Christy Kurian, Director, Sunspots

Sunspots Holidays has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a travel agency in the 70s. Just how far, you ask? They go just about anywhere in the world, with a focus on niche markets and unique products. In this week’s edition of Friday Five, Christy Kurian, Director, explains Sunspots many specialties and why the company couldn’t survive without travel agents.

1. Tell us a little about Sunspots Holidays.

Sunspots Holidays is a Canadian wholesaler. We bring together fantastic airlines and beautiful destinations, providing travellers with special experiences they won’t soon forget.

Our story begins in January 1974 when Campbell Travel Limited emerged as a new travel agency in Ontario. After many years of service to travellers, Campbell Travel decided to shift its focus, becoming a strictly wholesale travel company, and the new enterprise was soon known simply as Sunspots Holidays. But while the name changed, the key philosophy driving Sunspots Holidays remains the same today as it was when Campbell Travel opened its doors: we focus on active marketing of special products rather than discounted rates.

Unique products are what set us apart. Our branded Sun Magic and Positive Destination Ideas lines offer clients short stays in Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, some 36 destinations in the Caribbean, and the Maldives and other remote island destinations. Our new Mission Travel and Pilgrimage packages make planning easy for people who want to help others or embark on a spiritual journey. We also offer a variety of group packages, wedding packages, and specialize in custom multi-city itineraries.

Sunspots Holidays’ model builds partnerships with consolidated airlines and land package providers to create travel opportunities that benefit airlines and enable travel agents to increase revenues during the off season. These benefits also reduce costs, which allows consumers to travel to unimaginably beautiful places at a very imaginable cost. Our partnership with more than 40 major international air carriers is the backbone of our enterprise, helping us take your clients around the world. Air partners include: Air Canada; American Airlines, Delta Airlines, WestJet, Caribbean Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Lot Polish Airlines, LATAM, Avianca, Aerolineas Argentinas, Emirates Srilankan Airlines, Etihad Airways and many more.

We have developed a proactive and flexible product, offering land and air components together, as well as separately. We market our unique products across Canada, the United States and internationally, and we can service any points worldwide. The incredible success of Sunspots Holidays is a result of our commitment to customer service, steadfast belief in quality products, unswerving loyalty to our partners at all levels, and continuous marketing innovations that keep us moving forward. Energy, experience, and innovation are the pillars that have allowed us to excel in the travel industry.

2. How would you say business has been in 2017? Are any destinations selling better than others?

This is a great year for travel to Cuba from USA, even with a bit of a setback due to changes in the policy. We are getting calls from agents to sell Cuba from USA and we have lots of opportunities to Latin America, especially to Brazil and Eastern Europe, namely destinations like Prague, Dubrovnik and many more. We see a lot more business travellers to various points in USA and weekend trips to U.S. cities as usual.

3. How important are travel agents to the company? And what agent incentives, if any, are you offering?

Travel agents are the backbone of Sunspots Holidays. We only deal with travel agent community and industry partners, we don’t own any online agency business or sell our products through them. Our primary, as well as our only focus is the travel agent community.

4. What new travel trends are you noticing right now in the industry?

There are so many online booking tools and activity in the travel industry, plus many mergers and consolidation taking place. Most consolidators/wholesalers are changing their focus to customers directly using various patterns. But still there is a space for agency community and niche markets, such as custom travel, pilgrimage, missions, charity, special interest groups and so on.

5. What’s new for Sunspots in 2018?

We are revamping our website and updating our design team for our logo as well. We are coming up with a new programme soon, branded with Travel+, the first of its kind that’s already out. Travel+ mainly focuses on Missions and Charity Travel, Travel and Faith such as pilgrimages. We’re also creating more custom programmes in 2018.