For Immediate
Release
Contact:
Andrea Kozek
414.247.3852
akozek@bvk.com
Funjet Vacations Honors Travel Agents, Gives Away Car
MILWAUKEE, December 17, 2007 – Funjet Vacations gave agents an experience they will never forget during its third annual Las Vegas travel agent appreciation celebration. Honoring the top-booking agents of Funjet Vacations Las Vegas packages, 42 agents received a trip to that city that included a chance to win a new GMC Acadia luxury crossover vehicle. Valued at approximately $38,000, it was one of six prizes handed out during two days of festivities.
Funjet offered agents incentive prizes for the most bookings each month at certain properties in Las Vegas for June through October 2007. One winner was selected for each month but all agents who attended the celebration were eligible to win the Acadia. Colleen Itzin of Carlson Wagonlit, from Beaver Dam, Wisc., walked away with the vehicle, provided by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor's Authority (LVCVA) and Funjet Vacations.
"Our success is due to the commitment and success of our travel agent relationships," said Ray Snisky, president of Funjet Vacations. "This program is an innovative and memorable way to show our appreciation, while contributing to the overall success of Las Vegas. Everyone that attended has now done something they will never forget"
The festivities kicked off Monday the 10th with a casual welcome event at the exclusive Rouge at the MGM Grand. The following night was the prize giveaway and agent recognition dinner.
Sponsored by the Fashion Show Mall and the LVCVA, Tuesday evening included a celebratory cocktail party at Maggiano's Little Italy followed by dinner in the Great Hall at the mall center. The evening included a performance of the mall's holiday musical 'Believe in the Magic' before the announcement of the winners.
"The LVCVA remains committed to rewarding travel agents who work so hard to bring visitors to Las Vegas," said Art Jimenez, senior director of leisure sales for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. "We want to make sure agents know they're appreciated and remain excited about selling our destination. We are proud to partner with Funjet Vacations to recognize those who continue to make Las Vegas one of the top destinations in the world."
The prizes given to the top-selling agents were:
- June: From MGM MIRAGE Resorts, Jennifer Parnell, leisure sales manager for MGM MIRAGE Resorts, announced Kathy Duerr from All Inclusive Vacations in Milwaukee had won a brand new Phillips 42-inch Plasma Television
- July: On behalf of the Wynn Las Vegas, Hotel Marketing Manager Katie Lanier announced winner Jodi Moretti of Carlson Wagonlit/Discovery World Travel in Manitowoc, Wisc. had won Callaway Golf Clubs and a round of golf for two plus a one night stay at Wynn Las Vegas.
- August: Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino's Donna Marcou Stafford, vice president of Leisure Sales, gave a Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed and resort robes to winning agent Nancy Pearson of Carlson Wagonlit Travel in Prior Lake, Minn.
- September: On behalf of Harrah's Entertainment Las Vegas, Senior Distribution Manager of Leisure Sales Erin Naeve announced $2,000 Macy's Gift Card winner Art Nittskoff of Gamble America in Cleveland.
- October: On behalf of Alamo Rent A Car, National Account Manager Charlie Collins announced Ginger Wachniak of Travel Visions in Milwaukee as the winner of four one-week luxury or convertible car rentals.
To win the GMC Acadia, all agents were given keys with key chains matching Las Vegas icons. Four agents with the special Alamo Rent A Car icon moved on to the final round to try their key in the ignition of the vehicle. Itzin, the third agent to try her key, started the vehicle and walked away the winner.
"Vegas is such a fun destination and it's a place for customers to go and have their chance of a lifetime," said Itzin. "This night is my once-in-a- lifetime."
The host hotels sponsored all agent hotel rooms with stays at one of the following properties: Wynn Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, Mandalay Bay and Caesars Palace.
Travel agents can book Funjet Vacations through VAX VacationAccess(r) at www.vaxvacationaccess.com or the VAX VacationAccess technology via Amadeus AgentNet, Sabre Vacations, and Vacation.com AgentNet. Or, call Funjet Vacations at 800-558-3050.
ABOUT THE LVCVA
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide, and also with operating the Las Vegas Convention Center and Cashman Center. With approximately 133,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas alone and 9.5 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space citywide, the LVCVA's mission centers on attracting ever increasing numbers of leisure and business visitors to the area. For more information, go to www.lvcva.com.
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Funjet Vacations is the flagship brand of the family-owned Mark Travel Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee. Operating for more than 30 years, Funjet Vacations specializes in flexible, personalized vacations for individuals and groups via nonstop charters and scheduled airlines to some of the most popular vacation destinations, including Mexico, the Caribbean, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Ski, California, Florida, Europe and spring break getaways. Travelers can choose from air- inclusive, land-only or air-only vacations. With Funjet Vacations, travelers can enhance their vacation through a wide variety of experiences such as tours, attractions, shows, sporting events and more. In addition, Funjet Vacations demonstrates its "end-to-end" customer service philosophy by being available to customers throughout the entire vacation experience, from planning to in-destination to post-travel communications. |
