TORONTO — Heading into one of the busiest summers in years for Europe travel, Air Canada Vacations is keen for travel advisors to know that one of its top destinations, Greece, still has some space for fall 2023, and is also starting to book up for summer 2024.

One best-seller in particular, the 10-day Best of Greece, “is doing very well for us,” said ACV’s Matthew Djorsev, ACV’s Manager, National Accounts. In the summer months ACV has no fewer than 28 tour packages in Greece, plus there are two packages available in the winter months as well.

Whether it’s Greece or any other European destination in ACV’s portfolio, “booking early is key,” said Djorsev. “Europe for ACV is doing very, very well this year.”

ACV picked the perfect spot to showcase its Greece product to trade and consumer media yesterday: Christina’s on the Danforth in Toronto, in the heart of Greektown.

With four flights of food, one for each destination in another of ACV’s top sellers – the 13-day Cycladic Explorer itinerary – participants got a taste of the Greek life while Djorsev along with ACV’s Melissa Iantosca and Veronica Grimaldi offered an overview of the 13-day Cycladic Explorer.

First up was Athens, home to so many of Greece’s treasures, from the ancient Acropolis, to the bustling Plaka with its many tavernas and restaurants. The Cycladic Explorer itinerary includes a good amount of time in Athens (days 2, 3 and 12) before heading on to Santorini (days 4 – 6). This beautiful island is quintessential Greece for so many travellers, and one of the country’s top destinations. Next up: Ios, home to vibrant nightlife and serene beaches. Days 7 and 8 are in Ios, and then it’s on to Paros for days 9, 10 and 11, “for the perfect blend of relaxation and culture,” says Iantosca.

The Cycladic Explorer, just like ACV’s other packages in Greece, offers an authentic experience personally curated by the ACV team. This is no cookie-cutter package, says Djorsev. ACV’s Europe offering is also the perfect mix of inclusions and independence. Packages come with roundtrip flights, hotel, transfers, island-to-island transport and ‘More Moments’ select activities and excursions.

ACV’s goal is to make it as easy as possible for travellers – and their travel advisors – to plan and book a trip. As Iantosca puts it, pulling together a European vacation without help “is almost like a full-time job. It’s very time-consuming. Our European tours remove all the guesswork.” And there’s no scheduled touring, she adds. “These tours are fully autonomous. Travellers can explore the destinations at their own pace.”

Flight & Hotel, and Flight & Cruise packages are available in Greece as well, plus a Fly & Drive option.

ACV’s 2023 Europe program got off to a strong start in February with the launch of the tour operator’s new ‘Travel Agent Toolkit for Europe’.

All in all ACV’s Europe lineup includes 120+ tours in more than 15 countries. ACV’s travel styles in Europe include Classic Europe, Off the Beaten Path, Island Hopping, Luxury Travel and Seaside and Winter Escapes. ACV’s connector program includes 50+ Canadian cities, and Air Canada’s network to Europe offers frequency and flexibility. Clients can also take advantage of ACV’s Carefree and Careflex programs for the ultimate in flexibility.

To check out the digital version of ACV’s ‘Travel Agent Toolkit for Europe’, click here.