central holidays
Arthur Berman has joined Central Holidays as v.p. of the company’s newly created Latin America and Cuba division.
You might be wondering why Central Holidays decided to open this division, and why now. Well, Berman notes, “This can be answered with one word: ‘diversification.’”
The company is offering six itineraries to Cuba, ranging from the Taste of Havana long weekend tour, to an 8-night itinerary visiting Havana and Cienfuegos. However, the company’s niche itineraries such as the 8-night Jewish Heritage program—L’Chaim Cuba—and the 9-night Afro-Cubanismo cultural program are what makes Central Holidays’ tours stand out, Berman points out. Included in the tour lineup is a weekly Cruise Around Cuba itinerary created in partnership with Celestyal Cruises and sailing on the Celestyal Crystal.
“Besides the regular sightseeing that everyone expects, our services to Latin America are very highly focused on each individual’s needs, expectations and budgets. Every program in our 148-page brochure can be molded to the client’s wishes. Our brochure is just an example of what we are capable of offering and there are really no limitations on what Central Holidays can deliver,” says Berman. latinamerica-vacations.com
Visit recommend.com, to read a full Q&A with Berman. 
sceptre
A new corporate brand, a new tag line and an expanded product range are all part of Sceptre’s new makeover, reflecting the company’s transition beyond its Irish tour operator roots. Welcoming in this new era is the debut of Sceptre Journeys, which offers small group guided tours to destinations such as Iceland, Greece, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Tours are limited to 16 passengers and feature must-see attractions, immersive culinary experiences and ideally located accommodations. For example, the 7-day Journey to Germany itinerary, priced at $2,999 pp, takes travelers from the Romantic Road to the fairytale castles of Neuschwanstein and Linderhof; on a boat ride along the Danube; and on a tour through Rothenburg and Munich. Clients also visit the Nuremberg Trail Documentation Center and take in a traditional Bavarian dinner and live folklore music. These tours can be combined or taken separately to create a unique travel experience, and, in fact, Sceptre’s new tag line, “Travel with an accent,” puts an emphasis on tailored vacations that are unique to each individual client.
In celebration of this revamp, Sceptre is offering a 2-for-1 air sale deal on all Sceptre Journeys booked by Dec. 31, 2015. The discount applies to all departures from June 1, 2016 to Aug. 31, 2016. sceptrevacations.com
travel bound
One of the leading suppliers of FIT vacations to destinations around the globe, Travel Bound, has added more than 6,000 hotels in beach destinations worldwide including Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Fiji, Malaysia, Europe and Africa.
The company offers an array of selections—from five-star luxury hotels such as the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah in Dubai and the Palazzo Versace on Australia’s Gold Coast to four- and three-star properties including the Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach Resort in the French Polynesia and the Madeira Regency Club in Portugal. Travel Bound also offers airport and cruise transfers, as well as snorkeling, boating, kayaking, shopping and culinary excursions—all fully commissionable.
In addition to the long list of new hotels, the company has appointed James Phillips as president of Travel Bound, as well as the new v.p. of sales and marketing for GTA. Phillips notes that his first priority in his new role is to build out a sales structure that will allow the company to better support the travel agent customers. In a press release, Phillips said, “We have deep travel agent partnerships and it’s my responsibility to ensure that our strategy and structure are geared around assisting these organizations to grow their business.” booktravelbound.com
