Softvoyage`s vice-president, sales and

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Softvoyage’s TripBook providing
agents with competitive edge
oftvoyage’s vice-president, sales and
S
marketing, Dan Langevin, was in an
upbeat mood when he rolled into Travel
Courier’s offices in Toronto last week with
news that the company had gone live with
a new feature in SIREV called TripBook.
TripBook, Langevin explained, is a post-sale tool for
agents that makes it easy for them to do additional tasks
after a booking has been successfully completed.
In announcing the launch of the bilingual tool,
Soft voyage officials pointed out that more than ever, agents
need soft ware tools that
enable them to outperform the competition;
maintain a high level of
10
cover story
productivity; and generally, help them keep
13
air space
their edge.
20
on tour
TripBook was beta
22
classifieds
tested by about 100
agents over the past six
months before the first
phase was launched last week.
“This is big for us,” Langevin told Travel Courier, “Our
booking engine is working great and now it’s all about providing more tools to help agents better communicate with
their clients.”
The Barbados Tourism Authority hosted a group of industry
personnel at the Bruno Mars concert on July 26 at the Air
Canada Centre. Among those enjoying the tunes were (l-r)
Nancy Miklian from Travel Sensations; Brita Greaves, Barbados
Tourism Authority; Isobel Mikiewicz from New Wave Travel;
Cheryl Carter, Barbados Tourism Authority; Phyllis Caldarola,
Air Canada Vacations; Marcelle Bennett, Barbados Tourism
Authority; Sheila Aue from TPI; and Cheryl Brathwaite,
Barbados Tourism Authority.
TORONTO DEPARTURES
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FOR FULL SELECTION OF HOTELS, VISIT WWW.SUNWING.CA
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HOTEL ROOM
$
365 425 Taxes
+$
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a
AUGUST 7, 2014
0807PAGE03-9.indd 3
SM
company
TRAVEL COURIER
3
8/1/2014 10:54:36 AM
And using TripBook, which is available
agents will have a clean dashboard of their
via the My Bookings tab in Sirev, agents
booking information and, on top of that,
can:
will be able to perform many operations,
• Add a payment using a secured environ- saving valuable time.”
▶www.softvoyage.com
ment, if only a deposit was provided at
—Bob Mowat
the moment of the booking.
• Access the eDocs for participating suppliers (open or send by e-mail).
ACTA VERIFYING
• Cancel the booking, the normal cancellation fees will be applied by the supplier. TRADE DESIGNATIONS
Since acquiring the CITC a year ago, the
• Send by e-mail the My Booking
Summary (with or without the commis- Association of Canadian Travel Agencies
(ACTA) has made positive steps to
sion amount).
• Print the My Booking Summary (with or increase the value and integrity of the
Certified Travel Counsellor (CTC) and
without the commission amount).
Certified Travel Manager (CTM) pro• Consult and print the supplier hotel
fessional designations. The organization
description for packages.
has now added the process of “running
• Consult and print the Google Maps and
background checks” on travel profesthe points of interest for the property.
sionals who are brought to its attention
• Consult and print the Travel Guide
as misusing the professional designaavailable on SIREV for the destination.
tions. According to officials, any travel
• Consult and print the Monarc.ca rating
professional using CTC or CTM on their
for the property.
business card, e-mail signature, or social
• Add the client e-mail address for
media profiles will be subject to these
Monarc.ca, if the travel agent has not
checks.
input the “e-mail for Monarc.ca” field at
Cease and desist
the moment of a web booking or for all
ACTA has so far issued more than five
REVNET bookings where this field is
“cease and desist orders” and expect this to
not available.
The second phase of TripBook should be increase in the coming weeks. ACTA has
available in late September to mid-October discovered that in some cases the offender
never earned the designation, while in
and it will add upgrade resort, add activother instances the certification had
ities and add private transfers features to
lapsed. ACTA president David McCaig
name but a few.
commented, “promoting professionalism
As Soft voyage CEO, Steve Ringuet sees
it, “It’s only natural to want to enhance the and the value of the professional certificatools used by travel agents. With TripBook, tion to the consumer is a key part of our
FOUNDER
W.H. Baxter
1919-2004
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Edith Baxter
ebaxter@baxter.net
PRESIDENT
David McClung
dmcclung@baxter.net
he UNESCO World Heritage Site Committee has
added the Imperial Abbey
of Corvey in north-central
Germany to its global sites
of cultural or physical
significance. Built between
822 and 885 A.D. by French
Benedictine monks under
the auspices of Emperor
Charlemagne and later, his
son Louis The Pious, the
abbey became an important
cultural and political outpost
in the Carolingian empire.
Corvey’s Westwork, the
west-facing abbey entrance
with its two spired towers,
displays the intricate brick
and stone architecture of
the era, a northern European
building style referencing
Roman architecture with few
remaining examples. The
30-years war of the early
17th century took a heavy
toll on the original abbey, resulting in a later reconstruction, primarily in Baroquecastle style. Both the abbey
church and the castle, the
latter now in secular ownership, welcome visitors and
host music festivals.
www.unesco.germany.
travel/en
T
EXECUTIVE V.P. OPERATIONS
Wendy McClung
wmcclung@baxter.net
Vol. 49 No. 30
www.travelcourier.ca
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Bob Mowat bobmowat@baxter.net • EDITOR/PUBLISHER Michael Baginski baginski@baxter.net • ASSISTANT EDITOR Greg D. Coates gcoates@baxter.net
QUEBEC EDITOR Mike Dunbar mdunbar@total.net • WESTERN EDITOR Ted Davis teddavis@baxter.net 604-685-2588 FAX: 604-734-9743
STAFF WRITER Ian Stalker istalker@baxter.net;
SALES & MARKETING
DIRECTOR INT’L. MARKETING
SALES MANAGER
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
CLASSIFIEDS
AUDIENCE/PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MGR.
PRODUCTION
ART DIRECTOR
PRODUCTION MANAGER
ADV. MATERIAL COORDINATOR
CIRCULATION
Earl Lince elince@baxter.net
Rodney Tugwell rtugwell@baxter.net
Mitchell McClung mmcclung@baxter.net
Jacqulyn Bester jbester@baxter.net
Emily McClung emcclung@baxter.net
Johnny Koo johnkoo@baxter.net
Wayne Labourn wlabourn@baxter.net
Sharron Taylor staylor@baxter.net
Dee Ristic dristic@baxter.net
REGIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVES
WESTERN CANADA
Terry Ohman ohman@baxter.net 604-657-2100
ALBERTA
Greg Ohman greg.ohman@baxter.net 403-804-3497
QUEBEC AND ATLANTIC CANADA Rodney Tugwell rtugwell@baxter.net 416-968-7252 FAX: 416-968-7569
USA
Earl Lince elince@baxter.net 416-968-7252 FAX: 416-968-7569
FLORIDA - SOUTH
Dino Torres t_dino@bellsouth.net 305-775-8734 FAX: 305-477-6607
FLORIDA - NORTH
Gillian Harper GHTourismSolutions@gmail.com 954-933-2786
HAWAII
Laurie Doerschlen MdLinks@aol.com 808-737-4621 FAX: 808-737-2695
MEXICO
Paloma Martinez pmartinez@towmar.net 52 55 2122-3900 FAX: 52 55 5395-4985
CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA
Lillian Martinez twtrm@earthlink.net 305-476-1130
SPAIN
Luis Andrade landrade@luisandrade.com 34-91-4416266 FAX: 34-91-4416549
TRAVEL COURIER is published weekly by Baxter Travel Media at 310 Dupont St., Toronto, Ont., Canada M5R 1V9 Tel.: 416-968-7252, Fax: 416-968-2377/416-968-7569. 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 2014.
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
4
TRAVEL COURIER
0807PAGE03-9.indd 4
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strategic mandate. If we are going to
be successful at it, then we must dedicate part of our strategy to ensuring
that those displaying the professional
designation meet the standards and
qualifications which the trademark
stands behind.” Members are invited
to report any such cases to ACTA’s
education department at:
▶certification@acta.ca
APPEAL DENIED,
CONVICTION UPHELD
TICO reports that following a
recent hearing, Mazdak Anvari’s
“Application to Extend Time to File
an Appeal” was denied and a sentence of 18 months incarceration was
affirmed. On June 25, 2008, Mazdak
Anvari and 1091873 Ontario Inc.,
operating as One Step Travel, Student
Escape Tours and Parsia Travel (“One
Step Travel”) were convicted of three
counts each of trust accounting
violations. Anvari was sentenced
to 18 months in jail and 1091873
Ontario Inc. was fined $50,000. The
closure of One Step Travel resulted in
approximately $1 million in claims
being paid by the Ontario Travel
Industry Compensation Fund. As the
conviction and the sentence imposed
on One Step Travel have not been
appealed, the $50,000 fine imposed
against One Step Travel also remains
in force.
▶www.tico.ca
CRUISE3SIXTY SET
TO SAIL APRIL 22-26
Nearly 500 travel agents have registered for cruise3sixty 2015, the official
cruise conference of the cruise line
industry. Already registered agents
have taken advantage of the Summer
Early Bird Pricing for certified active
agent members, starting at $95 and
available through August. Hosted by
Cruise Lines International Association
(CLIA), the annual conference and
trade show will take place April
22-26 in Fort Lauderdale and will
feature new elements, in addition to
6
TRAVEL COURIER
0807PAGE03-9.indd 6
educational training and networking
opportunities. Agents are encouraged
to register early, as CLIA training
seminars and ship inspections traditionally sell out.
▶www.cruise3sixty.com
NEW ORLEANS
TO HOST IPW 2016
The US Travel Association has
announced that New Orleans will
be the host venue for IPW 2016 –
the first time the event (formerly
known as International Pow Wow)
has returned to the Crescent City
since 2002. IPW is the largest travel
trade show in North America – a
one-stop opportunity for US destinations, attractions and businesses to
showcase themselves to thousands
of influential travel professionals from international markets.
Greater Miami and The Beaches
had been previously announced
as the host city for IPW 2016, but
arrangements for the event were
postponed when the City of Miami
Beach Commission voted through
a $500-million renovation and
expansion of the city’s convention
centre, set to begin in 2015 and last
an estimated three years.
▶www.ustravel.org
WIN A PLACE ON GOWAY’S
ULTIMATE AFRICA FAM
Goway’s Ultimate Africa Fam is back.
This year, Goway, in conjunction with
Emirates Airlines, the Dubai Tourism
Board and KwaZulu Natal Tourism
in South Africa, has put together a
special itinerary. Lucky participants
will enjoy the highlights of two very
diverse destinations. In order to get
an entry into the draw, agents need
to make a booking to any Goway
destination. If Emirates is the longhaul carrier, that booking will count
as two entries. Participants need
to have completed both the Dubai
Specialist Course and the South
African Tourism fundi course. Eight
lucky agents will travel to Dubai
in November. After three nights in
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, including shopping time and a stay in the
desert, continue on to Durban, South
Africa. In KwaZulu Natal, enjoy the
beach, fine cuisine, experience the
Zulu Culture and safari in Big 5 country. For details, and to see a detailed
itinerary, visit:
▶www.GowayAgent.com
‘TEE OFF FOR TINY
TOTS’ ON AUG. 21
ALBATours, together with long-time
partner MSC Cruises, as well as the
Canada-Southern Africa Chamber of
Business and TOPAC, are sponsors
of this year’s “Tee Off for Tiny Tots”
golf tournament, which raises money
for African Pre-Schools Society, a
Canadian registered charity that
supports pre-primary school projects
in Africa. This year’s tournament,
which marks the 10th year it has run,
takes place at the Caledon Country
Club on Aug. 21. There is still space
available for both sponsors and participants. For those who wish to just
golf, the cost is $195 per person, which
includes golf green fees, a shared cart,
and lunch and dinner. If you wish
to attend the dinner only, the cost is
$75 per person. Those interested in
getting involved should contact Chisty
Bulsara at: bulsarafc@gmail.com or
Susan Franklin at: mtm1@rogers.com.
TRANSAT HOLIDAYS
PASSPORT REMINDER
Transat is reminding agents to remind
their clients that passengers travelling to Belgium, the Czech Republic,
France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the
Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and
Switzerland must have passports that
are valid for at least three months
beyond the expected date of return.
Passengers without valid travel
documents will be refused boarding
or entry into the destination country.
Other countries have similar requirements, and Transat notes it is the
responsibility of passengers to ensure
AUGUST 7, 2014
8/1/2014 10:54:40 AM
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one redemption reservation per member. Booking names must match the Sandals Select Membership account or it will be null and void. Baggage fees may not be included. Both passengers must be booked for the same flight and itinerary cannot include voluntary
stopovers. Cancellation of hotel booking will result in cancellation of all associated airline tickets. Offer is combinable with other consumer savings promotions; not combinable with any other air credit offers. Offer is subject to availability throughout promotional period
and may be changed or withdrawn at any time. Offer may not be applicable to group bookings. Other restrictions and limitations may apply. Beaches® is a registered trademark. Unique Vacations, Inc., is the affiliate of the worldwide representative of Beaches Resorts.
0807PAGE03-9.indd 7
8/1/2014 10:54:40 AM
they possess the necessary travel
documents.
▶www.transatholidays.com
TPI HONOURS TOP
TRAVEL ADVISORS
Canada’s Travel Professionals
International (TPI) will be celebrating the success of its top 15 advisors
by hosting them and their guests
on the annual TPI Chairman’s
Circle trip – this year aboard an
AmaWaterways river cruise – alongside Morris Chia, TPI chairman and
president. Advisors will be boarding
the new AmaReina and sailing from
Basel to Amsterdam for a “Christmas
on the Rhine” luxurious celebratory voyage, in December. The
AmaReina will be starting the voyage
in Basel, with stops in Breisach,
Strasbourg, Heidelburg, the Rhine
Castles in Kudesheim, Cologne,
and Amsterdam. “I’m honoured to
jointly host our highest achievers
for this incredible voyage, as we
recognize their tireless efforts to
embody success,” said Chia. As part
of TPI’s larger Velocity travel advisor
rewards program, the prestigious
TPI Chairman’s Circle designation
is dedicated to recognizing and
celebrating the successes of TPI’s
highest-producing travel advisors.
▶www.tpi.ca
APG TEAMS UP
WITH ATLASJET IN CANADA
APG – Air Promotion Group, is
now representing Turkey’s Atlasjet
in Canada. Atlasjet, known as “the
airline that loves its passengers the
most,” is showing its love to the travel
trade throughout Canada with a new
commission program that pays 5%
commission on all published fares.
APG-Canada director Karl Müller
says that the airline’s affection and
appreciation for travel agents is
second to none. “Atlasjet is showing their love for the travel trade
by offering an extremely generous
commission for sales made by travel
8
TRAVEL COURIER
0807PAGE03-9.indd 8
agents. As the number of visitors –
both business and leisure – to Turkey
and the surrounding area continues
to grow, agents can book non-stop
flights from London’s Luton Airport
on Atlasjet and to any of the 10
destinations the airline serves in
country and earn 5% commission
on everything they sell.” In addition,
the airline began accepting all major
credit cards as of Aug. 1. Atlasjet is in
BSP and available for booking in all
major GDS systems in Canada.
▶www.apg-usa.us/atlasjet
ENSEMBLE HAS
NEW PARTNERSHIP
Ensemble Travel Group, Amtrak
Vacations and Yankee Holidays
have launched a new partnership
designed to expand Ensemble members’ portfolio of rail and independent travel packages throughout
the US and Canada. Both Amtrak
Vacations and Yankee Holidays
brands have significantly increased
their product lines this year to offer
more than 300 packages to over 40
destinations in North America. In
addition, the variety of products will
bolster members’ earning potential – from independent and fully
escorted to rail-and-sail and standalone rail journeys. In addition
to several training sessions in the
coming months for Ensemble members, Amtrak Vacations and Yankee
Holidays are among the sponsors
of the 2014 Ensemble Travel Group
International Conference in Palm
Springs set for Oct. 26-30.
▶www.joinensemble.com
EGENCIA, HYATT LAUNCH
GLOBAL AGREEMENT
Egencia and Hyatt Hotels Corporation
announced that their affi liates have
entered into a new multi-year agreement to include Hyatt properties
around the world in the Egencia
Preferred Rate (EPR) program. Hotels
participating in the EPR program will
offer advantages such as special rates
and/or amenities to Egencia travellers.
With the addition of more than 500
Hyatt properties across 47 countries,
the Egencia global EPR program now
totals over 10,000 hotels. The rollout
of individual Hyatt properties into the
EPR program is anticipated to begin
early this month.
▶www.egencia.com
VISION TRAVEL
GIVES BACK
Vision Travel Solutions has launched
the not-for-profit Vision Travel
Foundation as part of its efforts to give
back to the community. According to
officials, this corporate social responsibility initiative will serve as a conduit
for Vision Travel to support various
social, educational, and charitable
activities across Canada. “Giving
back has always been at the heart of
Vision Travel. For the past decade,
we have actively supported various
social causes at a local level. Now,
through Vision Travel Foundation, we
are able to consolidate our efforts to
make a difference on a national scale,”
says Stephen Smith, vice-president,
Marketing Communications. As an
officially registered charity, Vision
Travel Foundation can issue income
tax receipts to individuals and companies that support the organization’s
efforts.
▶ https://www.vision2000.ca
TICO APPROVES
COMP FUND CLAIMS
On July 29, TICO’s board of directors approved payment of $15,743.41
to assist 12 consumers who did not
receive the travel services for which
they had paid. The payment was due
to the closure of Amigo Travel Ltd.
in Toronto ($3,123.41); Mexicana
Airlines in Mexico ($2,300) and Sky
Asia Travel in Toronto ($10,320). The
board also denied one claim on the
basis that the claimants purchased
their travel services from an unregistered travel agency.
▶www.tico.ca
AUGUST 7, 2014
8/1/2014 10:54:41 AM
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0807PAGE03-9.indd 9
8/1/2014 10:54:42 AM
Lucky agent off to see Punta Cana
T
ransat Holidays and the
Dominican Republic will soon
enable a travel agent and a
companion to discover that Punta
Cana indeed offers the good life.
The tour operator and the Dominican
Republic’s tourist board have together created a contest offering an all-inclusive trip
for two to the 4.5-star Hard Rock Hotel
& Casino in Punta Cana, with the prize
including return airfare from the winner’s
city of residence, transfers and a week’s stay
in the all-inclusive resort.
The contest details are in this issue of
Travel Courier.
“Canadians just love Punta Cana,” says
Cossette Garcia, director of the Dominican Republic Tour- and Puerto Plata. In just
ist Promotion Office in Montreal. “Punta Cana has beaches over four hours, Canadians
that will literally take your breath away. I have seen it so
are transported to a sunny,
often: Canadians arrive in Punta Cana straight from a cold friendly place where they
winter and they arrive to our palapa-covered airport to the
are welcomed warmly.”
sounds of merengue and they begin to relax before they
She praises Transat as
pick up their luggage.
“one of our most important
“We think there is truly a special bond between our coun- partners in Canada and
tries. Naturally most Canadians come to enjoy our wonder- certainly our most imporful weather and beautiful beaches, but we also believe that
tant from Quebec. They
they keep coming back year after year because they develop have been loyal to us for
a sense of security with our friendly people, and they like
many years and now with
the security of our resorts. Another draw for Canadians
their upgraded fleet provide
is our fantastic direct air lift to Punta Cana, La Romana
an even better experience
for travellers.”
Garcia notes that Transat
has packages to all main
Dominican Republic
destinations that “offer
wonderful options for all
price points. They are a very
professional, reliable tour
operator that Canadians
have come to trust. We are
very lucky indeed to have
Transat operating as many
voyages as they do to our
Pool at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana
country.”
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0807PAGE10-11.indd 10
Meanwhile, Garcia says
her homeland shouldn’t
just be viewed as sun-swept
beaches. “The Dominican
Republic has a true sense
of culture, history and
romance that you may not
find in smaller destinations.
I would say that the biggest
thing that distinguishes
us is the amount of choice
visitors have. Yes, we have
wonderful beaches, but we
also have waterfalls, hiking
trails and whale-watching.
We have all-inclusive family
resorts, but we also have
small ecotourism lodges,
historic inns and exclusive
small luxury hotels. In the
DR, you can swim off a
deserted beach or you can
visit Santo Domingo and
visit a UNESCO-designated
historic city. There is so
much variety for visitors
who can bear to leave our
azure beaches for a day!”
AUGUST 7, 2014
7/31/2014 12:10:34 PM
0807PAGE10-11.indd 11
7/31/2014 12:10:38 PM
SKAL TORONTO
Golf tournament
Aug. 11
Skal Toronto is inviting all Skal members and non-members, all travel
industry professionals, travel agents,
colleagues and friends to register, to
sponsor and to donate at its annual
2014 golf tournament being held at
Lionhead Golf and Country Club in
Brampton on Aug. 11. The tournament fee includes access to the driving range, 18-hole tournament play,
shared golf cart, barbecue lunch and
dinner including steak and salmon,
refreshments, prizes and the use of
all club amenities. The all-inclusive
registration fee is $190 per person. If
a Skal member, visit the Skal Toronto
web site for further details at www.
torontoskal.org. A shot gun start is set
for 12:30 p.m. The golf tournament
will also include a charity raffle in
support of the Toronto Daily Food
Bank.
To register for the tournament,
visit www.torontoskal.org and complete the registration form. Sponsors
and donators of prizes should contact Kimberly Hartley at kimberly@
travelsolutionsbydesign.com.
▶www.torontoskal.org
STUDENT & YOUTH TRAVEL
Annual Conference
Aug. 22-26
The Student & Youth Travel Association (SYTA) will hold its annual conference in Toronto from Aug. 22-26.
The conference is the premier mar-
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0807PAGE12CALENDAR.indd 12
ketplace dedicated to the student and
youth travel industry, bringing tour
operators and suppliers together to
grow business opportunities. During the event, SYTA will unveil the
results of the Student & Youth Travel Digest, the first in a series of
research initiatives that aim to help
the student and youth travel industry
achieve the recognition it deserves.
Tour operators, travel agents or
suppliers that serve the student and
youth travel industry and seek to grow
their business are invited to attend.
The conference offers its members
business trade appointments that
provide the opportunity to meet with
nearly 200 operators and 600 suppliers,
educational sessions aimed at increasing knowledge of the student and
youth travel market and its current
trends, and social events allowing
members to network and converse
with clients and peers.Attendees will
also have the opportunity to participate in the largest fundraising week
for the SYTA Youth Foundation.
▶www.syta.org
BARCELO HOTELS
Agent events
Sept. 2, 4
Barcelo Hotels and Resorts will host
agent events on Sept. 2 in Montreal
and Sept. 4 in Toronto that will
focus on wedding options available
from the company. Those interested
in the Sept. 2 event should contact
Judy Makara at 514-913-5839 or
j.makara@barcelo.com, and those
interested in the Sept. 4 event should
contact Liliana Mancini, sales manager, at 416-464-0385 or at:
▶l.mancini@barcelo.com
AIR CANADA VACATIONS
Sun 2014/15 Product Launches
Sept. 8-25
Sept. 8, Laval; Sept. 9, Toronto, South
Shore, Edmonton, Winnipeg; Sept.
10, Oakville, Calgary, Quebec City;
Sept. 11, Barrie, Brandon, Red Deer,
Ottawa; Sept. 15, Kingston, West
Island; Sept. 16, Vancouver, Markham, Trois Rivieres, Halifax, Chicoutimi; Sept. 17, Moncton, Langley,
Oshawa, Hamilton, Sherbrooke; Sept.
18. St. Catharines, Kelowna, Regina,
Charlottetown; Sept. 23, Burnaby,
Kitchener, Thunder Bay, St. John’s;
Sept. 24, Parksville, London, Saskatoon; Sept. 25, Victoria, Sudbury.
NEXION
CoNexion 2014
Sept. 17-20
More than 100 Nexion agents have
registered for the conference and space
is expected to sell out. From Sept. 1720, Nexion will host its agents, suppliers, travel industry executives and
staff at the Renaissance Orlando at
SeaWorld in Orlando. The theme for
the event is “Connect. Collaborate.
Excel.” – which correlates to the opportunity for agents to connect and
collaborate with each other and industry executives, while taking advantage of the resources Nexion provides.
▶www.nexion.com/conexion
AUGUST 7, 2014
7/30/2014 4:03:51 PM
AIR CANADA ROUGE
Air Canada will introduce a new
seasonal non-stop service operated by Air Canada rouge between
Vancouver and Palm Springs,
California this winter. Flights will
be operated with Air Canada rouge
Airbus A319 aircraft featuring three
cabin options: rouge, rouge Plus
with preferred seating and additional legroom, and Premium rouge
with additional personal space and
enhanced service. To promote this
new route, Air Canada is offering
savings of 20% on bookings made
by Aug. 7 by using the promotion
code “Palm20.” Flights between
Vancouver and Palm Springs will
begin Dec. 18 and will operate three
times weekly until April 12, 2015.
▶www.aircanada.com/rouge
ETIHAD, GOOGLE
Etihad Airways now has a partnership with Google to make it more
convenient for travellers to view the
airline’s flight schedules and fares
on the search engine’s flight search
tool. Using Flight Search, travellers
will be able to explore and compare
flights to and from any of Etihad
Airways’ 103 destinations, and
view live ticket prices for more than
1,400 of the airline’s weekly flights.
Flight Search can be accessed by
clicking on “Flights” on the navigation bar on Google’s search results
page, by going directly to www.
google.com/flights, or by entering the
flight search terms on Google and
then clicking on the sponsored unit
that appears.
▶www.etihad.com
TRAVELPORT, UNITED
Travelport has a new long-term agreement with United Airlines that will
add to the availability of United’s best
inventory and prices, and provide
access to ancillary products through
the airline merchandising technology offered under the Travelport
Merchandising Platform umbrella,
including the adoption of Travelport’s
Rich Content and Branding.
Travelport was the first GDS to relaunch the capability for travel agents
to sell the additional space and comfort of United’s Economy Plus seating.
Travelport-connected agents have
the ability to access Economy Plus
seat availability and prices within the
Travelport travel commerce platform
with real-time booking.
▶www.travelport.com
AUGUST 7, 2014
0807PAGE13.indd 13
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7/31/2014 2:40:39 PM
Mediterranean
ALBATOURS UNVEILS
‘GOLDEN MED’ PROGRAM
ALBATours has introduced its winter 2015 “Golden Mediterranean
Odysseys” program, which this
year will set sail aboard the MSC
Fantasia. Previously available under
the Sunquest brand, ALBATours
is offering five departures out of
Toronto (Feb. 18, March 1, 10 and 26,
and April 5), and featuring 15-, 16-,
17- and 19-day cruise holiday packages that explore either the Eastern
or Western Mediterranean. Pricing
starts from $1,839 plus taxes and fees
per person, which includes roundtrip
air from Toronto to Rome or Milan
(via Rome) aboard Alitalia or Air
Canada rouge, a 10- or 11-night
cruise aboard the MSC Fantasia, preand/or post-cruise touring in Italy,
hotel accommodation and all transfers. Travellers booking by Sept. 17 will
save $800 per couple and receive a free
stateroom upgrade (a value of up to
$200 per couple) as part of ALBATours’
advance booking offer. Agents receive
10% commission on all bookings.
▶www.ALBAToursAgent.com
MSC CRUISES EXPANDS
MEDITERRANEAN PROGRAM
MSC Cruises is strengthening its commitment to serving the North American
market with the deployment of the
MSC Divina to the Mediterranean during the summer of 2015. The program
will feature some of the most soughtafter Mediterranean destinations with
seven-night itineraries beginning May
16 through Oct. 3, 2015.
Grand Voyage
MSC Divina will begin a Grand
Voyage on April 26, 2015, from Miami
making a stop in New York, King’s
Wharf, Bermuda and then continuing
on to Ponta Delgada, Lisbon, Cadiz,
Barcelona, Naples and Civitavecchia.
From May 16, 2015 through Oct. 3,
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0807PAGE14-15.indd 14
Spanish Steps, Rome
2015, the ship will sail seven-night
Mediterranean cruises departing from
Civitavecchia and visiting the ports of
La Spezia, Cannes, Palma de Mallorca,
Barcelona, Naples, and returning to
Civitavecchia. While in La Spezia,
MSC Divina will offer late-night stays
allowing guests to visit nearby cities of
Pisa, Florence, Portofino and Cinque
Terre. In addition, the call in Naples
will allow time to visit Pompei, Capri,
Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.
▶www.msccruises.com
TUNISIA TO INTRODUCE
NATIONAL QUALITY LABEL
Tunisia’s tourism minister says Tunisia
wants to give tourists good bang
for their buck. Amel Karboul says
the country is preparing to launch a
National Quality Label in September,
something authorities expect will give
visitors confidence about tourism services they purchase. Meanwhile, the
Tunisian destination of Djerba will
host the “Djerba Urban Drif” festival
in September, which tourism authorities say will make it a “global centre
of amazing creativity.” “In the meantime, we are making our efforts to
promote our country, multiply the
quality inspections and safety checks,”
Karboul said. He also noted Oct. 26
will see legislative elections in Tunisia
and the presidential elections will be
held by the end of the year. “Tunisia is
definitely progressing toward democracy with confidence,” he said.
▶www.tourismtunisia.com
MONOGRAMS PUTS
SPOTLIGHT ON SPAIN
There’s a new tour from Monograms,
which specializes in prepackaged
independent vacations, the 12-day
Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Cordoba
and Torremolinos with Toledo tour.
Hand-picked hotels, the services of a
local host and first-class, high-speed
rail between the cities are all included.
Visits to Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia,
Madrid’s Prado Museum, Seville’s
Alcazar fortress, and Cordoba’s
Mosque of the Caliphs are all special
highlights. Book your clients’ flights
with Monograms (to coincide with
tour start/end dates), and they’ll also
provide free airport transfers. Find
out more at:
▶www.agentlingo.ca
AUGUST 7, 2014
7/31/2014 12:15:43 PM
Conventions don´t have
to be conventional
A business trip to Madrid seems less like hard work than most.
Sunny weather, conveniently located conference venues and gourmet
lunches are just some of the bonuses for when you visit on business.
Aer a busy day, Madrid’s famous museums and elegant stores are a great
way to recharge before sampling the vibrant nightlife.
Relax over tapas in an outdoor café or dance until dawn. Whatever you do,
Madrid is the business.
info.mcb@esmadrid.com
(+34) 91 758 55 28
www.esmadrid.com/mcb
0807PAGE14-15.indd 15
7/31/2014 12:15:44 PM
NORWEGIAN GOES
ALL-INCLUSIVE
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is
debuting a new all-inclusive package taking the line’s signature
Freestyle Cruising to a new level and
providing guests yet another way
to customize their cruise vacation.
Representing more than $2,400 in
value per stateroom, Norwegian’s
all-inclusive package, a first for the
company, is available for a limited
time for all 2015 sailings fleetwide,
for new reservations made from
Aug. 4 through Aug. 29. The package
includes signature dining, alcoholic
beverages, unlimited soda, shore
excursions, Internet access, service
charges, and more.
10% savings
The all-inclusive package is available
for 2015 sailings from three to 14 days
in length, is priced by the number of
days, and is available for all stateroom
categories, including the Haven by
Norwegian. When adding the allinclusive to a selected cruise, guests
receive 10% off the cruise fare. For a
seven-day cruise, the $899 package
includes the Ultimate Dining package; the Ultimate Beverage package;
shore excursion credit of $200 per
person, prepaid daily service charges;
a 250-minute Internet package per
person; 20 photos of any size; chocolate-covered strawberries; a bottle
of wine; one bingo session; and six
bottles of water.
▶www.ncl.com
COSTA CANCELS
ISRAEL CALLS
In response to the situation in Israel,
Costa Cruises has modified the
itinerary of Costa Pacifica cruises
scheduled from Sept. 15 to Nov.
20, substituting overnight calls at
Istanbul, Turkey, and one-day calls
at Volos, Greece, for the originally
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0807PAGE16-17.indd 16
scheduled overnight calls at Ashdod
and Haifa, Israel. Likewise, the
Sept. 5 cruise itinerary for Costa
Deliziosa will be modified by
substituting the originally scheduled overnight call at Haifa with
an overnight call at Istanbul and
adding one-day calls at Volos and
Heraklion, Greece, to replace two
sea days.
▶www.costacruise.com
PRINCESS TO ADD
NEW SHIP TO FLEET
Princess Cruises has reached an
agreement with the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to build a new
ship, which will enter service in
2017. The as-yet unnamed 143,000ton vessel, which will be built at an
all-in cost of approximately 600
million euros, will carry 3,560
passengers, and feature the successful design platform introduced by
sister ships Royal Princess in 2013
and Regal Princess which entered
service this past May. The new ship
will include the signature elements
that have become synonymous
with the Princess Cruises guest
experience such as a soaring central
atrium hub with multiple dining,
entertainment and retail venues;
the adults-only Sanctuary; Movies
Under the Stars cinema experience;
and 80% of all staterooms with
balconies.
Chocolate-covered
In other news, Princess has partnered with internationally acclaimed
master chocolatier and pastry designer
Norman Love. “Chocolate Journeys,”
the line’s new onboard chocolate
experience will entice guests with an
impressive array of onboard chocolate
offerings among which are customcrafted desserts and chocolate and
wine pairings.
▶www.princess.com
CRUISE HOLIDAYS
ENHANCES AGENTMATE
Cruise Holidays International has
introduced new enhancements to
AgentMate, designed to make its agencies more efficient and more productive and agile in handling leads.
Recent enhancements involve the
formal roll-out of AgentMate’s new
Lead Management System and updates
to its existing Groups Module, including new group analysis reporting,
online group registration and improvements to how inventory is managed.
AgentMate is Cruise Holidays’ fully
integrated customer relationship management system, agent-facing booking
tool and back-office system.
▶www.joincruiseholidays.ca
HAL OFFERS AGENTS
CHANCE TO WIN CRUISE
In a move designed to entice travel
agents to encourage their clients to
book early, Holland America Line
(HAL) has launched a travel agent
sweepstakes tied to its “Explore
4” savings program featuring four
special offers on select 2015 and 2016
sailings. Agents who make “Explore
4” bookings between July 26 and Oct.
31 will automatically be entered into a
drawing for the chance to win a sevenday cruise for two in a suite to Europe,
Alaska, Canada/New England,
Bermuda or the Caribbean. Every
booking deposit made is another entry
and increases the agent’s chance of
winning. Agents may also enter the
sweepstakes by mail. HAL’s Travel
Agent Headquarters provides several
useful marketing tools to assist agents
in taking advantage of the “Explore
4” promotion: digital ads, animated
gifs for web sites, pre-produced
e-mails, postcards, logos, and more.
Sweepstakes’ details can be found at:
▶www.hollandamerica.com/
explore4sweeps
AUGUST 7, 2014
8/1/2014 10:55:30 AM
SIP, DINE, SHARE, AND SAVE.
Explore4 is back, and bigger than ever.
Book an ocean-view stateroom or above on select January 2015 through April 2016 cruises
and your clients will receive all four offers below*
....
1. FREE Signature
Beverage Package
A value of $100 per day,
per stateroom.
2. FREE Pinnacle
Grill Dinner
One FREE dinner (per person) in
the intimate Pinnacle Grill.
3. FREE or reduced
cruise fares for
3rd/4th guests
Your clients can share their cruise
with the entire family.
4. 50% Reduced Deposit
Reduced deposit gives your
clients more time before paying
the full amount for their cruise.
BONUS offers when you book a suite!
Your clients will receive all four Explore4 offers above PLUS:
• $300 onboard spending credit per stateroom
• FREE Canaletto dinner
Book via POLAR Online by visiting Travel Agent HQ
at www.hollandamerica.com or call 1-800-426-0327.
*Explore4 offers are per person based on Promo ZX, double occupancy, for 1st and 2nd guests sharing a stateroom and excludes 3rd/4th guests, except as provided herein. Explore4 offers are available for new bookings only,
are not combinable with Flash promotions, are capacity controlled, and may be modified or withdrawn without prior notice. Offers are applicable on select 2015 and 2016 departures. Free Signature Beverage Package and
free Pinnacle Grill dinner are available only to ocean-view and above category staterooms. Signature Beverage Package has a daily limit of 15 beverages priced $7.00 USD or lower. Package excludes beverages priced over
$7.00 USD and purchases made in Signature Shops, Mini Bar and In-Room Dining, or beverages on Half Moon Cay. Signature Beverage Packages may be used only on the cruise portion of Land+Sea Journeys. Guests receive one
complimentary Pinnacle Grill dinner per person, excluding Specialty Dining Events in the Pinnacle Grill such as Le Cirque, De Librije, Master Chef’s Table and Sommelier Dinner. Third/fourth offer is based on sharing a stateroom
with 1st and 2nd guests, is valid on select sailings, and is based on Promo Z3/ZT. Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses apply to all 3rd/4th offers. Reduced deposit offer is valid for new bookings only. Bookings made on voyages requiring
immediate final payment are not eligible for a reduced deposit. Guests who book a suite category stateroom receive one complimentary Canaletto dinner per person and $150 USD per person ($300 USD per stateroom) onboard
spending credit. Onboard spending credit is not combinable with regional discounts, Net Rates or other travel agency exclusive offers. Explore4 offers are not transferable or refundable. Other restrictions may apply. Please
consult www.hollandamerica.com for full terms and conditions. Ships’ Registry: The Netherlands.
0807PAGE16-17.indd 17
8/1/2014 10:55:30 AM
CHINA
Nov. 12-23
Deadline: Aug. 12
ACTA, in partnership with Nexus
Holidays, is offering a 12-day
“Splendid China FAM Tour” for
Certified Travel Counsellors (CTC),
Certified Travel Managers (CTM)
and ACTA members departing
on Nov. 12 from Toronto. The fam
experience will begin in Beijing
at the largest public square in the
world – Tiananmen Square – and
includes stops in Xi’an, Shanghai,
Suzhou, Wuxi and Hangzhou. The
package price varies based on ACTA
membership type. The tour is available to CTC and CTM for $1,199,
non-CTC/CTM ACTA members for
$1,249, and non-members $1,449,
which includes five-star hotel accommodation, round-trip international
airfare from Toronto, China domestic flights, daily breakfast lunch and
dinner, English-speaking tour guides,
all exhibit entrance fees, local transportation, and travel accidental
insurance in China. To register contact Christine Chilton at cchilton@
acta.ca or 1-888-257-2282, ext. 127.
The registration deadline is Aug. 12.
▶cchilton@acta.ca
INDIA
Aug. 19-27, Sept. 5-13
Mississauga-based Onkar Travels
has fam trips to India. The dates are
Aug. 19-27 and Sept. 5-13. The trips
are for tour operators, travel agents
and destination wedding planners.
“There will be so much fun and surprises on the tour,” Onkar says. “The
tour will be of the Golden Triangle,
which is not just glittering palaces
and sandstone forts, but also the
memories you will treasure for a
lifetime. There is a very basic cost
of $350, including tax, for all land
arrangements.” For details, contact
18
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0807FAM.indd 18
Jasveet Singh by e-mailing jasveet@
onkartravels.com.
▶www.onkartravels.com
JAMAICA
Various Sept. – Oct. dates
The Jamaica Tourist Board in
Canada is inviting agents to register
for upcoming 2014 fam trips, offering an opportunity for agents to
brush up on their island knowledge.
Fams, departing via WestJet or Air
Canada rouge from several major
cities across Canada between May
and November, are as follows:
• Sept. 18-23 (via WestJet); Sept.
26 – Oct. 1 (via Air Canada rouge);
Oct. 5-10 (via Air Canada rouge).
• Toronto departures (seven nights,
$449): Sept. 9-16 (via Air Canada
rouge); Nov. 3-10 (via Air Canada
rouge); Nov. 25 – Dec. 2 (via Air
Canada rouge).
• Ottawa departure (seven nights,
$499): Nov. 1-8 (via WestJet).
• Montreal departure (six nights,
$499): Nov. 3-9 (via WestJet).
• Montreal departures (seven nights,
$499): Sept. 8-15 (via Air Canada
rouge); Oct. 27 – Nov. 3 (via Air
Canada rouge).
The cost includes return airline
ticket, all meals, local transportation,
sightseeing, all taxes, and shared
accommodation in a twin-bedded
room. Note that over-night hotel
in Toronto, if required, will be the
agent’s responsibility. Application
deadlines are 31 days prior to departure. To apply, agents should visit:
▶www.surveymonkey.com/s/JTB
Fams2014
TAIPEI, VIETNAM
Sept. 5-15
Jade Tours, Eva Airways and Tai-wan
Tourism Bureau are hosting an agency
fam from Toronto to Taipei and Vietnam from Sept 5-15. Highlights of
the tour include two nights in Taipei, Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh
City with one night on board “Jasmine
Junk” cruising on Halong Bay, plus
city tours in various cities, visits to
Cu Chi Tunnel and Mekong Delta.
The fam price includes flights from
Toronto to Hanoi via Taipei; Ho Chi
Minh City-Taipei-Toronto with Eva Airways, accommodations, airport transfers, tours, and some meals. The cost
is $1,399 plus taxes. Space is limited.
▶tours@jadetours.com
BALI
Sept. 28 to Oct .12
Tours Hai International in Montreal
is hosting a 15-day fam to Bali from
Sept. 28 to Oct. 12. The cost is $2,447
p.p., twin occupancy, for travel
agents. The supplement for a travel
companion is $200. The program
includes Ubud, Lovina, Candidasa
and the beach areas. Several hotels
will be seen, as well as inspections to
update agents on the recent launch of
new properties on the island. Flights
are with Qatar Airways, with its partners from Toronto via Montreal and
Doha. For more information, e-mail
Jean-Jacques before June 30, at:
▶jj@tours-hai.com
PORTUGAL
Oct. 31 – Nov. 7
Alitours is hosting a fam to Madeira
Island (Portugal) and mainland
Portugal (Lisbon and vicinity) from
Oct. 31 to Nov. 7. The agent rate is
$1,199 plus taxes of $133, based on
double occupancy. The fam trip will
allow companions, with a supplement of $400 per companion. Trip
includes all accommodation, meals
as indicated on itinerary, transfers,
international and domestic airfares
as indicated on itinerary.
▶http://www.alitours.com/package/
madeira-and-lisbon-fam-trip
AUGUST 7, 2014
7/30/2014 4:06:30 PM
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11 days
Air from Los Angeles to Papeete/Auckland, transfers, 5 nts at the
InterContinental Moorea Resort & Spa with breakfast daily,
3 nts hotel Auckland. Includes savings of up to $1100 per couple!
Request our Travel Planner
Call Toll Free or visit ZZZJRZD\FRP
*Pp, twin. Travel 1 Nov – 13 Dec‘14. Taxes included. Subject to availability. Canadian add-ons available. TICO#1543989. 3284 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON.
Australia / New Zealand / South Pacific
GOWAY PUTS SPOTLIGHT
ON LORD OF THE RINGS
Goway Travel has a number of Lord
of the Rings and The Hobbit-inspired
travel ideas. Choices include Lord of
the Rings Self Drive, a 14-day selfdrive itinerary that includes a Hertz
car rental, 13 nights accommodation,
and Goway Co-Pilot Kit with maps,
directions and discounts. Participants
will see New Zealand scenery, while
taking in the sites where the movies
were filmed. Another choice is Safari
of the Scenes. From Queenstown, participants join a special 4WD adventure
and visit some of the locations used
for scenes in the Lord of the Rings, as
well as scenic highlights.
▶www.goway.com
TAHITI PROMOTING ITSELF
IN A ‘PREMIUM’ MANNER
Tahiti Tourisme has a new global
brand positioning and identity for
Tahiti. Reflecting the culture and way
of life through the positioning with a
premium approach to colour, type and
photography, the new identity encourages potential visitors to consider the
beauty of and impact the land and
people can have on those who visit.
With the aim of creating a more contemporary understanding and desire
for French Polynesia, the new brand
serves to set the foundations for future
marketing activities and builds on the
long-term strategies for the nation’s
tourism and hospitality industry. The
new identity is being rolled out over
Tourism Australia officially introduced Robert Keddy (r), formerly of Icelandair, to
the trade last week in Toronto as its new head of commercial partnerships, The
Americas. Tourism Australia teamed up with Wine Australia for the event held
at a private wine cave just off of Queen St. Keddy, pictured with Kevin Smith of
Development Counsellors International and Angela Slade of Wine Australia, noted the
visitor numbers from Canada to Australia are headed in the right direction, showing
a 7.1% increase as of the end of May. Tourism Australia also introduced the latest
instalment of its “There’s Nothing Like Australia” campaign – “Restaurant Australia,”
showcasing the unique food and wine experiences available Down Under.
the remainder of this year across web
site and collateral materials.
▶www.tahiti-tourisme.com
VACATIONERS CAN GET
A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF FIJI
Getting there with the kids is half
the fun with Castaway Island’s fivenight family Fly-In Fly-Out package, which combines helicopter and
seaplane transfers with a luxury Fiji
escape. Two adults and two children
or four adults can fly direct from Nadi
Airport to Castaway Island, arriving
by private helicopter and enjoying
aerial views along the way. As well
as five nights accommodation, the
package includes a banana boat ride,
escorted snorkelling safari, dolphin
safari excursion and sunset cruise for
four. The return journey continues
the holiday experience with guests
flying from Castaway Island to Nadi
by seaplane. The cost is approximately
US$5,200 for four adults or two adults
and two children. The package is valid
to March 31, 2015.
▶www.castawayfiji.com/book
AUGUST 7, 2014
0807PAGE19.indd 19
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7/31/2014 12:11:42 PM
20
SWISSÔTEL KRASNYE HOLMY
Moscow’s Swissôtel Krasnye Holmy
has opened its most luxurious
Penthouse Suite. With a total of
2,927 square feet of indoor and
outdoor living space, the suite
showcases spectacular views of the
capital of Russia from the 19th floor
of the hotel. Features include a big
entry hall, a spacious living room, a
bedroom with a king-size bed and a
walk-in wardrobe, a kitchen, and a
luxurious marbled bathroom with a
full-size, egg-shaped bathtub and a
separate shower and sauna. A large
outdoor terrace overlooks Sadovoe
and is a perfect setting for private
events. With the addition of a con-
necting Executive Club Room, this
suite can be converted into a twobedroom Penthouse Suite.
▶www.swissotel.com
architecture throughout its six restaurants and multiple pool sites, in
addition to the Hard Rock vibe.
▶www.hardrockhotels.com
HARD ROCK
Hard Rock International is heading
to the shores of Los Cabos, Mexico
with the Hard Rock Hotel Los
Cabos set to open in 2016. The 600room property marks the brand’s
fourth Mexican destination and
aligns with the company’s aggressive international growth strategy.
The property will offer both familyfriendly and adult-only sections.
The all-inclusive resort will feature
a modern interpretation of Spanish
ATLANTIS, PARADISE ISLAND
Marriott International, Inc. has
announced that the iconic 3,400room Atlantis, Paradise Island
resort will become part of its
Autograph Collection, a rapidly
growing exclusive portfolio of more
than 60 independent hotels in key
locations across the globe. Atlantis
marks the collection’s first member
resort in The Bahamas and will be
the largest hotel in the portfolio.
▶www.atlantis.com
G ADVENTURES
G Adventures is offering Haiti itineraries with the launch of five departures starting in February 2015, five
years after a devastating earthquake
shook the country. Jeff Russill, VP of
innovation at G Adventures, travelled to Haiti to help assess its readiness for travellers. “We weren’t sure
what we would find when we arrived,
but what we discovered was a country full of friendly people looking to
move on, world-class art and culture,
real-time history, and stunning
nature and beaches.” G Adventures’
10-day Highlights of Haiti trip is
available to book and priced from
$2,499 p.p. Highlights include CapHaïtien and its Citadelle Laferrière, a
UNESCO-designated mountaintop
fortress; learning about rum at a local
distillery; making the local kasav flat
bread; meeting a voodoo priest and
shopping for voodoo artifacts at the
Iron Market. Travellers will also visit
a local grassroots project which helps
at-risk youth learn artistic skills, and
see local artist communities make
mosaics. Nature lovers will enjoy
visiting the Bassin-Bleu pools to cliffdive and swim.
▶www.gadventures.com
array of options such as excursions.
▶www.agent.rockymountaineer.com
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0807PAGE20.indd 20
ROCKY MOUNTAINEER
Rocky Mountaineer has launched
its new 2015 brochure, highlighting 25 reasons to experience Rocky
Mountaineer during its 25th anniversary. The brochure guides readers
through 25 reasons to experience
Rocky Mountaineer and highlights
the many journeys available in 2015.
The Best Sellers section details the
most popular trips and includes
five simple steps on how to build a
Rocky Mountaineer journey with an
INSIGHT
Insight Vacations is offering summer savings of up to 13% ($1,080 per
couple) on some of its most popular
Europe & Britain itineraries departing
in August. Travellers are encouraged to
book now as seats are limited and these
offers expire Aug. 15. Sample tours
include Best of Britain (RHD code:
HOT1550); Italian Elegance (RHD
codes: HOT1553, HOT1554); and
Imperial Capitals & The Dalmatian
Riviera (RHD code: HOT1556) Other
notable trips: Normandy, Brittany
& The Loire Valley (RHD code:
HOT1551); Scenic Britain (RHD code:
HOT1552); European Breakaway
(RHD code: HOT1555); and Gems of
Britain (RHD code: HOT1557).
▶www.insightvacations.com
AUGUST 7, 2014
7/31/2014 12:12:32 PM
GARDNER RETAKES REINS
AT CUSTOM TRAVEL SOLUTIONS
Calgary’s Custom Travel Solutions
has announced that agency founder
Beth Gardner has reacquired total
ownership of the company she
started 19 years ago. It is business as
usual in every way, with the exception of ownership and leadership.
Previous president, Vaughan Payne,
announced June 2 that he was retiring from the organization, but he
will continue as chair of the advisory board. The reacquisition allows
Gardner the opportunity to expand
the team, continue to deliver “boutique” style servicing and lead one of
Canada’s most successful independent travel companies.
▶www.custom.travel
50TH MEANS SAVINGS
AT WESTIN CALGARY
The Westin Calgary opened its doors
in 1964 and is celebrating its 50th
birthday throughout the year with a
variety of events and special offerings. As part of the ongoing birthday
celebrations, the hotel has introduced a birth-year savings package
available weekends, through to the
end of year. Guests book the first
night at the guaranteed best rate and
then pay just $64 for the second or
optional third night. The package is
subject to availability and a twonight minimum stay, and is valid for
arrivals on Fridays and Saturdays.
▶www.westincalgary.com
PACKAGES FOR SILVER STAR
SUMMER WINE/FOOD FEST
The annual Summer Wine & Food
Festival is upcoming at Silver Star
Mountain Resort in central BC,
on Aug. 8-10, and the highlight of
the festival is the uniquely British
Columbian Mile High Wine
Tasting, held on Aug. 9. Hosted
by Okanagan Wine Festivals and
Silver Star Mountain Resort, 30
wineries from across the Okanagan
will showcase their new varietals
on Main Street of Silver Star’s
colourful mid-mountain village.
The weekend features wine master’s
dinners, food and wine seminars
and art gallery viewings. Packages
start from $133 including accommodation and Mile High Wine
Tasting tickets.
▶www.skisilverstar.com
OPULENT COUPLES STAY
AT NITA LAKE LODGE
The Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler is
now marketing the Summer Love
Lakeside package. It includes VIP
transfers from Vancouver or YVR
airport, a two-night stay in the
luxury Rainforest Suite, a Couples
Connect spa package, private fivecourse dinner with wine pairings at
Aura Restaurant, private breakfast
on the Nita Lake dock, private standup paddleboard lesson on Nita Lake,
a scenic helicopter tour with glacier
landing and packaged lunch, sightseeing on the Peak2Peak Gondola/
lunch at Christine’s mountaintop
restaurant, and more. Rates start at
$6,800 plus taxes per couple, and it
is available through Sept. 30.
▶www.nitalakelodge.com
PRE- AND POST-CRUISE
STAY IN STYLE IN YVR
Cruisers craving local culture in their
pre- or post-Alaskan stay can head
to Opus Vancouver for an authentic
experience of Yaletown, the city’s hip
downtown neighbourhood, home
to designer boutiques, exciting
restaurants and exclusive galleries.
Starting at $269 per night, the Opus
Vancouver Cruise Package includes
one night in a stylish guest room,
welcome beverage on arrival and free
use of hotel bikes and WiFi-enabled
iPad, plus a $25 food and beverage
credit and deluxe continental breakfast for two. The package is available
through Sept. 15.
▶www.vancouver.opushotel.com
SUN PEAKS OPENS HIKING,
BIKING TRAILS, MARKET
Full summer mountain operations
at Sun Peaks Resort are now underway, with the Sunburst chairlift
operating and opening access to 16
alpine hiking trails and 35 downhill
mountain biking trails. The Sun
Peaks & Region Farmers’ Market has
returned to Sun Peaks’ main village
walkway, and runs every Sunday
from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to Sept.
7. Farmers, artisans and musicians
from the region meet in the village to greet residents and guests
with seasonal fruits and vegetables,
homemade wares and local music.
▶www.sunpeaksresort.com
FIRST NATIONS LANGUAGES
AT ROYAL BC MUSEUM
Now open at the Royal BC Museum
is the feature exhibition, Our Living
Languages: First Peoples’ Voices
in BC. Visitors are invited to learn
more about the revitalization of First
Nations languages in BC, with for
instance, an interactive “language
forest” that shows how to greet
someone in one of the 34 languages
indigenous to BC. Also featured is
the history of language disruption/
resurgence in BC’s First Nations
communities, and an intro to the
strategies/technologies used to revitalize their languages. The exhibition
runs to June 2017.
▶www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca
AUGUST 7, 2014
0807PAGE21.indd 21
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21
7/31/2014 12:12:57 PM
THE PALM BEACHES
Discover The Palm Beaches is
inviting travel agents to experience the destination first-hand by
taking advantage of discounted
room rates as low as 50% off the
best available rate at a variety of
hotels and resorts. In addition
to discounted room rates, many
participating properties have created travel agent commissionable
packages. For example, agents can
enjoy up to 50% off the room rate
when travelling now through Sept.
30 at the Boca Raton Resort &
Club, Waldorf Astoria Collection;
or the Breakers Palm Beach invites
agents to enjoy complimentary
buffet breakfast, kids’ meals and
unlimited tennis, fitness classes,
WiFi and more when staying prior
to Dec. 17.
▶www.palmbeachfl.com/
travel-trade/tarates
ANDERSON, GPT
Anderson Vacations, the exclusive provider of Grand Pacific
Tours (GPT) in Canada, reports
that through Sept. 20, for every
new booking made with them on
a GPT tour product, agents will
receive a $25 Visa Gift Card. And,
if a single agent books 10 or more
passengers, an additional $200 gift
card will be provided.
▶www.downundersolution.com
JAMAICA RESORT
Moon Dance Cliffs, a seaside resort
on the westernmost edge of Jamaica,
announces increased travel agent
commissions for new winter bookings this year. The property is
offering agents 20% commissions for
newly booked stays between Nov.
1 and Jan. 4, 2015. Moon Dance
Cliffs has rooms and suites, along
with private, poolside villas. All the
villas have private garden Jacuzzis,
and some also feature pool tables in
the living rooms. The resort is also
home the full-service Kamala Spa
and Salon and on-site dining options
that include oceanfront Annie’s restaurant, the resort’s sports bar and
the poolside swim-up bar.
▶www.MoonDanceCliffs.com www.travelbestjobs.com
CLASSIFIEDS To place your classified ad, Call Jacqulyn Bester 416-968-7252, ext. 415; e-mail: classifieds@baxter.net
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Call: 416-367-8263 • Tollfree: 1-844-845-8263
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0807PAGE22-24.indd 22
AND FIND OUT HOW WE CAN HELP YOU
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travel industry throughout Canada.
Our service is free to candidates. We maintain strict
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Our move to a consumer brand with FCA
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www.travelbestjobs.com
CLASSIFIEDS To place your classified ad, Call Jacqulyn Bester 416-968-7252, ext. 415; e-mail: classifieds@baxter.net
CAREERS • PROFESSIONAL SERVICES • BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES • REAL ESTATE
Celebrating
our
one-year
anniversary!
We are looking for
Leisure Agents
to join our Team!
Our continual growth necessitates
the hiring of a Leisure Agent
for our Cambridge Location.
Žȱ˜ěŽ›DZȱ
• Competitive Salary based on experience
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žŠ•’ęŒŠ’˜—œDZ
• Exceptional customer service skills
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If you are interested, please email
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janger@goligerstravel.com
Goliger’s Travel Plus
234 King St. S.,
Waterloo, ON N2J 1 R3
Applications will also be accepted for
•Ž’œž›ŽȱŠŽ—œȱŠȱ˜ž›ȱ˜ĜŒŽœȱ•˜ŒŠŽ
in Brantford, Barrie, Dundas, Hanover,
Owen Sound, Stratford and Waterloo.
We thank all who apply and will contact
those we are interested in interviewing.
SellOffVacations.com is looking for
Travel Counsellors in all locations
across Canada!
RESPONSIBILITIES:
QUALIFICATIONS:
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We would like to thank all who apply, however only those who meet the qualification will be contacted.
SellOffVacations.com is an equal opportunity employer.
AUGUST 7, 2014
0807PAGE22-24.indd 23
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