TORONTO — New Deal Europe, in partnership with Visit Europe (European Travel Commission), is kicking off a new campaign to introduce North American tour operators and travel advisors to the Alps2Adriatic region.
New Deal Europe co-founder Robert Dee, with one foot in Italy – and one in Slovenia
Not only that, the New Deal Europe team is also visiting 11 cities across Canada next month, and wants to meet with travel advisors and tour operators interested in promoting and selling this part of Europe.
The campaign’s focus is promoting travel to Friuli-Venezia Giulia in Italy, Slovenia’s Julian Alps, Vipava Valley and Karst, and Croatia’s resort destination of Umag, say organizers, and will run through December.
As noted by Robert Dee, co-founder of New Deal Europe, as long-standing promoters of South Europe, and with years of experience working with the North American market, New Deal Europe is well placed to achieve the goal of increasing awareness of this region among travel professionals in the U.S. and Canada who are looking to expand their European product offerings.
The New Deal Europe team is planning sales visits across North America and webinars for agents in a coordinated effort to strengthen the region’s position as a place worthy of deeper exploration.
Says Dee: “We are fully prepared for a busy and exciting few months ahead. This part of Europe has all the right ingredients for the North American market. It is already recognized for its beautiful natural landscapes, award winning wine and world beating gastronomy, but there’s also fantastic architecture, a wealth of cultural attractions, and a rich history. What’s more, it is leading the way in activity and sustainable tourism opportunities. It’s a winning combination and we want to help the trade understand how to package all this and make it part of their regular sales portfolio.”
The region’s highlights include Lake Bohinj in Slovenia (widely recognized for its award winning sustainability efforts and community-first approach), the border towns of Nova Gorica and Gorizia (once separated by the ‘Iron Curtain’ and this year’s joint European Capital of Culture), the natural beauty of the Karst region with its Škocjan Caves (a UNESCO World Heritage Site),
the Lipizzaner stud farm, the coastal beauty of Umag, and Trieste, the major city in the region.
“This is the right time for this kind of campaign,” adds Tine Murn, co-founder, New Deal Europe. “Demand for Europe from the U.S. and Canada keeps growing. Recent reports point to a continued increase in bookings and a renewed interest in places that offer something different. The Alps2Adriatic region is full of history, character and real hospitality. It’s not overrun, and it rewards people who want to become fully immersed in all it has to offer.”
Trieste, Italy
Eduardo Santander, Executive Director of the European Travel Commission, says the ETC is “proud to support initiatives like Alps2Adriatic that highlight the richness of Europe beyond the usual spots.”
VISITS TO 11 CANADIAN CITIES START NEXT MONTH
Starting in September, New Deal Europe will visit 11 cities across Canada. The group wants travel advisors and tour operators to feel free to connect with New Deal Europe to find out more about the region.
“In recent months, our partners have been noticing increased interest from Canada, which is one of the key reasons we are planning a comprehensive sales trip this September,” says Murn.
The New Deal Europe team will be available in the following cities (all dates confirmed) …
- Halifax (Sept. 11 – 12)
- Charlottetown (Sept. 13)
- Montreal (Sept. 14 – 16)
- Quebec City (Sept. 17)
- Toronto (Sept. 18 – 19)
- Yellowknife (Sept. 20)
- Calgary (Sept. 22)
- Edmonton (Sept. 23)
- Saskatoon (Sept. 24)
- Regina (Sept. 25)
- Winnipeg (Sept. 26)
The team will also be in Ottawa and the surrounding area Nov. 9 – 12 for the NTA Conference, during which time there will be the opportunity for additional sales visits.
New Deal Europe’s site is NewDealEurope.com. Agents and tour ops looking to meet with the New Deal Europe team in one of the 11 cities, click on the Alps2Adriatic heading (NewDealEurope.com/alps-2-adriatic) to fill out the ‘Book Your Meeting’ form. The team notes that depending on interest levels in each city, workshop-style events will be organized, or one-on-one meetings.
Rolling hills and vineyards in Slovenia’s Vipava Valley
