MIAMI, June 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Azamara
— the no-cruise, boutique cruise line — kicked-off its first-ever
virtual Tour Operator Conference yesterday, hosting over 100
companies and more than 200 participants to discuss Destination
Immersion experiences for Azamara guests. The webinar consisted of
results from the global tour operator's COVID-19 survey, a panel
discussing Azamara consumer insights, and the winners of its first
Destination Immersion experiences awards: Tura Turizm as 'Tour
Operator of the Year' and Viajes Buemes as 'Outstanding
AzAmazing Evening Event of the Year.' The accolades honor the
tour operator's efforts in delivering the best experience in their
destination. Next year, Azamara will add another category dedicated
to innovation to its list of accolades, in which criteria will be
shared later this year.
"We are excited to start a new brand tradition in celebrating
the tour operators that bring Destination Immersion to life for our
guests," said Carol Cabezas,
Azamara's Chief Operating Officer. "Our land product development
team is committed to always looking for new and enhanced
experiences ashore to deliver authentic travel moments and Tura
Turizm and Viajes Buemes exceeded our expectations, from the little
details that make the experience so special to their commitment to
the Global Sustainable Tourism Council."
Tour Operator of the Year
With a commitment to
traveling deeper, shore excursions are at the heart of the Azamara
experience. The winner of this award was determined based off guest
surveys – where a tablet was provided with a list of questions
following the excursion about the guide, tour content, duration,
transportation, value for money and overall experience – as well as
onboard shore excursion managers, hotel directors, and the land
development team, asking which tours and operators performed the
best. The best performing tour – scoring a perfect record – was
Tura Turizm's 'Şirince Village & Lunch at a Turkish
Home.' The experience starts at a hilltop village outside
Kusadasi, Turkey where Turkish and
Greek cultures mix and typical Greek architecture can be admired.
Fine fruit wines and olive oil are also produced in the village,
which can be sampled throughout the tour. Guests are then invited
to visit a family home and treated to a traditional Turkish lunch,
where the conversation is sure to provide insight on the culture,
cuisine, and local life.
Outstanding AzAmazing Evening of the Year
Exclusive
and complimentary to Azamara guests, AzAmazing Evening Events (AEE)
are designed to connect guests to the local culture of a
destination, featuring local talent, performances, and cuisines,
and in many occasions hosted in historic venues. Following each
event, guests are provided with a survey to rate their AEE
experience. Azamara's target for each event is 87 out of 100, yet
one experience repeatedly scored in the 90s, which was Viajes
Buemes's Uruguay Carnival, which takes place in the port of
Montevideo. Upon arrival, guests
are greeted by lively street performers and given their own
Carnival mask. On UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage,
the show tells the history of Carnival in Uruguay and weaves in its culture with music
performances and vibrant costumes. Considered one of the most
energetic shows, with acting, singing and dancing to the beat of
the drums with the performers, Viajes Buemes provides an
evening of fun-filled traditions in the Solis Theatre, dating back
to 1842.
Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)
Certification:
A major factor considered when selecting the
winners of each award is GSTC certification. The GSTC certification
is organized around four main themes: effective sustainable
planning, maximizing social and economic benefits for the local
community, enhancing cultural heritage, and reducing negative
impacts on the environment, in which Viajes Buemes and Tura
Turizm meet all the criteria.
Azamara, along with its parent company Royal Caribbean Cruise
Ltd. ("RCL"), is actively working with the Global Sustainable
Tourism Council to further their efforts in sustainable tourism.
Azamara has committed to its chairman, Richard Fain, that 90% of their tour operators
will be GSTC certified by the end of 2023.
About Azamara
Azamara is an upmarket cruise line and
the leader in Destination Immersion, with three mid-sized ships
sailing to all seven continents of the world. The boutique-style
ships allow them to reach marquee ports around the world and dock
in smaller less-visited hidden gems. Azamara's commitment to
creating immersive experiences for travelers to connect with local
cultures, allows guests to travel deeper with longer stays, more
overnights, and night touring. Most recently, Azamara
debuted the largest selection of pre-and-post-voyage land programs
in the cruising industry, reinforcing its commitment to Destination
Immersion beyond cruising. Guests can experience a
boutique hotel at sea with inclusive amenities such as gratuities,
beverages, AzAmazing Evenings – an exclusive, bespoke
event designed specifically for Azamara guests to immerse
themselves in their destination and more. Azamara holds prestigious
awards, further exemplifying the line's commitment to Destination
Immersion, including 2019 USA Today Readers' Choice for "Best
Boutique Cruise Line" and 2018 Cruise Critic Editor's Picks Awards
for "Best Shore Excursions." Additional information can be found
on www.azamara.com.
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SOURCE Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.