Pleasant Holidays: A Half-Century of Tours

Jack Richards just passed his three-year anniversary as president and CEO of Pleasant Holidays, the giant Westlake Village, Calif.-based wholesaler. The company started its empire in Hawaii and now also offers packages to Mexico, Caribbean, Tahiti/Fiji/Cook Islands, Costa Rica and the mainland U.S. Going into fall 2010, Richards is very upbeat about the state of the industry. “We’ve seen a dramatic turnaround in the past 12 months,” he says.

The company started its empire in Hawaii and now also offers packages to Mexico, Caribbean, Tahiti/Fiji/Cook Islands, Costa Rica and the mainland U.S. Going into fall 2010, Richards is very upbeat about the state of the industry. “We’ve seen a dramatic turnaround in the past 12 months,” he says," writes TravelPulse.

Richards says he’s encouraged by the performance of the airline industry. “If you look at the airlines as a gauge of demand, they’re doing very well and turning in record profitability numbers, so I think that’s indicative of where the travel demand is. They had to rely on leisure business the past couple of years and that’s been very difficult for them, but through the first and second quarters they’re posting some pretty impressive numbers.

In its half-century of business, Pleasant Holidays has carried more than 10 million clients to Hawaii, Mexico, Caribbean, Costa Rica and the South Pacific. The company was founded in 1959 by Ed Hogan. A former U.S. naval pilot, Hogan started in the travel industry in 1948 as a pilot for Sky Coach.

In 1959 Hogan and his wife, Marilyn, established Pleasant Holidays as a retail travel agency in his home state of New Jersey, taking its name from its location in Point Pleasant.

By the end of the 1990s, the company was moving 450,000 passengers a year. In 1999, the Hogans sold a majority holding in Pleasant Holidays to the Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest AAA-affiliated club, founded in 1900.

To book your Pleasant Holidays travel, visit www.PleasantHolidays.com or call 1-888-786-9841 to speak to a travel expert.

Excerpted from TravelPulse, Vacation Agent Magazine, September 2010

Las Vegas Vacation: Supernatural Santana - A Trip Through The Hits at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Tickets are now on sale for Santana's live concert performance, Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through The Hits, at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas in January 2011. For more information about the show and to purchase concert tickets, visit http://www.supernaturalsantana.com/theshow/

To book your Pleasant Holidays Las Vegas vacation at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, including competitively priced hotel nights, air transportation, car rental, activities and other travel services, visit http://ht.ly/2DtU0 or call toll-free 1-888-786-9841 to speak to a Pleasant Holidays travel expert.

Trust The Hawaii Activity Experts!

Make the most of your Hawaii vacation with Pleasant Activities. BOOK TODAY AT PleasantActivities.com OR CALL 888-229-7770.

HAWAII SUMMER VACATION SALE—KIDS FLY FOR $299 AND STAY FOR FREE!

Pleasant Holidays launched a “Kids Fly for $299, Stay for FREE this Summer!” sale just in time for family vacation planning. Kids fly to Oahu or Maui for as little as $299 round trip and stay for free at many of Hawaii’s top resorts.

To book, call toll-free 1-888-786-9841 or visit http://www.PleasantHolidays.com

“Family vacations build priceless childhood memories that last a lifetime,” said Jack E. Richards, President and CEO. “Prices this family friendly make it affordable to book the Hawaiian summer vacation of your dreams without creating a nightmare for the family budget.”

The special “Kids Fly for $299” fare is valid for new bookings from February 18 from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Oahu and Maui on select flights departing from June 1-9 and August 16-31, 2010. In addition, Pleasant Holidays offers a $399 kid’s fare valid on select flights June 10 to August 15, 2010. Both fares are valid for one child under 18 years per each full-paying adult with a maximum of two children per booking. Booking must include a minimum five-night accommodations’ stay. Applicable air taxes, surcharges and fees apply. Fare must be booked by May 15, 2010.

In addition to Pleasant Holidays low air fares for children 17 and under, many of the islands’ hotels offer added values for kids. At Aston Hotels & Resorts, kids 12 and younger stay, play and eat for free. Kids 17 and younger stay for free at Castle Resorts & Hotels, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hawaii, Hyatt Resorts & Spas of Hawaii, Marriott Resorts Hawaii, OHANA Hotels & Resorts, Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, Prince Resorts Hawaii, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawaii and others. Pleasant Holidays also offers “Hot Deals” where kids 17 and younger stay for free at Hawaii Hotels & Resorts, The Kahala Hotel & Resort, Honua Kai Resort & Spa, and The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua when booked by February 28, 2010, and at Trump International Hotel™ Waikiki Beach Walk®.

Families can save even more this summer with Pleasant Holidays “Hot Deals” that feature up to $100 off a Hertz car rental with a five-night stay. “Our 2010 ‘Hot Deals’ campaign provides exclusive offers and exceptional added values to families seeking the best return for their vacation dollars,” continued Richards. “We are offering unprecedented savings to our most popular destinations, giving travelers the incentive they need to book their 2010 vacations now.”

Pleasant Holidays offers Hawaii activities and sightseeing tours online at www.PleasantActivities.com. The site features real-time inventory and pricing for Hawaii’s most popular attractions including Pearl Harbor, Polynesian Cultural Center, Hawaiian luaus and more. Vacationers may also visit any of the 27 Pleasant Activities Centers, located in hotels throughout the Hawaiian Islands, or call the “Ambassadors of Aloha” Concierge Desk at 888-229-7770 for expert advice and assistance. In addition, Pleasant Holidays Concierge Service assists with arranging golf tee times, spa treatments, romantic dinners and more during travelers’ vacations.

Pleasant Holidays received the 2009 “Tour Operator Providing the Best Travel Agent Support” and “Best Tour Operator Hawaii” awards from TravelAge West magazine and the Readers Choice Award from Travel Weekly for the sixth consecutive year in a row (for Hawaii). Pleasant Holidays participates in the U.S.T.O.A. $1 million travelers assistance program.

Let Pleasant Holidays Help You Plan Your Destination Wedding Travel

Our dedicated wedding experts are here to help you put it all together and SAVE on wedding and honeymoon travel!
Visit http://www.pleasantholidays.com/ or call toll-free 1-800-818-9080.

Waikiki Super Sale! $338 Roundtrip Air & 3 Nights Hotel

Vacation in Waikiki for as little as $338 per person! This vacation package includes roundtrip airfare from San Francisco (SFO) to Honolulu (HNL) plus 3 nights hotel. When I last checked, you save $210 per couple when compared to Expedia.

If you want to stay longer, you can -- just add into the price additional hotel nights at our competitive rates. For a complete vacation, choose from our broad selection of fun activities and tours!

This offer is valid for travel January 17 through February 9, 2010. The price is the same regardless of the day of week that you choose to travel. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include 3 nights hotel and roundtrip airfare. Price excludes taxes of $35 per person. Seats are limited; offer good while supplies last.

Book online at http://www.pleasantholidays.com/ or call toll-free 1-888-786-9841

Exclusive – SAVE $500 at Palace Resorts Mexico & Caribbean

Pleasant Holidays announces an exclusive savings up to $500 per booking on air-inclusive vacation packages with a minimum five-night stay at the all-inclusive Palace Resorts in Cancun, Riviera Maya, Riviera Nayarit, Cozumel and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic for travel January 1, 2010 through April 10, 2010. Reservations must be booked by January 17, 2010, valid for departures from any city nationwide.

To book, call 1-888-786-9841 or visit http://ow.ly/Qxj2

Sample five-night vacation packages, including airfare and all-inclusive resort accommodations begin at $995 per person from Los Angeles; $1,046 per person from San Francisco; $1,034 per person from New York City (JFK); $1041 from Dallas/Ft. Worth; $1,076 from Portland; $1,176 from Phoenix; $1056 from Houston; $1,036 from Chicago; and $1,042 from Atlanta.

Palace Resorts' all-inclusives provide all meals, unlimited drinks, daily activities, 24-hour room service, wireless Internet, non-motorized water sports, nightly entertainment, all taxes and gratuities. Plus, guests receive the Passport to Savings with a selection of unlimited tours, up to 30% discount on green fees, up to 25% discount on select spa services, up to $15 off car rental, Buy One Get One FREE - Swim with the dolphins in Mexico, unlimited phone calls to the U.S. and Canada & more.

Cancun and Riviera Maya are popular destinations for groups, destination weddings and honeymoons. Pleasant Holidays’ group, wedding and honeymoon customers can enjoy the benefits of this exclusive offer, and make use of the Pleasant Holidays Group and Wedding Travel Desk’s services. Palace Resorts offers free weddings at select properties. Sightseeing, soft adventures, dining and more can be booked at http://www.pleasantactivities.com/.

Rates are based on double occupancy and include round-trip airfare, accommodations, all hotel taxes and surcharges, and on-site assistance from Pleasant Holidays’ customer service representatives. Vacations featuring air from other departure cities nationwide are also available. Some restrictions and blackout dates may apply.

CST #1007939-10. UBI #601-915-263.
# # #Terms and Conditions: Palace Resorts offer valid for new bookings made 12/28/09 -1/17/10 for select travel 1/1/10-4/10/10. Palace Resorts: Offer is combinable with all promotions at participating Palace Resorts. Not valid for groups. Air and minimum 5-night stay are required. Departures from cities as shown. Rates quoted are per person, based on double occupancy unless otherwise stated. Rates, terms, conditions, availability and itinerary are subject to change without notice. Certain restrictions may apply. Taxes, gratuities, transfers, airfare and excursions are additional unless otherwise indicated. Rates based on published retail airfares collected on 12/23/09 for select travel 1/13-3//17/10. Change, cancellation fees, and other restrictions may apply once tickets are issued. Published retail airfares are NON-REFUNDABLE. Rates do not include Passenger Facility Charges of $3 - $18, International Departure & Immigrations Taxes up to $111 or September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 per enplanement (up to a maximum of $5.00 per one-way or $10.00 per round-trip). Additional airline restrictions, including but not limited to baggage limitations, standby policies and fees, non-refundable tickets and change fees with pre-flight notification deadlines may apply. Fees and policies vary among airlines and are subject to change without notice. Please contact airline directly for details and answers to specific questions you may have. Not responsible for errors or omissions. [Pleasant Holidays acts only as an agent for the various travel providers shown above.] Copyright © 2009 Pleasant Holidays, LLC. All Rights Reserved