March 2014 - PinellasCVB.com

LATAM SALES MISSION
February 24-March 14, 2014
Panama City, Panama
-Hosted Training Breakfast for 50 COPA Vacations Travel Agents in conjunction with Visit
Tampa Bay
-Meetings with Copa Alejandra Perdomo-regional Manager& Roberto Kan-Regional
Senior Manager for Corporate accounts to discuss St. Pete Grand Prix attendees and
events.
ANATO TRADESHOW- Bogota, Colombia
-Attended as part of Visit USA
-500 Magazines, Destination Maps & TOP TEN Spanish Flyers Distributed during Show
-Blanco Travel Local Tour Operator/Wholesalers was promoting our destination on their booth
with a video that was running continuously and product brochure.
-LADEVI Ediciones Interview about the destination that will appear in all their LATAM magazines
-MEETING with LADEVI Director Adrian Gonzalez and Fabian Manotas to discuss magazine
advertising proposal for LATAM
-During the show various meetings were conducted with Top Colombian Wholesalers and Tour
Operators, Aerovision, LMV, Altair Viajes, Blanco Travel, Los Nomadas, Turivel
-Set Up meetings for Pow Wow
-Talk to Patricia Navarro, Sales Manager, Copa Colombia
Lima, Peru
-Hosted a Breakfast for 90 Travel Agents
-Important meeting with top Wholesalers in Peru, Careli Tours, schedule site for destination.
Careli is interested in including destination in their brochure, new website and packages.
Coming to Pow Wow and will meet with individual hotels to negotiate. Careli Tours is very
strong in Central America, specially Costa Rica, Gutemala and Salvador want us to join on
presentations there and work on a FAM for our destination.
-Sales Calls to major Wholesalers and Tour Operators, Club Vidatur, Oferty Reps, Condor Travel,
Peru.com, CTM Tours(currently expanding and interested in promotion new destination in FL).
Condor & CTN will be attending Pow Wow as well.
LATAM SALES MISSION
February 24-March 14, 2014
Santiago, Chile
-Hosted a Breakfast presentation for 100 Travel Agents and Tour Operators at the US Embassy
with the attendance of the Vice Consul, Isabel Valenzuela, Commercial Advisor, Chile Visit USA
Committee President. Response was higher than expected due to the interest and enthusiasm
created by the Chile Visa announcement.
-Presentation to Sales Managers at Repse - Tour Operador, their sales represent 27% of Chilean
market, for the #2 spot in that market. #1 is COCHA with 28% which attended our breakfast
presentation and # 3 Falabella with 10%. Repse Market is mostly High End and now the new
Middle High class that is growing in Chile and traveling a lot. They buy through receptive in the
US but mostly Latin Companies like American Executives $200,000, Action Travel $80,000
-Great expectation in this market with the new Visa waiver, importance to have a constant
presence due to the Visa and the emerging middle class. Right moment to promote our
destination in Chile, economy strong and solid, many corporate accounts have offices there.
COPA improving and gaining ground in this market with 4 daily flights.
-Their travel seasons are in Jan/Feb. And their biggest travel month is September, very good fit
for our destination.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
-Hosted a Breakfast presentation for 100 Travel Agents and Tour Operators
-Hosted a Dinner presentation for 50 Wholesalers & Tour Operators attended by Diana BrandoCommercial Advisor US Embassy and many Visit USA Committee members as well as press.
-Great Press Representations, already a couple of articles out about the event and the
destination;
DE DIOS Editores-Carla D'Elia, HSM REALIZACIONES-Hector S. Medina,
IMPRESIONES NEW GATE-Raúl Feldman, LADEVI EDICIONES OWNERS-Claudia Gonzalez y
Alberto Sánchez, Senti Argentina TV-Ricardo Seronero, Periodico La Opinion-Carlos Alejandor
-Sales Calls & meetings with JAC Travel, Leisure Express, Pezzati Viajes, Juan Solveyra and
Piamonte among other. Many of them will be in Pow Wow and have RSVP for our event.
-Meeting with Despegar Ana la Madrid, Market Manager for USA to discuss marketing packages
options for our destination in their website.
LATAM SALES MISSION
February 24-March 14, 2014
Montevideo, Uruguay
-Hosted lunch presentation for 60 major Wholesalers & Tour Operators and their main travel
agencies. In attendance was Gonzalo Rodriguez- president of the Uruguay Visit USA Committee,
Embassy Vice-Consul, Elizabeth Ategou and Lilian Amy Commercial Specialist, Jeremias Mara
from American Airlines, , Roque Golino from TOP TOURS biggest company in Uruguay, Leisure
Express Travel Representative in Uruguay, Major agency groups like Tip Groups, CVC, Corte
Ingles, La Alianza, and CVC
-TV Interview with Diego Porcile from DTV Productions for their Tourism TV Program. There was
press representation too, Wilson Marrero from Mundo Turistico Magazine, Pasaporte
Productions.
-Many attendees including press will be in Pow Wow and have confirmed their attendance tour
event.
Quito, Ecuador
-Hosted a reception presentation for 30 Agency owners and Managers, among the attendees
were Lourdes Coronel Chamber of Commerce Ecuador, Alexandra Valencia, President Visit USA
Committee Ecuador. They will be hosting a travel Expo in May and were so impressed by our
destination presentation. We have been invited to be part of their May Tourism Expo.
-Copa General Manager for Ecuador, Luis Reyes addressed the attendees and their sales
manager was also present during both of the events.
-Hosted a breakfast presentation and educational seminar for 120 travel agents
- Interview with Quito TV Channel TSU and Marisol Alvarez & Simon Feijo for Ladevi Magazine in
Quito. They will be working with Golden Vacations to plan a press trip to our destination
-Meeting with Golden Vacations sales staff, destination Q & A. Met with Paul Arias and Eric
Fanovich to discuss opportunities to work together since they are Copa # 1 Producer in Quito.

Download Report