REYKJAVIK — After a three-year hiatus, Icelandair’s Mid Atlantic Conference returned in January in Reykjavik.

The conference, which welcomed 700 travel industry professionals from 23 countries, included a trade show featuring 200 exhibitor booths.

Icelandair has been bringing visitors to Iceland for more than 80 years. The conference reboot allowed buyers and suppliers from Iceland and abroad to meet and build new relationships.

Left to right Icelandair executives: Tómas Ingason, CR. Sylvía Kristin Ólafsdóttir, CC. Bogi Nils Bogason, CEO. Jens Bjarnason, COO.

WHAT ABOUT TRAVEL ADVISORS?

“It’s a clear focus area for us,” said Tómas Ingason, Chief Revenue Officer, Icelandair, when asked how the airline is engaging with travel agents.

“We’ve been strengthening our sales regions, out in the markets, and that’s first and foremost to be able to serve the travel agent community, as well as possible,” he added.

Icelandair is also stepping up its marketing and training for agents: “We’ve invested in staff, we’ve invested in technology, and that’s what we’re going to continue to focus on because it’s a clear strength of Icelandair,” Ingason said.

Travelweek flew the airline to the conference and the onboard experience in Saga class, Icelandair’s premium offering, was worth noting, both from the service and the food perspective. Saga premium class passengers are also entitled to two checked bags.

With international event sponsors such as Visit Orlando and Visit Anchorage and local activity sponsors Reykjavik Excursions, The Blue Lagoon and Fly Over Iceland, the conference offered opportunities for agents to experience the destination and its partnerships.

Some of the experiences conference attendees had the opportunity to learn about included:

• The Golden Circle Tour, operated by Reykjavik Excursions, which can be customized to include the Gullfoss Waterfall, Thingvellir National Park, the geothermal Geysirs in Haukadalur, a visit to a geothermal bath, and more
• The Blue Lagoon, home to the world-renowned thermal waters, is just a 20-minute drive from Keflavik (KEF) and accommodates travellers in transit, as it provides shuttles, luggage storage, and rental bathing suits and towels
• Flyover Iceland: The Experience is an aerial ride that takes ‘passengers’ for a virtual flyover of the Icelandic landscape via a film projected on a giant spherical screen (similar to Disney’s Soarin’ concept).
  

  

  

  

  
  

While the country’s Viking history, Icelandic culture (rooted in community and sustainability), winter sports, unique cuisine, wellness offerings and a vibrant literary and nightlife scene are all reasons to visit, no tour of the country is complete without a chance to see the Northern Lights. It’s an experience that’s weather-permitting, and Reykjavik Excursions can assist guests with the best times of the year to view this natural spectacle. During the winter solstice, for example, the Northern Lights may even be visible from Reykjavik.

North Iceland was a special focus for this trip; check out ‘10 Amazing Things to do in North Iceland’, featured in the Jan. 31 edition of Travelweek Daily.
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.VISITING ICELAND

Icelandair makes good on its tagline, ‘We bring the spirit of Iceland to the world’. The airline services 50 destinations and hosted more than three million passengers in 2022 (as of end of October 2022). The demand for visiting this island destination, on the upswing for years, continues to grow.

In fact, Icelandair doubled its flight schedule in 2022, carrying 3.7 million passengers and marking what the airline is dubbing its “turnaround year.”

In the latter half of 2022 and into January 2023, the airline posted record sales.

Icelandair offers sustainably minded passengers a carbon offset calculator program as part of the company’s quest to be emission free when operating its domestic routes by the end of this decade.

For summer 2023 Icelandair will offer 15 routes connecting Iceland and the U.S. and Canada. From Canada, travellers can fly Icelandair direct to Iceland out of Toronto (YYZ) 12 times weekly, year round. Or, from Vancouver (YVR) four times weekly beginning May 17, 2023. Also worth noting, residents of southwestern Ontario can take advantage of their close proximity to Detroit (DTW) and connect to Iceland with Icelandair’s new Detroit route, also starting in May 2023.

Just as important, Icelandair’s Stopover Program, is an option for agents to present to their clients. It can make for a great two-in-one holiday for clients flying to Europe. If the UK, Europe or Israel is the final destination, it allows travellers who fly to the European continent add a one-to-seven day stopover in Iceland for no additional airfare.

For clients looking to connect via Iceland to the UK, Europe or Israel, UK destinations include England, Scotland and Ireland. European destinations include Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Greece, Finland, Italy (Rome was added in 2022), and Sweden. The airline has added new routes to Barcelona and Prague. Also new this summer: Tel Aviv and Israel.

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THE REYKJAVIK EDITION HOTEL

The Reykjavik EDITION Hotel is the first five-star brand to enter the Iceland market, but hotel fans will recognize this international brand name from its popular properties in London, Los Angeles and New York City, among others.

Located in the historical area of the city’s Old Harbor port, the hotel is a 45-minute drive from the airport and convenient to shopping districts, cultural and conference centres, as well as within driving distance of a few of Iceland’s most important natural wonders, including The Blue Lagoon.

The Reykjavik EDITION’s rooms were designed to allow for views of the harbour, Mt. Esja and the legendary Snæfellsjökull glacier. Reykjavik’s cultural attractions include the National Museum of Iceland, the Hallgrímskirkja church, and the Harpa Concert Hall. Additionally, the city has a vibrant art scene with museums, galleries, and theatres.

For more information about Iceland, check out https://www.visiticeland.com/ , or for Reykjavik, https://visitreykjavik.is/. For Icelandair see https://www.icelandair.com/en-ca/.