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.

Winter Vacation Blowout!

We are offering some extra special travel deals just in time for you and your loved ones to give the best gift of all - a vacation to Hawaii!

These vacation packages start at $369 and include 3 nights hotel, round-trip airfare from Los Angeles or San Francisco, all hotel taxes and more! You can add additional hotel nights and activities at our competitive rates. Just ask!

To book, call toll-free 1-888-786-9841

These deals are for travel to Honolulu (HNL) from Los Angeles (LAX) [1/12/10-3/10/10] and San Francisco (SFO) [1/18/10-3/8/10]. Must book by December 27, 2009. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and do not include taxes of $35 per person.

Fly for $50 to Hawaii!

Pleasant Holidays is giving you the gift of a great deal in celebration of our 50th Anniversary and Hawaii's 50th year as the 50th state!!

Purchase a 3-night or more Hawaii vacation from Pleasant Holidays and your companion flies for $50 roundtrip! This offer is valid for travel December 1, 2009 through January 10, 2010 from San Francisco and Los Angeles to Honolulu and Maui.

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

Save $100 per Booking at Palace Resorts Mexico

Let yourself be pampered by royal treatment at Palace Resorts, where luxury prevails. Surrounded by beautiful Mexican landscapes, and offering breathtaking ocean views, Palace Resorts offer you the ultimate all-inclusive experience. To book, visit http://www.PleasantHolidays.com or call 1-888-786-9841

USA Today Travel Interviews Pleasant Holidays' CEO Jack Richards on Summer Travel Deals

Highlighting the travel deals that can be had this summer, USA Today speaks with Pleasant Holidays' CEO Jack Richards. A travel industry veteran, Richards discusses the abundance of deeply discounted travel packages to Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean. For example, Pleasant Holidays is currently offering three nights in Oahu for two, including airfare from San Francisco, for $810, plus taxes. You can book this vacation and others by visiting http://www.PleasantHolidays.com or by calling an expert reservations agent at: 1-888-786-9841.

Rates, terms, conditions, availability and itinerary are subject to change without notice. Certain restrictions may apply. Not responsible for errors or omissions. [Pleasant Holidays acts only as an agent for the various travel providers.] CST#1007939-10. UBI# 601 915 263. TAR#5308.

Oberammergau 2010 Available Now With Pleasant Holidays

Germany's famous Passion Play has been performed by the alpine village's residents since 1634. Experience the infamous Passion Play and tour Europe's breathtaking scenery. For reservations or more information, call toll-free 1-888-786-9841.

Pleasant Holidays Gives Travelers More Value with Canyon Beachwear Offer!

Time for a new swimsuit for your next vacation? Book a Pleasant Holidays vacation and receive $60 off your next swimsuit purchase from Canyon Beachwear! Click on post title for more information.

Maui Madness!

Maui, the Valley Isle, is the Hawaiian island to visit for the vacation of your dreams. On Maui you can experience the "real" Hawaii, go on a heart-pounding adventure, or simply relax on the beach.

Pleasant Holidays is offering can't miss Maui vacation deals. Vacation packages from Los Angeles and San Francisco, including round-trip airfare and three nights hotel, start from $415! Here is just a sample of the Maui deals available from Pleasant Holidays:

*$415 at the Kanapali Ocean Inn, Kids 17 and younger stay FREE
*$685 at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Kids 17 and younger stay FREE (Must book by 6/7/09)
*$1,035 at the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa, Kids 17 & younger stay FREE.

To learn more about Pleasant Holidays' Maui vacation deals or to book, visit us at http://ow.ly/9sG6 or call toll-free 1-888-786-9841


*Prices starting from. Rates quoted are per person, based on double occupancy unless otherwise stated. Offers valid for select travel dates and booking periods; call for details. CST# 1007939-10. UBI# 601 915 263. TAR#5308.

Puerto Rico Travel Deal: Save $200 + Receive $100 Debit Card + 1 Night Free + Discount Booklet + Hot Deals Added Values

Pleasant Holidays announced a $200 savings special on vacations to Puerto Rico. Offered in partnership with the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and participating hotels, this $200 savings promotion also includes a $100 debit card at hotel check-in to use while in Puerto Rico; one night FREE per every three nights at participating resorts and a discount booklet for sightseeing tours and attractions. The offer is combinable with Pleasant Holidays’ Hot Deals promotion and with added values at select hotels, including free daily breakfast and discounts on food, golf and spa services.

For more details, visit Pleasant Holidays' Facebook page. Become a Fan for automatic updates of deals as they happen!

Conde Nast Traveler & The Perrin Post Recommend Pleasant Holidays

Conde Nast Traveler and The Perrin Post recommend Pleasant Holidays for summer Hawaii deals at high-end resorts. Kudos to Wendy Perrin for recognizing the great travel values offered by Pleasant Holidays for all travelers.

Pleasant Holidays Is Here To Help With Happy Vacations Bookings

Pleasant Holidays has designed a special program to assist you in ensuring that your Happy Vacations clients receive the vacation they planned. Call our Happy Vacations Help Hotline for more information about the program: 877.287.2835

For Pleasant Holidays General Reservations, call: 800.448.3333
Hawaii World General Reservations: 800.442.9244
Groups: 800.542.9244
Or visit http://www.PleasantAgent.com

People Are Traveling, But Differently

Travel deals are so good right now that people are still traveling despite the woes of the economy. According to a Ypartnership survey in February, 63% of respondents plan to take an overnight trip in the next six months. However, they plan to change the way they travel. Of those who plan to travel differently, 87% plan to save money by booking a packaged vacation, simliar to those sold by Pleasant Holidays. Read this Travel Weekly article for additional insights from Ypartnership, PhoCusWright, and others.

Seize the Summer!

AAA says now is the time to take advantage of great summer travel deals. According to Doug Bower, Vice President of AAA Travel and Financial Services, "Given all of the negative economic news of the past six months and our society's newfound frugality, some otherwise well-off consumers are feeling a little awkward or uneasy about leisure travel this year. For this reason, AAA wants to remind consumers there may never be a better time to travel than this summer. By carefully assessing our individual economic circumstances and personal travel situation many of us may realize traveling this year should not be seen as a guilty pleasure, but as something we should get out and enjoy."

Take AAA's "Seize the Summer" travel quiz to see if you are ready to take a trip or if you just need a good excuse to travel! Book your travel with the Automobile Club of Southern California's subsidiary, Pleasant Holidays at http://www.pleasantholidays.com or by calling a travel expert at 1-800-742-9244.

Unheard of Deal

"Unheard of" deal -- that's what Michelle Higgins, travel reporter for the New York Times, calls Pleasant Holidays four-day package from San Francisco to Honolulu that includes airfare and three nights hotel for just $299.

TV Coverage of Pleasant Holidays' Travel Deals Just Doesn't Stop!

Check out ABC news coverage on how to shop for travel deals. Don't miss the great close-up shots of Kevin & team's colorful flyers! You can book these deals at http://www.pleasantholidays.com or by calling one of our travel experts at: 1-800-742-9244

Save Now With Pleasant Holidays, Love Forever at Sandals Resorts!

Save up to 60% plus, get 1 night FREE†. Sandals Resorts has earned a worldwide reputation for providing two people in love with the most romantic vacation experience in the Caribbean. 3 nights plus round-trip airfare starting as little as $575 per person. For more details, click on the title link to this post or call: 1-800-742-9244

Pleasant Holidays Partners with Ellen DeGeneres Show

What would you do to win a Pleasant Holidays vacation to Hawaii? Check out this hilarious clip from the show! http://ellen.warnerbros.com/videos/ The Ellen DeGeneres Show Community is approaching its 200,000th member and is celebrating by sending someone to Hawaii! The trip is made possible by Pleasant Holidays and the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau.

Riviera Maya's new Azul Sensatori

Read about Karisma Hotels' new Riviera Maya resort, Azul Sensatori. Great for families who want self-catering suites. According to the Miami Herald, "Riviera Maya all-inclusive caters to kids of all ages."

You can book it through Pleasant Holidays at: http://www.pleasantholidays.com or call 1-800-742-9244.

Kids fly to Oahu for $199 this Summer

We just released this amazing summer special -- Kids fly to Oahu for $199. Plus, kids stay, play and eat free at select Hawaii hotels and resorts. Los Angeles and San Francisco departures for travel from now until 12/15/09. CALL 1-800-742-9244 or BOOK ONLINE http://www.pleasantholidays.com/PleasantHolidaysWeb/Vacation-Deals-Hawaii.html

Or, for more information, visit our Facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pleasant-Holidays/52075058926