ALG's President of Distribution: Travel Impressions Would Be “Pleased” to Work With Sandals Again

CANCUN, Mexico – As part of Travel Agent’s recent coverage of Travel Impressions’ “Best of the Best” awards, we chatted with Peter Bowler, president of distribution for the Apple Leisure Group (ALG), about a possible Travel Impressions/Sandals Resorts International reunion following last year’s split between the two companies.

“We would be pleased to partner with Sandals,” Bowler told Travel Agent. “We are in the business of offering a broad range of great products, so we wish them well and we will see how things go.”

In October of last year, Sandals representatives sent out a news release announcing that Unique Vacations Inc. (UVI), an affiliate of Unique Travel Corp., the worldwide representative of Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts, would terminate its selling agreement with Travel Impressions.

Former Travel Impressions CEO Jeff Clarke said at the time that Sandals was “putting (Travel Impressions) in timeout for something we didn't do.” Clarke expanded his “timeout” comment by saying, “I just meant that their decision to pull us had nothing to do with performance. It was something else."

Then, in an ironic twist to the story, Clarke joined Sandals as chief operating officer of Unique Vacations, Inc. (UVI) almost exactly one year after he made those comments. 

“As far as Jeff Clarke going to Sandals goes, I think that’s a question you’ll have to ask Jeff,” Bowler told Travel Agent. “I don’t have any comment on that.”

When asked if Clarke’s departure came suddenly, Bowler says, “There was an announcement of Jeff’s departure and of (new Travel Impressions President Scott Wiseman’s) arrival. I’m not sure if (Clarke’s departure) was sudden or not. That’s not an adjective I would use. “

Travel Impressions University

Also, during our coverage, the operator announced the launch of Travel Impressions University, the company’s new travel agent academy where graduating agents will receive significant advantages beyond the traditional certification of completion.

Agents will receive all the benefits of a traditional certification course, as well as a number of additional rewards, including the opportunity to earn bonus LoyalTI First points, sneak peeks at upcoming sales, first priority access to fam trips as well as graduate-exclusive fam opportunities and other benefits.

Wedding Calendar

Travel Impressions is also implementing a Destination Weddings Calendar, which will provide agents with real-time availability at top partners such as Karisma Hotels & Resorts, AMResorts, Palace Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Jewel Resorts and Couples Resorts, as well as several boutique properties, including St. Lucia’s Bay Gardens and Bougainvillea Beach Resort in Barbados.

The calendar is linked directly to the internal calendars of Travel Impressions’ supplier partners so that agents can claim dates instantaneously—simplifying one of the hardest parts of coordinating a destination wedding.

Not only can agents choose from complimentary or upgraded wedding ceremonies, honeymoons, photographers, flowers, menus, spa services and other optional enhancements, they can create bridal websites as an added service for their clients. Travel Impressions has populated the system with several design templates, so agents merely have to input the information or steer clients to a link where they can customize their nuptials' web portal.

Visit www.travelimpressions.com and keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for all your latest travel news. Be sure to follow Travel Agent’s Joe Pike on Twitter @TravelPike.