Here at Classic Collection Holidays we firmly believe that excellent service and knowledge is part of the package that you should expect from an award-winning luxury tour operator. All of our members of staff and our travel agents around the country have a passion for travel and strive for the satisfaction of their customers. With so many destinations in our programme it is important that our sales team and our fantastic travel agents are knowledgeable about the Classic product. FAM trips (standing for ‘familiarisation’), involve a group of travel agents travelling with one of our sales executives to one of our Classic destinations. All will stay in one of our exceptional hotels and the trip will involve meeting hoteliers, sampling the gastronomy, embarking on excursions all with the aim of gaining the best knowledge to relay to their customers.
Our brilliant on the road sales executive Drew Stewart who covers both Scotland and Northern Ireland, took a group of travel agents to Mallorca this April. The trip saw the group travel around the island visiting some of the best resorts and experience what makes Classic Collection Holidays’ luxury hotels so special.
Drew Stewart with Northern Ireland Travel Agents in Mallorca
Drew Stewart Reports!
I travelled on Saturday morning to Belfast City Airport to meet up with the group of Northern Ireland agents. There were twelve of us in total including Andrea Hunter the Aer Lingus Business Development Manager for Northern Ireland.
We arrived in Palma after a good two hour flight and arrived early. We boarded our coach and made the short journey to the Bon Sol Hotel in Illetas where we were to stay for the three nights. As always at the Bon Sol we were warmly welcomed and met up after unpacking at the Bar for a pre-dinner drink. We met the hotelier, Lorraine Xamena who welcomed us personally and enjoyed a wonderful dinner in the hotel’s restaurant.
The next morning saw us heading north to visit Valdemossa where we visited the Valdemossa Hotel, a fine countryside hotel in the mountains and close to the quiet village of Valdemossa, although it was not quiet that particular day as there was a motor cycle rally. I have never seen so many motor bikes together in my life and I thought we saw a lot in Argyll.
Agents in Valldemossa
We followed bikes all the way to Deya where we visited the Hotel La Residencia, the Orient Express owned property in the mountains. A delightful converted 16th Century manor house which attracts repeat customers every year. Our journey continued that day to Puerto Soller where we had lunch and a visit to The Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa, a relatively new addition to our hotel offering. Everyone was taken with this modern hotel which is positioned on the hill overlooking the Port and the coast. The mountain backdrop made for stunning views from the terraces of the hotel which is spread over a few buildings. We were hosted to a light lunch of tapas. The courses were rounded off with about three different desserts; all of the group were most impressed. That evening we headed to C’an Pedro a small village slightly inland from Palma where we enjoyed a Mallorquines dinner. This again was enjoyed by all.
Agents enjoying the views at Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa
On our final full day we headed north again, this time to the Alcudia and Puerto Pollensa areas. We visited the Grupotel Parc Natural & Spa Hotel in Playa de Muro and met up with our northern rep Lynne Bacon who escorted us on the remainder of our visit in the north. Later in the morning we visited the Hotel Daina in Puerto Pollensa before returning to Alcudia for lunch and a visit to the Botel Alcudiamar.
In the afternoon we returned to Puerto Pollensa to visit the Illa d’Or Hotel and the Illa d’ Or Club apartments. We were all very impressed with both the hotel and the apartments. We then made our way back to Illetas and had a look around the Bon Sol. In the evening we were hosted to a Gala Diner in the Bon Sol and were joined by Alejandro Xamena the son of the owner.
On the final day we left the Bon Sol and visited the Melia Palas Atenea in Palma which was followed by a visit to the Hotel Costa Azul which is about to finish their extensive renovations. Both were very good, however I was most impressed with the Costa Azul which I remember going back many years ago as a three star. This is now officially a four star and it truly is a star. The rooms are clean a fresh with very modern facilities and its position opposite the Palma Marina is excellent.
We had the remainder of the day free to explore Palma town which most welcomed. We then congregated for our transfer back to the airport for the flight home.
Again a good flight back however journey time was a good bit longer at 2 hours 45 minutes and again Aer Lingus looked after us well in flight. All the agents and myself thoroughly enjoyed their Classic Collection experience.