Family Matters

FAMILY

MATTERS

LEIBL-COTE IS CHARTING COLLETTE’S RETURN TO WORLDWIDE TRAVEL

SALEM, Ohio — As the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues and the return of travel is on the horizon, Collette has taken a moment and reflected on the past year.

The travel industry, along with most group travel activities, was devastated by the pandemic. With the cancellations of the majority of tours, many travelers were left with no choice but to take a future travel voucher. However, Collette empowered guests to make the best decision for themselves, with full refunds of more than $135 million.

“We work hard to earn your trust, and we will always work hard to keep it,” said Jaclyn Leibl-Cote, president of Collette. She said readers can learn more about the company’s customer service through the pandemic at collette.com/travelingwell.

Slowly but surely, the world is opening up, and travel is coming back in a big way. We’ve already seen Iceland and Greece open their borders, with many other countries soon to follow. This

year and next are going to be big for returning to travel. “We’re not going to let anything stop us from showing travelers incredible experiences across the world,” Leibl-Cote said. At Collette, travel is back, and the company is letting everyone know which tours are set to depart in 2021. You can find them listed at gocollette.com. For all tours and departures, Collette remains committed to monitoring all public health JACLYN LEIBL-COTE advisories and applicable travel restrictions, then deciding to either operate or cancel specific tour dates up to 30-45 days before departure. “We can’t wait to get back out into the world with you, and all of us here at Collette hope to see you soon to plan your group’s trip of a lifetime and make your job of fulfilling travel dreams a little easier,” Leibl-Cote said. Call your local Collette representative or 800-222-5679 to learn more about the Collette difference, or email jedwards@collette.com.

KIRBY IS LEADING HENDERSON, NEVADA, TO THE FOREFRONT

SALEM, Ohio — Groups and meetings are gaining strength as planners push forward to meet the growing demand of their members to get face-to-face gatherings back to normal. While travel and meeting demand is rebounding, the most pressing question is which destinations and venues are open and welcoming to the group.

Visit Henderson, which promotes tourism to Henderson, Nevada, seems to be leading the charge with the help of national sales manager Ed Kirby

“Henderson has it all: amazing resort accommodations, 190 miles of hiking/biking trails, kayaking, paddleboarding, nine golf courses and, of course, gaming, all located minutes from the Las Vegas Strip.” Kirby recently said in an interview with Groups on Demand.

Groups on Demand (demandgroups.com) is the online site where meeting and travel planners can go to discover and connect with tourism destinations that are welcoming groups.

Visit Henderson uses the tagline “So Much, So Close, So Nevada.” Henderson is only three miles from McCarran International Airport, which is served by 30 airlines, making Henderson one of the easiest and most affordable destinations. Groups seeking meeting space can choose from smaller private venues to expansive halls within the 300,000 square feet of meeting space in Henderson.

Ed Kirby in Henderson

The greatest value in Henderson is the seemingly unlimited choice of sightseeing and activities for groups during their stay. Obvious options include the Las Vegas Strip and Hoover Dam, but extended excursions can include Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park and even the Grand Canyon. Groups also enjoy three separate tourism districts right in Henderson: Water Street, the Artist and Brews District and Lake Las Vegas, which is modeled after an Italian village.

Henderson has also gained a much-publicized attraction with the Clark County Museum, whose administrator, Mark HallPatton, is a frequently featured expert on the History Channel’s “Pawn Stars.” Groups seeking a sports outlet have access to nine golf courses, and Henderson is the headquarters of the Las Vegas Raiders NFL franchise.

“When groups plan a meeting or visit to Henderson, they very often extend their stay to enjoy the additional options available,” said Charlie Presley of the Group Travel Family of Brands.

Meeting and group travel planners interested in learning more about Henderson as a destination can contact Kirby at 702-267-2114 or edward.kirby@cityofhenderson.com.