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

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

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.

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.

Destination Weddings Popular Despite Recession

According to a new survey released by Destination Weddings magazine, destination weddings are forecasted to grow to $16 Billion in 2009, a 23% increase over 2008. Destination weddings have long been viewed as less expensive and more relaxing than traditional weddings. Celebrating with an intimate group of friends and family in a beautiful location such as the Caribbean, Hawaii, or Mexico can mean fewer planning headaches and more fun.

Pleasant Holidays has a dedicated team of wedding travel experts to assist couples in making and managing travel arrangements for their dream destination wedding and honeymoon. With Pleasant Holidays’ Wedding Travel Desk, couples receive exclusive advantages such as:
* Flexible travel packages that meet the travel needs and budgets of the wedding couple and their guests
* Toll-free wedding travel hotline for guests to plan and book travel
* Wedding travel reminders sent to guests
* Updated travel reports indicating confirmation of guests’ travel arrangements
* Free round-trip airfare and room amenities for qualifying wedding parties.

For more information or to set up a Wedding Travel Program (10 or more travelers required), call Pleasant Holidays Wedding Travel Desk at 1-800-818-9080 or visit http://ow.ly/6wbf

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.

The Secret is Out - Kailua, Hawaii The Place To Be

The Los Angeles Times exposes Kailua, Hawaii for the beautiful, uncrowded destination that it is. Read more plus many other destinations under the travel radar. For amazing Hawaii travel deals, visit http://www.PleasantHolidays.com or call 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

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.

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

Eat at Obama's Favorite Hawaii Restaurants

Next time you book a Pleasant Holidays' vacation to Hawaii be sure to check out these local eats hand-picked by President Obama. Top choices include: Indigo, Alan Wong's, Rainbow Drive-in, and Zippy's. For more restaurant information, click on the title to this post and it will link you to the USA Today article. To book your travel, visit http://www.pleasantholidays.com or call 1-800-742-9244.

Five Great Beaches In Hawaii

Hawaii has lots of great beaches to choose from and great weather year-round. The Seattle Times identifies a few beaches particularly good during the summer, when the surf builds up on south shores. Check out the article at: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008854905_trhawaii15.html

Book Pleasant Holidays' hot travel deals to Hawaii: http://www.pleasantholidays.com/PleasantHolidaysWeb/Vacation-Deals-Hawaii.html&cid=c980

Travel More Affordable

US Traveler Sentiment Index rose to 90.2 in February from 78.2 in October 2008. The increased perception of travel affordability appears to be the result of agressive promotional discounting by travel suppliers, some of which are offering up to 50% off prices quoted six months ago. For more information visit: http://www.traveltrade.com/news_article.htm?id=5941&p=index.htm For great travel deals, visit www.pleasantholidays.com or call 1-800-742-9244

Pleasant Holidays 2.0

Pleasant Holidays is rapidly expanding its web 2.0 strategy. Join us here for future blog updates or visit our website at: http://www.PleasantHolidays.com

You can also find us under Pleasant Holidays on Facebook and LinkedIn or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/PleasantHoliday (note we had to cut the "s").

More to come!