New York-based Pacific Delight Tours is looking ahead to 2009 with a number of new deals and promotions as well as newly strengthened relationships with the agent community. The seasoned tour operator, which specializes in luxury tours to Asia, especially China, has been in business for more than 38 years and has since broadened its catalog to include Tibet, Mongolia, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia and India. This year, the company also won a TravelAge West WAVE Award for Best Tour Operator, Asia. And, despite what many analysts are predicting to be a challenging year, the company has a positive outlook for 2009.
“[Next year] will begin slowly, but by mid-year, we will be hitting our stride,” said Jerry Pi, president of Pacific Delight Tours. “The first half of the year is [going to be] challenging, but it will end on a strong note for our company.”
Among the company’s newest promotions are an air-inclusive, 12-day China Exploration itinerary priced at $1,799 per person from Los Angeles and air-inclusive, seven-day Beijing or Shanghai Getaways packages with rates as low as $1,298 per person. The China Exploration package, in particular, includes five-star accommodations in Beijing and Shanghai and a four-night Yangtze River sailing aboard Victoria Cruises Premier Series of five-star ships with outside stateroom accommodations that feature a private balcony, a full bath and other amenities.
Pi added that agents who book early can save their clients even more money for any 2009 itineraries: “We provide up to $1,000-per-person savings for our 2009 programs that are booked by the end of the year,” he said.
China, Pi also noted, is continuing to drum up plenty of interest following the Beijing Summer Olympics in August.
“The Olympics introduced an electric wonder and intrigue about travel to China,” Pi said. “China leisure [travel] will experience a net increase in 2009 because it is still the best value in leisure travel.”
Next year, the company will also add new features to some of its tours as well as build upon new partnerships. The company is now a Ritz-Carlton Preferred Provider. Pacific Delight Tours is also offering upgraded accommodation on its Gold Experience Tours for 2009. Pi said that the company is going to focus heavily on group travel related to luxury vacations, weddings, reunions and alumni gatherings.
“Agents will experience a new and exciting Pacific Delight Tours [in 2009],” said Pi. “Our growing mission statement is we are a travel agent’s best resource when it comes to planning and executing China Travel. Our focus is on strengthening our client relationships. To do this, we provide the strongest and best programs and custom China and Asia itineraries in the industry. From our award-winning luxury programs to our smart-traveler programs, agents will love our push in 2009.”
To encourage bookings for next year, Pacific Delight Tours is allowing agents to block groups of up to 15 for its 11-day Historic Cities & Yangtze River or 11-day Beijing, Xian, Guilin & Shanghai tours for $150. The 16th and 30th guests in a group can also travel for free, and Pacific Delight will assist agents in customizing group tours. The company will also offer agent commissions from 10 to 12 percent on air, land and cruise portions of its tours.
With so many promotions in the works for next year, Pi encouraged agents to gear up for an exciting 2009.
“While other operators are experiencing a slowdown and difficulties next year,” he said, “we will grow our business to provide our agents a great finish to the 2009 travel season.”
Pacific Delight Tours
800-221-7179
www.pacificdelighttours.com
