travel-courier-161710_011410_tc

www.travelcourier.ca
January 14, 2010
ADVERTISEMENT
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t ake s the L U X U R Y I N CLU D ED VA CA TI ON
to a n U N PRECEDEN TED L EVEL
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PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40063078. PAP REGISTRATION NO. 10889
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Yo u r ow n e x ot i c p r i vat e e s c a p e
S o e asy to g et to, s o c l o s e to h o me
Sandals brings legendary service to the Out Islands of the Bahamas. Introducing the first All-Butler, all-oceanfront
resort - Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma. This exceptional retreat combines island seclusion with the elevated
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a Greg Norman-designed course to fishing and diving in world-renowned blue holes.* A 16,000 sq. ft. Red Lane®
Dermalogica® concept spa* puts beauty on the leading edge at an unprecedented travel destination, within easy reach.
*Additional cost for golf, fishing tours and spa services.
I n trodu c i ng the v e ry f i rst
Top left: Spacious interior of the two-story
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Bottom left: Set on a mile-long, naturallyprotected crescent beachfront –– one of the
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Center top to bottom: Unlimited premium
drinks include exclusive Beringer ® varietals.
Understated elegance in the spacious
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Far right: The glamorous lobby sets the tone
for this legendary resort.
A ll- B ut le r, A l l
- O ce an front Resort
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B o rn with a legacy,
tran sfo rmed in to a legen d
Formerly a Four Seasons resort, this legendary Sandals is all you could ever imagine with
stunning island settings, around-the-globe dining at five gourmet restaurants, unforgettable
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Body scans not a body blow
to travel, suggest surveys
anadians, it seems, are not at all
shy about baring their all for the
full-body scanner. In a pair of recent consumer surveys, more than seven out of
10 said they would opt for the head-to-toe
imaging procedure rather than the patdown alternative.
C
16
17
28
29
fam
calendar
incentives
classifieds
“Canadians are
willing to get naked
to travel,” trumpeted itravel2000,
announcing that its
survey showed 73%
of respondents are in
favour of major airports across Canada
installing scanners in
Home-based agency group Travel Counsellors named Sheila
Gallant-Halloran (c) “Best Travel Counsellor” from Canada
at a recent awards ceremony during the company’s annual
conference in Manchester, U.K. Flanking her are chairman
David Speakman (l) and Malcolm Hingley, global sales
director. Also among the 21 award recipients honoured
for their performance and achievements was Shelly
Reid-Jackson, who won the award for “Best New Travel
Counsellor, Canada.”
JANUARY 14, 2010
TRAVEL COURIER
5
order to beef up security measures.
An Angus Reid poll came up with near
identical results. Forty-four per cent said
they were “strongly supportive” of the use
of scanners, while 30% were “moderately
supportive.” Only 18% indicated that they
would prefer the pat-down option.
The surveys were conducted following the Christmas Day bombing attempt
on a Northwest flight from Amsterdam
to Detroit and the resulting worldwide
furor over airport security. Canada’s
Transport Minister John Baird quickly
announced that 44 scanners are to be
installed in gateways from Vancouver to
Halifax over the next few weeks.
An Angus Reid official said his company’s numbers were “overwhelmingly in
favour of the scanner,” which was viewed
as being less intrusive than being physically touched.
Stuart Morris, marketing VP for itravel
2000 parent Travelzest, conceded that his
organization was “a bit surprised that the
vast majority of travellers are willing to
have naked images taken of them.” But
he added that the fact that 95% of those
polled still intend to travel over the next
12 months is “a testament to Canadians’
love of travel.”
In a television interview, Tourism
Industry Association of Canada (TIAC)
official Chris Jones pointed out that
Canada’s Privacy Commissioner has
given the green light to scanner use following a pilot project in Kelowna, BC,
and added that Health Canada also has
FOUNDER
W.H. Baxter
1919-2004
given the okay, saying that the amount of
radiation emitted is 1/100th of that from
a cell phone.
In a nod to his tourism industry constituents, Jones noted, “The perception of
hassle surrounding travel to the United
States might convince people to vacation
in Canada.”
In an official statement, the American
Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) declared
that it was “fully committed to the
view that the nation’s air transportation system must be made safe without
unduly restricting Americans’ freedom
to travel.”
The society added, “ASTA welcomes
President Obama’s call for a wholesale
review of current screening practices,”
and pointed out, “The travel agency
industry, which employs more than
100,000 workers and helps to move more
than 144 million people annually is an
essential part of communicating existing
practices to the travelling public.”
An official with ACTA told Travel
Courier, “We think the installation of
scanners is a good thing and will speed
up travel tremendously.”
He added, “More than 70% of all air
travel is business related and of short
duration. To subject the business community, as well as everyone else, to delays
of up to three hours is ludicrous.
“We want these lines expedited to
make it less of a hassle travelling to the
United States,” the spokesman said.
— Mike Dunbar
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Edith Baxter
ebaxter@baxter.net
PRESIDENT
David McClung
dmcclung@baxter.net
he HoJo team is partnering with the Harlem
Globetrotters this year to
help the Children’s Wish
Foundation make kids’
dreams come true. As
the Globetrotters travel
across Canada on their
2010 tour, “Wish Kids”
and their families will
attend each game courtesy of Howard Johnson
Canada. And during
Canadian Globetrotter
games, the Children’s
Wish Foundation will be
asking fans to support its
“Mobile Giving” promotion by texting “WISH”
to 30333 from their cell
phones and donating $5 to
the charity. “Both Howard
Johnson and the Harlem
Globetrotters are brands
which are dedicated to
spreading fun and happiness, and we wanted to
take this opportunity to
give something back to
the community,” says
Glen Blake, president of
Howard Johnson Canada.
www.igohojo.ca
www.harlemglobe
www.trotters.com
www.childrenswish.com
T
EXECUTIVE V.P. OPERATIONS
Wendy McClung
wmcclung@baxter.net
Vol. 45 No. 2
www.travelpress.com
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 • STAFF WRITER Mary Nguyen maryn@baxter.net
SALES & MARKETING
DIRECTOR INT’L. MARKETING Earl Lince elince@baxter.net
SALES MANAGER
Rodney Tugwell rtugwell@baxter.net
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Mitchell McClung mmcclung@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
CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER
QUEBEC AND ATLANTIC CANADA
Rodney Tugwell rtugwell@baxter.net 416-968-7252 FAX: 416-968-7569
Emily McClung emcclung@baxter.net
PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Wayne Labourn wlabourn@baxter.net
ADV. MATERIAL COORDINATOR Craig Tustin craigt@baxter.net
CIRCULATION
CIRCULATION MANAGER
Susan Bedder sbedder@baxter.net
USA
Earl Lince elince@baxter.net 416-968-7252 FAX: 416-968-7569
FLORIDA
Dino Torres t_dino@bellsouth.net 305-775-8734 FAX: 305-477-6607
ASIA
Reed Business Information Asia 65 6780 4889 FAX: 65 6544 1221
Grace Wong grace.wong@rbi-asia.com
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 5% GST)
Subscription Rates: Canada - $60 per year(plus 5% GST for Canadian Subscriber’s Only. GST #R120906425): Foreign - $110 US per year. ISSN 1182-9699
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Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation Department, 310 Dupont Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5R 1V9 e-mail: circ@baxter.net
PRINTED IN CANADA Copyright 2009. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Magazine Fund toward our editorial costs.
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through Publications Assistance Program toward our mailing costs.
6
TRAVEL COURIER
JANUARY 14, 2010
10162007
Ont. Reg. # 2476582
NEW VOYAGE CASSIS PAY
SCHEME ENTHUSES ACTA
ACTA reports that Voyages Cassis
is now paying commission on the
entire price of its product, including all fees, and not simply the base
fare. The agent association, which
is pushing for all tour operators
in Canada to do likewise, lauds
the Montreal wholesaler for taking “a clear leadership role in the
travel industry!” ACTA promises to
acknowledge all tour operators that
follow suit and, in the meantime,
“invites all agencies and agents to
work with Voyages Cassis when it
comes time to serve consumers.”
www.acta.ca
INDUS NEWSLETTER KEEPS
AGENTS IN THE KNOW
In a new monthly newsletter dedicated specifically to travel agents,
Indus Travels plans to post updated
information on their latest promotions, special itineraries, newest
hotels and destinations. Agents
who take the time to read it will be
eligible for exclusive bonus commissions of up to 20%, free fams, $50
gift certificates and invitations to
special events.
www.industravels.ca
AIRLINERS, ATOURZ
RES. EXTEND HOURS
Airliners and ATOURZ have
extended their hours of operation.
Agents can now call from 9 a.m. to
8 p.m. (EST) Monday to Friday and
9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
1-877-727-6387
416-485-6387
ANDERSON RELEASES
TOURING BROCHURE
Anderson Vacations has released its
2010 Fully Escorted Touring Brochure
featuring new tours, as well as a variety of old favourites. Anderson draws
upon its Alberta roots and is offering
an array of Alberta short-stay tours
to Banff, Jasper, Waterton, Cypress
8
TRAVEL COURIER
JANUARY 14, 2010
Hills, Fort McMurray, Lake Louise
and Kananaskis, many of which
are guaranteed departures. For
travellers looking to take in and
experience the best of British
Columbia, Anderson is offering a
record number of tours, including
ones to the Okanagan, Vancouver
Island, Vancouver, Salmon Arm,
Sun Peaks and Whistler. Northern
Canada is also featured.
www.canadatravelsolution.ca
GAP HAS SAVINGS ON
SPITSBERGEN CRUISES
Gap Adventures is offering early
booking savings of up to $500 on
its popular, nine-day “Spitsbergen
- The Realm of the Polar Bear” cruise.
Bookings must be made by Feb. 28.
Led by a team of highly experienced
expedition staff and naturalists, the
trip includes spectacular highlights
such as Zodiac shore excursions for
close encounters with towering glaciers, as well opportunities to experience an array of wildlife such as polar
bears, walruses, whales and rare bird
species in their natural habitat.
www.gapadventures.com/marine/
spitsbergen-cruise
GLOBUS CELEBRATES
2010 WITH 10% SAVINGS
Globus is offering a 10% discount to
clients booking and paying for their
European holiday by Feb. 9. The
offer applies to some 60 itineraries
ranging from eight to 27 days; and
exploring the most popular areas of
Britain, Ireland and the Continent.
Clients can spend an exotic 19 days
touring Russia and Northern Europe;
exploring their Scottish roots on the
nine-day Bonnie Scotland itinerary;
or marvel at the art and architecture
of Italy on nine different itineraries to
that country alone. The offer is travel
between May 1 and Dec. 31. Some
itineraries, such as the company’s
tours to the Oberammergau Passion
Play, are not included.
www.agentlingo.ca
CANJET
Nolitours and Transat Holidays are
advising agents that its airline partner, CanJet, is enhancing its onboard
service on all flights to sun destinations, with the exception of Florida.
Outbound passengers will be greeted
with a glass of champagne and will
also be offered a glass of wine with
meals.
www.canjet.com
CAYMAN AIRWAYS
Cayman Airways is reintroducing
seasonal flights from Chicago and
Washington Dulles. The Chicago
flight to Grand Cayman departs
Wednesdays and Sundays through
April 11; the Dulles service will
operate Feb. 13 and 20, March 27
and April 3. The carrier also has a
daily flight from Miami, four flights
a week from New York JFK, and five
weekly flights from Tampa. The airline also operates frequent roundtrip
flights from Grand Cayman to
Kingston and Montego Bay, Jamaica.
www.caymanairways.com
HALIFAX STANFIELD
Visitors to Halifax Stanfield
International Airport’s new web
site can price shop, check flight
availability and book online. The
new site consolidates the Halifax
International Airport Authority’s
marketing site and corporate site to
deliver a seamless web site with a
new design and enhanced functionality. The site is expected to generate
more than three million hits annually; with flight status, flight options,
contests, and parking information
expected to be the most popular
pages. All existing URLs will redirect
to the new site.
www.flyhalifax.com
TACA
TACA International Airlines (TACA)
and Amadeus have introduced a
new, five-year, full content agreement. Amadeus travel agencies
worldwide now have guaranteed
access to the fares and inventory
that TACA makes available to the
public through its consumer web
site and its direct sales offices, as
well as through third-party sites.
TACA’s subsidiary airlines LACSA,
AVIATECA and TACA Peru are also
included in this agreement. Amadeus
has more than 130 agreements which
enable travel agents to access airlines’
full inventory.
www.taca.com
More Mexico, more often.
WestJet offers even more choice to great
Mexican destinations.
It’s a fiesta! This winter, WestJet offers non-stop flights to Mexico
from 17 Canadian cities.*
Experience Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta,
or visit our newest destinations, Cozumel and Ixtapa.
Book now at westjet.com/agentweblink or on GDS and you’ll enjoy
a 7% commission. Or simply call us at 1 800 538 5698.
BECAUSE OWNERS CARE
*Schedule is subject to change.
JANUARY 14, 2010
TRAVEL COURIER
9
River Cruising
Avalon’s next vessel, the Felicity, has a Canadian godmother – a first for the river cruise line. Here, the Avalon Tapestry sails on
the Rhine.
AVALON REACHES OUT
TO SINGLE TRAVELLERS
There are still cabins left in Avalon
Waterways’ “no single supplement”
promotion on selected departures of
its European river cruises. The promotion is valid on a host of cruises
departing between March and
August. Itineraries range from five to
16 days and include Burgundy and
Provence; Windmills, Vineyards and
Paris; and Magnificent Europe. Two
of Avalon’s newest itineraries are
included: the Taste of the Danube
and Paris to Normandy’s Landing
Beaches. The promotion represents
savings of up to $5,284. Bookings
must be made by Feb. 16 (while space
is available), and agents must quote
Promotion Code 9AVSS to receive
the no-single-supplement offer.
Godmother
Meanwhile, Stéphanie Bishop,
managing director for the Globus
family of brands, reports that
the next godmother to christen
an Avalon Waterways ship is a
10
TRAVEL COURIER
JANUARY 14, 2010
Canadian – New Brunswick-born
soprano, Measha Brueggergosman,
who will fulfi ll her duties on March
27. The Avalon Felicity will be
launched in the spring and bring
the number of Avalon vessels to 10.
It will carry 138 passengers on a
host of cruises through European
waterways. Each of its 65 staterooms
will be at least 15.5 square metres in
size and feature floor-to-ceiling windows, satellite radio and flat-screen
TV, mini-bar, safe and individual
climate control. The Felicity will
be christened in Holland in March.
Avalon will unveil the name of its
newest godmother early in 2010.
www.avalonwaterways.ca
GOWAY NILE CRUISES
RECREATE EGYPT’S PAST
Goway AFRICAExperts has a new
concept in five-star Nile cruising, a
boutique Dahabiya sailboat. “These
upscale luxurious sailing boats
only hold a maximum of 16 people,
ensuring a unique and exclusive
experience, the closest experience to
being on your own private yacht,”
says Moira Smith, GM for Goway
AFRICAExperts. The six- or sevennight cruise takes in all the must-see
sights on the Nile. Each boat offers
eight cabins, as well as a lounge, bar
and library. There is a barbecue area
and Jacuzzi, as well as lounge chairs on
the sun deck. Cabins have panoramic
windows and bathrooms. Dahabiyas
were used by pharaohs, pashas, emirs
and sultans. Cleopatra and Caesar
spent nine months sailing in one.
Rates for the AFRICAExperts sailings
start at $2,372 for a seven-day cruise.
www.africaexperts.com
UNIWORLD FEATURES
DOURO RIVER VALLEY
Uniworld River Cruise is promoting itineraries on Portugal and
Spain’s Douro River Valley, saying
passengers can taste wines from
village vineyards, including famed
port; feast on a traditional meal at
the Alpendurada Monastery; enjoy
exclusive of
airfare. Both
feature a sevennight cruise in a
riverview stateroom, many
with balconies,
onboard the
Douro Queen,
all meals with
wine, beer, and
soft drinks
A folk concert helps enliven Russian river cruises sold by
served durCanadian Gateway.
ing dinner,
excursions led
by Englishan authentic Spanish-style lunch
speaking guides, and all transfers on
complete with a flamenco show; and
arrival and departure days.
dine at the Vintage House Hotel, an
www.uniworld.com
18th-century wine quinta overlooking the Douro River. Uniworld’s
RUSSIAN RIVER CRUISES
Douro River Valley package with
ENABLE PEOPLE TO LEARN
three nights in Lisbon is priced from
ABOUT RUSSIAN LIFE
US$2,099 p.p., exclusive of airfare;
Those who choose a Russian river
without Lisbon from US$1,699 p.p.,
cruise with Canadian Gateway can
gain plenty of insights into Russian
lifestyles. Clients can learn Russian
national folklore dances and have
an opportunity for light exercise
after dinner. They can also attend
lectures on Russian history and
contemporary life, learn interesting
facts and probably find “answers to
some questions regarding the mysterious Russian soul.” As well, they
can start a new day with a morning “keep fit” class on the sun deck
conducted by an onboard instructor.
“Stretch your muscles admiring the
unspoiled beauty and tranquility of
the Russian landscapes,” Canadian
Gateway says. The company has a
set of weekly cruise departures from
May 9 to Sept. 20 with prices that
start from $1,600, excluding flight.
Itineraries include journeys from
eight to 14 day, with choices including Moscow-St. Petersburg and
Moscow-Astrakhan.
www.canadiangateway.com
ONE ROOM... A THOUSAND VIE WS
ENCHANTING DANUBE
Welcome the world to your window
A stately castle appears across the water and suddenly the life of responsibilities and deadlines
seem very far away. Now, you’re in a new world—a world where the scenery changes day to day.
In this world, you’ll sleep upon the finest linens, dine like royalty, and find your every need fulfilled.
On a Uniworld Boutique River Cruise, we won’t just take your clients from here to there, we’ll take
them away to a new world every day.
For more information, please contact your local Sales Manager
at 1-800-868-7905 or visit www.uniworld.com.
CST #2075415-20
JANUARY 14, 2010
TRAVEL COURIER
11
Cuba & the Caribbean
TRANSNICO OPENS
DOORS IN CANADA
Belgium-based Transnico International,
which began operation in 1992 sending
Europeans to Cuba, has set up shop in
Canada and is now offering destinations to such tourism mainstays as
Havana and Varadero. The company
says having a main office in Havana
and representation throughout Cuba
means it can easily accommodate those
already in Cuba. For more information,
call 1-888-591-0294, 416-591-0294 or
e-mail Transnico Canada’s sales and
marketing director Oscar Jacas at:
ojacas@transnico.ca
HOLA SUN TOUTS MID-WEEK
FLIGHTS TO CUBAN LOCALES
Hola Sun has new mid-week flights to
Holguin, Havana and Varadero from
Toronto using Cubana Airlines. There
are also added-value excursions available at no extra charge in Varadero,
Cayo Coco and Holguin packages.
www.holacaribeagent.ca
EXPERIENCE CUBA UP CLOSE
ON CIT CYCLING TOUR
CIT TOURS has a seven-night Cuba
cycling tour that starts at $999 p.p.
and begins and ends in Havana, visiting Vinales, Cayo Jutias, Soroa and
Las Terrazas. The escorted cycling
adventure features “Cuba’s beautiful
west and tobacco valleys, the picturesque Cayo Jutias beach, natural
caves in Cueva de los Portales, plus
Havana,” the tour operator says. Rates
include accommodation in three-plus
hotels, daily breakfast, four lunches
and six dinners, roundtrip airport
transfers, bike rental and accompanying mini-van, sightseeing tours,
including entrance fees, and multilingual local guide. There are guaranteed departures in January, February,
March, May, June, July, August,
October and November.
www.cittours.ca
12
TRAVEL COURIER
JANUARY 14, 2010
The Riviera Maya, Cancun and Cozumel were on the itinerary on a recent Air Canada
Vacation’s fam to Mexico. Pictured above are, from l-r: Carolyn O’Reilly, Genesis
Vacations; Phyllis Johnson, Travel Masters; Kathy Desson, Markham CSC; Laura
Corrine Spitznagel, Flight Centre; Jenn Black and Jenn Brown, Trip Central; Christina
Pawlik, Uniglobe GEO; Coreen Brown, Carlson Wagonlit; Miranda Salt, McPhail Travel;
Kimberley Bradbury, Uniglobe Phillips; and Flavio Mongelli, Voyages Caro. ACV area
sales manager Kim Barbisan is seated and in back is Jorge Vargas, ACV destination rep.
www.aircanadavacations.com
MONTEGO BAY
TO HOST JAPEX
Montego Bay will be on show when it
hosts the 20th annual Jamaica Product
Exchange (JAPEX) from May 11-13
with Half Moon resort being the
venue. JAPEX is a forum for leading
suppliers of Jamaican tourism products to meet with travel wholesalers
and tour operators from Europe and
the Americas. “JAPEX provides an
engaging setting for international buyers, travel wholesalers and tour operators to learn about Jamaica’s tourism
product,” said John Lynch, Jamaica’s
director of tourism and chairman,
Jamaica Tourist Board. “Such a forum
provides a great opportunity for our
local tourism partners to have direct
interaction with the trade partners to
update them on new developments.”
Jamaica’s tourist industry has been
undergoing continuous growth and
improvement, with new and expanded
hotels, new attractions, and enhancements from allied product and service
providers.
www.visitjamaica.com
BAHAMAS ENCOURAGES
VISITORS TO ‘ASK ME’
The islands of the Bahamas are
launching a new Visitor Assistance
Program, in which tourism ambassadors will be dispatched to the streets
of downtown Nassau to answer
questions and help identify nearby
attractions. All ambassadors can be
identified by a green vest marked
with the words, “Ask Me.” The program, run by the Bahamas Ministry
of Tourism in partnership with the
local College of The Bahamas, will
run on Nassau’s peak tourism days
of Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
www.Bahamas.com
HALF MOON OFFERS
AGENTS ONLINE TRAINING
Jamaica’s Half Moon resort has
introduced the Half Moon Select
online training program to help
travel professionals be experts in
selling the resort. The program
is divided into two sections – the
first takes agents through property
knowledge and provides information
INTRODUCING DYNAMICALLY PACKAGED VACATION OPTIONS
by
JAMAICA
TRAVEL GENIE PRICES INCLUDE HOTEL ACCOMMODATION IN A
OCEAN VIEW – CP AT ROOMS OCHO RIOS – 3 STAR ALONG WITH
ROUNDTRIP WESTJET AIRFARE TO MONTEGO BAY
7 NIGHT STAY
DEPARTING FROM TORONTO
7 NIGHT STAY
DEPARTING FROM MONTREAL
7 NIGHT STAY
DEPARTING FROM OTTAWA
$
619
$649
$709
Cdn pp
Feb 03/10
Taxes add $108.78
Cdn pp
Feb 03/10
Taxes add $121.91
Cdn pp
Feb 03/10
Taxes add $132.93
THE PRICES FEATURED IN THIS SECTION ARE PER NIGHT, ACCOMMODATION ONLY
$
89
Rooms Ocho Rios
Ocean View CP
$
179
Doctor’s Cave
Beach Hotel
Run of House EP
$
219
Sunset Resorts –
Sunset Surprise
Standard AI
$
314
Couples Tower Isle
Run of House AI
Visit one of the sites listed below to use this revolutionary
new booking engine and click on the TravelGenie logo!
www.holidayhouseagent.ca | www.funsunagent.com
SUN ESCAPES • EUROPE • HAWAII • CITY ESCAPES • ENCORE CRUISE ESCAPES • GREECE & THE MEDITERRANEAN • SOUTH PACIFIC
Prices for hotel only are per room per night based on double occupancy. Dynamic pricing is per person based on double occupancy and is valid for
travel Feb 03-10/2010. Prices and availability are subject to change without prior notification and were available on Jan 05/10. Black out dates and re_PG23838
strictions apply. Surcharges may apply. Hotel taxes are included in the price. Not included: transfers or car rental.
$
339
Riu Ocho Rios
Hotel Room AI
on resort and destination culture.
The second allows agents to specialize in groups/events and romance
segments. After each section, agents
sit through an online test, which is
submitted to the resort upon completion. Those scoring at least 95% in
each section will receive certification
for the specific section.
www.halfmoon.com/agents
and $353, respectively.
www.airjamaica.com
NEW WEB SITE
FOR BVI TOURISM
The British Virgin Islands Tourist
Board has launched a new web site
– www.bvitourism.com – as well as
a micro site – www.bvitraveloffers.
com – that features travel offers from
suppliers throughout the BVI. The
site features a new design, improved
navigation, new photographs of the
British Virgin Islands, an interactive map highlighting how to get to
the BVI and what to see and do on
the 60 islands of the BVI, links to
the BVI Tourist Board’s presences
on social networks such as Facebook
and Twitter and more. The micro
site offers over 30 travel deals from
hotels, villas, resorts, sail charters
and dive companies in the BVI, with
those offers ranging from discounts
and special rates to free nights and
gifts.
www.bvitourism.com
CAP CANA SITE OF NEW
AMRESORTS PROPERTY
AMResorts is celebrating the
opening of Golden Bear Lodge &
Spa Cap Cana, the company’s first
property under the new Zoëtry
Collection of resorts. Inspired
by the beauty of Dominican
Republic retreat of Cap Cana and
golf legend Jack Nicklaus, the
Golden Bear Lodge & Spa offers
golf enthusiasts and travellers
“an unparalleled level of service,
accommodations and amenities
consistent with the Zoëtry Wellness
& Spa Resorts brand.” The 126 oneand two-bedroom suites feature
accommodations complete with
marbled bathrooms and views of
the Caribbean Sea and a Nicklausdesigned golf course. Other inroom amenities include pillow
selection menus, Jacuzzis for two,
kitchenettes, private terraces or
patios, personalized turndown
service and more. Select suites also
offer private plunge pools. In-resort
amenities include limousine and
helicopter services, nanny services,
spa and fitness centre, and four
lighted tennis courts.
www.zoetryresorts.com
‘GET UP & GO’
TO JAMAICA
Travellers looking to beat the frigid
temperatures can now escape to
Jamaica at an affordable price with
the launch of Air Jamaica’s “Get Up
& Go” sale. The sale fares, available
for purchase until Jan. 14, are valid
for travel during two travel periods:
through Feb. 28 and March 1- 31,
2010. Sale fares are valid for both
Lovebird Economy and Lovebird
Executive classes. Sample fares
through Feb. 28 between Toronto
and Jamaica are $328 economy
and $403 executive, roundtrip. For
travel March 1-31, the fares are $278
ARUBA CONNECTED
ON FACEBOOK
Agents who use Facebook can
connect to Aruba online using the
social media web site, now that the
destination’s Aruba.com site features
the Facebook Connect application.
Aruba, the island of “90,000 friends
you haven’t met yet,” is dedicated to
building relationships with friends
and visitors online through its virtual community. Aruba is the first
Caribbean destination to create this
type of online networking community with Facebook Connect and
online profi les.
www.aruba.com
14
TRAVEL COURIER
JANUARY 14, 2010
OCCIDENTAL HAS WINTER
ALL-INCLUSIVE SALE
Occidental Hotels & Resorts has
nightly rates from US$58 p.p. (a
savings of up to 57%) at all-inclusive properties in Aruba, Costa
Rica, Dominican Republic and
Mexico. Winter sale rates are valid
for travel through April 30. All rates
are p.p., per night, based on double
occupancy. Aruba – Occidental Grand
Aruba starting from US$241; Costa
Rica – Allegro Papagayo starting
from US$115, and Occidental Grand
Papagayo starting from US$135;
Dominican Republic – Allegro Playa
Dorada starting from US$58, Allegro
Puerto Plata starting from US$61 and
Occidental Grand Punta Cana starting from US$98; Mexico – Allegro
Cozumel starting from US$81,
Allegro Nuevo Vallarta starting from
US$81, Allegro Playacar starting from
US$107, Occidental Grand Xcaret
starting from US$133, Occidental
Grand Cozumel starting from
US$120; and Royal Hideaway Playacar
starting from US$300 (complimentary golf at the Playacar Golf Club is
included with minimum night stays
– a value of US$380 per couple).
www.occidentalhotels.com/
occidental/Specials2_main.asp
CUISINART UNVEILS
BEACHFRONT VILLAS
Upscale destination Anguilla just
got a little more posh with the
unveiling of new beachfront villas
at the CuisinArt Resort and Spa on
Rendezvous Bay. The newly-completed first phase features three
beachfront three-bedroom villas with
private courtyards, outdoor patios
and pools. To celebrate the launch,
the resort is extending its “Smart
Summer Stay” promotion to Dec. 18.
Guests booking a three-night villa
reservation will receive a fourth night
free, while guests booking five nights
will receive two free nights. Nightly
rates start at $2,800.
www.cuisinartresort.com
INTRODUCING DYNAMICALLY PACKAGED VACATION OPTIONS
by
BARBADOS
DYNAMIC PRICES INCLUDE HOTEL ACCOMMODATION IN A
STANDARD POOL DECK STUDIO – EP AT ROSTREVOR – 3 STAR
ALONG WITH ROUNDTRIP WESTJET AIRFARE TO BARBADOS
7 NIGHT STAY
DEPARTING FROM TORONTO
7 NIGHT STAY
DEPARTING FROM CALGARY
7 NIGHT STAY
DEPARTING FROM VANCOUVER
$
575
$725
$789
Cdn pp
Jan 25/10
Taxes add $92.46
Cdn pp
Jan 25/10
Taxes add $122.91
Cdn pp
Jan 25/10
Taxes add $116.61
THE PRICES FEATURED IN THIS SECTION ARE PER NIGHT, ACCOMMODATION ONLY
$
89
Rostrevor
Standard Pool
Deck Studio EP
$
149
Butterfly Beach Hotel
Superior Studio Island
View EP
$
224
Accra Beach Hotel
Island View EP
$
288
Bougainvillea
Beach Resort
Studio EP
Visit one of the sites listed below to use this revolutionary
new booking engine and click on the TravelGenie logo!
www.holidayhouseagent.ca | www.funsunagent.com
SUN ESCAPES • EUROPE • HAWAII • CITY ESCAPES • ENCORE CRUISE ESCAPES • GREECE & THE MEDITERRANEAN • SOUTH PACIFIC
Prices for hotel only are per room per night based on double occupancy. Dynamic pricing is per person based on double occupancy and is valid for
travel Jan 25-Feb 01/2010. Prices and availability are subject to change without prior notification and were available on Jan 05/10. Black out dates
_PG23840
and restrictions apply. Surcharges may apply. Hotel taxes are included in the price. Not included: transfers or car rental.
$
429
Almond Casuarina
Beach Resort
Standard AI
VARIOUS DESTINATIONS
2010 dates
Collette Vacations is inviting agents
and their travel companions on one of
six fams for 2010. The tour operator
will be hosting fam trips to destinations such as Kenya, Egypt, Australia,
New Zealand and Italy. Agents can
qualify for a 100% rebate on fam trip
costs by booking the same tour or a
tour of higher price within 12 months
of participating on a fam, materializing 15 or more passengers. The rebate
is applicable to the agent-rate cost of
the land portion of the FAM trip.
www.collettevacations.com/agents
16
EGYPT
Various departures
through April 30
Agents can experience Universal
Travel’s nine-day “Classical Egypt”
tour from $595 p.p. (land only).
Included in the cost is a four-night
cruise along the Nile, sightseeing tours, meals, entrance fees to
top attractions, transfers and hotel
accommodation in four- and fivestar properties. Emirates, Etihad and
EgyptAir currently have special fares
for full-time agents. For more details,
contact Rafiq at 604-669-0110 or by
e-mail at rafiq@universaltravel.ca.
www.universatravel.ca
a 10-day fam to China, departing
Feb. 16 from Toronto or Vancouver
for $1,049 p.p., double, plus $350
in taxes. The fam trip cost includes
roundtrip airfare on Air Canada,
domestic airfare, airport transfers,
guided tours, accommodation in
four-star hotels and most meals.
nathalie_demontigny@
travelcom.com.
CHINA
Feb. 16-25
Exotik Tours is inviting agents on
BEIJING
Feb. 18, March 12 & 19
Chinapac International is bringing
TRAVEL COURIER
JANUARY 14, 2010
Taking part in a recent Gap Adventures fam trip to Peru were (l-r) Bonnie Pedersen
and Annee Potvin, Club Aventure, Ottawa (first row); Susan Quet, Junko Urushidan
and Carl Henderson (second row); Leah Lowen Colpit, Kevin Beck and Angela Douklia
(third row); and Matthew Gleen, Gap Adventure’s Ned Ambrus and Matt McGonegal
(fourth row).
back the tour that “made Chinapac
popular all across Canada,” its eightday “Regal Beijing” fam in partnership with Four Points by Sheraton.
Attendees will get to visit the Temple
of Heaven, Tiananmen Square and
the Forbidden City, as well as enjoy
a full-day excursion to the Great
Wall, the Summer Palace and the
Cloisonné Factory. Land-only cost
is $319 p.p., departing on Feb. 18;
$349 p.p., departing on March 12
or March 19.
www.chinapac.com
MYRTLE BEACH
AREA CVB
Jan. 19-20
Beach bash
Select travel trade members are invited to get
the inside scoop on the
newest tourism developments happening in Myrtle
Beach, South Carolina. Sip
on cocktails and sample
coastal cuisine during the
event, which also celebrates
Porter Airlines’ new nonstop service from Toronto.
To be held at the CN Tower
on Jan. 19 and 20, the byinvitation-only events will
open with a registration
at 5:30 p.m. followed by
a reception at Horizons.
For more information,
contact Myrtle Beach rep
Kimberley Hartley at 905582-9252 or Kimberly.hart
ley@visitmyrtlebeach.com.
www.VisitMyrtleBeach.ca
TOURCAN
Jan. 25, 26
Jordan seminars
Tourcan Vacations, in collaboration with the Jordan
Tourist Board and Royal
Jordanian, will be hosting
two agent seminars in
Ontario. The presentations
will introduce agents to the
culture, history and landscapes that Jordan has to
offer. A typical itinerary is
presented, as well as pertinent information for the traveller prior to visiting Jordan, including travelling
there with Royal Jordanian.
Seminars will be Jan. 25
– Royal Botanical Gardens,
Hamilton/Burlington;
and Jan. 26 – Best Western
Lamplighter Inn, London,
Ont. Registration starts
at 6:15 p.m.
tours@tourcan
vacations.com
CITC
Jan. 28, Feb. 25,
March 25 & April 29
Webinars
CITC is adding to its Jan.
28 “Obsessive Compulsive
Sales” webinar featuring
sales and marketing guru
Nolan Burris with a trilogy of new seminars, all
presented by Burris. The
dates and topics are as follows: Feb. 25, “Making the
Most of your Facebook
Business Page”; March 25,
“From Twitter-phobic to
Twitter-ific”; and April 29,
“Corporate Travel Policy
Consulting-for profit.”
Cost is $50 for CITC
members; $60 for ACTA
members and $75 for nonmembers, taxes extra.
www.citc.ca/webinars
JANUARY 14, 2010
TRAVEL COURIER
17
Africa
BOTSWANA CITED FOR
STELLER SAFETY RECORD
Travellers desiring a safari experience, but concerned about the
safety and stability of Africa should
consider Botswana, which is ranked
the most peaceful nation in SubSaharan Africa in the 2009 Global
Peace Index. Botswana ranked first
in Africa and 34th in the world
out of 144 nations. The Institute
for Economics and Peace singled
out Botswana as the most peaceful
nation in Sub-Saharan Africa. “In
Botswana, it is possible to experience
the allure of the African continent
– its genuinely friendly people, vast
pristine wilderness, prolific wildlife
and cultural heritage, without undue
worry about traveller safety,” says
Leslee Hall of Botswana Tourism
Board, North American office.
www.botswanatourism.us
TAJ HOTELS ESTABLISHES
CAPE TOWN PRESENCE
Taj Hotels is opening a Cape Town
hotel this month. Taj Cape Town will
open in advance of summer’s 2010
FIFA World Cup. To tempt fans and
travellers alike, Taj Cape Town has
a special introductory offer: book
two nights at the best available rate
of approximately US$545, including breakfast, and enjoy a third
night free, for stays through March.
Taj Cape Town’s 166 guest rooms
and suites offer vistas of the Table
18
TRAVEL COURIER
JANUARY 14, 2010
Mountains or views of the city’s
Dutch-style buildings and beaches.
There are three restaurants, including the Bombay Brasserie. Guests
will also find a spa and fitness centre.
www.tajhotels.com
AIR NAMIBIA
ADDS FLIGHTS
As of June 1, Air Namibia will be
launching daily flights between
Frankfurt and Windhoek, Namibia.
The additional seventh frequency
will only operate during the June
1-Nov. 10 high season. The first
flight will depart as SW285 from
Windhoek to Frankfurt, while the
first departure from Frankfurt is
the following day, SW286. GDSs
have been updated so that the extra
flight can be sold immediately. Flight
times of the new service are currently slightly different to the other
six departures.
www.aviareps.com
TUNISIAN DESERT
EXPERIENCES LEAVE
TOURISTS STARSTRUCK
Tunisian National Tourism Office
Canadian director Neji Gouider is
inviting Canadians to see stars and
reminders of blockbuster movie Star
Wars. Gouider says those visiting
his homeland should at some point
in their vacation head south into
the Sahara, where a host of exotic
experiences await them. “It’s very
important to visit the South,” he
says. “It’s very different. You can do a
four-wheel-drive excursion. You can
see where Star Wars was fi lmed. And
you can spend a night in a Berber
tent. They’re very well equipped and
have restaurants,” he reports of the
large, comfortable tents that have staff
catering to tourists. Clear skies mean
stars are easily visible in the nighttime
desert sky, he continues.
www.tourismtunisia.com
MOROCCAN HOTEL HAS
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
The Hotel Eden Andalou Spa &
Resort’s owners wanted to give guests
a little elbow room, so the five-star
hotel set up shop nine kilometers from
storied Marrakech, with hotel officials saying they couldn’t have built
the property in the popular tourist
city because of its sprawling structure and grounds. “Seven hectares
in Marrakech is not possible,” says
hotel director-general Karim Sentici.
But those who stay at his hotel can
easily visit Marrakech and its fabled
medina or old quarter, thanks to free
shuttle service. Hotel guests can have
a dramatic view of the snow-capped
Atlas Mountains from a property
modelled after a Moorish palace from
the 10th-century, but which has all the
“comforts of the 21st century.” There
are four restaurants, a poolside snack
bar and the Jazz Bar.
www.edenandalou.com
in partnership with Air New
Zealand and Tourism New
Zealand are giving away
Two Round Trip Economy
Class Tickets to New
Zealand ex Vancouver –
valid on Air New Zealand
operated flights.
All you have to do is: Sign up to Become a Kiwi Specialist!
‘As a Kiwi Specialist, you will have the knowledge to effectively sell New Zealand and exceed your client’s expectations. Combine this
with Anderson Vacations’ expert reservations staff and vast product range available through Downunder Product Finder and you can
plan the trip of a lifetime for you clients. Anderson Vacations is your One Stop New Zealand Solution!
By signing up and completing this program Agents will receive ongoing training
by Tourism New Zealand and a listing on our consumer website www.newzealand.com
You can sign up for the program at www.traveltrade.newzealand.com. More information on Downunder
Product Finder, and Anderson’s vast array of product can be found at www.downundersolution.com
Once you have signed up for the program, you will be able to answer the question to be entered to win the airfare.
All entrants must be full-time accredited Travel Agents and only one entry per person.
To enter to win a trip for two to New Zealand, sign up to become a Kiwi Specialist and answer the simple question
below: (Hint: Look in the ‘Training Modules’ section)
Name the three optional training modules that all travel agents can complete which count towards
their Kiwi Specialist certification?
Answer:
_______________________
_____________________
____________________________
Name:
_____________________________________________________________________________
Agency:
_____________________________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ____________________
Email:
_________________________
IATA #: ________________
Please fax your entry to: 416-968-2377 or enter online at http://promo.baxter.net/contest/Anderson.asp
Deadline for entries is February 19, 2010. Travel must be taken by June 30, 2010
Greece, Turkey & the Mediterranean
ALBATOURS INTRODUCES
NEW ITALY BROCHURE
ALBATours’ 2010 Italy program is now
detailed in a new brochure. The program, which runs from April to October,
sees ALBATours use Alitalia as its carrier
for all coach tour packages. For 2010,
the tour operator has introduced a new
escorted coach tour and made enhancements to others. A limited time offer features savings of up to $300 per couple on
all air-inclusive and tour-only packages.
New is the five-night Return to Sorrento
coach tour, which features two nights in
Rome and two more in Sorrento. Rates
start at $1,039 for the tour-only package
and from $1,829 for the air-inclusive
package.
www.albatours.com
CIT TOURS SERVES UP
NEW ITALIAN TOURS
CIT Tours’ 2010 Enchanting Europe &
the Best of Italy brochure has hotels and
country resorts in Italy’s main cities and
tourist destinations, and also features
hotels in Britain, France, Portugal, Spain,
Malta, Germany, Austria, Hungary, the
Czech Republic and Switzerland. New
tours include Italian coach tours “Rome,
Florence & the Tuscan Landscape” and
“The Magnificent South,” which features
the Amalfi Coast, Puglia and Basilicata.
The Morocco Express, an escorted coach
tour that combines Spain’s Costa del Sol
with Morocco’s Imperial Cities, has been
added, along with two independent rail
tours in Spain. On the Wine & Gourmet
front is the new “Amalfi’s Cucina del
Gusto” tour, where clients experience
Italian cuisine with hands-on cooking
lessons, while at the same time discovering the Sorrentine Peninsula.
www.cittours.ca
TRANSAT PROMOTES
GREECE GROUP OFFERS
Groups booking holidays to Greece
before Jan. 31 will be eligible for
an early booking bonus of up to
20
TRAVEL COURIER
JANUARY 14, 2010
$250 p.p. with Transat Holidays, on
select packages. Among them are
the Aegean Splendour, Olympian
Voyage, Mino Magic, Kinetta Seaside
Package, Voyage to Antiquity, and
Hellenic Harmonies Kappa. Clients
can save $150 p.p. on all other Greece
product by Jan. 31. Group savings are
valid on bookings with minimum
10 adult passengers travelling from
the same gateway and routing on
the same dates, 16th passenger free,
maximum three per group.
specialtygroups@transat.com
FEBRUARY TOURISM SHOW
PROMOTES ISRAELI TOURISM
IMTM – the 16th International
Mediterranean Tourism Market – will
take place in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Feb.
9 and 10. IMTM serves to promote
incoming, domestic and outgoing
tourism, as well as strengthen co-operation among tourism bodies in Israel
and elsewhere. The show gives tourism
professionals an opportunity to meet
with colleagues, buyers and suppliers.
IMTM 2010 is held under the auspices
of the Israel ministry of tourism.
www.goisrael.ca
DOUBLETREE TO
OPEN IN GREECE
Greece will see its first Doubletree by
Hilton resort opening this May now
that the ink is drying on a franchise
licensing agreement between Hilton
Worldwide and Akti Helona S.A.
The Doubletree by Hilton Resort,
Kos-Helona, on the Greek island of
Kos, will offer 238 rooms including
15 suites and three villas, two restaurants and bars, a spa and fitness area,
a private beach, and meeting spaces,
including a room that can accommodate up to 700 people. Hilton’s
upscale full-service Doubletree
brand has been growing in Europe
since its first introduction to the
market in 2008, with 10 properties
now open across Europe and development projects confirmed in Russia
and Romania.
www.doubletree.com
AEGEAN AIRLINES
SET TO JOIN STAR
Ten-year-old Greek carrier Aegean
Airlines is joining the Star Alliance,
gaining access to the many markets
across the globe with large communities of Greek descendants, including Canada. At the same time, more
business travellers based in Greece
will benefit from the alliance’s
worldwide reach, seamless travel
and frequent-flyer programs. Aegean
operates a fleet of 31 aircraft covering a total of 47 domestic and international routes on 200 daily flights.
Specifically, 23 routes in Greece and
24 international routes are covered.
The carrier can be booked through
the Travelport GDS system.
www.aegeanair.com
SAILING TOUR EXAMINES
MED’S STORIED PAST
Exclusive Tours says the inaugural
season for “Voyages to Antiquity”
will feature “exceptional offers on
select itineraries and departure
dates.” The sailings in and around
the Mediterranean will delve into the
ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman
civilizations. The deluxe, newly refurbished Aegean Odyssey can carry 380
guests. “Each voyage features a carefully-planned enrichment program
that will provide an unprecedented,
personal encounter with vibrant,
ancient societies,” says Exclusive
Tours, the Canadian representative for
Voyages to Antiquity. Tours will feature excursions led by authors, historians and others, and there are onboard
enrichment programs. Available offers
for some tours include the likes of free
airfare from Toronto.
www.exclusivetours.ca
MEDITERRANEAN
CRUISING 2010
T
EN HIS
DS OF
JA FE
N R
27
!
Ou r be s t u p g ra d e e v e r!
BOOK AN INSIDE STATEROOM
GET AN OCEAN VIEW BALCONY STATEROOM!*
Save up to $1120 per couple
MEDITERRANEAN
CRUISING 2010
• 4 beautiful ships: MSC Musica, MSC Splendida, MSC Fantasia
and the brand new MSC Magnifica
• 7 night Western Mediterranean cruises from Rome or Naples
• 7 night Eastern Mediterranean cruises from Venice
FA
E O E After the cruise, your clients can spend additional
S
I
CRU ETIM nights in Rome, Venice and Sorrento
LIF
7 night cruise staying in a fabulous Ocean View Balcony Stateroom
2349
$
Toronto departures
May to October 2010
Includes roundtrip airfare from Toronto, cruise & transfers
MSC Magnifica, May 7, 14, 21, 28 Toronto departures
Add $560 tax & port charges
BONUS: FREE WATER PACKAGE!
All Sunquest passengers will receive 7 bottles of mineral/sparkling water.
1 package per stateroom.
Your clients can
EARN AEROPLAN MILES
For more information, visit www.sunquestagent.ca
Toronto departures via Alitalia Airlines. Price shown is per person, based on double occupancy, available at press time, subject to change, is capacity controlled and applies to new bookings only.
For full product information and terms & conditions, see our Sunquest 2010 Mediterranean Cruise brochure or visit SunquestAgent.ca. *Free Upgrade is a capacity controlled, limited time
offer, subject to withdrawal or change without prior notice. Upgrades are from Inside Stateroom Categories 1,2,3 to Oceanview Balcony Stateroom Categories 6,7,8.
Savings vary dependent upon ship and departure date. Ontario Reg# 50012702 SQ23812
COLLETTE VACATIONS
Collette Vacations reports that this
month will feature a companywide push to sell the remaining
tickets it has secured for the 2010
Oberammergau Passion Play, and
has extended its Oberammergau
booking offer through February to
assist agents in closing the sale. The
Passion Play is held every 10 years
in the picturesque village and is a
major religious and cultural event
for the region. Collette reports that
many dates have sold out, but that
space is still available on hundreds of
guaranteed departure dates. Collette
offers eight European vacation
packages featuring the Passion Play
in Oberammergau, including tours
highlighting the Austrian cities of
Innsbruck, Salzburg and Vienna
and the Swiss resort destinations
of Zermatt, Lucerne and St. Moritz.
Agents can visit the Collette homepage where they’ll discover that their
clients can save up to US$400 per
couple on new retail bookings.
www.collettevacations.com/
oberammergau.cfm
GOWAY
Goway Travel’s China Odyssey
escorted tour program has confirmed 2010 departure dates for its
escorted program to China. The 11or 14-day China Odyssey is priced
from $2,189 for the 11-day tour and
from $2,689
for the 14day tour and
offers first
class and
deluxe centrally-located
hotels. A
national guide
remains with
the group
through their
entire China
journey, rather
than local
guides in each
location. The
14-day journey
includes the
more popular
Oberammergau’s famed Passion Play will take place from
downstream
May 15 to Oct. 3, and not again for another 10 years.
cruise on the
Yangtze River
and uses a fourstar ship. Goway is offering a $100
off Deception Island. Geothermic
p.p. early-booking bonus for the tour
activity means bathers can occasionwhen booked by Jan. 31.
ally “feel a comfortable current of
www.Goway.com/asia
water above freezing.” During the
North Pole’s summer, guests on
HURTIGRUTEN
the same ship can jump into polar
You don’t have to be a member of a
waters off Norway or Greenland.
polar bear club to take advantage of
“As far as sea conditions allow, our
Hurtigruten’s offers to enjoy a dip in
expedition team will ensure that
the world’s coldest waters. During
the bravest of our guests are able to
Antarctica’s summer, guests on Hurtisatisfy their thirst for adventure in
gruten’s Fram can jump into the
the water,” Hurtigruten says.
“remarkably refreshing icy waters”
www.hurtigruten.us
AIR & LAND INCLUDED
Affordable
Egypt
9 Days
CA $
1995
.00*
per person sharing + taxes
f from Toronto/Montreal/Ottawa
AIR & LAND INCLUDED
CA $
.00*
2250
per person sharing + taxes
f from Vancouver/Calgary/Edmonton
Departure dates for 2010: 13+21 Feb; 03+20 Mar; 10 Apr.
Limited Seats Available!
416 391 0334 / 1800 263 2995
ROSHAN, Press 3 + 2664
LAURA, Press 3 + 2665
EDITH, Press 3 + 2666
visit us at www.tourcanvacations.com for a detailed itinerary, taxes & supplements
22
TRAVEL COURIER
JANUARY 14, 2010
11:25 a.m.
Offshore Waikíkí Beach
Island of O‘ahu
______________________________
[
Check out our
7 night Specials
]
______________________________
O‘AHU
Ohana Waikiki West
7 nights from $315. Aloha Standard
Ohana East
7 nights from $396. Aloha Standard
MAUI
Outrigger Aina Nalu Resort of Lahaina
7 nights from $476. Aloha Standard
Outrigger Royal Kahana
7 nights from $567. Aloha Rate Ocean View Studio
Visit www.funsunagent.com | www.holidayhouseagent.ca to book your client’s next vacation to Hawai’i!
Terms & Conditions: Sample pricing based on travel February 24 – March 3/10. Rates are CAD per person based on double occupancy. Not included: Airfare, transfers, car rental or hotel taxes ($40 - $71 CAD pp) are additional. Call for other dates and durations. Transfer and car rental are additional. Prices are subject to change and availability. Seasonal supplements and black out
date may apply. Not valid for group bookings. Restrictions apply. FSV, BC Reg # 3597-6/Issue date Jan 14/10/PG23844
MARITIME TRAVEL
HIRES BCAA AGENTS
As part of a West Coast expansion,
Atlantic Canada’s largest travel
agency chain, Maritime Travel is
opening seven new offices in British
Columbia and hiring 36 travel
counsellors formerly with BCAA
Travel. The new locations will be
in Abbotsford, South Surrey, New
Westminster, Richmond, Vernon,
Kelowna and Kamloops, giving
Maritime Travel a total of 12 locations in BC. Since 1949, Maritime
Travel has grown to become one
of Canada’s largest independentlyowned travel agency groups with 87
locations nationwide.
www.maritimetravel.ca
Whistler, which has rooms available from Feb. 11-28 in deluxe
and deluxe slope-side, suites and
Fairmont Gold categories. No
arrival or departure pattern is
required; however, a three-night
minimum stay is in effect on most
dates. Rates start from $899 per
room per night. Sister properties the
Fairmont Vancouver Airport and
the Fairmont Empress, Victoria also
have availability during the 2010
Games. The Fairmont Vancouver
Airport has Fairmont Gold rooms
starting from $599 per night with
a minimum four-night stay and set
arrival dates, while the Fairmont
Empress in Victoria has all room
categories available with no minimal night requirement.
www.fairmont.com
TOP HOUSEKEEPING AWARDS
GO TO AB COAST HOTELS
Three Coast Hotels & Resorts’
properties have been named as
recipients of the Alberta Hotel &
Lodging Association’s 2010 award for
excellence in housekeeping. For the
eighth consecutive year, the Coast
Medicine Hat Hotel will receive the
housekeeping award. Calgary’s Coast
Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre
will get the award for the fourth year
in a row, while the Coast Edmonton
Plaza Hotel is taking home the
housekeeping award for the fifth
time in six years. The awards will
be presented at the AHLA awards
dinner in April.
www.coasthotels.com
NEW WATERMARK IN
WINE COUNTRY
Visitors to the Okanagan Valley
in BC should know that the
new Watermark Beach Resort
has just opened in the heart of
South Okanagan wine country,
on the shores of Lake Osoyoos.
Accommodation at the luxury
resort includes studio, one-, twoand three-bedroom suites, plus
townhomes. All have private balconies, gourmet kitchens and fireplaces. The Watermark’s Wine Bar
feature lake views and local cuisine,
and the Watermark Conference
Center offers space for weddings or
meetings. An intro rate of $99 for a
one-bedroom suite (double occupancy), including parking, Internet
access and continental breakfast, is
available until April 30. Tour operators that want to add the resort
to their programs can contact the
City Passports MarketingGroup at
randy@citypassports.com or
www.citypassport.tel.
www.watermarkbeachresort.com
FAIRMONT HAS ROOMS
AVAILABLE FOR OLYMPICS
Visitors heading to Whistler for
the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic
Winter Games can find accommodation at the Fairmont Chateau
24
TRAVEL COURIER
JANUARY 14, 2010
WINNIPEG FOUR POINTS
CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN
Now open in Winnipeg is the new
Four Points by Sheraton Winnipeg
South, with 76 guest rooms and 334
square metres of flexible meeting
space. It is located adjacent to the
Trans-Canada Bypass on the main
highway leading to the US, minutes
from downtown. The Winnipeg
Convention Centre, MTS Centre,
Forks Market and CanWest Global
Park are all close by. Hotel services
include the Park Avenue Family
Restaurant, a luxury pool area,
fitness facility and free high-speed
Internet in all public areas and guest
rooms. The rooms have 32-inch flat
panel TVs and free bottled water.
www.starwoodhotels.com
WINNIPEG SET FOR
ICELAND ROUTE
Iceland Express will begin flying
between Winnipeg and Iceland this
summer, with twice-a-week service from the beginning of June on
Wednesdays and Saturdays. A joint
partnership with Go Travel Flights
has been signed to sell seats between
Winnipeg and London. “This has
been in our plans for some time
and brings new travelling opportunities to Icelanders on both sides
of the Atlantic, as well as giving
Canadians and others the chance to
visit Iceland in an easy and economic
manner,” said Iceland Express CEO
Matthias Imsland. Iceland Express
has connecting service to London,
Copenhagen and other points
through Europe. Winnipeg will
raise the number of its destinations
to 27. The airline has also recently
announced scheduled flights for
New York, Milan, Luxembourg,
Birmingham, Rotterdam and Oslo.
www.icelandexpress.com
LOS CABOS
PRESIDENTE INTERCONTINENTAL
Los Cabos Resort
★★★★★
All-Inclusive, Deluxe Garden View Room
Thu., Feb. 25, 7 nts.
947
$
+$182 tax
There’s never been a better time to go to Mexico: prices are at an all time low while the value
remains at an all time high!
Go for the romance, the open-hearted people, the stunning beaches, exciting nightlife,
and that wonderful feeling of welcome that we Canadians so love about Mexico.
You’re ready. They're ready. Time to go!
LOS CABOS
MAZATLAN
PUERTO VALLARTA
RIU SANTA FE
RIU EMERALD BAY
★★★★★
★★★★★
PLAZA PELICANOS
All-Inclusive, Only from Sunquest
Hotel Room
Mon., Jan. 25, 7 nts.
All-Inclusive, Hotel Room,
Sun., Feb. 21, 7 nts.
$
897
897
$
GRAND BEACH RESORT ★★★★
+$182 tax
All-Inclusive, Club Room,
Fri., Feb. 5, 7 nts.
947
$
+$182 tax
+ 182 tax
$
For more information visit SunquestAgent.ca
Toronto departures via Air Transat, Skyservice & WestJet. Prices shown are per person, based on double occupancy and available at press time. All offers are capacity controlled, subject to change and apply to new bookings only.
For full product information and terms & conditions, see our Sunquest Southern Sun 2009/2010 brochure or visit Sunquest.ca. Sunquest, 75 Eglinton Avenue East, Toronto, ON M4P 3A4. Ont. Reg. #50012702. 23689
ONLINE
REVEALED CANADA
5th Annual Tourism Online Marketing Conference
PRESENTS THE
DELTA CENTRE-VILLE, MONTREAL - Save the Date: January 25-27, 2010
PRODUCED BY:
Featuring:
TWO Keynote Presentations &
15 Hands-on workshops that will
address critical online marketing
issues influencing the travel
industry in Canada. Join over
300 of Canada’s top tourism
professionals!
$
Featured Presentation:
Richard Munro explains how a Content Management System (CMS) makes it
extremely easy to add, update, delete or edit Web site content. While tweaking for
maximum SEO optimization, you can put out the freshest possible travel products!
Richard Munro, teaches Interactive Media for the School of Media Studies & Information Technology at Humber College
and has taught courses at the Directors Guild of Canada, and is CMS specialist at RadonicRodgers Design+Marketing.
799 TO REGISTER & FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO: www.onlinerevealed.com
To place your listing contact sales@baxter.net
Last week’s lineup...
Japan Airlines - JAL –
Daily non-stop service between
Vancouver and Tokyo
TIAC –
Canada-e-Connect 2010
LAN Airlines –
Check-in Time required for LAN
Airlines flights
Sunwing Vacations –
Worry Free Cancellation
Waiver for only $49 per person
Full House Franchise Systems
Limited –
HOJO Saint Nicolas Offers Great
Skiing Packages
Transnico Canada Inc. –
...some of our best Special Offers
Signature Vacations –
Exclusive benefits for your clients
Utell Hotels & Resorts –
Your search for GREAT RATE is over
CITC - CANADIAN INSTITUTE
OF TRAVEL COUNSELLORS –
CITC wants you to be Obsessive
TM
Travelblast gives you the first look at
special promotional
offers and announcements for your clients.
Subscribe NOW for FREE at
www.travelpress.com/SUBSCRIBE/
Look for:
Delivered at your request by
The stamp of authenticity.
SANDALS
WHITEHOUSE
After four months of
renovations bringing it up to
“luxury-included” standards,
the Sandals Whitehouse
European Village & Spa
in Jamaica has reopened.
Guests will find upgrades
to soft goods and furnishings throughout the resort
property and renovations
to all restaurants, the main
lobby area and treatment
rooms of its Red Lane Spa.
Clients staying in the top two
categories of suites, the onebedroom penthouse honeymoon beachfront suite and
the one-bedroom walkout
honeymoon beachfront suite,
will now find new furnishings, upgraded soft goods
and plasma TVs.
www.sandals.com
MILLENIUM HOTELS
& RESORTS
Millennium Hotels &
Resorts is teaming up with
WeLoveAgents.com to
launch the “Millennium’s
Agent Challenge,” inviting agents to design its new
mascot, Muriel, for a chance
to win a stay at one of the
brand’s hotels, which include
14 in the US. The winning
agent will receive a five-night
stay and the design will be
fashioned into a limited
edition figurine this summer. Participants must be
registered members of the
We Love Agents program
and submit entries by Feb. 4.
www.millenniumhotels.
com/mumakeover
http://weloveagents.
com/MUMakeover
STARWOOD
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Worldwide and American
Express Canada are joining forces to launch a new
co-branded rewards based
credit cards in Canada. The
two companies will launch
the Starwood Preferred
Guest Credit Card from
American Express and
the Starwood Preferred
Guest Business Card from
American Express in the
first quarter of the year. The
two new cards will provide members in Canada
with faster ways to earn
Starpoints towards free hotel
nights, as well as free flights.
And for the first time in
Canada, card members will
earn one Starpoint for every
$1 charged to the card.
www.spg.com/
canadacreditcard
HALF MOON
Jamaica’s Half Moon is
enticing Canadians to
escape the winter blahs
with its “Ultimate Escapes
Celebration” getaway,
available through April
15. The package includes a
couples’ massage, candlelit
private dinner for two
beneath a beach cabana
and private car transportation. Couples who book
the new package will also
receive complimentary
meals at Half Moon’s six
restaurants, and beverages at the resort’s eight
bars. Rates start from US
$885 per night, double on
a minimum three-night
stay.
www.halfmoon.com
JANUARY 14, 2010
TRAVEL COURIER
27
This week on...
SUNQUEST
Agents are advised to
save the booking numbers from any Sunquest
booking to play Sun
Deal, the agent incentive game that kicked
off Jan. 11. For all applicable Sunquest bookings
made between Jan. 11
and Feb. 8, go online to
enter your valid booking numbers and win up
to $100 every time. The
offer is valid for departures through Dec. 31
on all Sunquest packages, including cruise. It
does not apply to air or
land-only bookings or
groups. After booking
numbers are registered,
agents will receive an
e-mail to confirm the
amount won. At the end
of each week, American
Express-branded reward
card loaded with accumulated winnings will
be sent out. The offer
is also combinable with
the Great Riu Emerald
Bay Giveaway.
www.sunquestagent.ca
COLLETTE
VACATIONS
Collette Vacations is
inviting agents and their
travel companions on
one of six fams for 2010.
The tour operator will
be hosting fam trips
to destinations such as
Kenya, Egypt, Australia,
New Zealand and Italy.
Agents can qualify for a
100% rebate on fam trip
costs by booking the
same tour or a tour of
higher price within 12
months of participating
on a fam, materializing
15 or more passengers.
The rebate is applicable
to the agent-rate cost of
the land portion of the
FAM trip.
www.collette
vacations.com/agents
Independent Travel Consultant, TPI | Travel
Professionals International, Canada Wide
Senior International Corporate Travel
Consultants, MKI Travel & Conference
Management Inc., Ottawa and Montreal
Part/Full Time Corporate Agent,
Total Vacations, Toronto
Marketing and Product Coordinator,
TPI | Travel Professionals International, Winnipeg
Air Specialist, Flight Network,
Oakville/Mississauga
Corporate Travel Consultant, Bains Travel,
Vancouver
Operations Manager – Corporate Travel, MKI
Travel & Conference Management Inc., Ottawa
ANOTHER REASON
TO DIET!
With full body scans
on the horizon at some
Canadian airports,
there’s perhaps a little
more incentive to fully
observe that New Year’s
diet. Indeed, surveys
suggest that a majority of Canadians don’t
really object to prospects
of near nude security
photographs. Indeed,
one media wag (a female
28
TRAVEL COURIER
one, no less) observed
that in today’s open
society, the concern is
more “Do I look hot?”
than “Will they see me
naked?” Consider this,
however: with airlines
now required to elicit full
data from passengers,
and body scans on tap for
some, the security system
may just be requiring
nude photos and your
phone number before
flying!
JANUARY 14, 2010
For more information about the jobs above,
visit Travelbestjobs.com.
To learn more about advertising
on travebestjobs.com,
please contact us at classifieds@baxter.net
or call 416-968-7252.
The stamp of authenticity.
EXPLORE OUR WEB SITE!
Join TPI from only
$
per year
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
If you are an experienced travel consultant looking for unlimited earning
potential and the opportunity to own an independent travel business,
TPI invites you to join our national network.
Member of
Our exclusive program for experienced agents provides you with:
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One of Canada’s fastest growing online retail
travel agency has the following vacancy. We want
to hear from enthusiastic and ambitious
individuals who strive to succeed in a fast paced
environment.
Join Canada’s largest and most successful network of independent travel
DJHQWVDQGEHZHOORQ\RXUZD\WRÀQDQFLDOVHFXULW\DQGLQGHSHQGHQFH
Air Specialist
We offer an above average salary, joining bonus, full
training and performance based bonuses. We value
teamwork, invest in employees for professional
development, offer great flexible hours, and
professional advancement in this growing
organization.
Call David Wass, Business Development Manager at
1-866-627-2122 or go to www.tpi.ca today to learn more
$OOLQTXLUHVDUHFRQÀGHQWLDO
We want to hear from you if you have:
* 2–5 Years wholesale experience in Air Travel.
* Knowledge of Apollo an asset.
* Exceptional customer service skills and sales abilities.
* Ability to multi-task and work in a fast paced call
center environment.
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* Knowledge of Sirev and other industry thir d party
software is an asset.
* Knowledge of Microsoft Office and Internet applications.
* Ability to work well as part of a team.
If you are interested in this exciting
career opportunity please send your
resume and cover letter telling us why
you are the right candidate to
hr@flightnetwork.com
We thank all candidates for their interest, only those
selected for an interview will be contacted.
2947 Portland Drive Unit A Oakville, ON L6H 5S4
JANUARY 11, 2010
TRAVEL COURIER
29
SEASONS
IN THE SUN
JAMAICA Sun-drenched beaches, pulsing dance
rhythms and exciting nightlife, warm smiles and
luxuriant flora are just a few of Jamaica’s many charms.
Travellers to this beautiful land can worship the sun
while gazing out over the turquoise waters that surround
the island, or enjoy any number of thrilling activities and
excursions, from taking a boat safari down Black River,
climbing Dunn’s River Falls, swimming with dolphins,
sailing a catamaran or enjoying the sunset while
relaxing at Rick’s Café in Negril. Jamaica, a destination
for all seasons…
For more details, consult your travel agent
or visit transatholidays.com