PHOENIX -- America West Vacations is back in the Hawaii vacation
package business, this time partnering with Hawaiian Airlines.
The operator will offer 60 hotels and resorts in all price
ranges on all the islands plus land-only and fly-drive packages
featuring Avis car rentals, said Jack Richards, president and CEO
of America West Vacations.
America West Vacations will pay a minimum 13% on all Hawaii
bookings made by Dec. 31 for travel through 2003.
The firm discontinued its Hawaii program when America West
Airlines stopped flying there in 1992, Richards said.
The operator's decision to re-enter the market was spurred by
the code-share and marketing agreement between Hawaii-an and
America West, he said.
The agreement provides enhanced travel opportunities and
streamlined customer services across each carrier's networks,
Richards said, "which permits us to sell Hawaii from all Hawaiian
Airlines and America West Airlines origin cities.
"We forecast Hawaii will represent about 12% to 15% of our total
business in 2003, increasing to 18% to 20% in 2004 and beyond," he
said.
The packages are on sale for travel through December 2003 from
all Hawaiian gateway cities, including Las Vegas; Los Angeles,
Ontario, Sacramento, San Francisco and San Diego, Calif.; Phoenix;
Portland, Ore.; and Seattle.
America West Vacations will advertise the Hawaii packages in
more than 20 major metropolitan newspapers, "driving business to
our travel agent partners," Richards said.
In addition, the firm partnered with Aston Hotels Hawaii and the
Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau to offer product training
at its Phoenix Travel Agent Product Show, which was set to take
place Oct. 16.
Hawaii hotel partners such as Aston, Starwood, Hilton and
Outrigger will participate in this month's America West Vacations
2003 Travel Agent Product Shows in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth,
Denver and New York.
Richards said America West Vacations' re-entry into the market
required minimal capital investment due to the existing
infrastructure and the company's experience in the tour packaging
business.
The company's preferred-supplier agreements "will facilitate
marketing and sales of our Hawaii packages," he said, as will the
company's reservations center in Tempe, Ariz.
Richards said the firm also offers an experienced staff to
handle Hawaii bookings, including a large group department.
Because the average package price for Hawaii is almost twice
that of the average Las Vegas booking, Richards said Hawaii sales
will "contribute significantly to the profitability of the
company."
Rates and how to book them
PHOENIX -- America West Vacations set sample rates for its new
roster of Hawaii packages.
Five-night programs include roundtrip air, airport transfers, a
lei greeting and an orientation breakfast.
Prices start at $493 per person, double, from Los Angeles, $547
from San Francisco, $564 from Seattle and $584 from Phoenix.
For reservations or more information, call (800) 356-6611 or
(800) 843-9971 (for groups); visit www.awvtravelagents.com; or access via Sabre,
Worldspan and Galileo.