The owners of Lomas Travel recently sent a letter to their travel partners informing them that Funjet Vacations plans to change its ground services after about 30 years of working with Lomas.
The move, according to the letter sent by owners Dolores Lopez Lira and Jose Luis Martinez, who also own Karisma Hotels & Resorts’ hotels, comes as a result of the recent merger between the Apple Leisure Group (ALG) and The Mark Travel Corporation (TMTC), which owns Funjet.
“Lomas Travel has been notified that due to its merger, Funjet will change its ground services to a different Destination Management Company (DMC) effective June 13,” according to the letter. “We know this decision is not a reflection of our longstanding relationship or the outstanding service we’ve been committed to providing our partners and clients over the past three decades.
“Nevertheless, it’s very disappointing as we strongly believe that no one is more committed to the industry or agents than Lomas Travel.”
In April, ALG and TMTC announced that both companies had signed a definitive agreement “to create an integrated leisure travel and technology solutions company,” according to a news release by both companies. Financial terms of the private transaction were not disclosed. The transaction officially closed on May 1.
Lira and Martinez also reassured their partners in the letter that Lomas’ services will remain intact, but also emphasized that the company needs the travel industry’s support now more than ever.
“Through our 30 years of working together we have had the privilege and pleasure of developing many friendships along with the opportunity to service our mutual clients and promote the beauty of the Mexican-Caribbean,” the letter stated. “Please be assured that our Lomas Travel family remain happy and dedicated to continuing to provide reliable services and exceed you and your clients’ every expectation. Just as our family promises to go the extra mile to make each experience truly special, we kindly ask for your continued partnership. Your support means everything to us.”
And for travel agent Terrah Van Meter, this is exactly what she hoped wouldn’t happen after Travel Agent asked for her reaction following the merger.
“While it will be nice to have all of the hotelier partnerships under one umbrella, the travel agent community has concerns about our DMC friends like Lomas and CAT (Central American Tours)," Van Meter, an advisor with Legacy Travel, told Travel Agent at the time of the merger. "We pray that Apple Leisure Group realizes that these DMCs are the heart and soul of these destinations and it’s crucial to keep those partnerships strong."
Visit www.lomastravel.com and keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for all your latest travel news. Be sure to follow Travel Agent’s Joe Pike on Twitter @TravelPike and Instagram @pike5260.
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