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

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

Twitter for Travel Marketing

Travel Agent magazine interviews Roseanne Landay, Pleasant Holidays' Director of Strategy and Business Development and head of Pleasant Holidays' social media program, to learn how the company has utilized Twitter to communicate with the travel community. Read more in the linked article.

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.

USA Today Coverage of Pleasant Holidays' Twitter Deals

In her article,"Stay alert and on Twitter to snag fast-moving travel deals," Laura Bly highlights Pleasant Holidays' leading edge use of Twitter for communicating travel deals. Click on post title for link to article. Below are excerpts:

"A few tips and resources for scoring deals via Twitter:

Follow twitter.com/wendyperrin for frequent posts from Conde Nast traveler's bargain hunter Wendy Perrin
For airfare alerts: twitter.com/airfarewatchdog and twitter.com/rickseaney
For twice-daily roundups of top two deals from new site buzz.trazzler.com: twitter.com/travelbargains
When planning a trip, follow specific hotels and visitor bureaus at your destination. Use a hashtag (# symbol) to find information, i.e. #traveldeals or #hideals for Hawaii."

"Pleasant Holidays' new Twitter and Facebook offers include weekly last-minute specials to Hawaii, such as $200 round-trip fare to Honolulu from Los Angeles or San Francisco including a three-day car rental, and will expand to Mexico and the Caribbean next month."

Follow us on Twitter @PleasantHoliday: https://twitter.com/PleasantHoliday
Become a Fan at: http://www.facebook.com/business/dashboard/#/pages/Pleasant-Holidays/52075058926

Top Travel Deals for Week of May 25, 2009

Take an early look at next week's top travel deals! Book now by calling 1-888-786-9841 or visit http://www.pleasantholidays.com/

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

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!

Top Deals of the Week of May 11, 2009

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

Pleasant Holidays Provides Assistance to Mexico Travelers

Pleasant Holidays is closely monitoring the recent influenza outbreak and its impact on travel to Mexico. We have established new policies to assist customers and travel agents who have booked travel to Mexico. “Our primary concern is the health and safety of our customers,” says Pleasant Holidays President and CEO Jack E. Richards. “Pleasant Holidays is ready to assist anyone wishing to revise their travel plans to these destinations – simply call our Reservations staff for more information at 1-800-448-3333 or contact your travel professional.” Additional details are available on Pleasant Holidays' Facebook page, accessed by clicking on this post title.

Travel Remedies for Swine Flu

Do you have a trip booked for Mexico or were you planning one? Before you decide whether or not to travel, make sure you know all of the facts. Check with the CDC for details on the travel warning, find out the policies of your airline provider and tour operator, such as Pleasant Holidays, and learn what to do to protect yourself if you decide to travel. A good place to learn more is this article from SmarterTravel, "Concerned about Swine Flu? Read This First!"

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.

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.

Experience the Luxury of Mayakoba, Riviera Maya

Experience the luxury, service, and beauty of Riviera Maya, Mexico. In this Houston Chronicle article, "Luxury in the Yucatán," learn what is meant by service at the Mayakoba resorts -- Rosewood Mayakoba, Maroma Resort and Spa, and Fairmont. Arrive at your hotel room via boat, navigating canals to mangrove-lined lagoons. Relax with butler service, spa, and world-class dining. Book your trip through Pleasant Holidays at http://www.pleasantholidays.com or call 1-800-742-9244.

Vote for Pleasant Holidays

Pleasant Holidays nominated by Travel Age West for Best Tour Operator, Best Travel Support, Best Tour Operator - Hawaii, Best Tour Operator - Mexico! Cast your vote today!! Link to the voting polls by clicking on the title of this post or paste the following into your web browser:
http://apps.travelagewest.com/wave/wave2009.aspx

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.