Pleasant Holidays has named James Kareka to the position of Vice President of Trade Brands to take on a crucial role in the company’s strategic initiatives as it realigns its brands to offer exceptional and efficient service to the travel advisor community.   “We are thrilled to welcome James and his deep industry knowledge to the Pleasant Holidays team,” said David Hu, President and CEO. “His skills and experience will be indispensable as we redefine Pleasant Holidays and its brands to better align with the needs of the travel advisor community.”   With 30 years of experience in the travel and hospitality industry, Kareka has built a distinguished career of sales leadership spanning corporate travel, luxury leisure travel, wholesale distribution and hospitality management.   Most recently, he was the Senior Director of Sales for a major tour operator and Director of Sales, National Accounts for a luxury tour operator. He began his career in corporate travel before overseeing sales and operations for a Virtuoso agency in San Francisco. His expertise extends to hospitality, through a role as Director of Sales for The Kahala Hotel & Resort.   Originally from Pacific Grove, Calif., Kareka now resides in Seattle, where he enjoys exploring nature, whether hiking or simply taking in the Pacific Northwest’s stunning landscapes. He also has a deep appreciation for culinary arts and loves bringing these two passions together - seeking out fresh, local ingredients to create memorable meals inspired by his travels.

  Pleasant Holidays has published its latest digital sales brochure featuring Hawaii, a destination that has been a crucial part of the Pleasant Holidays vacation portfolio since its founding in 1959. The 62-page digital brochure offers travel advisors a valuable sales tool highlighting a wide variety of hotels and resorts, along with commissionable activities, cruises, transportation and more, with interactive features that bring the Islands of Hawaii to life.   The brochure is available at pleasantholidays.com/Online-Brochures-TA and features full- and quarter-page listings for select hotels and resorts with an interactive table of contents. Additional digital brochures are available for the Caribbean, Central & South America, the United States & Canada, Europe, and Tahiti, Fiji & Cook Islands.   “Pleasant Holidays’ sales brochures are an indispensable resource for travel advisors, offering a simple yet comprehensive overview of our offerings in our top destinations,” said David Hu, President and CEO. “This latest brochure showcasing Hawaii is emblematic of our commitment to providing travel advisors with the best possible tools to grow their business year after year.”   Pleasant Holidays’ digital brochures feature dynamic, interactive regional maps showing locations of hotels and pop-up details on points of interest, photo galleries highlighting the best of each location and hand-curated local attractions in a flipbook format with pages available for printing or sharing electronically. The brochure also contains a convenient, comprehensive chart listing the amenities available at a wide selection of hotels and resorts throughout Hawaii, for easy reference.   Pleasant Holidays offers Hawaii vacations at more than 175 hotels and resorts, plus cruise vacations on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America as well as activities and sightseeing tours online at PleasantActivities.com. Pleasant Holidays features award-winning, U.S.-based customer service and reservations professionals. The company offers custom vacations worldwide, including accommodations, flights on 108 airlines with available premium economy and business-class service, commissionable arrival and departure transfer services, destination experiences and car rentals. Pleasant Holidays highly recommends travel protection coverage for vacations with up to 100 percent commission protection and Cancel-For-Any-Reason options to protect travelers’ vacation investment.

  Pleasant Holidays and its luxury brand, Journese, today announced the addition of Explora Journeys to their cruise portfolio, offering luxury onboard accommodations and dining, a commitment to sustainability and port calls including the Mediterranean and Western Europe; Caribbean and Central America; Northern Europe, Iceland & Greenland; U.S. & Canada East Coast & New England and Grand Journeys to premier destinations worldwide.   “The luxury cruise segment is in a growth mode, and Explora Journeys is leading the way,” said Jack E. Richards, President and CEO. “This addition to our luxury cruise portfolio gives travel advisors an exceptional option to offer their clients who value the finer things in life and the value unique travel experiences in the world’s most beautiful destinations.”   With the recent delivery of EXPLORA II, the second of a planned six state-of-the-art luxury ships, Explora Journeys is growing its fleet. Additional ships are currently under construction plus more to come, with the 463-suite EXPLORA III due to begin sailing next summer. Both EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II offer 461 all-ocean-view suites, six restaurants, 12 bars and lounges and five heated pools. Complimentary amenities include a bottle of wine and the guest’s choice of a spirit on arrival, high-speed Wi-Fi and spa access. All meals and unlimited fine beverages are included on Explora Journeys.   Journeys include more than 60 unique itineraries ranging from 6 nights/7 days to as long as 31 nights/32 days. Mediterranean journeys offer port calls in Tunisia, Morocco, the Greek Isles, the Dalmatian Coast, Barcelona and much more. Caribbean and Central America journeys visit well-known islands as well as more intimate destinations, including Jamaica, Guadeloupe, Saint Lucia, Cozumel and the Florida Keys. Travelers who book journeys of seven nights or longer with Pleasant Holidays and Journese by Dec. 31, 2025 receive $300 in onboard credit per stateroom, based on double occupancy.   Pleasant Holidays and Journese offer custom vacations to 84 countries worldwide, along with ocean and river cruise options, pre- and post-cruise extensions, private or shared transfers, cruise vacation protection coverage and flights on all major airlines with Business Class and Premium Economy options featuring flat-bed seats, fine dining and other amenities. For more information or to make a booking, travel advisors can call Pleasant Holidays’ dedicated Cruise Desk at 1-800-818-8780 or the Journese Cruise Desk at 1-800-850-6988. Pleasant Holidays and Journese earned a record 14 awards for excellence in 2023.   Pleasant Holidays and Journese are members of Tourism Cares, the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) and active members of the United States Tour Operator Association (USTOA) and participate in the $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program. Pleasant Holidays is certified Elite by the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s Qurator program for responsible tourism.

  Pleasant Holidays today announced it has earned the highest status in the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s Qurator program, which honors positive contributions to the environment, culture and the economy. Qurator Elite status is reserved for Hawaii businesses that meet the highest standards across six categories: environment, cultural support, equity, safety, community, and guest experience. Elite status companies enhance the quality of life in Hawaii while making efforts to protect the environment and culture.   “Qurator is the state of Hawaii’s official mark of excellence, and Qurator Elite status is a recognition of Pleasant Holidays’ reputation as a travel provider with a commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism,” said Jack E. Richards, President and CEO.  Pleasant Holidays’ roots are in Hawaii travel dating back to 1959, and we have many employees who live in Hawaii and care deeply about their home state.”   “Qurator isn’t just a stamp of approval,” said Mufi Hannemann, Hawaii Tourism Authority board chair. “It speaks to a set of brand values for the Hawaiian Islands, that we care deeply about our land, our people, our culture, and our guests. It’s a recognition of the interdependent relationship between businesses, visitors and our broader local community.”   Pleasant Holidays offers Hawaii vacations at more than 175 hotels and resorts, plus cruise vacations on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America as well as activities and sightseeing tours online at PleasantActivities.com. The site features real-time inventory and pricing for Hawaii’s most popular attractions including Pearl Harbor, Polynesian Cultural Center, Hawaiian luaus and more. Pleasant Holidays features award-winning, U.S.-based customer service and reservations professionals. The company offers custom vacations to 84 countries and 189 destinations worldwide, including accommodations, flights on 108 airlines with premium economy and business-class seating for maximum comfort, commissionable arrival and departure transfer services, destination experiences and Hertz car rentals. Pleasant Holidays and Journese highly recommend travel protection coverage for vacations with up to 100 percent commission protection and Cancel-For-Any-Reason options to protect travelers’ vacation investment. Travel protection coverage also is available for river and ocean cruise vacations.   Through Pleasant Activities, the company also provides concierge service for hotels and resorts throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Hotels can learn more about a sustainable concierge experience by contacting Mark Klaschka, Vice President & Managing Director, Hawaii, at [email protected]. For more information or to make a booking, visit PleasantHolidays.com. Travel advisors can visit PleasantAgent.com. For more information on Qurator, visit https://qurator.travel.

  Pleasant Holidays today launched a new section of its travel advisor website highlighting custom vacation options for travelers seeking unique experiences: Expeditions & Adventures. This new section shines a spotlight on Pleasant Holidays’ most exhilarating commissionable vacation choices, from Alaska cruises, polar expedition cruises and Costa Rica guided vacations to African safari outings, ski and snowboard vacations and rail tours through Ireland.   Travel advisors can view the page at pleasantholidays.com/pb/Expeditions-and-Adventures-TA. Featured vacations, tours and excursions include cruises aboard Atlas Ocean Voyages, Norwegian Cruise Line, Windstar Cruises and Celestyal Cruises; Escorted vacations in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Argentina and Peru; nature tours in Borneo; safari packages to Kruger National Park in South Africa and Victoria Falls on the Zambia/Zimbabwe border; one- and two-day rail tours in Ireland; ski & snowboard vacations in California, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Canada; U.S. national park vacations and Nile river cruises.   “Expeditions & Adventure Travel is one of the fastest-growing segments, and this new section of our website puts it all together in one place,” said Jack E. Richards, President and CEO. “Pleasant Holidays is making it simple and convenient for travel advisors to assist their clients in selecting the ideal experiential vacation.”.”   Along with unique destination experiences, Pleasant Holidays offers custom vacations to 84 countries worldwide, along with river and ocean cruise vacations with 100 percent U.S.-based customer service and reservations agents, flights on 108 airlines in all classes of service for maximum comfort, commissionable arrival and departure transfers and Hertz car rentals. Pleasant Holidays highly recommends travel protection coverage for international vacations with up to 100 percent commission protection and Cancel-For-Any-Reason options to protect travelers’ vacation investment.

  Pleasant Holidays and its luxury brand, Journese, today announced the addition of three top-performing sales professionals to their national sales team with the purpose of assisting travel advisors achieve success growing sales and income. Based in New Jersey, Lil Musmanno represents the newly created New York/New Jersey metro territory; Nicole Isaac is based in Bethlehem, PA, and covers the Mid-Atlantic states and Los Angeles-based Ana Hernandez is responsible for the Los Angeles metro area.   All three are driven to build – and re-establish – connections with travel advisors in their regions to identify new leisure travel opportunities and strategies to grow commission income for package bookings of FIT, cruise vacations, destination wedding & honeymoon travel, Groups, incentive travel and more. They join a nationwide team of 15 full-time Business Development Managers based across the U.S., including one dedicated to assisting travel advisors with cruise vacations.   Musmanno, who has more than 35 years’ experience working with travel advisors in the New York/New Jersey area, said she aims to build confidence in advisors to sell resorts and destinations that are new to them. “I am looking forward to building relationships with new advisors and strengthening relationships with accounts I’ve worked with in the past, as well as educating and supporting travel advisors to increase their sales by conducting in-person and virtual trainings.”   Isaac has been in the travel industry for 29 years and brings long-lasting client relationships to Pleasant Holidays and Journese. “My strong understanding of resorts, destinations, and being a team player have been key in my travel industry journey. My goal is to be recognized as a trusted partner, sustaining growth for both the company and travel advisors.” “I am determined to expand Pleasant Holidays' network and empower travel agents by demonstrating how they can leverage our services to enhance their clients' experiences and significantly boost their revenue,” said Hernandez, who has won awards as a travel advisor and as a cruise reservation specialist.   Pleasant Holidays and Journese offer custom vacations to 84 countries worldwide, along with river and ocean cruise vacations with 100 percent U.S.-based customer service and reservations agents, flights on 108 airlines in all classes of seating for maximum comfort, commissionable arrival and departure transfers, destination experiences and Hertz car rentals. Pleasant Holidays and Journese highly recommend travel protection coverage for international vacations with up to 100 percent commission protection and Cancel-For-Any-Reason options to protect travelers’ vacation investment. For more information or to make a booking, travel advisors can visit PleasantAgent.com or call 1-800-448-3333 or visit Journese.com or call 1-800-442-9244. Pleasant Holidays and Journese are members of Tourism Cares, the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) and active members of the United States Tour Operator Association (USTOA) and participate in the $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program.

Pleasant Holidays and luxury sister brand Journese have expanded their respective Central America portfolios with the addition of the island of Roatan, Honduras. They offer custom vacations at resorts ranging from rustic boutique accommodations to full-service luxury resorts with nonstop flights from gateways across the US. Roatan is one of the best diving destinations in the Caribbean with coral reefs that are part of the second largest barrier reef system in the world. "Roatan is a popular winter island getaway whose resorts specifically cater to American travelers," said Jack E. Richards, President and CEO. "Travel advisors now have the ability to book vacation packages with nonstop flights to Roatan that very few US tour operators offer." To celebrate the expansion, Pleasant Holidays and Journese have a range of exclusive offers at five hotels and resorts. Anthony's Key Resort: $250 OFF per person for 2025 bookings on vacations of 7 nights or longer. Book by 12/15/2024 for travel 01/06/2025 – 12/15/2025. Barefoot Cay Boutique Resort & Marina: SAVE 10% and receive daily breakfast plus 2 complimentary dives. Book by 12/15/2024 for travel through 07/31/2025. Ibagari Boutique Hotel: SAVE 25% on vacations of 4 nights or longer. Book by 12/15/2024 for travel through 12/31/2024. Kimpton Grand Roatan Resort & Spa: Complimentary daily buffet breakfast for two. Book by 12/15/2024 for travel through 06/30/2025. Las Verandas Hotel & Villas: 25% OFF valid for travel through 12/19/2024. 15% OFF for travel 04/01/2025 – 12/19/2025.   Direct flights to Roatan International Airport (RTB) are available year-round from Dallas and Miami on American Airlines. United flies from Houston and there is seasonal service from Atlanta and Denver on Delta Air Lines and from Minneapolis on Sun Country Airlines. Travel advisors can book commissionable ground transfers with Pleasant Holidays and Journese provided by the hotel or resort. A popular stop on cruise itineraries, Roatan is notable as a snorkeling and scuba diving, with a diverse array of marine life. Pleasant Holidays and Journese now offer eight countries in Central & South America and 84 countries worldwide, along with river and ocean cruises. 

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Please be aware that the government of Mexico has placed restrictions on the number of  electronic devices and other equipment  when entering the country.

  ONE portable computer, laptop, tablet or similar  computing device (e.g. an iPad) can be imported per passenger without incurring any import fee. However, there are restrictions on multiple devices. Additional devices are considered separate items  and may result in an import fee.   Other limitations include:

• 3 cell phones
• 2 cameras
• 1 pair of binoculars
• 1 dedicated GPS device
• 4 fishing poles

  Additional items exceeding these restrictions and limitations may result in customs duties, which begin at 19% of the items’ value. Reports have been made about duties imposed that exceed the items’ original value. Please be aware when advising travelers  to Mexico of these limitations and restrictions.  

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Luxury operator Journese has rolled out its latest travel agent incentive. Agents can earn 500 Bonus TRIP points for every new registered Journese booking with any Bucket List partner resort or cruise. Bookings must be made by August 31, 2024 for travel until August 31, 2025. The top three agents will earn a two-night stay at one of Hilton’s All-Inclusive Resorts in Mexico or an upgraded stay at New York Marriott Marquis. Travel agents will earn 100 Bonus TRIP Points for each booking registered the same day it is confirmed, 100 Bonus TRIP points for each activity booked, and 100 Bonus TRIP points for each additional land component. They must register bookings by September 15, 2024 to qualify. Bucket list experiences include suite accommodations at Bulgari Hôtel Paris; swim-up suites at Secrets St. James Montego Bay and a private picnic by the waterfall at COMO Shambala Estate in Indonesia. Travelers will enjoy a range of amenities like cooking classes and butler service on Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours on a Europe river cruise or small ship discovery cruises in Fiji with Captain Cook Cruises. There are more than 150 resorts and cruises across Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, Caribbean, Central & South America, Europe, Maldives, Mexico, Middle East, New Zealand, South Pacific, The Hawaiian Islands and the US. “Journese delights in creating ‘wow’ moments for our travel advisors’ most discerning clients,” said Amy Comparato, Senior Brand Director, Journese. 

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Pleasant Holidays has released its newest digital sales brochure for the Caribbean. It showcases more than 300 Caribbean hotels and resorts on 24 islands, as well as cruise vacations; tours, excursions, and transportation options. To celebrate the launch, Pleasant Holidays is offering $150 savings on vacation packages at dozens of participating Caribbean hotels. These include brands like Inclusive Collection, part of Hyatt Hotels & Resorts; Marriott Hotels & Resorts; RIU Hotels & Resorts; Sandals & Beaches Resorts and more. The offer is valid for new vacation packages of five nights or longer booked by August 11, 2024 for travel through April 30, 2025. "The abundance of luxury and all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean make it one of Pleasant Holidays' most popular destinations every year," said Jack E. Richards, President and CEO. Pleasant Holidays' Caribbean digital sales brochure features dynamic, interactive regional maps showing locations of hotels and details on points of interest, with high-resolution photo galleries. The 148-page brochure highlights Pleasant Holidays' most-booked Caribbean hotels and resorts with half-page and full-page listings. The brochure also contains a comprehensive chart listing the amenities available at a wide selection of Caribbean hotels and resorts. The brochure also has sections on cruise vacations, group travel, destination weddings & honeymoons, family vacations, and adults-only resorts. Additional redesigned brochures are available for all Pleasant Holidays destinations. The new digital Caribbean brochure is available for viewing or download in the Travel Advisor Resource Center at www.PleasantAgent.com. 

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Pleasant Holidays and luxury sister brand Journese unveiled a new exclusive travel advisor incentive in recognition of National Travel & Tourism Week. Travel advisors can earn hotel nights in Europe along with bonus TRIP Points for all bookings made between May 20-24, 2024. It is valid with Pleasant Holidays and Journese, including group bookings. Various prizes for top selling travel advisors are up for grabs: Grand Prize: Six hotel nights in London and Paris: Three nights at Meliá White House London and three nights at Hotel Napoléon Paris plus 5,000 Bonus TRIP points to the top sales producer by revenue for Pleasant Holidays and Journese combined. Second Prize: Three nights at The Westin Excelsior, Rome plus 3,000 TRIP points to the second-highest sales revenue producer for Pleasant Holidays and Journese combined. Daily Prizes: The top travel advisor in daily sales by revenue for each brand both earn 1,000 TRIP points. The bonus TRIP Points will be added to travel advisors' accounts automatically at the end of the booking period without the need to register bookings. The number of qualifying bookings that can be made by each travel advisor is unlimited during the incentive period. The winning travel advisors will be notified within 10 days. A minimum threshold of $30,000 in revenue during the incentive booking period is required to qualify for the Grand Prize and Second Prize. TRIP is the Pleasant Holidays and Journese travel reward incentive program. It awards travel advisors points for FIT & Group bookings redeemable for personal travel to any destination or cruise offered. "We are celebrating National Travel & Tourism Week by highlighting the people who make it all possible – travel advisors," said Jack E. Richards, President and CEO. "This incentive is our way of saying 'thank you.'" National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) is an annual tradition to celebrate the U.S. travel community and travel's important role in American life and the economy. NTTW was established more than 40 years ago by the U.S. Travel Association. 

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  Welcome to Pleasant Pro Academy. We are thrilled that you are interested in learning more about the Pleasant Holidays family of brands and becoming a Pleasant Pro Certified Specialist. Pleasant Holidays has grown from a niche operator focused on Hawaii package vacations to one of the largest travel advisor-focused travel companies in the United States, now offering destinations that span the globe. Trust Pleasant Holidays to have everything your clients need for a memorable vacation experience, including flights on all major airlines in all classes of service; 2,000+ vetted hotels and resorts, most offering real-time rates and availability; 17 cruise lines offering ocean voyages and river cruise options; vacation rentals; car rentals and airport transfers; and commissionable sightseeing tours, activities and cultural experiences. Plus, you’ll enjoy competitive commission rates and our generous loyalty program that rewards you with points redeemable for personal travel. Becoming a Pleasant Pro Certified Specialist is just the first step to unlocking a world of exciting opportunities for you and your clients.   Visit Pleasant Pro Academy to complete the course, and we hope you enjoy learning more about the World of Pleasant Holidays.