Wales Tourism and Visit Planning

Caribbean Escapes Partners With Opodo to Increase European Business

Holiday In Wales Caribbean Escapes Cooperative Marketing (CECM), the newest concept in marketing luxury travel to the Caribbean, has announced a venture with leading online travel company Opodo to expand its services in Europe. In an agreement signed this week, Caribbean Escapes will use Opodos white label product to provide air travel and car rental to European consumers wishing to holiday at one of the 100 luxury properties that are part of the Caribbean Escapes Collection, recognised worldwide for catering to the discerning traveller.

Opodo is launching it's Italy site www.opodo. - and builds on the strengths of the Opodo European platform, tailored to meet the needs of the Italian customer. Opodo first entered the Italian market in February 2005 when it acquired the online travel company Eviaggi. Throughout 2005 the organisation worked with the Eviaggi team to develop an Opodo Italy site, combining the local knowledge and expertise of the Italian team, European strength of the Opodo brand.

Holiday Wales Opodo is a brand recognised throughout Europe for expertise in travel and has maintained a superior market share position in providing air and lodging to consumers. As online travel booking in Europe continues to expand, this agreement with Opodo allows us to capitalise on this growth, said Glenn Harris, Principal, Caribbean Escapes.

China, on the other hand, is continuously expanding in business travel and tourism, and this is reflected in the significant increase in domestic flights over the past 12 months.

Cottage Holiday In Wales Providing air service from Europe through Opodo allows Caribbean Escapes to meet the needs of the affluent European traveller who seeks an upscale vacation experience.

As a former minister of tourism and a long serving prime minister, Mr. Patterson has championed the tourism attributes of the Caribbean at many an international forum, added Ms. Richards. Mr. Patterson, a lawyer, has utilised his legal and negotiating skills in the international arena, especially as one of the leading architects of the LOME Convention between the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries and the European Union, first signed in 1975.

Caravan Holiday In Wales Initially consumers will be able to book their resort stay and airfare on line at www.CaribbeanEscapes.com as well as www.CaribbeanEscapes.co.uk with the lodging component functionality being provided by International Lifestyles, Caribbean Escapes US travel partner.

, IT Director George has 18 years of IT strategy, operations and delivery experience, 10 of which have been in online travel. He joins Silverjet from Opodo, the European online travel agency and was a member of the original management team. At Opodo for over five years, he held roles in technology, operations, and corporate development. Prior to Opodo, George worked for another online travel agency, dreamticket.com and Kuoni, haul tour operator.

Camping Holiday Wales Travel agents can also take advantage of this feature and book travel online as well for consumers in the US and Europe. Consumers and travel agents will be able to begin booking air and resorts from Europe by June 15.

Research by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) shows that tourist arrivals in the Caribbean rose 7% in 2004 reaching 21.6 million, despite the weather conditions of last September. This includes a 16% increase of UK visitors to Aruba and a 22% increase to Jamaica. During this period, the region also saw a 13% increase in cruise ship passengers worldwide reaching 20.5 million.

Accommodation Holiday Wales The Caribbean Escapes Collection resort partners are in line with what our consumers have asked for - properties recognised for providing an unforgettable travel experience in an ideal setting, remarked Karen Stephens, Business Development Director-Hotels, the Americas for Opodo. This is a significant first step for Opodo in expanding our offering in the Caribbean.

Holiday Last Minute Wales In addition to a state-of-the-art website that provides interactive maps, destination video clips, and virtual tours for its resorts, Caribbean Escapes has implemented a new approach to marketing upscale travel.

Catering Holiday Self Wales The luxury travel television series Caribbean Escapes is currently airing in more than 100 million homes in the US, Europe, and the Caribbean. The series is comprised of 15 shows covering the 100 fabulous resorts in the Caribbean Escapes Collection and the 25 featured destinations. The show has been airing on Sky Television in Europe since January as well as on numerous networks in the US and the Caribbean.

Holiday Wales Walking Consumers will learn about the various destinations and resorts featured in the Caribbean Escapes luxury travel television series. With this information, they can book their air inclusive vacation online. The Caribbean Escapes commercial can be viewed at http://www.explosiveshorts.tv/CECommercial1.wmv.

Family Holiday Wales In addition, Caribbean Escapes recently produced a high-end coffee table publication, Caribbean Escapes, on luxury travel. The book is distributed worldwide and is also available on the website.

Holiday Riding Wales We educate our target market affluent travellers - on the options available in the Caribbean, and give them the tools to get there, Harris added while on location in Belize filming the television series from Francis Ford Coppolas Blancaneaux Lodge, a Caribbean Escapes Collection member.

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