Club Amigo Atlantico Guardalavaca, Holguin
Transcription
Club Amigo Atlantico Guardalavaca, Holguin
www.travelcourier.ca ADVERTISEMENT December 10, 2015 Club Amigo Atlantico Guardalavaca, Holguin Hotel Colonial Cayo Coco It's all included Happiness lives here With Cubanacan, families are in for an authentic, value-added experience! This chain offers promotions for children under 12, plus access to Cuba’s heavenly beaches and cultural scene with 14 hotel locations in Varadero, Cayo Coco, Holguin, Santa Lucia, Havana and Trinidad. Hotel Tuxpan Varadero Hotel Covarrubias, Holguin Noteworthy CONTENTS REGULAR FEATURES 14 cover story The Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos is back, and the all-inclusive property is even fresher than it was when first opened thanks to a virtually complete makeover necessitated by damage from Hurricane Odile a year ago. “The Love Boat” cast reunite aboard Pacific Princess in the Port of Los Angeles to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Princess 22 events travel industry calendar Cruises. From left: Bernie Kopell (Doc), Fred Frandy (Gopher), Ted Lange (Isaac), Gavin MacLeod (Captain Stubing), Cindy Tewes (Julie) and Jill Whelan (Vicki Stubing). Princess celebrates 50th anniversary I t all began 50 years ago with a cruise to Mexico on a single cruise ship, the Princess Patricia. Fast-forward half a century and on Dec. 3, Princess Cruises celebrated its 50th anniversary aboard Pacific Princess – better known as the “Love Boat” – in the Port of Los Angeles. Marking the milestone was a special appearance by the original cast of the TV show “The Love Boat,” before the vessel set sail on a throwback cruise, recreating the very first itinerary to the iconic Mexican Riviera. The pilot episode of “The Love Boat” was shot aboard the 730-passenger Sun Princess, with Pacific Princess and Island Princess then becoming the primary floating stars of the show. Later episodes and specials were filmed aboard many other Princess cruise ships in destinations around the globe. The show, which aired from 1977 to 1986, went on to become one of the highest-rated and longest-running and beloved shows on television, introducing viewers to modern-day cruising and, in the process, making Princess Cruises and its ships synonymous with vacations at sea. In 2015, Princess Cruises is the third-largest cruise line in the world with a fleet of 18 cruise ships taking 1.7 million travellers each year to some of the world’s top cruise destinations. Anniversary festivities will continue through April 2016. The Airline Ticket Centre a SM company 4 travelcourier.ca | december 10, 2015 22 fams upcoming educational trips for the trade DESTINATIONS & FEATURES 19 mexico/latin america 24 hawaii 26 africa 28 western canada DEPARTMENTS 30 careers professional services business opportunities Sunwing Selection = 2x STAR REWARD POINTS Book by Jan 31, 2016 Dep: Dec 17, 2015 to Jun 30, 2016 A breathtaking city that makes every moment count 365 Days of sunshine, guaranteed. ACAPULCO TORONTO DEPARTURES • ONE WEEK CONTINENTAL PLAN ALL INCLUSIVE +++ +++PLUS INCLUSIVE ALBA SUITES ACAPULCO RITZ ACAPULCO JAN 20 & 27 SUPERIOR JUNIOR SUITE $ 335 +$432 Taxes JAN 20 & 27 OCEANVIEW ROOM $ 595 +$422 Taxes HOTEL EL CANO ACAPULCO ++++ JAN 20 & 27 HOTEL ROOM $ 625 +$422 Taxes LIVE IT TO BELIEVE IT ALL FLIGHTS OFFER AWARDWINNING SUNWING AIRLINES' CHAMPAGNE SERVICE NEW! FFor all guests at no extra cost: • Bon glass of sparkling wine For all guests at noVoyage extra cost: of Hot•&Bon Fresh Bistro withwine wine• Choice of • Choicebaggage 20Kg FREE checked Voyage glassMeals™ of sparkling 23 kg FREE Hot & Fresh •Bistro • Soft drinks•• Leather Hot towelseating service • Leather SoftMeals™ drinkswith • Hotwine towel service checked baggage seating • First run movies • Kids backpacks with games & toys run movies • Kids backpacks with games & toys • First Elite Plus Service Bookable online for only $50 each way! All features of Champagne Service PLUS: • Extra legroom seats • Advance seat selection • 7 kg extra checked baggage • Free headset • Priority check-in and boarding • Priority baggage handling Toronto departures. All prices are gross per person based on double occupancy for 7 nights on all inclusive vacations (unless otherwise specified) and were available at the time of printing. Seats at the above prices are limited and subject to change without prior notice. Applicable to new bookings only. Not combinable with any other offers. Transportation taxes & related fees shown must be pre-paid. In-flight service varies by flight time and destination. Flights are with Sunwing Airlines or Travel Service. For full terms and conditions, please refer to the Sunwing Vacations 2015/16 brochure. 27 Fasken Drive Toronto Ontario M9W 1K6 Ont Reg #2476582 - BC BPCPA Reg# 39606 | 12102015 US CROSS-BORDER BLUES Weak loonie sees less Canadians heading south mike dunbar The damage being inflicted on the Canada-US travel market by the lackless loonie has yet to bottom out. In fact, the currency divide is accelerating the decline, according to the latest crop of figures from The US Department of Commerce. In September 2013, some two million Canadians went south by land or air for a stay of one night or more. By the same month last year, the total had dropped to 1.8 million, and this September’s tally was down to 1.6 million. That’s an 11.6% drop from September last year, but a massive, 16.7% slide from the same month two years ago. The numbers just released by the department’s National Travel and Tourism Office, show conclusively that the dollar difference is intensifying the demand drop month by month. January numbers were off 1.1% from the same month in 2014. By March, demand had dropped 3.7 percentage points and the June total brought the year-to-date decline to -6.1%. And it didn’t stop there. Consecutive shortfalls since then have driven the market down a full 8.8% since September 2014. The news is probably worse for tourism operators in America’s border states, since the bulk of the fall-off is being registered by the twitchy drive segment. TRAVEL COURIER FOUNDER W.H. Baxter, 1919-2004 The southbound air segment went down a couple of percentage points last year as a whole and a further 2.1% to September this year. But Canada’s reception industry can take heart from the fact that northbound traffic is growing at about the same rate as the southbound market is waning. continued on page 8 Vol.50 No.48 ® EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Edith Baxter, ebaxter@baxter.net PRESIDENT David McClung, dmcclung@baxter.net Bob Mowat, Executive Editor bobmowat@baxter.net Michael Baginski, Editor/Publisher baginski@baxter.net Greg D. Coates, Assistant Editor gcoates@baxter.net Mike Dunbar, Quebec Editor mdunbar@total.net Ted Davis, Western Editor teddavis@baxter.net Ian Stalker, Staff Writer istalker@baxter.net Ann Ruppenstein, Staff Writer aruppenstein@baxter.net Emily McClung, Audience/Prd. Development Mgr. emcclung@baxter.net Dee Ristic, Circulation dristic@baxter.net Tabatha Fernandez-Bradley, Classifieds tfbradley@baxter.net EXECUTIVE V.P. OPERATIONS Wendy McClung, wmcclung@baxter.net SALES & MARKETING: Earl Lince, Director of International Marketing elince@baxter.net Rodney Tugwell, Sales Manager rtugwell@baxter.net Mitchell McClung, Account Executive mmcclung@baxter.net Florida - North: Gillian Harper GHTourismSolutions@gmail.com Hawaii: Laurie Doerschlen MdLinks@aol.com Central & South America: Lillian Martinez twtrm@earthlink.net Mexico: Paloma Martinez pmartinez@towmar.com.mx REGIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVES: Western Canada: Terry Ohman ohman@baxter.net Alberta: Greg Ohman greg.ohman@baxter.net Quebec & Atlantic Canada: Rodney Tugwell rtugwell@baxter.net USA: Earl Lince elince@baxter.net Florida - South: Dino Torres t_dino@bellsouth.net PRODUCTION: Johnny Koo, Art Director johnkoo@baxter.net Wayne Labourn, Production Manager wlabourn@baxter.net Sharron Taylor, Adv. Material Coordinator staylor@baxter.net Dragana Lekovic-Lucic, Senior Design Manager Wayne McDonald, Michael Mouatt, Production Artists TRAVEL COURIER is published weekly by Baxter Travel Media at 310 Dupont St., Toronto, Ont., Canada M5R 1V9 Tel.: 416-968-7252, Fax: 416-968-2377. Single price per copy $2.00 (plus applicable taxes). Subscription Rates: Canada - $60 per year(plus applicable taxes). HST #R120906425): Foreign - $110 US per year. ISSN 1182-9699. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 40063078. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation Department, 310 Dupont Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5R 1V9 e-mail: circ@baxter.net. PRINTED IN CANADA Copyright 2015. 6 travelcourier.ca | december 10, 2015 www.travelcourier.ca We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada AMRESORTS. MASTERS OF Vacation Innovation. Happy Holidays from the AMResorts family to yours! AMResorts offers your clients more than 40 oceanfront properties in eight exciting countries, with even more on the way. Enjoy elegant retreats focused on wellness and cultural enrichment, sensuous settings just for adults, and classic and contemporary masterpieces for memorable family getaways. No one provides more automatic inclusions for them — or more advantages, rewards and repeat customers for you. AMResorts presents AMRewards, the most robust travel agent loyalty program in the industry. TM ™ FREE NIGHTS FOR YOU GIFTS FOR YOUR CLIENTS BOOKING BONUSES CO-BRANDED MARKETING Visit AMRewards.com to start earning and redeeming bonus points today! ARUBA (2018) | COSTA RICA | CURAÇAO | DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: CAP CANA (JAN 2017) • LA ROMANA • PUNTA CANA | JAMAICA: MONTEGO BAY | MEXICO: AKUMAL • CANCUN • COZUMEL • HUATULCO • ISLA MUJERES • IXTAPA LOS CABOS • NUEVO VALLARTA • PLAYA DEL CARMEN (2017) • PLAYA MUJERES • PUERTO AVENTURAS • PUERTO VALLARTA • RIVIERA CANCUN • RIVIERA MAYA • TULUM | PANAMA (DEC 2015) | U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS: ST. THOMAS ©20 © 20015 continued from page 6 Americans, it seems, are finally aware of the currency exchange bonanza that awaits them here. In 2014, overnight land arrivals rose 1.7%, while the air segment grew six points. By this September, the US drive trade was up another 8.8%, and air arrivals had risen 6.4% for a cumulative year-to-date market increase of 8%. And, while the number of Canadians driving to America is dwindling, the opposite is true for the number of Americans queuing up to enter Canada at border land crossings. In September this year, the northbound drive segment staying one night or more rose an astonishing 25.8%. tc ASTA SLAMS VAGUE GOVERNMENT TRAVEL ALERTS With the alerts seemingly coming more often than ever, the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) has taken the US government to task for what it calls vague, generalized worldwide travel warnings that offer no country-specific details and that can be confusing to travellers and risk discouraging travel across the board. For example, the US Department of State issued a Worldwide Travel Alert on Nov. 23, recommending, among other things, that US citizens remain vigilant when in public places and when using public transportation, to avoid crowds and to be aware of their surroundings. Canadian governmental alerts are similar in nature. “While the issuance of the alert was no doubt well-intentioned, the lack of any detail particularizing the conditions in specific countries or regions of the world is concerning,” said ASTA president Zane Kerby. “Vague, overly broad warnings offer travellers little in the way of helpful guidance. In fact, they have the unintended consequence of discouraging travel everywhere, negatively affecting the travel industry and the economy as a whole.” 8 travelcourier.ca | december 10, 2015 Travel Professionals International (TPI) welcomed over 200 of its travel advisors and their guests, preferred partners, and staff, to the company’s 2015 annual conference at the Melià Marina Varadero, Cuba, Nov. 16-20. With a theme of “New Heights,” attendees were invited to challenge themselves and their expectations of what their TPI business can achieve. G Adventures founder and keynote speaker Bruce Poon Tip (l), shown here with TPI President & CEO Morris Chia, took the assembled group on an impassioned and emotional journey through his views on philanthropy, relationships, and business – combined to become “social enterprise” – and challenged TPI’s travel advisors to remember that, “people used to buy products from brands. Now they buy products from people.” GLOBUS BOOKINGS GENERATE MORE CLIENT COMMUNICATIONS The Globus family of brands has launched new initiatives in client communications. Every booking now generates five client-focused messages at important stages of the travel process, all including the agency contact info. They will comprise: a Welcome Notice immediately after booking; what to know before you go in the Getting Close message three months out; e-ticket receipts and luggage info in the Ready to Go message 30 to 40 days out; Happy Trails will provide arrival and transfer info two days prior to departure; and the Welcome Back message will be sent to agents as a reminder five days after the clients’ return. “Much of our product is booked many months – even over a year – in advance, and we think this is a great way for agents to stay in touch with their clients in a friendly and helpful way to ensure they’ve not been forgotten during that long period between booking and travel,” says Stéphanie Bishop, managing director for the Globus family of brands in Canada. →w ww.agentlingo.ca HOLIDAY HOUSE, INTAIR COMBINE BOOKING PLATFORMS TravelBrands has consolidated the Intair and Holiday Network booking platforms. Travel agents will now utilize the Intair booking engine for all their air reservations by simply clicking on the Intair logo to access the platform. All past and current Network bookings will continue to be available via the My Files tool that enables agents to consult and manage existing Network files, do seat selections, make special requests, send itineraries, invoices and e-tickets. Agents will earn up to 400 Loyalty Points on an economy ticket and up to 2,000 Loyalty Points on a business-class ticket when making bookings online and now by phone. To access the booking engine, click on Intair on the top left corner at: →w ww.travelbrandsagent.com Online subscribers: click for digital extras THE HAPPIEST CLIENTS FLY NON-STOP. Now offering non-stop flights to Dubai, surrounded by the luxury of our Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Learn more at aircanada.com/agents AIR CARIBBEAN AIRLINES ROUGE Air Canada rouge is expanding in Eastern Canada with the addition of twice-daily seasonal non-stop service between Toronto and Charlottetown, PEI beginning May 2, 2016. Flights and optional Air Canada Vacations (ACV) packages are available. ACV currently has seven-day vacation packages available from Charlottetown to sun destinations via Toronto from $847 roundtrip, all-in. In summer 2016, Air Canada rouge and Air Canada Express will operate up to 69 scheduled non-stop flights Caribbean Airlines says passengers needn’t continually reach for their wallets. Nazie Mohammed, Caribbean Airlines’ sales executive, Canada, told a Toronto gathering that Caribbean Airlines passengers won’t be charged for the likes of headsets, meals, seat pre-selection and one checked-in bag. Caribbean Airlines isn’t going to “nickel and dime” its clients, he continued. Mohammed also reaffirmed his carrier’s ties with the travel agency community, stating that “at the end of the day, travel agents are still No. 1” with the airline. Caribbean Airlines, which began operation in 2007, uses Port of Spain as its main hub with Kingston, Jamaica, serving as a secondary gateway. →w ww.caribbean-airlines.com each week from Charlottetown to four destinations across Canada. Air Canada offers twice daily summer service to Toronto between May 2 and Oct. 23, 2016 operated by Air Canada rouge with 136-seat Airbus A319 aircraft featuring premium and economy cabins. →w ww.flyrouge.com COPA AIRLINES Star Alliance member Copa Airlines has celebrated a milestone in the history of the airline and of Panama – the arrival of the 100th aircraft in its modern fleet, a Boeing 737-800 Next Generation, with seating for 16 passengers in Business Class and 144 in the main cabin. Copa’s fleet now has 77 Boeing 737 Next-Generation aircraft. In April, the airline signed an order for 61 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, generating a 14% improvement in fuel consumption above that of the majority of most efficient single-aisle aircraft. Copa passengers can make connections to 74 destinations in 31 countries in North Central and South America and the Caribbean through Panama City, the airline’s hub. →w ww.copa.com 10 travelcourier.ca | december 10, 2015 Online subscribers: click for digital extras WHERE YOU WANT TO BE Prime Beachfront Location | Luxury All-Inclusive | Oversized Suites | 5-Star Dining | Family Concierge | Royal Service Exclusively for Adults | The Reserve: a private vacation experience | Romance by Paradisus | Yhi Spa Life Enriching Experiences | Non-Motorized Water Sports | Unlimited Golf** 1.888.741.5600 | PARADISUS.COM *Sample all-inclusive from rate is based on double occupancy in a Paradisus Junior Suite category from 11/21- 11/24, 2015. Rates are subject to availability and may change at any time without notice. Not responsible for errors of omissions. **Golf available at Cocotal Golf Club. Cart & Caddy not included and mandatory. SAVE ON WINTER FROM 126 $ PER NIGHT PER PERSON ALL-INCLUSIVE* JAMAICA ° ANTI G UA ° SAINT LUC IA ° BAHAMAS ° G R E NADA ° T H E WORLD’S O N L Y F I V E - S T A R +++++ I N C L U D E D® R E S O R T S BAR BADOS Advertisement Sandals Changes the Game in Caribbean Travel By Linda Donahue There’s a reason why Sandals® Resorts are the #1 All-Inclusive Luxury Resorts in the World he Caribbean isn’t just a destination for the glitterati of the world, though it seems that every celebrity and royal is heading there these days. Of course, there are reasons for that: miles and miles of perfect beaches, waters made for both sports and relaxation, and year-round warmth. Sandals capitalized on all of these attributes by creating an extraordinary portfolio of resorts on the best beaches of the Caribbean’s best islands: Jamaica, Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and the Bahamas. And it’s obvious Sandals is truly a Caribbean brand because it’s all about location, location, location. Always the innovators, Sandals revolutionized the all-inclusive industry by including more of everything, never losing sight of quality and luxury. Sandals changed the game by including a full program of motorized water sports—including unlimited scuba diving for certified divers and waterskiing—along with championship golf courses in Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Saint Lucia. It wasn’t enough to include just dining; Sandals includes up to 16 specialty restaurants through their G o u r m e t D i s c ov e r y D i n i n g T program, with chefs from around the world trained in their specialties. Creating global cuisine that’s as authentic as it is delicious, served in venues with an ambience that transports guests across the world. In addition to including unlimited premium spirits (no watered down bottom- Sandals Resorts revolutionized the all-inclusive industry by constantly adding more luxury, more innovations, and more quality inclusions than any other resorts on the planet. shelf brands here) at up to 11 bars per resort, their partnership with Robert Mondavi Twin Oaks wines has resulted in a selection of wines chosen for Sandals Resorts. If you’re going to judge a resort by accommodations, you’ll find that Sandals has earned accolades for its luxurious and innovative rooms and suites. Not content to rest on their laurels, Sandals is continually upgrading ever y level of accommodation. In its top categories, Sandals’ Love Nest SuitesTM are the epitome of luxury and romance. From their exotic Rondoval suites-in-the-round and Millionaire suites, both with private plunge pools, to SkyPool suites that do, in fact, have pools on their sky-high terraces, Sandals continues to reinvent resort living. Some even come with the services of their own personal butler trained by the prestigious Guild of Professional English Butlers—all on call to provide those extra touches like arranging spa appointments and excursions, providing candlelit private dinners on the terrace or picnics in the garden, restocking in-room bars, and unpacking luggage after personally handling guests’ in-suite check-in. Sandals is repeatedly winning awards for its brand and its resorts, and they do this by continually raising the bar—not just for other all-inclusives, but for themselves. It’s never enough to have more quality inclusions than any other resorts on the planet; they need to be better than their last great innovation. It’s this philosophy, along with their renowned hospitality, that keeps their guests coming back time and time again. And that’s what makes Sandals the true game changers in the hospitality industry. At a resort where everything is included and unlimited, all your clients can do is sit back and smile (and scuba dive*, golf*, sail, swim, snorkel, paddle board, play tennis, dine at up to 16 restaurants, and drink premium spirits at up to 11 bars). ALL I N C LU D E D. ALL U N LI MITE D. ALL TH E TI M E. *Visit www.sandals.com/disclaimers/travelcourier121015 or call 1-800-SANDALS for important terms and conditions. ® VISIT SANDALS.COM OR CALL 1-800-545- 8283 COVER STORY | HYATT ZIVA LOS CABOS Tequila Time Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos celebrates reopening Story and photos by MICHAEL BAGINSKI 14 travelcourier.ca | december 10, 2015 A fter the storm, the scene of devastation was enough to “make you cry.” Today, at the newly reopened and “reimagined” Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos, a visitor would hardly know that Hurricane Odile had laid waste to the resort, as well as much of Los Cabos, on Sept. 14, 2014. Except for the odd reminder, such as a dilapidated and still closed “ooters” in Cabo San Lucas, Los Cabos is again humming as a high-end sun and fun spot at the tip of Baja California on Mexico’s northwest coast. Likewise the Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos, which officially reopened in mid-September – a full year after Odile – but only hosted its grand gala on Nov. 19. Close to 1,200 guests turned out for the affair, including several trade representatives from Canada, who stayed for several days to get to know the property for the first time, or to see what the resort has become after renovations, which have subtly altered the Ziva from its 2013 incarnation following conversion from a Barcelo. Located on the outskirts of San Jose del Cabo (the quieter town, compared to Cabo San Lucas, on the southern tip of Los Cabos), and about 20 minutes from the international airport, the luxury all-inclusive resort on the Sea of Cortez resort boasts 591 rooms, every one of which was “touched” in the renovation. december 10, 2015 | travelcourier.ca 15 While renovating a resort only a year after opening obviously isn’t particularly desirable, the exercise did enable Hyatt and its partner, Playa Resorts, to go further with the distinctive redesign of the hotel from its former Barcelo colours, as well as integrating significant structural improvements that will enable it to withstand a category four hurricane if necessary in the future. In terms of decor, Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos is inspired by its Baja surroundings and includes indigenous style wood carvings, handcrafted mosaics, architectural details that celebrate the history of the region, and a massive open air lobby that opens out into the central pool area and, beyond, miles-long white sand beach. Additional elements of the resort include: • 21 premium oceanfront and ocean view two-bedroom suites; • 34 swim-up suites; • Six casual and à la carte restaurants, including Italian beachfront restaurant with a classic brick pizza oven; expanded Asian restaurant with a separate Sushi Bar, Teppanyaki Grill, and a la carte dining in Tatami-style seating; two International Buffet restaurants, including a unique Mexican Taqueria with its own grist mill; plus Spanish and French options; 16 travelcourier.ca | december 10, 2015 • A Mexican Plaza for dining and entertainment with an authentic Tequila Bar: • Sports Bar featuring 16 40-inch HDTVs and all major sports networks; • Evening entertainment in a dedicated theatre; • New KidZ Club complete with its own waterpark and supervised programming; • Streamline registration for meeting attendees in a dedicated meeting and events lobby adjacent to the resorts 35,000 sq. ft. of conference space; • Oceanview Zen Spa with a beauty salon, dedicated space for bridal parties, and expansive treatment rooms, plus fitness centre; • Two choices for complimentary wedding celebrations in beach and sky venues; • 24-hour in-suite dining, beach butler service, and tour services provide opportunities for guests to easily experience the areas many attractions including deep-water fishing, scuba diving, world-class golf, and many more thrilling adventure activities; • Elaborate Mexican craftsmanship including ceramics and the recreation of ancient cave petroglyphs that are indigenous to the region. Playa Hotels & Resorts CEO Bruce Wardinski says the company is striving to provide an authentic experience at the Ziva, acknowledging the sometimes negative perception of Los Cabos as “LA south!” But he adds, “I think of Cabo San Lucas [30 minutes away],” as that destination. The fortunate thing about being here in San Jose del Cabo is that it’s a much more authentic experience... What we tried to do was a combination of building off San Jose del Cabo and Baja California.” To that end, he points to the resort’s decor, architectural design, tequila bar (featuring 83 brands and certified tequila master), food, even the serving of (excellent) Mexican wines. “We don’t want to be L.A. What we want to be is Mexico,” he says. One guest who was clearly impressed was WestJet Vacations VP Tim Croyle, “From the moment I walked into the Hyatt Ziva Cabo, I was struck by the beauty of the resort,” said the Calgary-based exec, who attended the opening gala. “From the open air-lobby with ocean views to the landscaping and pool areas and the rooms, it has a modern, clean and elegant look.” He added, “The staff were very friendly and helpful, consistently delivering ‘Service from the Heart’ [the resort’s motto].” Croyle says he would recommend the Hyatt Ziva to families and adults “looking for a resort with plenty of room to find your own space to relax, enjoy great food and appreciate good service.” The Los Cabos property gives Hyatt’s fast-growing all-inclusive division six five-star properties in its Ziva and Zilara portfolio (the two brands are almost exactly the same, but with the distinction that the former is for all ages, the latter for couples), including two in Montego Bay, which opened a year ago, and the brand new flagship Ziva Cancun, which began welcoming guests in mid-November and is due for formal opening ceremonies in mid-January. More Hyatt properties in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Latin America are in the pipeline with an announcement of the next locations expected “soon.” →w ww.allinclusive.hyatt.com december 10, 2015 | travelcourier.ca 17 ROOMS FAIRFIELD INN, KANATA A 98-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott has opened in Kanata, Ont. The first Marriott hotel in Kanata provides guests with convenient access to corporate headquarters, dining, shopping and sporting facilities, including the Canadian Tire Center a short walk away. Located 25 minutes from Ottawa International Airport and 15 from downtown Ottawa, hotel guests are also close to local attractions, including Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal and ByWard Market. Rooms and suites offer separate living, working and sleeping areas. Plush mattresses, televisions, microwaves and mini-fridges enhance the guest experience. The living area provides a well-lit work area, ergonomic chair and entertainment area with a second FAIRMONT HOTELS & RESORTS On its 100th anniversary, San Francisco’s Claremont Club & Spa has become a Fairmont. Built in 1915, and nestled at the base of the Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve, overlooking San Francisco Bay, the Claremont offers 276 restored guest rooms and suites, club and spa, and an extensive dining portfolio. Fairmont conducted a multi-million dollar capital investment project, to update the hotel’s facilities and enhance its castle-like architecture. →w ww.fairmont.com television. Complimentary hot breakfast is available each morning in the lobby area. Other hotel amenities include an indoor swimming pool, fitness facility, guest laundry and valet laundry service, complimentary WiFi, as well as fax and copy services. The hotel has 1,480 sq. ft. of event space for functions of up to 40 people. →w ww.fairfieldinn.com TOURING AIR CANADA VACATIONS VOYAGES GENDRON Voyages Gendron of Quebec is offering packages to Park City including seven nights twin-sharing at Park City Peaks in a standard hotel room. This includes a daily breakfast and a six-day Park City Lift Pass (http://www.ski.voyages gendron.com/en). Also, Merit Travel Canada is 18 travelcourier.ca | december 10, 2015 Air Canada Vacations has a new Groups brochure that features a full listing of the tour operator’s hotel products and flight schedules to Mexico and the Caribbean, as well as detailed advantages for leisure, wedding and incentive groups for all of ACV’s destinations, including the Caribbean and Mexico, Europe, the US, Canada, Asia, South America, the South Pacific and its Cruise product. Travel agents will also find information about ACV’s Automatic Group Price Match Policy, which matches up to $100 p.p. on the competitor price. The brochure also includes contact information for ACV’s Groups department and an overview of the ACV&ME loyalty program. Agents who book groups (10 or more travellers) will earn 5x ACV&ME points. →w ww.vacv.com offering packages to Snowbird, including seven nights twin sharing at The Inn @ Snowbird in a north side studio room. The package includes a six-day Snowbird Tram & Chairlift Lift Pass. →w ww.merittravel.com Online subscribers: click for digital extras DESTINATION | MEXICO / LATIN AMERICA GOWAY SAYS SI TO MEXICO Goway’s reaching out to landlubbers The latest addition to the tour operator’s Latin America program is Mexico, with Goway’s Don Forster telling a Toronto audience that Goway’s program to that country differs markedly from what most other tour operators offer in the world’s largest Spanish-speaking country. “We’re talking about the other side of Mexico,” he said of a program that goes “beyond the beaches.” Goway added Mexico to its Latin America lineup in September, and Forster said the bulk of it focuses on an area ranging from Mexico City to the country’s frontier with Central America. Goway is showcasing the likes of pre-Columbian archeological sites, natural attractions, Mexican cuisine and colonial cities. Among archeological sites singled out by Forster are the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, which Forster labelled the “Machu Picchu of Mexico.” Forster added that Goway clients can spend two or three days at a beach resort after their tour ends. → www.goway.com RIU Hotels & Resorts hosted its annual Toronto trade lunch for top performers last week in conjunction with top Canadian partner, the Sunwing Travel Group. The low-key affair at the Jazz Bistro was a mix-and mingle reception and lunch with a short update on the chain’s considerable growth in 2015, continuing into 2016. Plenty of Sunwing/Signature staff were on hand to meet the agents and thank them for their support. RIU execs noted that Signature Vacations is their biggest partner worldwide, while Sunwing’s Deanna Murphy observed, “We have a special relationship with RIU.” Shown here are some of the RIU and Signature staff on hand at the event: (Back row, l-r) Angela Bennett – RIU sales director, Jamaica; David Wright – Director of Sales for Ontario & Atlantic Canada, Sunwing; Hugo Aguilera de Alba – Director of Partner Marketing and Business Development, RIU; Valerie Ward – BDM Ontario, RIU; Larissa Morias – Sales Director, Dominican Republic, RIU; Sergi Ruiz Pique – VP Business Development and Partner Marketing, RIU; and (seated l-r), Deana Murphy, VP Retail Sales at Sunwing Travel Group; and Blanca Jaimes, sales director, Cancun and Playa del Carmen RIU. 0(;,&2%(<21'7+(%($&+ 'LVFRYHUWKH<XFDWDQ&DQFXQ 7 days - * K^jn^lmhnk+)*/MkZo^e;kh\ank^ LIVE IT TO BELIEVE IT v isitm exico.com Book by 15 Dec and Save 10% ** Transfers & transportation, accommodation, daily breakfast, archaeological sites & museums, visit Chichen Itza, Merida, Uxmal, Ek’ Balam, Coba, porterage. Call Toll Free 877.469.2950 or visit ZZZJRZD\FRPPH[LFR *Per person, twin. Subject to availability. 10% saving already deducted on select departure dates. Exchange rates as of 9 Nov’15 and subject to change. Single and triple rates available on request. TICO#1543989. 3284 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON. december 10, 2015 | travelcourier.ca 19 NEW MEXICAN RESORT LEAVES GUESTS BREATHLESS The party has started for the opening of Breathless Cabo San Lucas, which will welcome its first guests Dec. 17. Adultsonly Breathless Cabo San Lucas, situated on Medano beach and near famed Cabo San Lucas nightlife, offers a mix of luxury and entertainment for singles, couples or friends. The 169-suite resort promises an around-the-clock schedule of parties and monthly themed special events. From “sensuality shows to mega dance parties, the experience will always be high-energy and vivacious,” AMResorts says. Highlight amenities include suites with private terraces offering ocean and marina views; seven dining options, including buffets, à la carte grills and a café; five bars and lounges; two pools; 24-hour complimentary room service; and daytime activities and live nightly entertainment, including pool parties, dancing, aerobatic performances, and more → www.BreathlessResorts.com TROPICAL FOODS AWAIT COSTA RICA VISITORS The World Tourism Organization says gastronomy is becoming one of the most important incentives for travel, and countries should have strategies put in place to strengthen the quality, variety and uniqueness of the products of their destination. The Costa Rica Tourism Board, along with the Costa Rican Chamber of Restaurants and the National Institute of Biodiversity, have launched the second phase of their National Plan for Healthy and Sustainable Food, which will help Costa Rica promote its gastronomic products and highlight its heritage. The program’s purpose is to promote Costa Rican cuisine as sustainable, considering social, environmental and economic aspects in all phases of the production, marketing and service. It assists in training a culinary establishment’s staff on how to prepare traditional dishes, and emphasizes using local plants, vegetables and fruits. → www.visitcostarica.com 20 travelcourier.ca | december 10, 2015 DECEMBER PRIME TIME FOR WHALE-WATCHING IN CABO Each winter, hundreds of whales gather in the warm, calm waters surrounding the Baja Peninsula. Whale-watching has become a growing tourism trend, and Los Cabos is no stranger to receiving visitors looking for up-close encounters with the ocean’s largest mammals. To provide guests with a seamless experience, many hotels in the area partner with local tour providers to offer whale-watching packages lasting through the end of the season, which begins in December and ends in March. Of the 11 whale species found worldwide, eight venture to the waters surrounding Los Cabos each year, including minke, bryde, fin, sei, humpback, gray, and blue. → www.visitloscabos.travel December is a good time for whalewatching in Mexico’s Los Cabos region. OCEAN BY H10 HOTELS EXPANDING IN CUBA Ocean by H10 Hotels – H10 Hotels’ Caribbean Division – has announced the expansion of its presence in Cuba by adding two resorts which will be opening later this year. In addition to the existing Ocean Varadero El Patriarca, an all-inclusive resort located on Varadero Beach, the new all-inclusive resorts Ocean Casa del Mar and Ocean Vista Azul will open by the end of the year. The 800-room, five-star Ocean Casa del Mar, located on Cayo Santa Maria, is on a white-sand beach and will feature five restaurants, six bars, two adults’ swimming pools and one children’s pool, a Spa Center, and exclusive Privilege Club service and suites. The 470-room, five-star Ocean Vista Azul in Varadero will offer ocean views and direct access to white-sand beaches. The resort will feature six restaurants, six bars, two adults’ swimming pools and one children’s pool, Spa Centre, and exclusive Privilege Club service and suites. → www.oceanhotels.net PLAYA DEL CARMEN RESORT ENHANCED BEFORE WINTER Gran Porto Resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, is taking it up a notch in time for the winter season with new services, amenities and little extras. The all-inclusive familyfriendly resort has added additional features, including a refresh of the International buffet restaurant, new stage for outdoor evening theatre shows; enlarged and improved kids club; more space and lounge chairs on the pool deck; and adult guests at Gran Porto can enjoy an adult-only day at THE ROYAL Playa del Carmen for US$30 p.p., THE ROYAL is an adult-only all-inclusive resort, adjacent to Gran Porto Resort. → www.playaresorts.com 115 Destinations 22 Countries You call it South America. We call it Home. Canadian travelers can now enjoy TAM Airlines' award-winning service from TORONTO* to NEW YORK with continuing service to SÃO PAULO and RIO DE JANEIRO. Passengers can also connect in NEW YORK to LAN Airlines flights to LIMA or SANTIAGO. These are some of the wonderful benefits of flying with LAN and TAM Airlines: • • • • • Free baggage allowance** Full-flat seats in Premium Business Class Complimentary food and beverages Individual on-board entertainment Access to the largest network within South America, and much more! **Different baggage allowance may apply based on the route and/or ticket class We are LAN we are TAM and together… We are South America. 2015 © LATAM AIRLINES GROUP S.A.- All rights reserved. * Flights also available from more cities in Canada with our partner carriers via LATAM’s gateways in New York, Miami, Los Angeles and Orlando, with continuing service to South America. EVENTS {Send Submissions to tc@baxter.net} TRAFALGAR Travel Talks Through February dates For the sixth consecutive year, Trafalgar is inviting agents and their clients to discover why “Trafalgar is Simply the Best” at its Travel Talks events. From November to February, Trafalgar executives and travel directors will update guests at events across the country about its products and 2016’s “must-see European destinations.” Attendees can also enjoy complimentary refreshments, exclusive prizes and booking incentives. Sponsored by Tourism Spain, clients who attend a Travel Talk will automatically be entered to win a trip for two to Spain on Trafalgar’s nine-day Spanish Wonder trip, complete with land and roundtrip airfare to Spain. They will explore every side of Andalusia, including its Moorish twist, and visit Madrid, Seville and Barcelona. Details on the upcoming events can be found at: →http://trafalgartraveltalk.ca INSIGHT VACATIONS Travel Showcase events Various dates Insight Vacations is gearing up for the return of its Travel Showcase events which are set to be held in 28 cities across Canada. Working in partnership with Tourism Ireland, Insight Vacations’ veteran European tour directors will offer presentations designed to inspire agents’ guests and encourage them to travel. Those attending the showcases will also hear from Cris David, vice-president Carla Brake, and on select nights in Western Canada, Global CEO John Boulding on what 2016 will bring, including the newly launched 2016/2017 Europe and Britain Premium and Luxury Gold programs. Agents and their clients will also have the opportunity to save on their next journey with Insight, where they can take advantage of the Showcase Special by saving up to $400 per couple. In addition, the clients of agents who attend will have the opportunity to win a grand prize consisting of an escorted journey with Insight, valued at up to $4,000. Agents will have the opportunity to win prizes. For a complete listing of events and to register online, go to: →http://bit.ly/1LkryHR FAMS {Send Submissions to tc@baxter.net} INDIA Through January 5 Services International Ltd. has a Christmas and New Year’s fam available through Jan. 5 time frame. The Taj Mahal Tour is five nights and six days and based in a Hotel Crowne Plaza in Delhi. The first day sees participants arrive in Delhi, where they will be met and transferred to the hotel. The second day visits Raj Ghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi, Red Fort and Chandni Chowk. Participants also visit Qutub Minar, built in 1199, India Gate (War Memorial Arch), and a modern Hindu temple. They’ll also see President’s House, Parliament House, 22 travelcourier.ca | december 10, 2015 Government Secretariat Buildings and the Connaught Place shopping centre. Day three visits Agra to see the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and the Halls of Public and Private Audience. The fourth day tours Delhi, visiting Lotus Temple, Akshardham Temple and Sikh Temple Bangla Sahib. The fifth day is free, and participants transfer to airport for the trip home on the sixth day. The cost based on two people sharing a room is US$293 p.p. The cost based on one person is US$578. The cost includes accommodation with breakfasts and dinners, applicable taxes, transfers/ tours by air-conditioned private chauffeurdriven cars and assistance. →services@india-travel.com →w ww.tur.me KARISMA HOTELS & RESORTS Various 2016 dates It’s private butlers, personal concierges and culinary masters. It’s beachfront boutique hotels, private villas and lavish resorts. It’s weddings, honeymoons, romantic interludes and family time. And it’s clubs for teens and kids. It’s the Gourmet Inclusive Experience at Karisma Hotels & Resorts. Agents are invited to experience it with Karisma’s 2016 fam program designed to train agents on selling the Gourmet Inclusive properties. Karisma will provide roundtrip transportation from Cancun International Airport and to all scheduled activities. Dates are as follows: Jan. 20-23, Wedding FAM; April 20-24, Wedding FAM; June 8-12, Karisma Gourmet Inclusive Experience FAM; July 6-9, Wedding FAM; Sept. 7-11, Wedding FAM; Aug. 10-14, Karisma Gourmet Inclusive Experience FAM; Oct. 5-9, Wedding FAM. →w ww.karismahotels.com Online subscribers: click for digital extras HOME OF CANADA'S MOST TRUSTED TRAVEL INDUSTRY NEWS Baxter Travel Media delivers the news and information industry professionals rely on. Canadian Travel Press Travel Courier Press Today TravelPress.com TravelBestJobs.com PersonnelGuide.ca TravelBlast Agents' Choice Awards ClearingCalendar.ca Responsible Travel & Tourism Forum Baxter Student Ambassador Program Canadian Tourism Resource Guide Travel Webcast Subscribe today. We're mobile friendly. travelpress.com/subscribe info@baxter.net DESTINATION | HAWAII OCEAN SPORTS OFFERS WHALE OF A TIME NEW HAWAII CRUISE BY PONANT L’AUSTRAL Hawaii is now included in the new 2015/16 cruise schedule by the Ponant L’Austral, a luxury French cruise liner that can accommodate up to 264 passengers. The cruises stop in Honolulu, Lahaina and Hilo before heading to the Marquesas Islands and French Polynesia. This mega-yacht has 132 cabins, offering a subtle blend of luxury, intimacy and well-being. It has a yacht-like ambience, refined and personalized service, as well as gastronomic cuisine. → www.ponant.com Ocean Sports is celebrating the annual return of the humpback whales to Hawaii’s waters with the introduction of five distinct whale-watching cruises. Featuring expert naturalists, an underwater hydrophone and stable spacious catamarans, Ocean Sports is the only company on Hawaii Island offering two dedicated morning whale-watch It’s whale-watching season, and Ocean cruises – a “Snorkel and Whale Watch Sports is offering visitors several on-theAdventure Cruise” and a “Sail with the water options. Whales Cruise” – along with a “Whales and Cocktails Sunset Cruise.” Morning whale-watch trips offer guaranteed sightings – see a humpback or cruise again for free through April 15, 2016. → www.hawaiioceansports.com CRUISE HAWAII POPULAR ALTERNATIVE TO FLYING Hawaii’s cruise industry provides visitors with an alternate way to see and experience the Hawaiian Islands. In 2014, there were 125 total cruise ships carrying 243,390 passengers that came and toured the islands. As of August 2015, 62,466 visitors had arrived by cruise ship, while 5,785,746 had come by air. To attract more visitors and provide greater opportunity to visit the islands, a new online maritime vessel scheduling system has been created. It integrates two ports schedules into a single online system. This will provide greater ease for cruise lines to port in the Hawaiian Islands and will provide a boost to Hawaii’s cruise industry. → www.hawaiitourismauthority.org PASSPORT KIOSKS AT HNL TO EASE CONGESTION An average of 33 scheduled international flights come through HNL on an average day, with between 20 and 25 of those arriving during the four hours from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., said the Hawaii Tourism Authority. The automated entry kiosks will greatly help to alleviate the congestion for international visitors, says the HTA. Upgrades are now underway at the Honolulu International Airport that include the installation of new Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks. These will ease the customs processing for international travellers, and reduce the amount of time they spend in line. The DOT anticipates that the APC program will reduce processing time by 30%, while continuing to maintaining safety and security. Thirty-two APC kiosks are currently being installed and are to be completed this month. →w ww.hawaiitourismauthority.org EARN UP TO US$250 IN CASH HOTELS IN HAWAII & GUAM Year-round booking bonuses now available. Visit aquaresorts.com/travelagent 24 travelcourier.ca | december 10, 2015 GDS CODE: QU Online subscribers: click for digital extras Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, Ka‘anapali Beach, Maui Location, location, location From Princeville and Waikiki to Ka‘apanali and Kona, you’ll find the perfect destination for your clients’ next Hawaiian getaway. Choose from our collection of four world-class brands and 11 distinctive resorts across four islands. Book the Ocean Promotion Plus Package to receive daily breakfast for two and savings on nightly rates, including Ocean View rooms. Learn more at starwoodhotelshawaii.com/agents More Luxury. More Destinations. pro Join SPG Pro to earn Starpoints® for the travel you arrange for others. Learn more at spg.com/probenefits. LEFT TO RIGHT: SHERATON KAUAI RESORT; THE ROYAL HAWAIIAN, A LUXURY COLLECTION RESORT; THE WESTIN MAUI RESORT & SPA; SHERATON KONA RESORT & SPA AT KEAUHOU BAY ©2015 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Aloft, Element, Four Points, Le Méridien, Sheraton, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Westin and their logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates. DESTINATION | AFRICA BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TO THE GAMBIA GOWAY FLOATS IDEA OF SAFARI RIVER CRUISE Goway AfricaExperts has enhanced its “Magic of Africa” itinerary which now includes two nights onboard the Zambezi Queen, giving guests a unique and luxurious way to enjoy Chobe. Clients on the Africa Holiday of a Lifetime will experience the thrill of an African safari from a private suite aboard the 45-metre boutique floating hotel. The Zambezi Queen features 10 suites and four master suites, all including ensuite, private balconies and fans, full-length sliding shutters, sliding mosquito net doors, and the finest finishes. The ship has three levels and an air-conditioned lounge, coupled with a small library. The top level is an entertainment deck with dining facilities, unobstructed views, and use of telescopes for exploring the African nighttime sky, an open-plan lounge, and bar. Guests can also experience waterbased game viewing on smaller boats enabling close-up viewing in an environment where the animals feel comfortable, as well as land-based 4x4 game viewing in Botswana’s Chobe National Park, tiger fishing (seasonal) and cultural tours of local villages. Prices start from $13,090 and depart from North America on May 16, July 15, Aug. 26, 2016 and Jan. 15 and Feb. 24, 2017. → www.goway.com The Gambia Tourism Board is promoting the first Gambia International Bird Festival. Organized with the Department of Parks & Wildlife Management, the festival will be in October 2016, and aims to promote rural tourism and the conservation of birds. The five-day festival will be hosted in Tendaba Camp, close to prime birding locations, and will feature a wide variety of birding activities, lectures and workshops. The tourist board will also be encouraging tourism beyond the country’s beaches, including cruises along the River Gambia, visits to its seven national parks and home-stay holidays. →w ww.visitthegambia.gm KENYAN WILDLIFE HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE The Kenya Tourism Board says visitors to Kenya will have no trouble spotting Kenya’s famed wildlife, with the board’s Sue Webb recounting her own recent Kenya visit to a Toronto audience. “Within five minutes of landing, we saw a leopard in a tree, went a little farther and saw a cheetah and then went five minutes more and saw a pride of lions, and I wasn’t even at my camp yet,” she said. Webb said her lodging included Richard Branson’s Mahali Mzuri safari camp – found near the Maasai Mara National Reserve – which won’t host more than 24 guests. Those guests stay in “top-of-the-line” tented accommodations and are unlikely to encounter people from other lodges, while on safari in the remote area, she added. sea of pink Another non-mainstream lodging option is Giraffe Manor, located next to a wildlife sanctuary. Visitors may find that “giraffes put their heads in [through Giraffe Manor windows], and you can feed them,” Webb reported. She said Kenya is also great for birdwatching, with one part of the country being home to 11% of the world’s flamingos, which create a “sea of pink.” Kenya has 59 national parks and game reserves and six World Heritage Sites. Vehicles, camels, bikes and horses are among safari options. Webb also praised the country’s cultural diversity, shown in part through the country’s different languages and varied cuisine. Kenya visas are available online or on arrival. →w ww.magicalkenya.com FAIRMONT HAS FAITH IN NIGERIA Fairmont Hotels & Resorts will open a 270-room luxury hotel in the Nigerian capital city of Abuja. With a planned opening in 2019, Fairmont Abuja will be situated in the heart of the city’s central business district and 30 km from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. A close proximity to the new International Conference Centre, due to open in 2018, will make the hotel a venue for corporate groups, conferences and social events. Fairmont Abuja will feature 270 guest rooms and suites, Fairmont Gold – the brand’s hotel within a hotel concept – and approximately 50 branded residences. It will also boast more than 2,400 sq. m. of meeting and event space, including a ballroom. → www.fairmont.com 26 travelcourier.ca | december 10, 2015 Online subscribers: click for digital extras WIN A TRIP TO ST. PETE/CLEARWATER Travel Courier and Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, along with a host of partners, are teaming up to give Canadian travel agents a chance to spend a supercharged week in St. Pete/ Clearwater. To enter the contest, simply enter online at the address listed below or fax your entry to the number listed below. To qualify, entrants must be full-time accredited travel agents; one entry per agent. The winner will be chosen at random. 15TH ANNUAL BEST BEACH CONTEST GRAND PRIZE One lucky travel agent will win a week’s getaway for two in St. Pete/Clearwater, courtesy of WestJet, Sheraton Sand Key Resort and Visit St. Pete/ Clearwater. This includes round-trip airfare to Tampa International Airport for two aboard WestJet, seven nights at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort on Clearwater Beach, two tickets to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Dalí Museum and Chihuly Collection, plus a $100 dining certificate at the Palm Pavilion Beachside Grill. (Some conditions apply, including blackout dates, and travel must be taken by January 31, 2017. Rooms are based on availability at the time of booking. Some payments, including departure taxes and related fees, are extra.) QUESTION What is the name of the Dalí Museum exhibit featuring a pairing of two creative visionaries? HINT: Explore VisitStPeteClearwater.com to find the answer. TO ENTER Please fax responses to (416) 968-2377 or enter online http://promo.baxter.net/contest/visitstpeteclearwater.asp DEADLINE FOR ENTRY is January 15, 2016 Answer Name Agency Address Phone Fax E-mail WEST AB BC AIR CANADA ADDS YVR-DUBLIN SERVICE Air Canada is adding seasonal non-stop flights to Dublin, Ireland, next summer out of Vancouver. This new seasonal route follows the recent announcement of several enhancements at the airline’s Vancouver hub for 2016, including new transborder services to Chicago, San Jose and San Diego, double daily flights to London Heathrow, and the only flights linking Canada to Brisbane, Australia. The Vancouver-Dublin flights will be operated three times weekly by Air Canada’s leisure airline, Air Canada rouge, with Boeing 767300ER aircraft beginning June 10. →w ww.aircanada.com PANORAMA OPENS NEW BOWL EXPERIENCE Panorama Mountain Resort in BC has unveiled a new Taynton Bowl experience. Following the completion of a major glading project, an additional 60 acres of skiable terrain at Taynton Bowl are now more easily accessible. Three main areas of the bowl have been gladed, and a new access trail has been built from the Summit Hut to Never Never Land along the bowl’s ridgeline. Ski patrols now have greater access to the area, so they can complete their safety control work and open it sooner on powder days. →w ww.panoramaresort.com 28 travelcourier.ca | december 10, 2015 ALBERTA HAMLET WELCOMES DAYS INN A Days Inn & Suites has opened in the Edmonton-area “hamlet” of Sherwood Park. The hotel features 118 suites in three different styles. Each suite includes residence-style luxuries such as laminate flooring, granite countertops, living area with couch and sofa bed, flat-screen TVs, eating table, work desk, and dressing area. Whether staying in a queen, double-queen or one-bedroom suite, guests will find a fully equipped kitchen with refrigeration, dishwasher, stove top, microwave oven, plates and utensils. Additional amenities include free WiFi, free hot Daybreak Café breakfast, fitness centre, business centre, guest laundry, and free parking. →w ww.daysinn.ca BACKCOUNTRY SKILLS FOR KIDS BY WIEGELE The eighth annual Mike Wiegele Children’s Christmas Holiday Ski and Snowboard Camp will run Dec. 27-31. This is when kids aged five to 16 will be able to learn and practice ski and snowboard skills in the deep powder snow of the Monashee and Cariboo mountain ranges, plus learn about backcountry and mountain safety. Kids get the camp for free when parents book one of the three-, five- or seven-day deluxe heli or heli-cat packages. →w ww.wiegele.com ROOM UPDATES UNDERWAY AT PAN PACIFIC VANCOUVER A full updating of all 503 guest rooms at the Pan Pacific Vancouver is now underway, with a target completion date of early 2016. The refreshed rooms will exhibit the feel of modern-day Italian elegance. Included in the new look are revisions to the 4,000 square metres of conference and meeting space at the hotel. This includes the installation of new state-of-the-art audio-visual technology, enhancing the entire conference experience. →w ww.panpacificvancouver.com Online subscribers: click for digital extras INCENTIVES ENCORE CRUISES Encore Cruises is celebrating the holiday season early with a special gift to travel agentsn – a 1% bonus commission on all bookings. The offer is valid on all new individual and group reservations (with names and deposits) made by Dec. 31, on all sailings with any cruise line for travel anytime. And, agents will receive a total of 500 Loyalty points on each seven-night or longer (five-night or longer for CroisiEurope) booking made over the phone or they will receive 1,000 Loyalty points for bookings made online. In addition, agents booking a dynamic air, cruise and transfers package in Sirev will also be eligible for the 1% bonus commission and will receive 1,500 Loyalty points per reservation. →w ww.encorecruises.com TRAVELBRANDS TravelBrands’ popular “Sun Deal” game for retailers has been rebranded “Happy Agents.” New bookings made by Dec. 31 through all TravelBrands product lines, including Sunquest, Encore Cruises, Holiday House, Fun Sun, Intair, Network, Intair Vacations, ALBATours, Exotik Tours, Carte Postale, and Boomerang Tours are now eligible for up to $100 in Loyalty Rewards. Once a booking is complete, agents simply click on www.travelbrandsagent.com, enter their booking number and play to win. Some restrictions apply. →w ww.travelbrandsagent.com AIR CANADA VACATIONS Air Canada Vacations (ACV), in partnership with Visit Florida, has launched a contest for agents in which they can win a trip to Miami for Pitbull’s New Year’s Eve party. Through Dec. 13, every time an agent books a flight or vacation package to Florida through ACV, they will be entered into a draw to win a trip for two to Miami for Pitbull’s Revolution party. Five lucky winners will be awarded the prize which includes round-trip air for two from YYZ or YUL to Miami, five nights accommodation from Dec. 30 to Jan. 4, admission for two to Pitbull’s New Year’s Eve Revolution party and post-celebrations. →http://vacations.aircanada.com TRAFALGAR Trafalgar has launched a Holiday Gift Card Incentive for agents. There are four earning tiers that give agents a chance to earn gift cards for every passenger they book on a Trafalgar-guided vacation – and with each tier, agents earn more. INSIGHT VACATIONS Insight Vacations is reminding agents about its “Insight Bonus Points” program, allowing them to collect points which they can redeem to experience an Insight journey on the company. For every Insight Vacations booking, agents will earn one Insight Bonus Point. Five points will allow agents to save 10% off an Insight journey, while 15 points will offer a 30% savings. Once agents collect 25 points, a free Insight trip will be redeemable when agents combine the 50% offer and their 50% Agent Discount. Every Insight Bonus Point is worth an additional 2% reduction from the confirmed travel agent discount, and agents can accumulate their points for up to three years. →w ww.insightluxurygold.com BREEZES BAHAMAS Travel agents and a guest are invited to a complimentary stay at Breezes Resort & Spa in The Bahamas. “Come discover for yourself why our beautiful Online subscribers: click for digital extras The offer applies to bookings made in November and is valid for all bookings departing from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2016. Trafalgar will track it all, and agents will receive their gift cards on or before Dec. 18. →w ww.trafalgar.com COLLETTE Calling all agents. Collette’s “Book Your Own Bonus” incentive is back. Agents qualify after their first booking, earn $50 after second bookings, $100 for third bookings, and $100 per additional bookings. The offer is valid on new retail bookings made through March 31, 2016 for departures in 2016 on all of Collette’s product lines, including Explorations, Royal Horticultural Society Garden Holidays and Spotlights. A booking is defined as a minimum of two full paying passengers in a double room or a single passenger in a single room. There is no limit to the amount of money agents can earn. →http://bit.ly/1LmsIzw resort remains a top choice of travellers everywhere,” the resort says. Agents are invited to stay up to four nights at no charge. Airfare is not included. →w ww.breezes.com/rediscover december 10, 2015 | travelcourier.ca 29 CAREERS | PROFESSIONAL SERVICES | BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES SellOffVacations.com is looking for Travel Counsellors in all locations across Canada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e would like to thank all who apply, however only those who meet the qualification will be contacted. SellOffVacations.com is an equal opportunity employer. 30 travelcourier.ca | december 10, 2015 Leading Travel company Over 37 years in business Dedicated to customer satisfaction 98% employee retention Innovative and progressive We are currently hiring the following positions Reservations Agents • Exceptional customer services skills • Excellent communications skills • Strong influencing skills • Proficiency in Sabre and Amadeus • Ability to work shift hours, evenings, weekend and holidays • TICO certified Ticketing Agents • Strong knowledge of air and ticketing market place • Ability to process ticket exchanges and research ticketing rejects in GDS • Strong knowledge of Fares & Pricing a must • Proficiency in Sabre and Amadeus • Ability to work shift hours, evenings, weekend and holidays • TICO certified Please send your resume to human.resources@toureast.com To advertise: classifieds@baxter.net CAREERS | PROFESSIONAL SERVICES | BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Celebrating our 2-year anniversary! EXPLORE OUR WEB SITE! Travelindustrypersonnel.com AND FIND OUT HOW WE CAN HELP YOU We are celebrating over 25 years of recruiting for the travel industry throughout Canada. Our service is free to candidates. We maintain strict confidentiality for both candidates and clients. Or contact us: Tel: 905-542-2989 or 1-800-717-4917 E-mail: careers@travelindustrypersonnel.com Member of Advertise where travel professionals look first for new opportunities: CHANGE IS GOOD. A brand name your customers recognize and trust. A supportive environment with a true, family-style, feel. There’s nothing to lose by having a conversation. Travel Courier and Travelbestjobs.com Hire the best candidate for the job. Contact: classifieds@baxter.net or 416.968.7252 To advertise: classifieds@baxter.net CPBC#2790 TICO#50016384 OPC# #7 # 7029 7 297 971 9 97 71 target the travel industry. Our audience includes experienced professionals: travel agents, tour operators, managers, executives, sales and marketing professionals. Realize your potential. Give us a call. flightcentreassociates.com | 1 844 213 2731 december 10, 2015 | travelcourier.ca 31 1 IMAGE: © FOUR SEASONS RESORT SANTA FE; USED WITH PERMISSION VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 2