Canadians embracing luxury travel, Virtuoso sees 93% jump in five

Transcription

June 5, 2014
Volume 42 Issue 21
C A N A D A’ S
T R A V E L
T R A D E
P U B L I C A T I O N
Canadians embracing luxury travel,
Virtuoso sees 93% jump in five years
TORONTO — For years Canadian travellers were viewed as stingy, almost
inevitable when the dollar was worth
little more than 60 cents.
But times have changed and suppliers from 4- and 5-star hotel chains to
luxury cruise lines have noticed.
Not only has Canada recently surpassed the U.S. as having the most affluent middle class per capita in the world,
according to the New York Times, the
Canadian Tourism Commission’s (CTC)
most recent Travel Snapshot shows Canadians spent more than $30 billion on
Marseille Old Port
THISWEEK
4
HAWAII NONSTOPS
29
MARSEILLE FLIGHTS
Air Canada rouge will fly TorontoHonolulu, Vancouver-Honolulu, Maui
Air Transat is now flying to Marseille
from both Toronto and Montreal
6
35
WEDDING CALENDAR
Sandals is launching a new interactive
Wedding Day Calendar for agents
PM40015622
FEATURE THIS
Signature Vacations’ exclusive Riu Varadero
a favourite in the Canadian market
travel in 2012, one of the highest per
capita expenditures in the world.
And the Canadian agency members
of Virtuoso, the best-known group of
agencies specializing in luxury travel,
have seen their sales soar.
Some 13 Canadian agencies are
part of the Virtuoso network, and in
the past year these agencies saw 12%
growth, and in the past five years,
they saw 93% growth, said Becky
Powell, Senior Vice-President, Global
Member Sales, who was in Toronto to
update media on Virtuoso.
It began in 1951 as a small co-op
of Mid-Western U.S. agencies. Now
Virtuoso has some US$12 billion in
buying power, more than 340 agency members with 600 locations in
20 countries worldwide and a brand
that’s become a powerhouse in the
luxury travel market.
With close to 9,000 travel advisors
across the globe, Virtuoso has member
agencies in the Americas, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand and, by the
end of 2014, Europe.
Virtuoso has “customized the Virtuoso experience for Canadian travellers,”
added Senior Vice-President for Virtuoso’s Consumer Group, David Kolner.
Say “CIAO!”
Book an air-inclusive package by June 18 and
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on Milan, Rome or Venice
Tuscan Discovery
9 days / 7 nights
Aug. 18 & Sept. 8
$
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Add taxes & other fees: $586
Valid for travel from May 26 and completed by Dec. 10, 2014. Minimum 5-night stay required.
Italian Rail Journey
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Sept. 15
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and Air Canada rouge
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activities, car rentals and more
aircanadavacations.com/agents
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operated by Air Canada or Air Canada rouge. For applicable terms and conditions, consult the Air Canada Vacations brochures or www.aircanadavacations.com. Holder of Quebec permit #702566. TICO registration #50013537. BC registration
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topnews
ellers include New Zealand (“off the
charts” at 140% growth, said Kolner),
Australia (59%), Mexico (35%), the UK
(30%), Turks & Caicos (23%), Jamaica
(23%), Cuba (19%), Italy (18%), the D.R.
(15%) and France (11%).
While these figures show big rates
of increase in travel to certain destinations, some of the base numbers for
those destinations were quite low to
begin with, said Kolner.
Members of Virtuoso’s executive team as well as several Toronto-area Virtuoso travel agents
attended a luncheon at the Shangri-La Hotel. Pictured here are (left to right): Wendy Davis,
president, Zebrano; Senior Vice-President for Virtuoso’s Consumer Group, David Kolner; Becky
Powell, Senior Vice-President, Global Member Sales, Virtuoso; Stephen Smith, Vice-President,
Marketing & Communications, Vision Travel; and Lucy Viera, Director, Away by TTI Travel.
Both Kolner and Powell along with other members of the Virtuoso team, plus
several local Virtuoso agents, were part
of a media lunch in Toronto last week.
The network relaunched its Virtuoso.
com website in October and Canadian agents along with their colleagues
worldwide are listed in the site Luxury
Travel Advisor Catalog, a search tool for
clients. Hotels, cruise lines and other
product get client ratings on the site,
and Virtuoso agents do too, with directives like ‘100% of 22 people recommended’ displayed next to an agent’s
profile. Clients can also post reviews of
each agent, and agents can respond.
Another tool on the site, called
Meet Your Advisor, acts as a filter for
would-be clients looking for a travel
agent, using travel preference questions about destinations and trip type
(e.g. honeymoon, family getaway, etc.)
to steer the business to the most appropriate agents.
Luxury clients are still travelling as
much as they ever did, but the 2008 recession had an impact on how those clients want to vacation, said Kolner. “Value
didn’t necessarily become the driver but
it is expected now,” he said. “That’s what
the recession taught us. Luxury travellers
expect to be treated a certain way.”
Virtuoso aggregates its booking data
every day and the most recent figures
show that the ‘Hot List’ of the fastestgrowth destinations for Canadian trav-
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June 5, 2014 TRAVELWEEK 3
topnews
In terms of who’s getting the most
numbers of Canadian travellers, at least
in the Virtuoso network, the U.S. is still
number one at 53%, followed by 6% to
Mexico, 5% to the UK, 3% to Italy and
the D.R. and 2% to France, Cuba, Israel
and Jamaica.
Air Canada rouge
expands to Hawaii
with new TorontoHonolulu nonstop
flights, VancouverHonolulu/Maui
service
TORONTO — Air Canada’s leisure
carrier subsidiary, Air Canada rouge,
is expanding service to Hawaii with
the introduction of new year-round
nonstop flights between Toronto and
Honolulu.
The new route, offering the only nonstop service between Toronto and Hawaii, will begin Nov. 26, 2014. Flights will
be operated using Air Canada rouge
Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft offering a
choice of two cabins with three choices
of service, personal space and comfort.
To promote the new route, Air Canada rouge is offering savings of 20% on
bookings made by June 10, 2014 for
travel until April 30, 2015 using the promotion code ‘aloharouge’.
Flights and optional Air Canada Vacations packages are available for purchase at aircanada.com.
In addition, Air Canada announced
that existing year-round nonstop
service from Vancouver to Honolulu
and Maui, currently operated by Air
Canada, will be converted to daily
Air Canada rouge Boeing 767-300 ER
service effective Nov. 21 and Dec. 1,
2014, respectively.
As part of its Air Canada rouge winter schedule to Caribbean destinations,
twice-weekly seasonal service from Toronto to St. Maarten, previously operated by Air Canada, will be converted
to Air Canada rouge Boeing 767-300ER
service effective Dec. 20.
Specialty brands,
Travel CUTS to come
under Merit Travel
umbrella
TORONTO — Merit Travel Group Inc.
will be reorganizing its diverse, specialty travel brands under the Merit
Travel umbrella.
These specialty travel brands include The Adventure Travel Company, Merit Vacations, Merit Group
Editor
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Contents copyrighted 2014 by Concepts Travel Media Ltd.
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4 TRAVELWEEK June 5, 2014
122 Parliament Street,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5A 2Y8
Tel: 416.365.1500, Fax: 416.365.1504
Toll-free: 1.855.392.8820
www.travelweek.ca | www.envoynetworks.ca
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UPGRADE to Elite Plus Service bookable online
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CALGARY DEPARTURES
TORONTO DEPARTURES
VANCOUVER DEPARTURES
VARADERO
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FAMILY COLLECTION
HOTEL ROOM
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PARK SUITE ROOM
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665
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HOTEL ROOM
SEP 02, 09, 16 & 23
$
895
+ $321 Taxes
Calgary, Toronto & Vancouver departures. All prices are gross per person based on double occupancy for 7 nights on all inclusive vacations (unless otherwise specified) and were
available at the time of printing. Seats at the above prices are limited and subject to change without prior notice. Applicable to new bookings only. Not combinable with any other
offers. Transportation taxes & related fees shown must be pre-paid. Applicable local taxes payable in destination are extra (Cuba 25CUC). Flights are with Sunwing Airlines or Travel
Service. For full terms and conditions, please refer to the Sunwing Vacations 2014/15 brochure. 27 Fasken Drive, Toronto, ON M9W1K6 Ont Reg #2476582 | 06052014
topnews
Travel, Merit Ski and Golf Vacations,
Ultimate Ski and Golf Vacations.
As part of this reorganization the
retail locations of Travel CUTS, a longtime fixture on University campuses
across Canada, will also join Merit
Travel. “We’re excited to bring this new
brand to Canadian students and remain
focused providing the best student discounts available,” says Lori Copeland,
Director of Product Development.
“We are also thrilled to showcase Merit
Travel’s huge range of products, services
and expertise to the wider university
community. This is a natural extension
of the brand and we know university
faculty and staff are going to love what
Merit Travel has to offer.”
Travel CUTS will be refreshed and restyled as ‘travelcuts’ and will move online.
“We are totally focused on our customer’s needs,” said Michael Merrithew,
Chairman & CEO of Merit Travel Group
Inc., the parent company of Merit Travel and travelcuts. “We are pleased to
regroup our various specialty brands
under the same umbrella to provide
our clients with a far more comprehensive travel experience.”
Utilizing the sales and product development teams at Merit/Ultimate
Golf & Ski Vacations, Merit Travel
will continue to bring unique and
customized ski and golf offerings to
Canadians. “Joining the Merit Travel
brand is going to make it even easier for Canadians to hit the slopes or
links,” says Doug Paterson, Director of
Ski and Golf Sales.
Merit Travel will also be positioned
as a leader in customized adventure
travel, through the incorporation
of The Adventure Travel Company.
“Adventure travel is one of the fastest growing segments of the tourism
industry and the expertise brought
by The Adventure Travel Company to
Merit Travel will be invaluable,” says
Kristina Boyce, Director of Retail Sales
for Merit Travel. “We will be uniquely
positioned as experts, not only for
this travel style, but for all the other
diverse travel needs of adventure
travellers.”
Sandals launches
new interactive
Wedding Day
Calendar
TORONTO — Sandals Resorts is
launching a new tool to make the wedding journey easier for travel agents and
their clients.
The Sandals Wedding Day Calendar
will help travel agents better serve their
clients wishing to celebrate their WeddingMoon at any Sandals resort.
Through the Sandals Wedding Day
Calendar, available exclusively on
the new Sandals travel agent portal
(https://taportal.sandals.com/) , travel
agents now conveniently have access
to check date availability and submit a
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White sandy beaches,
cooling trade winds.
Perfect for simple pleasures
and thrilling adventures.
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ONE WEEK
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Oct 06, 13, 20 & 27
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Holiday Inn Resort Aruba
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All Inclusive
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Aug 18 & 25
1215
$
+ $375 taxes
Riu Palace Aruba +++++
All Inclusive
Exclusive to Signature Vacations
Hotel Room
Sep 01, 08, 15, 22 & 29
1315
$
+ $375 taxes
Toronto departures. All prices are gross per person based on double occupancy for 7 nights on all inclusive vacations (unless otherwise specified) and were available at the time of printing. Seats at
the above prices are limited and subject to change without prior notice. Applicable to new bookings only. Transportation taxes & related fees shown must be pre-paid. For full terms and conditions,
please refer to our current brochure. Flights are with Sunwing Airlines or Travel Service. Sunwing Vacations Inc. D/B/A as Signature Vacations. 27 Fasken Drive, Toronto, ON M9W1K6. Ont (Tico)
# 2476582 | 06052014
THE
closer
better
you LOOK
THE
WE LOOK
MORE QUALITY
INCLUSIONS THAN
A N Y OT H E R R E S O R T S
ON THE PLANET
CALL 1-800-SANDALS • SANDALS.COM
*Greens fees included in Jamaica and Saint Lucia. Caddies are mandatory but not included.
At Sandals Emerald Bay, greens fees may be at an additional cost. † For certified divers.
PADI dive courses and night dives additional. Sandals ® is a registered trademark.
Unique Vacations, Inc. is the affiliate of the worldwide representative of Sandals Resorts.
UP TO 15 RESTAURANTS INCLUDED
Only at Sandals Resorts can guests dine around
the world without leaving the resort, with up to 15
specialty restaurants per resort. They’re all included,
all unlimited—and all delicious.
SCUBA DIVING
Only Sandals includes
unlimited scuba diving, with
two 1-tank dives, or one 2-tank
dive—every day of their stay.†
®
Sandals Grande St. Lucian
UNLIMITED GOLF
BEST BEACHES
BARS
Others may claim to offer golf, but Sandals
includes unlimited golf with complimentary
greens fees and roundtrip transfers in
Jamaica and Saint Lucia.*
ENTERTAINMENT
At Sandals, premium brand liquors
are always included, always unlimited,
24/7, at up to nine bars per resort.
Nobody throws a party or puts on
a show like Sandals, with authentic
island shows and sizzling soirees.
Sandals knows the
Caribbean better than
anyone. That’s why
our resorts are always
located on the calm side
of the island, protected
by offshore reefs. And
that means that our
beaches are always
picture-perfect.
BUTLER ELITE
Sandals elevates personal
service, with butlers trained
by the Guild of Professional
English Butlers always
included in top-tier suites.
WATERSPORTS
Sandals Resorts has the largest watersports
operation in the Caribbean. We even include
unlimited motorized watersports, top-of-the-line
equipment, and complimentary instruction.
ROOMS & SUITES
Sandals offers the most unique suites in the
Caribbean...they are so exotic, so luxurious and so
romantic, we had to call them Love Nest Dream Suites.
topnews
:,7+9,(:67+,667811,1*,70$<%(
+$5'72.((3<285(<(217+(%$//
Learn more about our Golf Around Getaway
offer at GoToBermuda.com
request for a client’s wedding date directly to the Sandals Resorts’ pre-travel
wedding team.
A representative will contact the
travel agent to confirm all details within
24 hours. Simply log in to the Travel
Agent Portal and choose ‘Sandals Wedding Day Calendar’ under Sales Tools to
get started.
“We want to make the planning process as easy as possible for travel agents
and their clients,” says Marsha-Ann
Brown, Director of Romance at Sandals
Resorts. “With the Sandals Wedding
Day Calendar, travel agents cannot only
view various date options at multiple
Sandals locations while meeting faceto-face or over the phone with clients,
but can also then easily submit their
client’s date request without interrupting the meeting to make a phone call to
our hotline. This tool is convenient, savvy and, most importantly, hassle-free.”
A Beaches Resorts Wedding Day Calendar is also planned for the coming weeks.
For more information about the Sandals Wedding Day Calendar, agents can
visit https://taportal.sandals.com or to
book a WeddingMoon (sandals.com/
weddingmoons/) call 1-877-SANDALS
to speak with a wedding concierge representative.
New Sunquest
promotion offers up
to 35% savings on all
Florida packages
TORONTO — Until the end of June,
Sunquest is offering up to 35% savings
on all of its Florida packages.
With departures from gateways
across Canada, as well as from its U.S.
border city airports, Sunquest features
a total of 18 Florida routes, with daily
service to Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando and Miami. Special pricing is valid
on all new bookings made between
May 28 and June 29, for travel between
May 29 and Oct. 31, 2014.
Sunquest’s Florida program:
O Vancouver to Orlando/Kissimmee
(daily flights)
O Edmonton to Orlando/Kissimmee
(daily flights)
O Calgary to Orlando/Kissimmee and
Fort Lauderdale (daily flights)
Island Discovery
ATHENSPAROSMYKONOSSANTORINI
15 days | 13 nights
From Toronto or Ottawa
Sept. 15, 2014
Superior category
$
2779
Add $150 for departures from Halifax, $190 from Winnipeg
and $250 from Vancouver, Calgary or Edmonton
aircanadavacations.com/agents
Prices are in Canadian dollars, apply to new bookings only and for departure dates as indicated. Prices are per person based on double occupancy unless
otherwise stated in Economy class and include surcharges. Non-refundable. Subject to availability at time of booking. Not applicable to group bookings.
International flight operated by Air Canada. Holder of Quebec permit #702566. TICO registration #50013537. BC registration #32229. Q ®Aeroplan is a
registered trademark of Aimia Canada Inc. ®Air Canada Vacations is a registered trademark of Air Canada, used under license by Touram Limited Partnership,
9099
1440 St. Catherine W., Suite 600, Montreal, QC.
Winnipeg to Orlando/Kissimmee
(daily flights)
O Toronto to Orlando/Kissimmee, Fort
Lauderdale, Miami and Tampa/St. Petersburg (daily flights)
O Ottawa to Orlando/Kissimmee and
O Montreal
to Orlando/Kissimmee,
Fort Lauderdale and Miami (daily
flights)
O Halifax to Orlando/Kissimmee and
O Burlington, Vermont to Orlando/Kissimmee (daily flights)
O Buffalo, New York to Orlando/Kissimmee (daily flights).
Sunquest features 55 hotels with
a wide range of amenities and price
points to meet every customer’s need.
Car-inclusive packages are available in
Tampa and Orlando, with car rentals
available as an option in all other Florida destinations. And to ensure your
client gets the most from the Sunshine
State, all the most popular attraction
tickets are available as an add-on.
For more information and to book,
visit SunquestAgent.ca.
O
Agents booking
Southeast Asia
cruise with
AmaWaterways will
be placed in a draw
for a free cruise
TORONTO — AmaWaterways will be
giving away a cruise to a travel agent
who books one of three itineraries for
his or her clients.
Continued on page 22 ...
Travel for the 50+
Transat Discoveries perfect option for
‘Zoomers’ wanting adventure
by Kathryn Folliott
Transat Discoveries wants to remind
agents that the brand’s mix of escorted
tours, ‘Mini Discoveries’ and ‘Seaside
Discoveries’, are perfectly suited for the
50+ passenger looking for a small group
tour atmosphere to an exotic destination such as Asia, Africa, South America
or Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.
Transat Discoveries offers fully escorted tours with just about all the
services provided: international and domestic airfare, transportation by coach,
mini-bus, 4WD vehicle or even private
car, transfers, local English-speaking
guides, almost all highlight sightseeing
with very few optional excursions and
meals throughout, with some tours offering virtually every meal.
“This semi all-inclusive formula offers
clients absolute value,” says Dan Prior,
Sales Director, Ontario. “I receive feedback
from the public on a regular basis on how
much they appreciate not having to pay
out of pocket while on tour, and this is especially true for the 50+ or ‘Zoomer’ (i.e.
active Baby Boomer) clientele.”
The 50+ clientele of today are extremely savvy in terms of technology, and they do a lot of research so
they know the destination, adds Prior.
“We’re seeing a very well-travelled 50+
clientele and while they appreciate the
inclusions they also enjoy travelling in a
small group atmosphere,” he says.
While Transat Discoveries’ maximum
group size is 25 for most tours, some operate with a maximum of 16 in Europe.
For those 50+ clients who don’t travel
as part of a group, Transat Discoveries custom designs packages for clients
to not only the brochure destinations
but also destinations not listed in the
brochure. “We can tweak existing tours
for a customized experience for clients
wanting private tours or custom groups
as well as build packages right from the
ground up. Agents can work with our
FIT and groups departments to work on
getting a package that is right for their
client,” says Prior.
“I still believe that the pre-packaged escorted tours in the brochure are the easiest products for agents to be offering. We
have designed them to ensure clients get
the most out of their holidays.”
transatdiscoveries.com
Gateways
International’s preand post-cruise
add-ons include hotel
accommodation, tours
With Gateways International’s pre- and
post-cruise packages, agents can customize add-on stays in cities including
Nice, Rome, Venice, Athens, Barcelona
and Istanbul with transfers, hotels and
tours as per their clients’ specifications.
Travel for the 50+
Prices start from $449 per person
including private transfer to and from
the pier/airport, two nights accommodation with breakfast daily and a classic
half-day tour.
“We build packages based on clients’
personal travel preferences and interests,” says Gateways International’s director, marketing and operations, Talia May.
“Specific travel dates can be accommodated no matter how short or long
the itinerary. Private transfers are always
included, hotel categories range from
three to five star and tours can either be
shared group tours, small group tours or
fully private tours with a personal guide.”
If clients are looking for off-the-beaten-track ideas, the team at Gateways International “loves to dream with them
and come up with unique tour ideas
and stops at special places, wherever
they may be,” adds May.
Hotels include the Hotel La Perouse
in Nice, Barroco Hotel in Rome and
UNA Hotel Venezia in Venice, all fourstar. The Athens property is the five-star
Electra Palace Hotel Athens.
gateways-international.com
Insight Vacations’
France is just the
ticket for mature
travellers
Whether travelling solo or with a companion, Insight Vacations has European destination offerings to intrigue
and delight the most discerning mature travellers.
Travellers will visit iconic cities and
famed landmarks while still exploring
places off the beaten track with Insight’s
fantastic Signature Experiences and numerous inclusions.
And solo guests can enjoy the comfort
of meeting like-minded travellers who
share similar interests with the safety of
a group and the services of a knowledgeable Tour Director, says the company.
Insight’s carefully selected signature
hotels are some of the finest properties
across Europe, providing guests with a
comfortable and hassle-free holiday.
In addition, guests can fully immerse
themselves in the destinations they visit
without the worry of planning and
coordinating their vacation — Insight
takes care of the details so guests don’t
have to.
Insight’s 20-day French Elegance
Country Roads journey is a francophile’s
dream through the heart of France. Clients can indulge in world-renowned
wines, volcanic mountain ranges, magnificent châteaux, excellent regional cuisine and rich history from the Hundred
Years’ War to the D-Day Landings on
the Normandy beaches. Signature Experiences include a visit to the Château
du Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci
spent the last years of his life.
A truly luxe experience, guests will
spend a night in the famous spa town of
Vichy after a unique visit by train to the
Puy de Dôme for sweeping views over
the volcanic region of the Massif Central.
A journey around France is sure to
include its share of wine, and this itinerary does not disappoint with visits to
Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace and Champagne regions.
Meanwhile, the 13-day Gold Luxury Esprit de France escorted journey
showcases the finest of the country’s artistic heritage during visits to the famous
Louvre, the house and gardens of Claude
INSIGHT VACATIONS
SAVE
U P TO
20%
B O OK YO UR 2015 GRO UP EARLY
FOR THE B EST PRIC ES!
Book 10 Passengers & the 11TH Travels FREE!*
Book and deposit by August 31, 2014
CONTACT INSIGHT GROUPS:
Insightvacations.com
Toll Free: 877 262 8504 | E: [email protected]
*Conditions apply
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Monet and the monastery where Van
Gogh painted The Starry Night.
France is synonymous with fine wine
and food, and guests will discover tastes of
the regions with Insight’s Signature Experiences — sampling wines of the Loire Valley, enjoying the rich olive oil of Provence
and reflecting on the culinary heritage of
the region during a special Highlight Dinner in an Avignon restaurant.
Guests will tuck in for the night at Insight’s signature hotel, the stunning Château de Marçay in the Loire Valley, a majestic 15th century turreted castle-hotel
set in parkland near the medieval town
of Chinon. From the accommodations
to the charming rural views to the fine
culinary experiences, guests will spend
their holiday in romantic French style.
insightvacations.com
New with Great
Canadian Holidays:
a nine-day NASCAR
Daytona 500 getaway
With the release of its new Fall and
Winter 2014/2015 catalogue, Great
Canadian Holidays is thrilled to offer a
variety of new and exciting along with
customer favourites and bestsellers.
New tours include a nine-day NASCAR Daytona 500 trip, the perfect getaway for ultimate race fans. Running
Feb. 18-26, 2015, the tour provides
plenty of things to see and do en route,
and includes the COPD 300 race and
of course the legendary Daytona 500.
Clients can come along and experience
what has been called ‘the pinnacle of
NASCAR racing’ on Great Canadian
Holidays’ newest NASCAR getaway.
Also new, Magical Manitoulin Island is an extraordinary holiday experience, visiting the largest freshwater lake island in the world. With
construction now complete on a
beautiful new hotel, Great Canadian
Holidays now has the perfect home
base for exploring this beautiful part
of Ontario.
Clients can experience the island
where Native life and legend blend
with European history with a variety
of included attractions and events.
Great Canadian Holidays also has a
Deerhurst Luxury Muskoka Getaway
featuring one of Canada’s premier
resorts in the heart of Muskoka’s cottage country.
A customer favourite returning in
Great Canadian Holidays’ Fall & Winter catalogue provides the perfect
option for clients who have always
wanted to experience the excitement
of Las Vegas, but don’t want to fly.
The Las Vegas & The Great West
Gaming Adventure tour features fantastic sightseeing and gaming enroute
to Las Vegas, so the journey is just as
much fun as the destination, says Great
Canadian Holidays. Accommodation in
Las Vegas is right on the Strip.
GreatCanadianHolidays.com
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and cocktail classes, tasting sessions,
and dinners will all be on tap for the
Crystal Serenity voyage, which sails
from New York to Miami, via the East
Coast and Caribbean, starting Nov. 5.
All-inclusive cruise fares for the 14day voyage start at US$4,710 per person, with $1,450 per person in savings if
booked by June 30.
A shorter, 11-day version of the cruise
is also available departing from Baltimore, with Book Now fares starting at
$3,700 per person. The limited-availability microbrew Boutique Adventures
start at $179 per person.
crystalcruises.com
New craft beer
theme to brew on
Crystal fall cruise
Crystal Cruises is putting a twist on its
popular Wine & Food Experiences of
Discovery motif with a new Microbrewthemed luxury cruise.
New, beer-focused Boutique Adventures, expert presentations, cooking
Photo courtesy of AMResorts
Mexico
Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun
Award-winning hotels just the start of
resort, attractions news in Riviera Maya
by Kathryn Folliott
Four hotels in Riviera Maya have received AAA’s Five Diamond Award,
which strengthens this destination’s
prestige. They are: Grand Velas Riviera
Maya, Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera
Cancún, Fairmont Mayakoba and Rosewood Mayakoba.
Grand Velas Riviera Maya received
this award for the third consecutive year
for its excellence and its high standards
of luxury and its world-class quality.
Meanwhile, Mexico’s largest cluster
of construction companies and beach
hotel developers, The Vidanta Group,
has started the construction of what
will be the Vidanta Theatre. With an investment of $20 million the aim is to be
the permanent host of what will be the
first Cirque du Soleil production outside of Las Vegas and Orlando. The goal
is to launch in November 2014.
The theatre will seat 600 people and
it will be adapted especially to develop
the Cirque du Soleil production. It will
also offer dining and other services.
In other hotel news, the opening
of the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya
brings the iconic Hard Rock brand to an
already highly popular destination, with
a multimillion dollar renovation to the
former Aventura Palace.
Miles away from the raucous bigresort lifestyle of Hard Rock, there’s
La Semilla, small boutique hotel located in the tourist centre of Playa
del Carmen. Each of its nine rooms
is a trip to the past, for furniture and
decorative items were purchased
at flea markets around Mexico and
carefully restored in order to become
useful and functional.
The nine rooms are divided in four
different categories: small rooms, standard rooms, rooms with a terrace and
suites with a terrace.
One of Riviera Maya’s most luxurious
properties, Rosewood Mayakoba, has
received the AAA Five Diamond Award
for the fifth consecutive year.
After establishing six years ago in
the Mexican Caribbean as a luxury retreat for upscale travellers worldwide,
Rosewood Mayakoba resort (operated by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts)
continues to set the standard in luxury hospitality in Mexico.
Another option, Hotel Soho Playa,
opened its doors earlier this year
with an eclectic, sophisticated, elegant and urban hotel offering, with
a boutique approach in the heart of
Playa del Carmen, a couple of blocks
from the beach and at steps away
from 5th Avenue.
Hotel Soho Playa’s swimming pool is located on the terrace with beautiful views
of the city and its restaurant offers healthy
dishes prepared with organic ingredients.
It’s a great venue for events, cocktail parties and weddings, says the Cozumel &
Riviera Maya Tourism Board.
Gourmet Inclusive Vacation.
®
Up to 35% Summer Savings.
Think Mexico on a Silver Platter.
While inspired cuisine, butler service and swim-up, ocean view suites might sound
like the trappings of a noble society, these are in fact the everyday entitlements
waiting for you at Karisma Hotels & Resorts. And if that doesn’t persuade you to leave
your castle, perhaps this will – up to 35% savings on all summer travel bookings. These savings are good at
any award-winning Karisma Resort on the Riviera Maya, Mexico or in Negril, Jamaica. The Karisma Gourmet
Inclusive ® Experience. It’s enough to make you want to lower the drawbridge and head for the tropics.
Romantic, casually elegant, spa resorts
for adults only. The ideal choice for a
classic taste of authentic Mexico.
Beautifully designed spa resorts for
couples and families. Sleek international
style in Mexico and Jamaica.
Mexico’s premier all suite, all butler,
all gourmet resorts – perfect for
couples, families and weddings.
V ISI T K A R ISM A H OT E L S.CO M O R C A LL 1- 866 - K A R ISM A (1- 866 - 527- 4762)
Mexico
In terms of things to do (besides relaxing on the beach, that is), The Xcaret
Group has debuted a new attraction,
Xoximilco, which pays homage to the
culture of central Mexico by providing
an opportunity to live a unique experience in the evening hours.
Xoximilco consists of a set of beautiful canals that one traverses onboard a
picturesque trajinera, one of the area’s
colourful boats, that provides an original and fun way to interact with family
and friends or with other tourists from
around the globe.
Xoximilco also offers the opportunity to experience an authentic Mexican
fiesta with more than 20 representative
culinary delights of Mexico, always accompanied by mariachi and different
sets of traditional live music from different parts of Mexico.
This new attraction is located five
minutes south of Cancun International
Airport and 35 minutes north of Playa
del Carmen.
There’s also Alltournative, opened
earlier this year at Jungle Maya Adventure Park for national and international
tourists travelling with their own car or
rental vehicle.
Alltournative visitors can opt for
three different entrance hours, 9 a.m.,
11 a.m. and 1 p.m., to see these natural
treasures. One of them is the main entrance to the largest underground river
system in the world.
Besides visiting these cenotes and
enjoying a typical Maya lunch, visitors
can rappel, zipline, snorkel in an underground river system explored and
recommended by National Geographic
Snorkeler and take a ride in a Unimog
Vehicle (Mercedes Benz 4x4).
rivieramaya.com
Generations Riviera
Maya by Karisma
wows with its prime
beachfront location
The new Generations Riviera Maya
is located on a secluded stretch of
beach steps from Karisma’s El Dorado
Casitas Royale and facing the Mexican
Caribbean.
With 144 all-suite oceanfront accommodations — the largest in the Riviera
Maya at 1,200 square feet — the property offers unlimited butler service, an
Eko Kid’s Club and Baby Beach Lounges
and swim-up infinity suites up from the
first to fourth floors.
Gourmet à la carte meals are available at its four beachfront restaurants,
plus premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages at its two bars and 24hour room service.
Rates for Generations Riviera Maya
start at US$289 per adult, per night
based on double occupancy and $67
per child, per night for 2014, including
the Gourmet Inclusive Experience featuring gourmet à la carte meals, premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, 24-hour room service and full
service concierge. Rates are inclusive of
taxes and fees.
karismahotels.com
Grand Palladium
Riviera Maya gets
free WiFi, with more
Palladium resorts to
follow
Free WiFi is now available at the Grand
Palladium Riviera Maya complex and
other resorts will follow, according
to an update from Palladium Hotel
Group (PHG).
The service, offered all throughout
the complexes including the rooms, will
eventually be implemented at all Grand
Palladium and The Royal Suites resorts
across Mexico and the Caribbean as
well as Brazil and Spain.
“Palladium Hotel Group is committed to providing its clients with the finest guest experience. What differentiates Palladium from our competitors is
our willingness to adapt to new trends
based on consumer needs. We believe
that the launch of this brand-wide
amenity will continue to keep guests
coming back to our Resorts again and
again,” said Juan José Calvo, PHG’s Corporate Director of Sales and Marketing.
The WiFi service is complimentary to
guests following a short questionnaire
which is issued within the user’s Internet browser upon accessing the Palladium wireless network. Repeat guests
will only have to register once in the
network, even if they are visiting a different Palladium Group Hotel property.
palladiumhotelgroup.com
Carnival Miracle to
launch year-round
Mexican Riviera
sailings
Carnival is introducing year-round,
seven-day Mexican Riviera departures
onboard Carnival Miracle from Long
Beach, CA beginning in October 2014.
Carnival Miracle offers a wide range
of innovations, including the Serenity
adults-only retreat featuring its own
pool and full bar service, the Punchliner
Comedy Club presented by George Lopez with up to 20 family-friendly and
adults-only shows each week, a wedding chapel, a luxurious 14,500-squarefoot health and wellness facility, and an
enclosed corkscrew water slide. Carnival Miracle will also undergo a dry dock
in March 2015 that will add a variety of
additional Fun Ship 2.0 features.
Carnival Miracle also offers supervised programs for children ages two to
17, as well as nearly 850 oceanview and
balcony staterooms.
The Carnival Miracle program will
encompass three different week-long
itineraries, including a new three-port,
seven-day cruise featuring Mazatlán on
the majority of departures.
In addition to the call in Mazatlán,
the new three-port itinerary will feature the popular Mexican resort destinations of Cabo San Lucas and Puerto
Vallarta.
Carnival Miracle’s year-round schedule from Long Beach also includes two
other itinerary options.
THE FREEDOM TO
PLAY
YOUR WAY
At Palladium, fun comes in all shapes
and sizes. There is plenty to do
for the whole family, plus supervised
activities for the kids so mom and dad
can have adventures of their own.
Best of all, it’s all included.
BIG SUMMER
DISCOUNTS
UP TO
20
% OFF*
www.palladiumhotelgroup.com
Feel Free – It’s included
*Discount may vary depending on hotel. Other restrictions may apply.
Please contact your preferred tour operator for full details.
SPAIN | ITALY | MEXICO | DOMINICAN
/PalladiumHotelGroup
REPUBLIC | JAMAICA | BRAZIL
@PalladiumHG
Mexico
The first is a seven-day, two-port itinerary that features a stop in Cabo San
Lucas, along with a two-day overnight
stay in Puerto Vallarta. The second
alternate itinerary includes a visit to
Puerto Vallarta, along with a two-day
call at Cabo San Lucas, known for its
white-sand beaches, turquoise waters
and the distinctive El Arco (The Arch), a
30-foot-high rock formation where the
Pacific Ocean joins the Sea of Cortez.
carnival.com
Excellence Group
adds new Finest
Resorts brand to its
portfolio
Excellence Group, known for luxury resort properties throughout the Caribbean, recently announced the creation
of a third brand, Finest Resorts, for
guests of all ages.
The new brand’s first property will
be Finest Playa Mujeres, located among
the white powder sands and turquoise
waters of Playa Mujeres, Mexico.
Excellence Group also owns and operates Excellence Resorts and Beloved
Hotels. According to the company,
Finest Playa Mujeres will offer the
same level of luxury and comfort as
Excellence Resorts and Beloved Hotels
but will welcome and accommodate
guests of all ages, including couples,
mid-size groups and families, without
any age restrictions.
Finest Playa Mujeres is expected to
open in winter 2015.
“At Finest Resorts, you can expect the
same level of comfort, luxury and impeccable service as Excellence Resorts
and Beloved Hotels,” said Alejandro
Lazcano, Marketing Director of Excellence Group Luxury Hotels & Resorts.
The property will offer 450 suites,
an exclusive Excellence Club for adults
18+, Finest Club for guests of all ages,
nine all-inclusive international dining
options, 10 swimming pools, a fitness
center with cardio conditioning equipment, meeting facilities and full con18 TRAVELWEEK June 5, 2014
The Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City
cierge services. There’s also ONE Spa
with its hydrotherapy circuit facilities.
excellence-resorts.com
The St. Regis Mexico
City introduces
signature Cultural
Curator service
The upscale St. Regis Mexico City now
offers Cultural Curator, a new signature service affording guests curated
experiences and exclusive access to the
region’s most interesting cultural destinations.
Set in the heart of the famed capital
city, The St. Regis Mexico City’s Cultural
Curator features three distinct categories: kids and family; art and architecture; and history and culture. Each
showcases the city’s extraordinary vitality and providing guests with unprecedented access to a variety of exhibits,
curators and events.
“We are thrilled to honour our
city’s distinctive heritage by introducing Cultural Curator to our guests,”
said Bernard de Villèle, general manager. “With compelling experiences
and timeless traditions that will delight each and every guest – from children to art connoisseurs, The Cultural
Curator will highlight the most iconic
museums, historical monuments and
renowned architecture of Mexico
City, in true St. Regis style.”
The Cultural Curator begins by providing guests with a welcome kit introducing a selection of nearby cultural
institutions, such as the museum of El
Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine
Arts), celebrating its 80th anniversary
this year. For families, there are children’s museums and dedicated familyfriendly areas.
The Cultural Curator can also arrange
private tours at various museums and
landmarks, including insider access to
the top curators, and share exclusive invitations to special openings and events.
Half of The St. Regis Mexico City’s concierge team members have been recognized with Les Clefs d’Or, a recognition that
— in addition to serving as a guarantee of
the highest quality service — grants the
staff access to the most exclusive services
and a network of contacts worldwide.
The hotel’s 48 Hours in Mexico City
package starts at US$435 in a Deluxe
Room and includes overnight accommodations for two nights, daily American breakfast for two, roundtrip airport
transfers, city tour tickets for two, and
a choice of lunch, dinner or brunch at
Diana or J&G Grill restaurants. The 48
Hours in Mexico City package is available Thursday–Sunday and rates are
per room, per night and subject to tax.
stregis.com/mexicocity
LGBT Travel
Grecian Holidays tour caters to LGBT
market with gay-friendly destinations
By Kathryn Folliott
LGBT travellers are known for their
discerning tastes and appreciation
for the finer things in life. To cater to
their specific needs and preferences,
Grecian Holidays has introduced a
brand new tour that highlights some
of Greece’s most spectacular gayfriendly destinations, complete with
all the trimmings.
The nine-night ‘Ganymedes’ package spends three nights each in Athens,
Mykonos and Santorini. Travellers start
their holiday in the ancient city of Athens, known for its Old Quarter nestled
below the slopes of the Acropolis. To
add some much needed beach time to
the itinerary, Grecian Holidays follows
up with two of the world’s most romantic island destinations. With three
full days in both cosmopolitan Mykonos and magical Santorini, travellers will
enjoy plenty of R&R after the hustle and
bustle of Athens.
While in Mykonos, they can sign up
for a day trip to the Sacred Island of
Delos, sunbathe nude at Super Paradise, jet-ski at Kalafatis or windsurf at
Panormos. While in Santorini, must-do
activities include sailing to the volcano,
swimming in the hot sulphur springs
and soothing the skin with a mud bath.
“Greece has long been regarded as
a gay-friendly destination featuring a
wide array of accommodations and
services that appeal to all tastes and
preferences,” said John Andreopoulos,
President of Grecian Holidays. “Grecian
hospitality is unmatched in the world,
which is why LGBT travellers continue
to visit in droves. Our ‘Ganymedes’
package, with all its cultural and culinary highlights, will make them feel
right at home.”
Priced from $2,399 per person, double occupancy, ‘Ganymedes’ includes
accommodation in four-star Superior
hotels, half-day sightseeing tour in Ath-
ens, half-day Santorini volcano cruise,
ferry tickets between Piraeus-Mykonos,
Mykonos-Santorini and Santorini-Piraeus, entrance fees to sites, all transfers
as per itinerary, the services of local
representatives and hotel taxes, service
charges and VAT.
Grecian Holidays sources product directly from overseas, including top suppliers, hotels, coach operators, car rental companies and more. The company
has been organizing packages to Greece
and the Greek Islands for 30 years, and
is dedicated to providing quality tours
at competitive prices. Most itineraries
can be tailor made to suit all needs and
interests.
Grecian Holidays will work with
travel agents to customize gay- and lesbian-friendly trips to the Greek islands
that highlight destinations like Mykonos, which cater to a sophisticated gay
crowd.
grecianholidays.com
CRUISE
THE
GREEK
ISLANDS
Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber Resort is celebrating June Pride Month
all year long with its Hawaii Pride
package, available now through Dec.
26, 2014.
Package rates start at US$249 per
night, double occupancy, and include
two welcome rainbow lei upon arrival, room accommodations, sparkling wine delivered to the room and
two tickets to board Hula’s Bar & Lei
Stand’s Saturday Catamaran Sail to enjoy the sights around Diamond Head.
“Hawaii’s welcoming spirit has always meant that the islands have
been a popular vacation spot for the
LGBT market,” said Simeon Miranda,
hotel general manager.
“However, with same-sex marriage
now legal in Hawaii, the islands have
become even more desirable as a holiday destination, especially for couples
wanting to tie the knot. Whether
travelling to Hawaii to get married or
just to relax and enjoy an island getaway, the Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber Resort’s Hawaii Pride Package
makes it easier to soak in Hawaii’s
Aloha while getting out and about in
Honolulu.”
The Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber is TAG-approved, providing
the best in hospitality and assuring
high standards in services and support for the gay community.
waikikibeachcomberresort.com
Puerto Vallarta
launches
sweepstakes promos
in key niche markets
including LGBT
The Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board has
launched a new promotional campaign
geared to LGBT travellers, one of three
niche markets (along with family and
romance) the board been proactively
targeting over the past five years.
Open to Canadian and U.S. citizens from
now until Sept. 30, the sweepstakes-focused initiative will be promoted via blogger parties, consumer media and international events, including World Pride 2014.
The promotions are a continuation of similar campaigns done by the board the past
three years with the aim of reaching active
travellers and generating sales leads for participating hoteliers and operators.
One of the few locations in Latin
America that can claim to have a gay
village, Puerto Vallarta’s Zona Romantica, is home to many LGBT-owned and
managed hotels, restaurants and tours.
The winners of the promotion will receive an all-inclusive stay in one Puerto
Vallarta’s top gay-friendly hotels, including Casa Cupula, Marriott CasaMagna or Velas Vallarta, a tour for two
with Gay Vallarta Bar Hopping Tours
with an Outdoor Adventure of Hidden
Mexico activity with Vallarta Adventure and a dolphin experience with
Flights for the LGBT campaign will be
courtesy of Aeromexico which has been
sponsoring the destination’s LGBT campaign three years in a row. The promotions will also be promoted through the
Mexico Tourism Board’s website, visitmexico.com.
visitpuertovallarta.com/win-a-trip/
gay-travel
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Holiday Inn Waikiki
Beachcomber
Resort celebrates
Pride Month all year
long with new
Hawaii Pride package
airliners.ca
877 727 6387
grecianholidays.com
800 268 6786
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topnews
Continued from page 10 ...
A draw will be held for those booking
these cruises between May 15 and Aug.
15 — the Golden Treasures of Myanmar
sailings Dec. 8, 18, 2014 and April 5, 2015
on the AmaPura; the Hidden Wonders of
Myanmar on April 15, Aug. 31, 2015, also
on the AmaPura; and the Vietnam, Cambodia & the Riches of the Mekong sailings
April 6, 20, June 29, July 12, 27, Aug. 10, 17,
24, 31, 2015 on the AmaLotus.
Turks & Caicos
Tourist Board boosts
its Canadian profile
with new office
TORONTO — The Turks & Caicos
Tourist Board – Canada welcomed the
trade to its new home in Toronto, with
a reception and open house hosted by
the Premier of the Turks & Caicos Islands, Dr. Rufus W. Ewing.
The new office, located at 340 Sheppard Avenue East, will be run by Tourism
Promotions Executive, Rosemarie Wilson.
Premier Ewing said the new office
“demonstrates our commitment to
Canada. We look forward to this office
growing very quickly,” he added.
Overall tourist arrivals to the Turks
and Caicos Islands grew by 41% in the
first quarter of this year, with robust
growth recorded across all major source
markets including Canada.
January, February and March saw a
combined total of 358,188 visitor arrivals to the destination, accounting for
104,437 more visitor arrivals than first
quarter 2013. The combined number
represents 105,506 stopover visitors and
252,682 visitors arriving by cruise ship.
Canada, the destination’s second
largest source market, indicated a slight
rebound with a total of 14,830 stopover
arrivals in the first quarter of 2014, an
increase of 13%.
“These are wonderful results for the destination, the country, the tourism industry
and the economy,” said director of tourism,
Ralph L. Higgs. “We are thrilled to see our
overall arrival numbers for the first quarter of 2014 up 41%, and we are optimistic
that these numbers will continue to climb
through the remainder of the year.”
During the first quarter of 2014, the
Grand Turk Cruise Center welcomed
a total of 252,682 cruise passengers, a
46% increase.
“We are impressed by these increases
and look forward to another tremendous year for the cruise sector. If all factors prove well and remains equal, we
expect the cruise sector to welcome
one million visitors to the destination
alone this year,” said Higgs.
Duncan Bureau
returns to Canada
as Vice-President,
Global Sales at Air
Canada
MONTREAL — Air Canada has named
Duncan Bureau as Vice-President,
Global Sales succeeding Zeina Gedeon
who has elected to leave the company
to pursue other interests.
“We thank Zeina for her dynamic leadership and strong contribution to the
airline in a number of senior positions including that of President and CEO of Air
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topnews
Canada Vacations from 2006-2012 and
we wish her well in her future endeavours,” said Ben Smith, Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer.
Bureau will report directly to Ben Smith
and in this newly defined position will
be responsible for revenue generated
through all sales channels from all points
of sale. He will be based in Toronto.
Bureau has extensive airline industry
sales and product distribution experience in Canada and in Asia where he
was most recently Senior Vice-President, Global Sales and Distribution at
Malaysia Airlines.
He was previously with WestJet
where he held the position of Vice-President Sales and Distribution between
2006 and 2012.
“I am pleased to announce Duncan
Bureau’s appointment to this key role of
leading the sales team at Air Canada as we
focus on maintaining a competitive advantage in the domestic Canadian market
fridayfive
Rodrigo Esponda Cascajares
Director for Canada —Mexico Tourism Board
More than three-quarters of a million Canadian sunseekers made their way to Mexico in the first three
months of this year, a 7% increase. In this edition of our
Friday Five feature, posted online Fridays at travelweek.ca,
Director for Canada for the Mexico Tourism Board,
Rodrigo Esponda Cascajares, talks about tourism success,
Tianguis and travel trends.
Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana de la Asuncion de Maria)
while we expand our international network,” said Smith. “His proven talent, leadership skills and broad industry experience
in sales, business development and product distribution in Canada and Asia make
him the right candidate for this role as we
work with key corporate, trade and distribution partners to create new business opportunities and continue to innovate the
way we sell and distribute our product.”
Bureau’s appointment is effective
June 9, 2014.
one
HOW MANY CANADIAN
TRAVELLERS ARE FINDING
THEIR WAY TO SUNNY MEXICO
THESE DAYS AND WHAT’S YOUR
FORECAST FOR 2014?
Esponda: 2014 has been a terrific year
for Mexico. In the first three months of
2014, already 800,000 Canadians have
visited Mexico. This is 7% higher in
comparison with the same Q1 of 2013,
which is very good considering than
in the last five years that number has
already doubled.
two
MEXICO’S TIANGUIS TURISTICO
2014 WAS A HUGE SUCCESS, FROM
AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER
OF BUYERS TO THE NUMBER
OF ATTENDEES. WHAT WERE
THE NUMBERS FROM CANADA
AND WHY IS THIS EVENT FAST
BECOMING AN ANNUAL MUSTATTEND FOR THE CANADIAN
TRAVEL TRADE?
Esponda: Mexico’s tourism marketplace,
TIANGUIS, was very well-attended by
Canadian companies with a record of 37
companies having a presence. In recent
years the level of specialization that the
business-appointment event gathers
has been consolidating. Today you are
able to find there any type of tourism
services, products and experiences in
Mexico, from all destinations, cities,
towns or resorts.
topnews
ALBATours’ winter
2014-2015 Italy
program now on sale
TORONTO — ALBATours’ winter 20142015 program to Italy, including a comprehensive flight schedule with Alitalia, is now
live in the system and available to book.
Offering affordable and convenient
flights out of Toronto to 17 destinations
in Italy, the winter program will run
three
WHAT’S THE LATEST NEWS IN
TERMS OF NEW RESORTS?
Esponda: During Tianguis the
government planning agency —
FONATUR — announced four new
environmentally focus development
in archeological, cultural and historical
destinations. Those are Teotihuacan
north of Mexico City, Calakmuk in
Campeche, Palenque in Chiapas and
Chichen Itza in Yucatan. This means
that tourists will enjoy a comprehensive
experience in those destinations,
besides de archeological sites.
Today tourists only visit the sites
and leave. Shortly it will be possible
to overnight, explore the natural
surroundings, experience the ethnic
culture and interact with locals.
We believe this will really cater to
Canadians, who always care about
preserving the heritage and nature
when travelling.
four
MEXICO IS ALREADY VERY WELLKNOWN FOR ITS BEACH PRODUCT.
BEYOND SUN-AND-SAND, WHAT
EMERGING NICHE MARKETS ARE
YOU SEEING?
Esponda: Indeed Mexico is today the
preferred beach destination, however
already many Canadians are combining
their experiences when visiting Mexico.
We have some stats that say that
from Nov. 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015.
All flights will be aboard Alitalia’s
Airbus A330 aircraft and will initially
(Nov. 1-Dec. 14) feature two classes
of service — Classica (economy) and
Magnifica (business) — with a third
class, Classica Plus (premium economy), available from Dec. 16 onwards.
This program complements ALBATours’ full range of product, which includes car rentals, escorted coach tours,
Mediterranean cruises and more.
40% of Canadian tourists already
embark on a tour to a natural,
archeological or historical site.
We embrace this trend as more and
more Canadians are venturing into the
Mexican local culture, the food and the
arts, which makes it unique to visit our
country.
We also see a strong interest in the
art and folk culture in places such as
San Miguel de Allende, Guadalajara
and Oaxaca. There’s also the
cosmopolitan urban and world-class
experience that Mexico City offers,
with some of the best restaurants in
the world, museums and shopping.
For more information or to book,
visit ALBATours.com.
TDC’s fifth Cruise
Academy draws 100
to Oasis of the Seas
TORONTO — Transat Distribution
Canada members set sail last month
on the high seas for their fifth annual
Cruise Academy.
professionals. The MTB team in the
three offices — Montreal, Vancouver
to Toronto — can provide every
available resource for agents. We
believe in training and education and
maximize every single opportunity
to do so.
For more Friday Five blogs visit
travelweek.ca/blogs
five
WHAT ARE THE MTB’S BEST
RESOURCES FOR AGENTS WANTING
TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MEXICO?
Esponda: Throughout Canada the
MTB participates or co-organizes
more than 120 activities, events,
seminars and trade shows for travel
40% OF CANADIAN tourists already
embark on a tour to a natural, archeological or
historical site. We embrace this trend as more and
more Canadians are venturing into the Mexican
local culture...
topnews
Canada was well represented at the recent International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) in Cape
Town. ILTM Africa is an invitation-only event where members of the travel industry from around
the world meet Africa’s luxury travel suppliers and learn about new luxury travel experiences.
Pictured here are: Chris Ronneseth, Managing Director, The Safari Partners; Lynda Sinclair, Director,
Leisure Business Development for Vision Travel Solutions; and Phillip Solomon, General Manager,
Tourcan Vacations.
The Hong Kong
Tourism Board brings
you the Hong Kong
Specialist program,
an online training
course designed
to provide indepth
understanding of
Asia’s World City that
will equip you with the
latest knowledge to sell
one of the most popular
Asian destinations
for Canadians.
Over 100 delegates and preferred
cruise partners embarked on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas.
The week-long training event offered TDC members the choice of
French or English classes, and two levels of education based on their past
cruise product experience.
Training included classroom, workshops as well as one to one coaching
sessions. New features this year included specific content around selling river
cruises, deluxe and luxury as well as
Weddings at Sea. In addition, the group
conducted team building initiatives and
a site inspection on the Carnival Glory
while in Cozumel.
The forum concluded with TDC management providing insights and training
focused on key TDC differentiators resulting in all participants returning to
the office with focused business plans
on how to grow cruise sales.
“This is our fifth consecutive year running this academy and it is very inspir-
Enrol and complete the program before
July 31st, 2014 to have a chance to
win a trip to Hong Kong, including a
roundtrip Premium Economy Class
ticket courtesy of Cathay Pacific
Airways, accommodation, airport
transfers, tours and more.*
Cathay Pacific offers 10 flights weekly non-stop from Toronto to Hong Kong, 14 flights weekly non-stop
from Vancouver to Hong Kong, and daily non-stop service Vancouver to New York (JFK). From Hong Kong,
Cathay Pacific flies to over 70 destinations in Asia and more than 20 cities across China.
Register at Travelweek’s Learning Centre at www.travelweeklearningcentre.ca
*
terms and conditions apply
topnews
ing to see another graduating class so
motivated to return home energized
and excited about growing their cruise
sales. You can see their confidence grow
stronger throughout the week as they
become more comfortable with the
content, build relationships with our
partners and network with their peers,”
said Susan Bowman, VP Marketing and
Industry Relations, Transat Distribution.
“I would recommend the TDC
Cruise Academy to both beginner and
advanced agents. The program is balanced and designed to accommodate
agents of different experience and
skill levels. Both groups came away
with increased knowledge and insight on how to move forward in their
travel careers,” said Mark Dzerowycz,
Sales Manager, Uniworld Boutique
River Cruise Collection.
Up next for TDC is the National
Leadership Conference in Cancun for all
owners and managers from Nov. 15-22.
comed an estimated 1,063,000 visitors.
“NYC & Company looks forward to
travelling throughout Canada this week
to promote travel to New York City’s
five boroughs from our number one
international market,” said Fred Dixon,
president & CEO of NYC & Company.
“The support from Canada has been
tremendous in delivering visitors to the
City and remains integral in helping us
reach our goal of 55 million visitors by
the end of 2014, one full year ahead of
our 2015 schedule.”
Reagan Stulbaum, NYC & Company’s
Senior Director, Tourism Development,
will lead the cross-Canada mission with
in-market representative Javier Fernandez, Connect Worldwide Canada.
This mission also marks the first-ever
country-wide media mission for NYC
& Company, which will be led by Chris
Heywood, Senior Vice President, Global
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VANCOUVER — NYC & Company,
New York City’s marketing, tourism and
partnership organization, and 12 of its
tourism industry member companies
will travel across Canada this week to
promote New York City — America’s
number one big city tourism destination — to the Canadian market, and
to highlight NYC & Company member companies while expanding NYC’s
reach to the Canadian travel trade.
Member companies participating in
the mission June 2-5 include hotels, attractions, retail and cultural institutions
and organizations offering numerous
experiences exclusive to New York City.
Canada is New York City’s number one
international market, and last year wel-
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topnews
Communications, with in-market representative Jennifer McGibbon, Connect Worldwide Canada, who will
conduct a series of trade and consumer
media meetings in each city.
“There is always a new experience
awaiting Canadian visitors in New York
City,” said Charmaine Singh, President of
Connect Worldwide Canada. “And we’re
excited to share these updates with the
travel trade on our cross-Canada sales
mission. With ongoing neighbourhood,
attraction and hotel developments, New
York City always has something new to
discover. This year alone has marked the
opening of the new 9/11 Museum in
Lower Manhattan and the celebration
of the 50th and 75th anniversaries of the
World’s Fair in Queens. In spring 2015
Lower Manhattan’s One World Observatory is slated to open, and in fall 2016
Staten Island will welcome the New York
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Wheel, the world’s tallest Ferris Wheel, to
name a few.”
The 12 member companies travelling
from NYC will conduct sales workshops
and attend events with Canadian travel
trade in three of Canada’s key cities:
Vancouver (June 2), Montreal (June 4)
and Toronto (June 5).
NYC & Company opened a tourism
marketing office in Toronto in 2007.
Since then, Canadian visitation has
grown exponentially and is currently
the number one international market.
Last year, the City welcomed an estimated 1,063,000 Canadian visitors, a
31.5% increase over the 2006 number
of 840,000. Last year, New York City welcomed an overall 54.3 million visitors
(an estimated 42.9 million travel to New
York City domestically, while 11.4 million travel from international locations),
a new all-time high and an increase
of nearly 20 million additional annual
tourists from 2002. By the end of 2013,
visitors to New York City generated an
estimated $57.4 billion in economic impact and $38.7 billion in direct spending.
In addition, New York City generated
a record $529.5 million in hotel tax revenue and sold more than 30 million hotel room nights in 2013, and is expected
to exceed 100,000 available rooms by
the end of 2014, a new milestone for the
City. The overall hospitality and leisure
sector currently employs nearly 376,000
New Yorkers across the five boroughs.
Israel sees 14% jump
in April visits, sets
all-time record
TORONTO — A total of 341,767 tourists from around the world arrived in
Israel in April 2014, a 14% increase compared to the same period last year and
a new all-time high for tourism to Israel.
Some 1,160,319 tourists from around
the world arrived in Israel between January and April 2014, a 5% increase compared to the same period last year. Also,
a total of 20,382 tourists from Canada
arrived in Israel between January and
topnews
The Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (Musée des civilisations de l¹Europe et de la Méditerranée ‹ MuCEM) opened as part of
Marseille’s being a European Capital of Culture last year. At right it links up with Fort Saint-Jean, a historic monument overlooking the Old Port dating
back to the 17th century.
April 2014, an 8% increase compared to
the same period last year.
“We are thrilled to see a continual increase in tourism to Israel throughout
every month this year,” said Ami Allon,
Consul for Tourism, Israel Government
Tourist Office — Canada, “which attests
to Israel’s growing reputation as one of
the world’s most unique and inspiring
travel destinations.”
For more information about travel to
Israel, visit goisrael.ca.
Often-overlooked
Marseille has been
transfomed into a
Mediterranean jewel
By Patrick Dineen
MARSEILLE, France — This ancient port
city, founded some 2,600 years ago by
the Greeks, shares the Mediterranean
coast with Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Nice
and Monte Carlo.
What it hasn’t shared with these chic
destinations is the aura of glamour,
sophistication and wealth that draws
many millions of visitors to these shores.
But Marseille has been reinventing itself and used its position as one of the
European Capitals of Culture for 2013
to complete the process.
Marseille has always had a spectacular setting and by adding two brand
new museums and shedding two lanes
of traffic to widen pedestrian-friendly
esplanades around the Old Port, it is attracting attention.
One British newspaper last year trumpeted: ‘Marseille’s Moment: France’s
Ugly Duckling Turns into a True Mediterranean Swan’.
This new Marseille also caught the attention of Air Transat and Transat Holidays. The sister companies have been
flying to Marseille-Provence airport
from Montreal for almost a decade and
last month started weekly service from
Toronto for the first time.
And service from Montreal has increased to four flights a week.
Provence is the second-most visited
region in France for Canadians, after
Paris, and Marseille-Provence airport
is a convenient gateway to area attractions such as Avignon, Nimes, Arles
and Aix-en-Provence and scenic villages
such as Roussillon and Gordes.
The airport is spending 120 million
euros in the next four years to improve
access by rail and bus and this includes
rail links to Avignon and Arles.
Another 120 million euros is being
spent to increase the terminal capacity
including a newly-opened lounge that
is available to Transat’s Club Class pas-
sengers with entrance available for 19
euros for others.
Last year saw Marseille join the rest of
the region as a major tourism generator
as it was the focus of the Culture Capital celebrations that united 97 towns
around this project.
The region underwent a major transformation with a total investment of
660 million euros involving many of
the world’s top architects such as Sir
Norman Foster, Rudy Ricciotti, Kengo
Kuma, Stefano Boeri, Jean Nouvel,
Frank Gehry, Massimiliano Fuksas and
Tadeshi Kawamata who designed a
range of new venues.
The Old Port is the heart of the city
and it has been redesigned by Sir Norman Foster and features a vast, sandstone esplanade free of parked cars and
incorporating a delicate and mirrored
sun shade for walkers.
Foster has also designed a series of
elegant club houses for the many sailing clubs based around the port, plus
careening areas fitted with cranes.
But one thing hasn’t changed. The local fishermen continue to sell their day’s
catch on the port every morning.
The city’s most famous dish is the fish
stew bouillabaisse and one of the best
places to try it is Le Miramar, just steps
from where the fish is sold in the Old Port.
Within walking distance of the Old
topnews/extras
Port is the new Musée des Civilisations
de l’Europe et de la Mediterranée (MuCEM) — a major new institution that
looks at the history of the entire Mediterranean world.
This modern structure is built into
the 17th century Fort Saint-Jean, combining the new and the old and linked
by a striking bridge.
Adjacent is another new museum
— the Musée Regards de Provence devoted to Provencal art. Over the past
couple of centuries, the colourful landscapes of this region have attracted artists from France and beyond.
Marseille’s tourism renaissance is bringing new accommodations as well. In
Le Panier district, once one of the city’s
poorest, the Hotel Dieu, a large 18th century hospital, has been transformed into a
5-star Intercontinental hotel.
Also in Le Panier is a former almshouse that now stages art exhibitions.
The Centre de la Vieille Charité, despite
its main purpose of serving the poor, is
a grand structure constructed between
1671 and 1749 in the Baroque style and
made up of arcaded galleries in three
storeys surrounding a space with a central chapel surmounted by a dome.
One of the most central places to stay
is Grand Hotel Beauvau Marseille Vieux
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30 TRAVELWEEK June 5,
6, 2014
Port - MGallery Collection, an Accor
Hotel that overlooks the Old Port and
has hosted noted writers and musicians
from Frederic Chopin to George Sand.
The property, near the Marseille
Opera House, is also on La Canebiere,
the city’s main artery, lined with
shops and restaurants and leading to
a tangle of narrow streets which resemble a North African bazaar, with
shops selling spices and dried fruits
and filled with people of Moroccan,
Tunisian and Algerian heritage.
Marseille also has France’s largest
Mediterranean cruise port and is attracting more and more cruise passengers each year.
For more information, visit marseilletourisme.com.
Travelweek will look at attractions in
the rest of Provence and Languedoc Rousillon and the tours Transat Holidays is selling in the region in an upcoming issue.
people
Goway Travel has named Cathy
Mackinnon as the new Sales & Marketing Team Leader for Special Events
working closely with the Department
General Manager Barbara Norton.
Mackinnon, a long-standing industry veteran, has worked previously
in both the retail and the corporate
event planning sectors and brings a
wealth of experience to the department. “Group & event travel has been
my passion for many years and working with a dedicated team of group
specialists to assist in development of
unique, customized group itineraries
is very rewarding,” said Mackinnon.
She is keen to help agents and travel
planners increase their group business and can be contacted at cathy.
[email protected] or 1-800838-0618 ext. 6579.
The Travel Agent Next Door has appointed Bernadine D’Souza to the
position of Manager, Training & Development effective immediately.
“We are very pleased that Bernadine
is joining our organization,” said
Flemming Friisdahl, Founder, The
Travel Agent Next Door. “Training is
an important part of the program we
offer and her lengthy experience with
both Sears Travel and CAA will make
her invaluable to the Travel Agent
Next Door team.” D’Souza was most
recently Travel Sales Manager at Sears
Travel where she was named Branch
Manager of the Year 2012. She was
previously a Manager at CAA and also
taught travel courses at Seneca College. The Travel Agent Next Door was
created to fully support the homebased travel agent. Its program offers
member agents benefits and opportunities that are unmatched by any
other home based group in Canada,
said the organization. Through an affiliation with Travelsavers, The Travel
Agent Next Door has access to a broad
range of programs. The company has
a head office in downtown Toronto
and a branch office in Vancouver with
ACTA, TICO, CLIA and IATA designations. To contact The Travel Agent
Next Door, visit thetravelagentnextdoor.ca or call 416-367-TAND (8263).
marketplace
®
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ARE YOU AN EXOTIC DESTINATION
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IF YOU CHECKED “YES” TO ALL, WE WOULD
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For information on other job openings please visit
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the Luxury Included vacation
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
– ALBERTA AND NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
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Please submit your resume via email
Subject line: BDM – Alberta and NWT
To: [email protected]
CORPORATE &
VACATION AGENT
for one of the country’s
premier travel agencies
Suntastic Corporate Travel Services
in North York has an immediate opening
available.
The successful candidate will have:
s!MINIMUMOFTHREEYEARSCORPORATE
experience (current)
s0ROlCIENCYIN3ABREAND-ICROSOFT
/FlCE0RODUCTS
s%XPERIENCEWORKINGWITH6)0CLIENTELE
3UNTASTIC#ORPORATE4RAVEL3ERVICESHASBEEN
serving the needs of corporate clientele
since 1980. Our boutique operation has
EARNEDSERIOUSACCOLADESOVERTHEYEAR
period from both our travelling executives
ANDOURINDUSTRYPARTNERS
For consideration, please e-mail
[email protected]
June 6,
5, 2014 TRAVELWEEK 31
marketplace
It’s the
human touch
that makes the
difference.
Openings across Canada for Junior, Intermediate
and Senior Travel Counselors.
Detailed descriptions of the positions can be found at:
www.hrgworldwide.com /en-noam/Pages/default.aspx
Qualified applicants should visit our talent network to apply:
www.jobs.net/jobs/hrg-north-america/en-us/
HRG North America. A Hogg Robinson Group company.
Why partner with a
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QUALIFICATIONS:
t "CJMJUZUPPSHBOJ[FBOEQSJPSJUJ[FXPSLXJUIUIFBCJMJUZUP
NBOBHFBWBSJFEXPSLMPBE
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[email protected].
Sunwing is an equal opportunity employer.
We would like to thank all applicants. No phone calls please.
LOOKING TO
PLACE A
MARKETPLACE AD?
Contact us at [email protected]
or 416-365-1500
marketplace
Inside Walmart
Location will interest to:
Senior Travel Counsellors and Travel Managers
%HQH¿WV
Low lease rates, Airmiles - reward miles,
0DUNHWLQJ6XSSRUWKLJKWUDI¿FDUHD
Industry leading commissions and overrides.
Contact:
Katrina Rourke, Manager Business Development
1 866 665 4282 — [email protected]
6HULRXVLQTXLULHV$OOLQTXLULHVVWULFWO\FRQ¿GHQWLDO
FOR SALE
If you are an independent travel agent looking to affiliate with a host
agency to run your business more profitably and efficiently then
Nexion Canada is the partner for you
Retain up to 80% of top commissions
Enhance your skills with training, coaching, and networking
Manage your bookings with your choice of GDS or graphical booking engines
Operate your business efficiently with tools and technology
Differentiate yourself with exclusive Cruise Block Space and supplier offers
Increase your customer base with innovative marketing solutions
Contact us now to become part of our winning team!
www.join.nexioncanada.com | 866.399.9989 | [email protected]
Corporate Travel Consultants
Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal
and Calgary
PRODUCT & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
The Travelweek Group is developing a new online website based product for the travel industry and
requires a Product & Business Development Manager to work with senior management and the
rest of the Travelweek Team to launch and build this new product.
The Product & Business Development Manager will be responsible for managing and directing all
day to day operations.
Qualifications
O 3-4 years experience in sales and marketing within the travel industry
O media and online content creation experience
O advanced knowledge of WordPress
O proven ability to grow existing business
O demonstrated experience in building relationships with senior supplier contacts
O understanding of digital marketing principles
O ability to create and communicate marketing briefs & technical requirement documents
O proficient communication skills
Starting date July 2014
Recently announced as the World’s
Leading Travel Management Company in
2013, FCm Travel Solutions creates value
by delivering industry-best solutions and
cost savings.
Due to expansion, FCm Travel Solutions
has opportunities for dedicated
Corporate Travel Consultants to
join our expanding teams in Toronto,
Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary.
If you have travel sales experience,
strong computer skills, personal
customer service approach and most of
all, the limitless motivation that this role
demands, we’d love to hear from you!
Enjoy an attractive remuneration package,
plus a host of fantastic benefits! With
a focus on developing a cohesive
team culture with opportunities for
advancement, you will be an integral part
of this well respected Employer of Choice.
For more information & to apply please
visit www.applyfirst.ca/job54623
Please submit your resume in confidence to [email protected] and please include cover letter with salary expectations.
Only those chosen for an interview will be contacted. We thank all applicants in advance for your interest.
featurethis
Photos courtesy of Signature Vacations
Riu Varadero
Perfect for couples and families, Riu Varadero is sold
exclusively through Signature Vacations
With an irresistible tropical climate year round, Cuba’s renowned peninsula draws Canadian travellers in search of a
luxury vacation featuring plenty of sea and sun. And located
on this stunning peninsula, nestled among lush tropical gardens and world-class golf courses, is Riu Varadero, a favourite
among discerning Canadian travellers.
Exclusively sold through Signature Vacations, this RIU
property features elegant and spacious guestrooms in
a variety of room categories and come fully equipped
WITH AN EXCLUSIVE
adults-only section and a separate
family section, Riu Varadero is able
to offer a gamut of features that
cater to a variety of different tastes
and styles.
with RIU’s signature deluxe amenities called Riu-topia
inclusions. Masterfully blending luxury with comfort, its
beachfront location, elegant accommodations, delightful
cuisine and non-stop activities all combine to create a perfect recipe for repeat business.
For vacationers who are on a mission to soak up precious
moments in the sun, the beaches and shimmering pools with
sun loungers are the ticket. Active travellers can get their fix
with a selection of land and water activities, including vol-
leyball, tennis, windsurfing and catamaran sailing. To keep
up with their regular workout routine, guests have full access
to the fitness centre, while those looking for deep relaxation
can take advantage of the spa’s range of treatments that will
soothe the body and mind.
In addition to Riu-topia inclusions like welcome cocktail,
unlimited international beverages, in-room safe, Signature
Hour and in-room minibar, to name a few, Riu Varadero also
treats it guests to an in-room liquor dispenser and free Wi-Fi
in common areas. Among one of the first hotels to offer free
Wi-Fi, it has broken ground by offering connectivity in the
lobby for 90 minutes per day, per guest.
With an exclusive adults-only section and a separate family
section, Riu Varadero is able to offer a gamut of features that
cater to a variety of different tastes and styles. While guests
staying in the adults-only section can enjoy complimentary
24-hour room service, a clubhouse, cigar room, butler service and more, families will enjoy the carefully designed kidfriendly programs and facilities. The exclusive RiuLand Kids
Club program features a range of supervised, age-appropriate
activities and games for tiny tots.
Minutes from the Varadero Golf Club, Riu Varadero is a
hotspot for golfers. When Signature guests book the Hotel
Room with Golf or the Deluxe Junior Suite with Golf, they
can enjoy three complimentary rounds of golf per person for
the duration of the week. And as an added bonus of booking
with Signature Vacations, golf clubs fly for free, making it even
easier to jet set to this destination to hit the links.
With direct flights to Varadero from multiple gateways in
Canada, Signature Vacations offers affordable holiday packages for the most memorable vacations at Riu Varadero.
For more information visit signaturevacations.com.
ALL FLIGHTS OFFER SUNWING AIRLINES' CHAMPAGNE SERVICE
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For only $40 each way,
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Varadero, Cuba
RIU VARADERO +++++
Exclusive to Signature | All Inclusive
Beachfront, 30 minutes from Varadero International Airport and
10 minutes to downtown Varadero.
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-DFX]]LVSDVDXQDVKRSVPHGLFDOVHUYLFHEXIIHWDQG
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A selection of air-conditioned room types, featuring RIU-topia inclusions,
spacious layouts, and beautiful ocean views, are available to suit your
unique needs.
,QFOXGLQJPHDOVGDLO\SOXVKRXUVQDFNVDQGGULQNVGRPHVWLFEHHU
and cocktails, select international brands, house wine with meals), daily
activities, non-motorized water sports, an introductory scuba lesson in
the pool and evening entertainment.
)($785(6.LGVSRRONLGVSOD\DUHDNLGV\UVHQMR\VXSHUYLVHG
5LX/DQG.LGV&OXEDFWLYLWLHVNLGV\UV6WD\3OD\DQG(DW
)5((ZKHQVKDULQJDURRPZLWKDGXOWVKRWHOURRPVRQO\OLPLWHG
availability), mini disco, FREE wedding packages and vow renewal
SDFNDJHV
ADULTS ONLY SECTION Adults Only 18+
With 150 suites and junior suites featuring a private reception,
24-hour room service, close proximity to the beach, an exclusive
pool, exclusive access to the international restaurant, a club house
DQGFLJDUURRPEXWOHUVHUYLFHŶDWVFUHHQVDWHOOLWH79DQGOLTXRU
dispenser; deluxe junior suites offer the same amenities as hotel
rooms but are more spacious, with a ceiling fan, Integrated living area,
sofa, bathroom with separate shower; deluxe suites offer the same
amenities as above, and are more spacious with 1 king bed, a living
room, hydro massage tub, additional guest bathroom; deluxe master
suites consist of 1 junior suite with 2 double beds and 1 deluxe suite
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-topia
*(5(+(»:
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ONLY AVAILABLE FROM SIGNATURE
RIU-TOPIA INCLUSIONS: All Signature guests will receive a welcome
cocktail, unlimited international drinks, an in-room liquor dispenser,
in-room mini-bar, in-room safe, Signature Cocktail Hour from 4 – 5
p.m., FREE Wi-Fi access in the lobby for 60 min/day, and spa credits
WKDWDSSO\WRVHOHFWWUHDWPHQWVDWVSHFLŵFKRWHOVDOOLQFOXVLRQVDUH
subject to change without notice).
683(5,255220Ř21(:((.Ř$//,1&/86,9(
Toronto
Departures
Edmonton
Departures
Vancouver
Departures
Jul 07, 14 & 21
Jul 03, 10 & 17
Jul 08, 15 & 22
645 $825 $875
$
+ $315 taxes
+ $321 taxes
+ $321 taxes
7RURQWR(GPRQWRQ9DQFRXYHUGHSDUWXUHV$OOSULFHVDUHJURVVSHUSHUVRQEDVHGRQGRXEOHRFFXSDQF\IRUQLJKWVRQDOOLQFOXVLYHYDFDWLRQVXQOHVVRWKHUZLVHVSHFLŵHGDQGZHUHDYDLODEOHDWWKHWLPH
of printing. Seats at the above prices are limited and subject to change without prior notice. Applicable to new bookings only. Transportation taxes & related fees shown must be pre-paid. Applicable local
WD[HVSD\DEOHLQGHVWLQDWLRQDUHH[WUD&XED&8&)RUIXOOWHUPVDQGFRQGLWLRQVSOHDVHUHIHUWRRXUFXUUHQWEURFKXUH)OLJKWVDUHZLWK6XQZLQJ$LUOLQHVRU7UDYHO6HUYLFH6XQZLQJ9DFDWLRQV,QF
'%$6LJQDWXUH9DFDWLRQV)DVNHQ'ULYH7RURQWR210:.2QW7LFR _
A DEAL AS BIG AS EUROPE:
EURAIL SAVINGS FOR TRAVELERS,
PLUS AGENT REWARDS
Clients Get
50
$
or
Clients Get
50
$
Agents Get
10
$
OFF
OFF plus
Reward
Eurail Global Passes
and Eurail Select Passes
a free reservation for France
with a Eurail Select Pass
that includes France
$10 Amazon.com®
Gift Card
Use coupon code
SELECTGLOBAL
(when pass & reservation booked together)
Use coupon code SELECTFRANCE
with each eligible
booking
Eurail Global Passes offer extensive train travel in over 20 European countries,
while the Eurail Select Pass lets your clients choose 4 bordering countries to explore.
They’ll enjoy access to the places they want to visit, city-center to city-center
while experiencing spectacular European scenery along the way.
Promo
May 2 Starts
9, 201
4
agent.raileurope.com
Connect with Rail Europe
Amazon.com & Amazon.ca are not sponsors of this promotion. Amazon, Amazon.com & Amazon.ca are registered trademarks of
Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. See agent.raileurope.com for promotion details and terms.
Train photo credits: ©Thalys, DB AG, Archivio Audiovisivi Gruppo FS Italiane

Canadians embracing luxury travel, Virtuoso sees 93% jump in five

Transcription

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