In what was billed “The Real Florida Superfam”, US specialist Jetlife teamed up with the Lee Island Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau to take 37 agents to Florida. The trip was designed to show retailers areas they were not generally familiar with. Agents stayed two nights in Naples, three nights in Fort Myers and two nights on Captiva Island. They also took a day cruise to Sanibel Island and visited key hotels. We asked three agents to give their impressions before and after the trip.
Before: I had never been to the US before so I was keen to go. We sell a couple of holidays to Florida a month so I was familiar with the product range, but only really sold Orlando and the Florida Keys. My main idea of Florida was that it was very much dominated by Disney World. I always find educationals useful because you can speak with so much more conviction to your clients once you have been somewhere.
After: I was really surprised by how pretty Florida was and how different each place can be. The area was so green and the beaches were wonderful. Fort Myers was busier than I expected and would certainly suit anyone wanting a lively holiday. Captiva Island is for families or couples and would make a good alternative to the Caribbean. Of course, my clients still want Orlando, but when it comes to two-centre ideas I have a much better understanding of what Florida can offer beyond Disney World.
Julie McDowell, Manager, Utopia Travel, London, Age: 29
Before: I had been to Florida before but not to this part. I had always been with my family so Disney World and swimming pools had tended to dominate the holiday. Also, we sell a good number of packages to Florida. Recently clients have become more aware of what Florida has to offer beyond Disney World, but I was worried that my knowledge of the destination was falling behind that of some of my clients.
After: The educational format was far better than I imagined, with a good mix of looking around hotels and facilities and actually experiencing the place as a holidaymaker would. I feel this was the real Florida – we went to places where you could mix with the locals and get an authentic feel for the lifestyle. The beaches were good and the developments were all very sympathetic to the environment. I discovered Florida can offer quite sophisticated entertainment and good-quality nightlife. The people were very friendly.
Steve Winstanley, Director, JT Worldchoice, Bolton, Age: 42
Before: I had travelled a fair bit in Florida and I knew the state as a place that really buzzed, with lots happening, and in parts very brash. I knew this area was known as “the real Florida” but I wasn’t certain how different it would be from the areas I had seen. We sell at least two holidays a week to Florida – primarily Orlando for Disney World or Miami for cruises. We had sent clients to the area but nobody in the agency had seen it first-hand, so we didn’t push it with any great enthusiasm.
After: Lee County certainly lived up to its reputation as the real Florida. The whole place felt much more authentic than other parts of Florida I have visited. The environment was peaceful and the pace far slower than I expected. It was easy to meet local people who were always very friendly and genuinely interested in you and your trip. I will certainly now sell Lee County in preference to other parts of Florida – it would suit every kind of client, other than those who want non-stop razzmatazz.
Trevor Beckford, Managing Director, Colbacks Travel, Jersey, Age: 41