The Cuba Tourist Board believes a great picture of a great tourist destination is worth a 1,000 words.
And so the board decided to show appreciation to travel agents on Travel Agent Day with a photo contest that has agents submit pictures they took while in Cuba for consideration for prizes.
“On Travel Agent Day, we want to send a heartfelt thank you to all the travel agents in Canada and express our gratitude for their loyal support,” says Lessner Gomez, director of the Cuba Tourist Board in Toronto.
“Also we want to thank all the participants in the contest, we have fantastic entries which makes it very difficult to pick the winners.
“If this past year has taught us anything it is how resilient travel agents are and their adaptability and willingness to work hard to serve their clients. Travel advisors kept working during the most difficult circumstances and never stopped giving and aiding their clients and supporting Cuba! Your courage and support are very much appreciated.
“Most of the Canadians going to Cuba use a travel advisor, so it is just fitting that on this Travel Agents’ Day (and all year round) we recognize the importance of your essential role and express our deepest appreciation for your work and the indisputable value you bring to your clients, especially now with the ever-changing travel landscape brought by the pandemic.
In the running: a submission from Lucie Lamoureux
“To pay tribute to our travel partners for their continued support we are organizing this exciting competition, there is no better time to go down the memory lane and go through your past Cuba trips albums and select your favorite images and submit those ones that best inspire travel and showcase the uniqueness and diversity of our country,” adds Gomez.
Travelling down memory lane is great but Gomez adds he and his colleagues are looking forward to face-to-face encounters with agents again.
“We all at The Cuba Tourist Board want you to know that we are very thankful for your lasting support and we cannot wait to see you back face to face on a show floor, meanwhile we are just an e-mail away,” Gomez adds.
First prize in the contest is a four-night all-inclusive stay at the Iberostar Selection Varadero Hotel (double room).
Second prize is a complimentary full-day catamaran cruise (for the winner’s next vacation to anywhere in Cuba, and courtesy of Gaviota Group.
Third place is recognition for a great picture.
Prize winners are being chosen by Ian Stalker of Travel Courier, prominent travel photographer Stephen Smith, and travel personality Steve Gillick.
The photos and names of the winners will be published in the tourist board’s Facebook page, which has over a million followers and on its website: www.gocuba.ca (which is usually among the top three search Cuba pages on Google).
“Good luck to all the participants, have fun and enjoy Travel Agent Day!” the tourist board adds.
Here's a look at some of the submissions:
To enter, participants must submit their photos in JPG format and send them to [email protected] by April 30.
Please include: Name and last name, agency’s name, contact information and social media capability.
The winner will be announced on May 5.
