and their clients. Our agents are extremely important to us and we have a Goway Special Agents program that is all about educating agents, offering them marketing tools to assist in selling to their clients and of course preferential commission rates.” Archived related articles (available on recommend.com/magazine/issue-archive): It’s All in the Family in Israel (September 2012) contact information General Tours World Traveler: (800) 221-2216; generaltours.com or generaltours.com/Rewards/Login.aspx (travel agent login) Goway: (800) 245-0920; goway.com or gowayagent.com Intrepid Vacations: (800) 505-5497; intrepid-vacations.com Israel Ministry of Tourism: goisrael.com IsramWorld: (800) 223-7460; isram.com Jordan Tourism Board: visitjordan.com SITA World Tours: (800) 421-5643; sitatours.com or sitatours.com/AgentServices/index.php recommend.com 4/24/13 9:12 AM 6436_I http://www.recommend.com/magazine/issue-archive http://www.generaltours.com http://www.generaltours.com/Rewards/Login.aspx http://www.goway.com http://www.gowayagent.com http://www.intrepid-vacations.com http://www.goisrael.com http://www.isram.com http://www.visitjordan.com http://www.sitatours.com http://www.sitatours.com/AgentServices/index.php http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend May 2013

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
Tour Talk: PerryGolf
Viking Aegir
A-ROSA Cruises
New York City
United States
UK & Ireland
Caribbean
Fairmont Mexico
The Road to Ruins-Peru's Northern Kingdoms
Kush Kelibsiz!: Welcome to Uzbekistan
Touring Israel & Jordan

Recommend May 2013