Despite falling dollar, overnight plane trips to U.S. hit all

April 24, 2014
Volume 42 Issue 16
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
Despite falling dollar, overnight plane
trips to U.S. hit all-time high
OTTAWA — The Canadian dollar has
been falling for the past year or so but
that hasn’t stopped business and leisure
travellers crossing the border in droves.
Overnight travel to the United States
in February was up 1.1% from January,
fuelled by a 4.2% increase in overnight
plane travel in the month, the type most
likely to be sold by travel agents.
Canadian residents took 699,000 overnight plane trips to the United States in
February, the highest monthly total since
record keeping began in 1972, according
to Statistics Canada.
James Mueller, Etihad Airways SVP Sales, addresses the audience of more than 150 guests at the Etihad VIP
reception in Toronto last week.
THISWEEK
6
AVALON IN ASIA
26
G ADVENTURES FAMS
Avalon Waterways is adding two new
ships to sail on Asian rivers
G Adventures is offering agents trips to
India, Bali, Italy, Turkey and Peru
10
30
PENTICTON FLIGHTS
WestJet is adding Penticton to its route
network with flights from Calgary
PM40015622
FEATURE THIS
Uniworld launched its newest ship – S.S.
Catherine – in Lyon last month
At the same time, Canadian residents took 2.0% fewer same-day car
trips and 0.7% fewer overnight car trips
in February compared with the previous month.
At the same time, travel from Canada
to overseas countries was unchanged at
816,000 trips.
U.S. residents took 1.6 million trips to
Canada in February, up 0.8% from January.
This included 575,000 same-day car trips to
Canada, a 1.7% increase from January.
U.S. residents also took 973,000 overnight trips in February, up 0.4%. This increase was largely due to a 1.8% rise in
overnight plane trips, as overnight car
travel was down 0.3%.
Travel from overseas countries to Canada declined 1.9% from January.
Of the top 12 overseas markets, eight
recorded decreases in travel to Canada
in February. The largest percentage decline was in travel from Japan (-10.6%).
The United Kingdom, Canada’s most
important overseas market, recorded a
6.0% decrease. The largest percentage
increase was in travel from Hong Kong
(+11.7%).
China registered the second largest
increase in February (+6.9%). Chinese
residents took 38,000 trips to Canada,
Motoring along the Atlantic
coast, Achill Island,
Co. Mayo
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recording the highest monthly figure
since record keeping began in 1990.
Sunquest launches
exclusive promotion
with Sandals, Beaches
& Grand Pineapple
Resorts offering $500
in benefits
TORONTO — Sunquest has launched a
special promotion with Sandals, Beaches and Grand Pineapple Resorts that rewards agents and customers alike with
a total value of up to $500 per booking.
customers can pay just a $300 deposit
per passenger instead of full payment at
time of booking; and
O 10x bonus Loyalty Points – a value
of more than $50 – on every booking.
The relaxed payment policy, which is
in effect for the 30 days of the promotion
period, applies to Sandals, Beaches and
Grand Pineapple bookings only. Full payment is due 45 days before departure.
In addition to this exclusive 30-day
promotion, Sunquest is also introducing the all-new Sandals La Source Grenada Resort & Spa, and the Sandals
Emerald Bay Golf Resort & Spa in Great
Exuma, Bahamas, to its product port-
A SUNQUEST AIR CREDIT of up to $400
per couple plus up to $555 in a Sandals air credit
that are automatically reflected in pricing.
Flights will operate daily through the
summer season, on B757 aircraft with
12 business class (lie-flat) seats and 165
economy class seats. Aer Lingus will reassess frequencies starting this fall, with
the possibility of up four weekly flights
during the winter.
No matter how frequently the flights
operate, Aer Lingus is committed to
year-round service, says Director of
Sales, North America, Jeff Wright. “It’s
TORONTO DEPARTURES . ONE WEEK . ALL INCLUSIVE
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++++PLUS
Valid on all new Sandals, Beaches and
Grand Pineapple package bookings
made between April 14 and May 14, for
travel any time, out of any gateway, and
to any Sandals, Beaches or Grand Pineapple resort, this new promotion offers:
O A Sunquest air credit of up to $400
per couple plus up to $555 in a Sandals
air credit that are automatically reflected in pricing;
O A US$100 coupon per couple with
Island Routes Caribbean Adventures, the
official excursion provider for Sandals,
Beaches and Grand Pineapple resorts, for
customers to use during their vacation;
O A relaxed payment policy whereby
folio. Both resorts are now available to
book through Sunquest.
For more information, visit Sunquest
Agent.ca.
JUN 05 & 12
SUPERIOR ROOM
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895
+$392 Taxes
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Aer Lingus’ inaugural
Toronto flight kicks
off a summer of daily
nonstop service
TORONTO — Tourism Ireland’s plan to
promote Ireland as a year-round destination got a shot in the arm last week with
the launch of Aer Lingus’ new nonstop
year-round service from Toronto to Dublin.
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April 24, 2014 TRAVELWEEK 3
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looking like a good summer and we’re
going to continue beyond summer,”
he said. “Aer Lingus sees the Toronto
flights as a very viable business model.”
This is fourth transatlantic route launch
in recent months and forms part of
Aer Lingus’ significant transatlantic
growth plan in 2014.
Wright added that while Ireland is
intrinsic to Aer Lingus – the airline is
the country’s national carrier, after all –
there are also plenty of opportunities
for Canadian travellers to use the Dublin
flights as a jumping-off point for further
travels into Europe. Aer Lingus is also
partnering with Air Canada for connecting flights from other Canadian cities.
Adding Aer Lingus’ flights to the mix
of new seasonal and year-round service
available this year from Air Canada
rouge, Transat and WestJet, Tourism
Ireland will be promoting Ireland’s yearround charms, said Alison Metcalfe,
Head of North America for Tourism
Ireland. “The market has continued to
grow and the demand is there,” she said,
adding that it’s difficult to grow a destination without direct access.
“We need to re-frame the destination
for Canadian travellers. People often
think of Ireland as a seasonal destination because we’ve only ever had seasonal service. But you can be there in
February and it can be 10 degrees and
sunny.”
Tourism Ireland hopes to see 20%
growth from the Canadian market by
2016, she added, and will be refocusing
efforts on Western Canada while continuing the promote the destination to
its primary market, Ontario.
Aer Lingus’ product includes loyalty
Editor
Patrick Dineen, Ext. 132, [email protected]
Managing Editor
Kathryn Folliott, Ext. 128, [email protected]
Associate Editor
Cindy Sosroutomo, Ext. 130, [email protected]
French Journalist for Profession Voyages
Ariane Cloutier, 450-531-6193, [email protected]
Graphic Designer
Jonathan Carmichael, Ext. 126, [email protected]
Web Application Developer
Antonio Carito, Ext. 134, [email protected]
Web Graphic Designer & Online Strategist
Michael Smith, Ext. 125, [email protected]
Business Development Manager
Sue Winiecki, Ext. 127, [email protected]
Business Development Manager
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Director, Product Development
Toni DeFino, Ext. 136, tdefi[email protected]
Circulation
Denys Cruz, [email protected]
Accounting
Marie Mercado, Ext. 121, [email protected]
ENVOY
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Group Publisher
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Contents copyrighted 2014 by Concepts Travel Media Ltd.
Reproduction in whole or in part by any means without
expressed written permission of the publisher is prohibited.
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government
of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the
Department of Canadian Heritage.
Celebrating the new Aer Lingus service between Toronto and Dublin are (from left) Jayne
Shackleford, manager of Tourism Ireland Canada; Jeff Wright, Director of Sales, North America for
Aer Lingus; and Alison Metcalfe, Head of North America for Tourism Ireland.
4 TRAVELWEEK April 24, 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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Toronto departures. All prices are gross per person based on double occupancy for 7 nights on all inclusive vacations (unless otherwise specified) and were available at the time of printing.
Seats at the above prices are limited and subject to change without prior notice. Applicable to new bookings only. Not combinable with any other offers. Transportation taxes & related
fees shown must be pre-paid. Applicable local taxes payable in destination are extra (Cuba 25CUC). In-flight services vary by flight time and destination. 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 | 04242014
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programs like Gold Circle, and Preferred Seating (an extra $40) and Preferred Meal (an extra $20) for economy
class passengers. “The meals are unbelievable, they’re restaurant-quality. We
get raves about them,” said Wright.
The airline also works with travel
agents and offers everything from webinars to in-agency visits. “In order to be
a travel agent, you have to have a wide
breadth of knowledge. It’s really challenging,” he said. “Sometimes it’s not
necessarily about knowing the answer
but knowing where to get the answer.
Agents can always give us a call.”
Sandals Learning
Centre grand
prizewinner –
Barbara Morrison
of TravelOnly
TORONTO — Sandals Resorts has announced the winners of a series of
online learning programs released
on Travelweek’s Learning Centre. The
grand prizewinner, Barbara Morrison
of TravelOnly, Uxbridge, ON, has won a
four-night stay at a Sandals Resort.
The six online learning programs educate travel agents on everything they
need to know about selling Sandals
product, the different resorts, weddings, groups and more.
The series of Sandals programs were
broken down into six modules each
focusing on a different aspect of the
Sandals brand. The programs included Sandals Resorts, WeddingMoons,
Groups, Island Routes, Selling Sandals
and the Sandals Difference.
Alongside the grand prize, agents
who completed any of the six modules
with a score of 80 and above were entered into a draw to win a Sandals gift
basket valued at $250.
The winners of the gift baskets include Nicole Baer of Whirlaway Travel
(winner of Sandals Groups), Courtenay
G OUT!
TIME’S RUNNIN
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REGISTER ONLIN
1 877 390 9050
gadventures.com/gnormous
6 TRAVELWEEK April 24, 2014
McKinnon of AMA Travel (winner of
Sandals Island Routes), Lisa Tetzlaff of
Valente Travel (winner of Selling Sandals), and Poonam Kore of itravel2000
(winner of The Sandals Difference).
To discover these and other specialist programs, visit Travelweek’s Learning
Centre or visit travelweeklearningcentre.ca/workshops/preview/34.
Avalon Waterways
highlights new
offerings in Asia &
Europe at Toronto
reception
TORONTO — The river cruising segment is showing no signs of slowing
down, especially with Avalon Waterways leading the surge. At a recent media reception in Toronto, Stéphanie
Bishop, Managing Director of the Globus family of brands Canada, and Patrick Clark, Managing Director of Avalon
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.
A Truly Unique
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Bon Bini! Exquisite beaches, stunning architecture,
intriguing music, tantalizing cuisine, and activities and
adventures for every age and interest, all await you
on this beautiful little island. For divers, Curaçao
offers spectacular locations with some of the most
colourful and awe-inspiring scenes imaginable.
From Toronto - Nov 2/14
From Toronto - Oct 26/14
From Toronto - Nov 30/14
Divers and snorkelers never seem to be able to
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Taxes & surcharge add $404.
Flight on Westjet
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Taxes & surcharge add $324.
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Flight on Westjet
For more information, visit Sunquestagent.ca
Sunquest is a wholly-owned division of TravelBrands Inc. 5450 Explorer Dr. Suite 300 Mississauga ON, L4W 5N1 Ont. Reg: 50012702. B.C. Reg: 3597. Que. Reg: 702734.
Visit sunquestagent.ca for full terms & conditions.
[ AT32663 ]
Terms and conditions apply, which include full payment at time of booking. Prices shown are per person in Canadian dollars, based on double occupancy and were valid at the time this communication was disseminated. Valid on new bookings only. Flights operate on WestJet.
All descriptions and depictions of hotels and hotel properties were accurate at the time this communication was disseminated. Prices and availability are subject to change without prior notice are were available on April 17, 2014.
topnews
Waterways, stressed the importance of
the Canadian market and why the company is expecting big things in the near
future on Europe’s and Asia’s top rivers.
“It has been fascinating to watch the
evolution of river cruising in the past 10
years,” said Clark, who told Travelweek
that the majority of Canadian bookings
originate in Ontario with a surprising
increase coming out of Saskatchewan
in recent months. “We’ve seen tremendous growth and interest in this particular travel style. In fact, we’re on track
for a record year with 20% growth. For
2015, we’re ahead year over year from
2014.”
After introducing a new class of
‘Suite Ships’ in 2011, which Clark said
gives Avalon a leg up on its competitors, the cruise line is now focusing
its efforts in Asia where it will debut
two new ships: The Avalon Siem Reap
(purpose-built in 2014) and the Avalon
Myanmar (coming 2015). The Avalon
Siem Reap will cruise through Vietnam
Stéphanie Bishop, Managing Director of the Globus family of brands Canada, and Patrick Clark,
Managing Director of Avalon Waterways, share the latest river cruise news at a recent media
reception in Toronto.
and Cambodia as the only ship on the
river that sails directly to/from Ho Chi
Minh City, saving guests a seven-hour
journey by coach.
The Avalon Myanmar will sail the
scenic Upper Irrawaddy in Myanmar,
Avalon’s newest destination, which isn’t
easily accessible by other cruise lines
due to their larger size.
Each ship will accommodate a maximum of 36 guests and 24 crew and feature 245 square-foot suites with 14-foot
FREE
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Prices are in CAD, per person, based on double occupancy and subject to change without notice. Space is subject to availability at time of booking. Rates based on lowest room category offered.
All departures are from Toronto on Cubana Airlines, Air Transat or Canjet and taxes of $180 must be added to the published rates. All EBB’s mention will reflect in the published rate. Refer to our
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TORONTO DEPARTURES
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Toronto departures. “Up to $250 instant savings per couple” is a limited time offer applicable to new bookings only made by May 20, 2014 for travel Apr 21, 2014 to Dec 23, 2014. Min. stay of 4 nights
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0LQLPXPRIGRXEOHRFFXSDQF\LQWKHURRP1RWYDOLGIRUJURXSERRNLQJVRUIRUERRNLQJVDW:\QGKDP1DVVDX5,8DQG%UHH]HVSURSHUWLHV3ULFHVUHŶHFWVDYLQJVDQGDUHSHUSHUVRQEDVHGRQGRXEOH
RFFXSDQF\IRUQLJKWYDFDWLRQSDFNDJHV6HDWVDWWKHDERYHSULFHVDUHOLPLWHGFDSDFLW\FRQWUROOHGDQGZHUHDYDLODEOHDWWKHWLPHRISULQWLQJ7UDQVSRUWDWLRQWD[HVUHODWHGIHHVVKRZQPXVWEH
SUHSDLG)RUIXOOWHUPVDQGFRQGLWLRQVSOHDVHUHIHUWRRXUFXUUHQWEURFKXUH$OOŶLJKWVDUHZLWK6XQZLQJ$LUOLQHVRU7UDYHO6HUYLFH6XQZLQJ9DFDWLRQV,QF'%$6LJQDWXUH9DFDWLRQV)DVNHQ
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Early Bird!
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10 TRAVELWEEK April 24, 2014
windows and retractable screens. Also
onboard will be a spa, gym and airconditioned lounges. Passengers will
receive American breakfast, lunches
and dinners with complimentary wine
and beer with dinner, complimentary
coffee, tea, soft drinks and local beer/
spirits throughout the day, bottled water and headsets on all shore excursions
and a host of pre/post optional tour
extensions.
Clark also noted how Avalon is
known for its Special Interest Cruises,
which range from Culinary and Jewish Heritage to Wine, Golf and Music. New for 2015 is an opera-themed
cruise featuring four Canadian opera
singers to entertain passengers onboard.
Avalon’s Europe cruises range from
five to 24 days with an average number
of 130 passengers. This year, the cruise
line offers 26 itineraries in Europe, with
27 scheduled for 2015.
To entice travellers to book their
2015 cruise early, Avalon Waterways
is offering three ways for them to
save. They can take advantage of 10%
off selected itineraries/departures (a
value of up to $503 per person), prepaid gratuities (a value of up to $292
per person), or save $250 off their
transatlantic flight and lock in their
airfare. All offers apply if booked by
June 24, 2014.
For more information visit avalon
waterways.ca.
WestJet adds
Penticton to route
network with flights
from Calgary, to
launch EdmontonKamloops next year
CALGARY — WestJet is adding Penticton, B.C., to its route network with
nonstop service from Calgary effective Oct. 26, 2014, on board WestJet
Encore’s Bombardier Q400 NextGen
aircraft.
WestJet will also launch daily, nonstop WestJet Encore service between
Edmonton and Kamloops, starting Feb.
15, 2015.
Azores Specialist
winner announced
– Colleen McNab
is headed to the
islands
TORONTO — The Azores Promotion
Board is delighted to announce the
winner of The Azores Specialist Program. Colleen McNab of Collette Vacations, based in Halifax, will enjoy a trip
for two to Ponta Delgada in The Azores
for her completion of the workshop on
Travelweek’s Learning Centre.
“I am extremely excited as I have
been in the travel industry for 30 years
and have not had the opportunity to
experience the Azores,” said McNab. “It
was a pleasant surprise to receive the
‘you have won’ e-mail – I first thought
they were kidding!”
The Azores Specialist Program was
designed to promote The Azores as
a leading European destination with
world-class culture, with lots of naturebased adventure tourism.
The Azores Islands are easily accessible to Canadian travellers located
in the North Atlantic Ocean halfway
between Newfoundland and Lisbon.
Flights to The Azores from Pearson take
five hours.
“I really did enjoy the course. I found
it very informative and the modules
were easy to follow, and the question
and answer section was very straightforward. I learned a lot about the country and what our guests will experience
during our two Collette tours to the
Azores.”
The prize includes roundtrip, nonstop air transportation from Toronto
to Ponta Delgada courtesy of SATA
International Airlines and seven nights
accommodation in a hotel in Ponta
Delgada in a double room with breakfast for two.
YOU SAY FLAMINGO,
I SAY FLAMENCO
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topnews
The Azores Specialist Program is
available until Oct. 15. Visit travelweeklearningcentre.ca/workshops/view/
37/introduction to discover what The
Azores can offer clients.
Amadeus, Seneca
College in Toronto
partner on new
training program to
prepare the travel
professionals of
tomorrow
MIAMI — Technology provider Amadeus has joined forces with Seneca College
in Toronto, one of the largest colleges in
Canada, to launch the first program from
Amadeus Training Services in North
America designed to help train students
and foster future professionals by educating them on industry-leading travel reservations technology provided by Amadeus.
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.
12 TRAVELWEEK April 24, 2014
“Our goal at Seneca College is to prepare students for their chosen careers,
above and beyond what any other program might offer. We also have a strong
emphasis on industry partnerships so
we are excited to welcome Amadeus to
our educational roster as a worldwide
leader in travel technology. This partnership will open up our students to an
even bigger world of opportunities in
the travel industry,” said Angela Zigras,
Chair School of International Business
& School of Tourism, Seneca College.
The Amadeus Training Services team
worked with Seneca’s Tourism and
Travel Services (TIS) program faculty to
create a highly customized curriculum.
The program offers students courses at
two levels of expertise. The first level,
called Certified Professional, serves as
an introduction to Amadeus reservations technology and trains students on
booking fares, passenger name records
(PNRs), and issuing tickets for airlines.
The second level, called Certified Ex-
pert, trains students in advanced PNRs,
profiles, working in Amadeus’ Queue
System and training in hotel and rental
car and booking solutions.
Launched this January at Seneca, the
Amadeus Training Services program is
offered to students over a 14-week period per semester and takes place over
a full semester’s time. After passing the
final exam, students can elect to have
their contact information included in
Seneca’s database, which is accessible
by Amadeus agency customers, who
are making hiring decisions.
“We’re very excited about this program launch as it will help enhance the
influence and quality of travel agents in
the industry. The partnership with Seneca College truly emphasizes our goal
to shape the future of travel and prepare the agents of tomorrow. We will
continue to partner with other universities and colleges in North America to
offer similar programs. Additionally, we
plan to further develop our e-learning
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
courses in order to have a robust online
offering,” said Oria Alcantara, Regional
Director of Training Services Americas,
Amadeus.
For more information on the Seneca
College program and its School of Tourism,
visit senecacollege.ca/fulltime/TIS.html.
PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic
Non-stop flights from Toronto, Hotel & Transfers
Majestic Elegance Punta Cana AAAA
!LL)NCLUSIVEs!DULTSONLYSECTION
%LEGANCE#LUBJUNIORSUITEWITH*ACUZZI
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FREE GOLF PACKAGE1
12-night Nelson
Mandela tour
launched by Indus
Travels
RICHMOND, BC — Indus Travels is launching a new 12-night Nelson Mandela, A Life
Celebrated tour, which commemorates
the great South African leader’s life.
Travellers will visit landmark sites
such as his birthplace, his final resting place and Robben Island, where he
was imprisoned for 18 years, as well as
must-see attractions, including Cape
Town, a game safari and the spectacular
Garden Route.
WHAT’S
NEW
AT THE
LEARNING
CENTRE?
www.travelweeklearningcentre.ca
Add taxes & other fees: $428
aircanadavacations.com/agents
Prices are subject to change without notice and cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion. Prices are in Canadian dollars, are valid at time of printing, apply
to new bookings only and for departure dates as indicated. Prices are per person based on double occupancy, from Toronto - Pearson International Airport in Economy
class and include surcharges. Non-refundable. Not applicable to group bookings. Flights operated by Air Canada or Air Canada rouge. For applicable terms and conditions, consult the
Air Canada Vacations brochures or www.aircanadavacations.com/agents. Q 1Valid for two rounds of golf per adult when staying at the Elegance Club. Valid for travel completed by
Dec. 23, 2014. Minimum 5-night stay required. 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, 1440 St. Catherine W., Suite 600, Montreal, QC.
8829
This small group tour runs July 14-26,
2014, over Mandela’s birthday, and is
led by a local South African guide with
deep knowledge of the country’s history and Madiba’s contribution in the
battle against apartheid.
A special discount of $400 per person is offered for all bookings made by
May 31, 2014. The rate of $2,500 per
person, which includes the early booking rebate, covers 12 nights in upscale
GFOB UNIVERSITY GLOBUS FAMILY OF
BRANDS
At the GFOB University, travel agents
can familiarize themselves with the
Globus family of brands, increase product
knowledge and improve their bottom line.
WIN AN APPLE iPAD MINI
VIA RAIL CANADA
SPECIALIST PROGRAM
The VIA Rail Canada Specialist Program
leaves agents with a comprehensive
knowledge of VIA Rail’s services and
networks.
WIN A TRIP FOR 2 TORONTO-VANCOUVER
14 TRAVELWEEK April 24, 2014
1299
$
accommodation, an in-depth sightseeing program with a private guide, many
meals and all land and airport transfers.
Starting in Johannesburg, travellers
will discover the Mandela House in
Soweto Township and key sites of the liberation struggle across town. Travelling
south to Durban, stops include the site
where Mandela was captured in 1962
Continued on page 22 ...
CLUB MED FAMILY
FUN SPECIALIST
PROGRAM
Throughout the following modules, you
will learn about Club Med and its familyoriented destinations, programs and
activities.
WIN A TRIP TO CLUB MED
HONG KONG
SPECIALIST
An online training course that will better
equip travel agents with the knowledge
needed to sell one of Asia’s most popular
destinations.
WIN A TRIP TO HONG KONG
Asia Pacific
Royal Scenic’s ‘Reflections of Japan’
taps country’s rising popularity
The number of foreign visitors to Japan
is growing significantly, says Royal Scenic, making the country an increasingly
popular tourist destination.
Royal Scenic recently released its
eight-night ‘Reflections of Japan’ tour
including return international airfare,
hotel accommodation, roundtrip
airport transfers and tours. In addition to the traditional highlights
like Tokyo, Mt. Fuji and Kyoto, the
tour takes in traditional Kamakura
(to see the famous Great Buddha),
the ancient city of Nara and historic
Hiroshima. Prices start at $3,165 per
person, double occupancy, for travel
between now and Dec. 31.
Royal Scenic has also launched its
‘Bon Voyage’ tour brochure for 201415, with a long list of air-inclusive and
land-only packages to destinations
throughout Asia, the Indian Sub-continent as well as the Middle East and
the South Pacific. New destinations for
this year include Israel, the United Arab
Emirates and Fiji. Two new sections
are also added — Royal Romance and
Royal Soft Adventure — perfect for clients looking to add a little adventure to
their vacation. Travel agents can view
the brochure free of charge and order
copies online at royalscenic.com.
Although it’s best known for Asia
product, Royal Scenic in fact has a
wide range of destinations, all around
the world. The company’s new
11-night pilgrimage tour to the Holy
Land includes roundtrip airfare, porterage at airport and hotels, luxury
air-conditioned coach, five-star hotel
accommodation with full board meal
and tours. Prices start $3,179 per person from Toronto, with departures
on Oct. 10 or Oct. 28. Royal Scenic
recommends that tour reservations
be made at least 60 days prior to the
scheduled departure date.
royalscenic.com
In the air or on the
water: Goway has
two new ways to
experience Asia
Clients can enjoy a new perspective on
Asia with two unique experiences from
Goway Travel. Whether air ballooning
over Rajasthan, or cruising along the Mekong to majestic Angkor, there’s more
than one way to see the world’s most
diverse continent, says the tour operator.
One of India’s most compelling regions, Rajasthan is a desert state known
for its intricately decorated forts and
temples. Many people’s first taste of the
area will be Jaipur, known as the Pink
City thanks to its red and pink sandstone architecture. Both the capital and
symbolic heart of Rajasthan, Jaipur is
a much loved corner of India’s classic
Golden Triangle route.
Even without time to see more of
Rajasthan, visitors can get a taste of it
Asia Pacific
%(672)&+,1$13 days
Air from Vancouver to Beijing/Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific,
transfers, 12 nights 4-star accommodation, flights within
China/Hong Kong, sightseeing.
Call Toll Free or visit ZZZJRZD\FRP
*Per person, twin. Travel 15 Aug - 10 Oct and 1- 30 Nov’14. Book by 1 Aug’14. Taxes Included. Trip code: 218189. TICO# 1543989 BC# 833.
from up above on a hot air balloon safari. Goway’s eight-day Private Golden
Triangle is one of its most popular India
tours, particularly for first-timers. Right
now, clients who book it will receive a
free hot air balloon safari, putting the
perfect cap on an unforgettable journey. This exclusive offer is limited to the
first five travellers who book.
Every passenger on the Private
Golden Triangle will enjoy seven nights
accommodation, game drives in Ranthambore (home to tigers, leopards, hyenas and more) and private sightseeing.
Naturally, the trip includes the Taj Mahal, which some might call Asia’s most
INDIA: WONDERS OF RAJASTHA
JAIPUR • BIKANER • JAISALMER • DHECHU • JOJAWAR • UDAIPUR •
KISHANGARH • AGRA • KHAJURAHO • VARANASI • DELHI
N16 DAYS N39 MEALS
N3+AND 4+HOTELS
NDEPARTURES
OCTOBER 24 AND NOVEMBER 14
FROM
*
$3799
BOOK BY
APRIL 30, 2014
AND RECEIVE
$400 OFF
per couple!
AIR FRANCE FLIGHTS INCLUDED
+TAXES AND FEES OF $745
Toronto departures via Air France and KLM in Class Q . Price shown is per person, based on
double occupancy including the $260 rebate (Book before April 30 promotion of $200 and
Cash payment promotion of $60). Price does not include taxes and fees, and is subject to
availability at the time of making new individual bookings. Price includes: roundtrip international
airfare, domestic flights, transfers, accommodation, sightseeing and select meals as noted in
the tour itinerary. For complete description and terms and conditions, refer to the Transat Discoveries 2013-2014 brochure or visit transatdiscoveries.com. Transat Discoveries is a division of
Transat Tours Canada Inc., and is registered as a travel wholesaler ON #50009486) with
offices located at 191 The West Mall, Suite 800, Etobicoke, ON, M9C 5K8.
16 TRAVELWEEK April 24, 2014
impressive sight. But another splendid
icon lays serious claim to the title.
The ruins of Angkor Wat attract
around two million visitors a year,
and with good reason. This was once
the centre of an empire that spanned
Southeast Asia, including Cambodia,
Laos and much of modern Thailand. It’s
impossible to walk through the stone
gates of Angkor Thom, or approach
fabled Angkor Wat, without feeling the
weight of that legacy. Typical itineraries
might take travellers overland from Ho
Chi Minh City or Bangkok. Goway however is offering a special glimpse of life
along the Mekong River.
Over seven nights aboard the Mekong Pandaw passengers will enjoy a
private ensuite cabin with all meals,
drinks and shore excursions included.
They’ll explore the Mekong and Tonle
Sap, the great lake at Cambodia’s centre. The cruise includes lesser known
stops such as Kampong Cham and
Cai Be, allowing passengers to enjoy
many sights not typically seen by visitors to Cambodia. A day in Phnom
Penh is also included, with the option of a somber, but deeply moving,
visit to the Killing Fields or the former
‘S21’ detention centre.
This immersive 14-day journey can
be taken in either direction between Ho
Chi Minh City and Siem Reap (gateway
to the Angkor temples). It includes two
nights in both cities, allowing passengers to experience both the grandeur
of ancient Indochina, and the energy of
one of its bustling modern hubs. Prices
start at US$3,799 (ex Los Angeles) or
Cdn$4,159 (ex Vancouver) including
roundtrip airfare with Korean Air.
goway.com
Tai Pan Tours’ new
Asia brochure
includes 50 tours in
13 countries
Tai Pan Tours has launched its new
Asia brochures for 2014-2015 featuring
more than 50 tours covering over 13
Asian countries.
This year the company is introducing
food and cooking tours. New options in
the Foodie Series include ‘Taste of Hong
Kong’, ‘Taste of Beijing’, ‘Best of Thailand’, ‘Taste of Malays’ and ‘Singapore
City Stopover. Local guides bring clients
to the most popular street stalls and
hidden alleyways in the city and show
them how to eat ‘like the locals’.
In the Cooking Series, tours including ‘Best of China & Guilin’, ‘Classic
Vietnam’, ‘Best of Thailand’ and ‘Taste
of Malays’ offer the opportunity to
learn distinct ingredients and cooking
technique to make delicious dishes in
different Asian regions. All cooking
classes are hands-on and taught by experienced instructors.
taipantours.com
‘India, Wonders of
Rajastahn’ a top
seller for Transat
Discoveries
The new ‘India, Wonders of Rajasthan’
tour with Transat Discoveries is proving
to be one of the company’s most popular for 2014.
Clients enjoy a comprehensive view
of northern India on this 16-day program, visiting four UNESCO World
Heritage Sites including the Taj Mahal.
A night at a Thar Desert encampment
and an evening aarti ceremony on the
Ganges River while in Varanasi are just
a couple examples of the many inclusions that help travellers experience the
local culture.
Spring has sprung with Transat Discoveries, so couples can save $400 on
this escorted tour package including
flights with Air France if booked during
the month of April. For clients looking
at other Asian destinations like Vietnam and Thailand, this offer can be
extended to any Transat Discoveries
escorted tour departure including air
during the 2014 season.
Whether clients are looking to extend
their stay after touring northern India
or for an alternative beach destination,
Transat Discoveries also offers Seaside
Discoveries to the former Portuguese
colony of Goa. The four-star Royal Orchid Beach Resort acts as a base to explore Old Goa’s cathedrals and temples,
as well as offering extensive facilities to
enjoy the idyllic setting.
In early April Transat Discoveries
hosted a fam trip to India for a small
group of travel consultants to experience India first-hand. Agents who are
interested in more training or hosting
a consumer night on India are invited
to contact their local Transat Discoveries Business Development Rep to help
grow their business to this increasingly
popular destination.
transatdiscoveries.com
Experience all the
must-see sights with
ATOURZ’s ‘Classic
Thailand’ itinerary
When clients invest their time and
money to fly to the other side of the
world, they want to see all the major
sights and soak up as much of the local
culture as possible.
ATOURZ’s eight-day ‘Classic Thailand’ tour allows them to do just that,
with a comprehensive itinerary that
highlights everything from the country’s famous winding rivers to glorious
temples and museums.
“Visiting Thailand requires a much
more detailed itinerary than, say, a simple weekend getaway down south,” said
Elena Prountzopoulos, Head of Tour
Operations at ATOURZ. “We wanted to
make sure our clients savour every waking moment during their stay, which is
why we’ve come up with our ‘Classic
Thailand’ tour. It has everything a firsttime visitor would want: culture, nature
and adventure.”
After getting picked up from their
hotel in Bangkok, travellers will depart
for Kanchanaburi and visit the famous
Floating Market at Damnoen Saduak.
A historic ride on the Death Railway
Train will be followed by lunch in a local restaurant and a leisurely boat trip
on the majestic River Kwai. From there,
the itinerary heads to Ayutthaya, where
guests will visit renowned ruins like Wat
Mongkol Bophit, Wat Sri Sanpetch and
Wat Chaiwattaram.
April 24, 2014 TRAVELWEEK 17
Asia Pacific
After a short stop in Sukhothai, the
first capital of Thailand, the journey heads
north to Chiang Rai via the lake town of
Phayao. En route, there’s a chance to visit
a pineapple plantation. One of the biggest highlights of the trip will surely be
an encounter with the Akha and Yaho
Hilltribe people in Doi Mae Salong, who
will open up their homes and provide a
glimpse into local village life.
The halfway point of the itinerary is
spent in the Golden Triangle, the area
where the borders of Laos, Myanmar
and Thailand meet. While in Chiang
Saen, guests will explore the beautiful
Wat Chedi Luang before proceeding to
the city of Mae Sai, the most northern
point of Thailand situated on the border of Myanmar. Other highlights include a visit to a local opium museum
and a boat trip on the Mekong River
with a brief stop in Laos.
The trip winds down in Chiang Mai
where travellers will visit the 13thcentury Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep
Temple as well as an elephant camp.
Plenty of free time will also be given
to allow for last minute shopping and
leisure exploration.
‘Classic Thailand’ is priced from
$1,889 per person, double occupancy, with departures through Oct. 31.
Price includes seven nights’ accommodation, seven breakfasts, seven
lunches, transportation in air conditioned vehicles, English-speaking
guide and all entrance fees.
[email protected]
Trafalgar’s new
Secrets of Thailand
includes Thai
massage at Wat Pho
New to Trafalgar’s At Leisure collection
this year, the 11-day Secrets of Thailand
takes travellers on a culture-packed trip
through the country’s bustling cities
and peaceful countryside.
Starting and ending in metropolitan
Bangkok, guests also spend nights in
Kanchanaburi, Chiang Mai and Chiang
Rai. Although it’s an At Leisure trip that
allows guests plenty of time for individual exploration, Secrets of Thailand also
features many “incredible inclusions”
for guests to immerse themselves in the
Thai culture, says Trafalgar.
On a day trip to Ban Mae Kampong,
Trafalgar travellers sit down to an exclusive Be My Guest lunch at a homestay to learn about the community’s
culture while enjoying traditional Thai
fare from sustainably sourced produce
from the region.
In between sightseeing at some of
the country’s most significant tem-
ples, guests are also treated to Local
Specialties like a Thai massage on the
grounds of Wat Pho temple in Bangkok, and Unique Insights such as the
train ride over the bridge that crosses
the River Kwai.
Another option, the 15-day Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia, takes
clients on a leisurely trip that covers all
of the major sights.
Beginning in Hanoi and ending in
Siem Reap, travellers also rest their
heads in Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, and
Ho Chi Minh, as well as take day trips
to Angkor Wat and the Mekong Delta.
One of the biggest Insider highlights
of the trip is Trafalgar’s Authentic Accommodation, where guests will find
themselves spending the night on a
traditional Vietnamese junk boat in
Halong Bay, with an included Tai Chi
lesson onboard.
In addition to the scenic cruise,
travellers immerse themselves in the
cultures of these two countries as
they stroll the vast grounds of the Angkor Wat complex and explore the Cu
Chi Tunnels of the former Viet Cong
in Ho Chi Minh. Other highlights include an herbal foot massage in Tra
Que village and a special Be My Guest
lunch of fresh food at a local family’s
herb farm in Hoi An.
trafalgar.com
Call
1-877-727-6387
Email
[email protected]
Book Online airliners.ca
Nets in Economy
Commissions in Business
18 TRAVELWEEK April 24, 2014
Car Rental, Motorcoach & Rail
Nascar Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte Motorspeedway
From sports getaways to city tours,
Great Canadian Holidays has it all
by Cindy Sosroutomo
There’s certainly no shortage of motorcoach getaways with Great Canadian
Holidays. Spanning Canada and the
U.S. and ranging in length from one day
to three weeks, the company’s diverse
portfolio includes sightseeing tours, casino getaways, coach & cruise combos,
shopping trips, mystery tours, big city
getaways and much more.
Some of its best-selling motorcoach
holidays are its sports tours, which allow die-hard fans to take in a baseball
game at a historic ballpark, experience the thrill of a live NASCAR race
or cheer on their favourite NHL team
on home ice. All details are taken care
of; travellers won’t be bogged down
with the stress of making reservations
at hotels, navigating busy streets or
struggling to purchase tickets for a
sporting event. Sports getaways also
often include added-value attractions
and sightseeing.
Blue Jays fans in particular won’t have
to miss out on any of the action when
following the team on the road. They
can watch the Jays take on the Red Sox
in Boston, the Yankees in New York, the
Pirates in Pittsburgh or the Phillies in
Philadelphia.
For fans of car racing, Great Canadian Holidays’ NASCAR getaways feature nationwide and Sprint Cup races in
Charlotte, Michigan and Richmond. The
company is also excited to announce
that it will be offering the Daytona 500
in February 2015.
If sports aren’t in the cards, the
company also offers a wide range of
city tours. For example, travellers can
see Graceland in Memphis and enjoy
a guided city tour of New Orleans
while en route to a weeklong cruise to
the Bahamas (Nov. 25–Dec. 8). Also
available is a tour of Georgia’s antebellum homes and sightseeing in St.
Augustine before travelling to Tampa
for a Caribbean cruise (Jan. 28–Feb.
10, 2015).
For those interested in staying close
to home, there are Eastern Canada and
Maritimes tours (June 23–July 6, Aug.
6–29) as well as Eastern Canada and
Newfoundland (June 27–July 14, Aug.
15–Sept. 1). Groups will take in the
highlights of the area, meet local Canadians in their hometowns and join
them for meals and conversation.
“We believe that travelling by motorcoach is the most enjoyable way to
go because each day is its own destination,” said Michelle Tupman, Director
of Tour Operations. “The process of
getting to your final destination isn’t a
hassle — it’s fun and interesting! When
you stay on the ground, you see more
and enjoy the journey as much as the
destination.”
To request a free catalogue or to
make a booking call 1-800-461-8687.
greatcanadianholidays.com
Car Rental, Motorcoach & Rail
Auto Europe to
cover the cost of
International Driver’s
Permit
Auto Europe is adding even more value
to car rentals by offering to cover the
cost of an International Driver’s Permit
(IDP). Applicable with any two-week
rental in Europe, this offer is valid for
bookings now through April 30 for
travel before Dec. 31, 2014.
Reimbursement of the client’s IDP is
not to exceed $25 plus applicable tax,
per rental. Additional restrictions may
apply and offer is subject to change
without notice.
The IDP is valid in over 150 countries
and contains a travellers’ name, photo
and driver information translated into
10 languages. Auto Europe services
8,000 car rental locations in over 130
countries worldwide.
autoeurope.ca
VIA Rail debuts new
enhancements to
Business class
Business class passengers on VIA Rail’s
Corridor routes are in for a real treat
now that service upgrades have been
introduced. These include refurbished
lounges, a more spacious environment
onboard, a greener and more comfortable trip, new meals and more personalized service. These improvements
have been rolling out over the past few
months and are expected to be implemented on all 26 new Business class
cars by October 2014.
Highlights of the new Business class
experience include:
O Priority welcome. VIA Rail has
created priority ticketing and checkin lines for Business class and top-tier
members of its loyalty program, ‘Via
Préfèrence’.
O Relaxing lounges. As part of rail station upgrades, all seven Quebec CityWindsor corridor Business lounges (in
Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, London,
Dorval, Quebec City and Kingston) have
been completely refurbished. The new
lounges provide a private, comfortable
retreat with beverages, magazines and
newspapers. Workstations and free Wi-Fi
are also provided. In Montreal, Toronto
and Ottawa, Business class lounges have
a full business centre with PC and Apple
computers and a colour laser printer.
O VIP treatment onboard. From the
moment they step foot on the train,
Business class passengers will receive
personalized service that includes hot
towels, soft drinks and snacks and full
bar service that starts at 11 a.m. VIA
Préfèrence’ Premier members (top level
members) will receive additional recognition such as priority meal orders.
O Delicious meals. Starting with
breakfast, travellers will enjoy a full meal
complemented by a large mug of fresh
coffee. During both lunch and dinner,
passengers can choose from a selection
of gourmet cold or warm meals and savour a glass of wine. All beverages are
included in Business class.
O Plugged in. Business travellers can
stay connected onboard VIA Rail with
complimentary Wi-Fi access on all
trains in the Quebec City-Windsor corridor. In addition, every seat has its own
electrical outlet.
O More personal space. In Business
class, the new seat design opens the
sight lines to the windows, making the
cars brighter and more spacious. The
renovated cars offer passengers more
space and additional legroom, thanks
to the new two-by-one seat configuration, which has one less seat per row.
New individual side trays ensure a comfortable distance between passengers,
ensuring greater privacy.
As Canada’s national rail passenger service, VIA Rail operates intercity,
regional and transcontinental trains
linking 450 communities across its
12,500-kilometre network.
viarail.ca/transformingvia
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20 TRAVELWEEK April 24, 2014
Spring into
20%
SAVINGS*
Book by May 15/14
Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica
Jamaica
Dynamic prices include hotel accommodation in a Club Diamond
Junior Suite - (AI) at the 5 Star Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica,
along with roundtrip airfare to Jamaica with WestJet.
7-NIGHT STAY DEPARTING
FROM TORONTO
7-NIGHT STAY DEPARTING
FROM MONCTON
7-NIGHT STAY DEPARTING
FROM WINNIPEG
1029
$1199
$1239
$
CDN pp. May 27/14
Taxes add $163
CDN pp. May 27/14
Taxes add $166
CDN pp. May 27/14
Taxes add $170
PRICES FEATURED BELOW ARE PER NIGHT, ACCOMMODATION ONLY
JAMAICA
Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica
Junior Suite
All-Inclusive
179
$
Taxes included
JAMAICA
Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica
Junior Suite Oceanview
All-Inclusive
189
$
Taxes included
JAMAICA
Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica
Club Diamond Junior Suite
All-Inclusive
204
$
Taxes included
Prices for hotel only are per room per night based on double occupancy and valid for travel from May 27-June 3/14. Dynamic pricing is per person based on double
occupancy and is valid for travel May 27-June 3/14. Prices and availability are subject to change without prior notification and were available on April 14/14. Black-out
dates and restrictions apply. Savings are reflected in the advertised rates. Surcharges may apply. Hotel taxes are included in the dynamic pricing and accommodation only
prices. Not included: transfers or car rental. *Spring Into Savings Save 20% Promo is valid on new bookings now-May 15/14 for travel May 12- June 30/14.
CLUB DIAMOND ADDED FEATURES: All the All-Inclusive inclusions with a special bracelet. Rooms closer to the beach, clients will enjoy a private check-in/out, welcome
drink upon arrival, welcome letter from the General Manager in the room on arrival, VIP amenities, bath robes and slippers in the room for use during stay, coffee maker
& tea in the room restocked daily, beach towels in the room upon arrival, use of a private lounge for Club Diamond guests with free internet access (limit of 15 minutes
per room per day), daily local news via Bahia Principe newsletter, one additional à la carte dinner per week for Club Diamond Guests (4 in total), use of an exclusive Club
Diamond restaurant for breakfast and lunch, 20% discount on Spa services, complimentary in-room safe.
Holiday House is a wholly-owned division of Thomas Cook Canada Inc. 75 Eglinton Ave. E., Toronto, ON M4P 3A4, Ont. Reg: 50012702. Visit
www.holidayhouseagent.ca for full terms & conditions.
BB32675
topnews
Continued from page 14 ...
and the rural village of Qunu, where the
former South African president grew up
and found his final resting place.
Continuing along the coast, travellers
will take part in an included game safari
in lesser-visited Amakhala Private Game
Reserve and enjoy coastal views along the
famed 150-mile long Garden Route. A
boat tour on the Knysna Lagoon, a visit
to an ostrich farm and the amazing Cango Caves, and a chance to see migrating
whales are all featured along the way.
The trip ends in Cape Town, where
the group will first pay a visit to Robben
Island, the site of the prison Mandela was
held in for 18 out of the 27 years, and
City Hall, where the late leader held his
first speech after his release. Also not to
be missed are the panoramic views from
the top of Table Mountain, and a day
WHY YOU MIGHT CONSIDER
BECOMING A HOME-BASED AGENT
By JILL WYKES
THIS SERIES WILL EXPLORE
EVERY ASPECT OF ESTABLISHING
YOURSELF AS A HOME BASED
TRAVEL AGENT.
Most agents are not aware of the many
reasons that becoming a home-based agent
is so beneficial.
One of the more compelling reasons are
the tax breaks you will get. If you are an employee you will have relatively few opportunities to reduce the taxes deducted on every
pay cheque.
Not so when you are home-based. That’s
because when you are home-based, you are
running your own business, and there are
many tax breaks associated with operating
your own home business. Everything from
expensing a portion of your household costs
(condo fees, mortgage payments, utilities,
etc.) to writing off all business expenses.
It is worth getting good accounting advice
to make sure you take full advantage of this.
But the benefits don’t stop there. How
many times have you heard people talk about
“work/life balance”? Well, that is within reach
when you run your own business from home.
You decide how many hours you work, and
what those hours are. You can work from anywhere. Just take your smartphone with you
when you go to the gym, or grocery shopping,
or to pick up your kids from school. Stagger
your hours … work when you want to!
With today’s technology, with VOIP telephone capability (Internet phone), you can
literally be anywhere on the planet and look
after your clients. You can manage your life
as you choose.
Another benefit that home-based agents
talk about is being able to sell the product
22 TRAVELWEEK April 24, 2014
they want, meaning that if you want to specialize in a certain destination like the Caribbean, or Europe, or Asia, or a type of product
like cruise or coach tours … then you can do
that. You are your own boss.
You can choose what you want to promote
on your own website and other marketing
tools. You will have way more control over
what you want to specialize in.
You can choose
what you want to
promote on your own
website and other
marketing tools.
Using a good Customer Relationship Management tool (CRM), you can reach out to
your clients regularly, and remember their
birthdays, anniversaries and other important
milestones.
Setting yourself up to work from home is
easier than you think. It does not have to be
complicated. Make sure your host agency
provides help in all of these areas, and has
the systems, training and programs you will
need to be fully supported in running your
own business.
Best of all, you can watch the traffic jams
every morning and evening on your home TV
and smile!
BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
excursion to the nearby wine country,
including the charming university town
Stellenbosch.
Airfare is not included but can be
booked directly through Indus Travels
at competitive rates.
‘Air France, France
is in the air’ is
carrier’s new
marketing slogan
MONTREAL — Air France has unveiled
a new advertising campaign called ‘Air
France, France is in the air’ in the printed press, with coverage in 12 countries
(France, Germany, Brazil, Canada, China,
Spain, U.S., Italy, Japan, Russia, Senegal and
Switzerland) as well as on the Internet, social media and on the radio.
Created by the agency BETC, the new
campaign consists of six visuals illustrating the services offered by Air France:
the comfort of the A380, the new La
Première cabin, the new Business cabin,
gastronomy, the network and SkyPriority (priority channels at more than
1,000 airports). It is supplemented by
12 visuals depicting iconic destinations
served by Air France (Paris, New York,
Brazil, China, Japan, Africa, Italy, etc.).
Lufthansa introduces
early seat reservation
for an extra charge
with selected
Economy fares
TORONTO — Early seat reservations
for Lufthansa passengers booked in selected booking classes (designated W,
S, T, L, K) will incur a 25 euro per seat
charge on long-haul flights in the future.
The optional service will be introduced as of April 28, 2014. This change
brings the additional advance seat reservation service fees in line with those
incurred on domestic and European
routes, which have been offered at a
topnews
price of 10 euro since November 2013.
As in the past, all guests may choose
their preferred seat at no extra charge
when checking in, up to 23 hours before departure.
Advanced seat reservation in these
lower priced booking classes becomes
an optional service at the time of booking. For the remaining Economy booking classes, advanced seat reservation
remains free of charge. This service also
remains free of charge in the upcoming Premium Economy Class, Business
and First Class. For HON Circle members and Senators, advanced seat reservation is free of charge in all booking
classes.
Seats can also be reserved during or
after the booking process with travel
agents, online via LH.com, or at Lufthansa ticketing locations.
Canadian visitors
jump 7% to Riviera
Nayarit, B.C., Alberta,
Quebec lead the way
RIVIERA NAYARIT, Mexico — This resort area on Mexico’s Pacific Coast saw
another increase in domestic and international visitors in 2013.
Last year, Riviera Nayarit welcomed a
total of 2,389,408 visitors spending over
$1.6 billion. This included a 7% increase
in Canadian travellers and a 2% increase
in U.S. travellers.
In 2012, 2,369,683 travellers visited
Riviera Nayarit and spent a total of $1.1
billion. According to TravelStyles LLC,
the popularity of Riviera Nayarit as a
destination for Canadians and Americans is attributed to its affordability
and value. Riviera Nayarit offers a yearround tropical climate and 192 miles
of swimmable beaches coupled with
distinctive local history and rich indigenous culture, a wide range of outdoor
activities and luxury resorts with professional and welcoming service.
In addition, the destination is easily accessible from most major airport
hubs in the U.S. and Canada.
Travel to Riviera Nayarit among
Canadians is highest from British Columbia, comprising 35% of the Canadian market. This is followed by Alberta
(28%), Quebec (15%), Ontario (11%)
and Manitoba (8%).
“We expect tourism to increase even
more in 2014 since Huffington Post,
Frommer’s and Oyster have all voted
Riviera Nayarit as one of the top destinations to visit in 2014,” says Marc Murphy,
Managing Director of the Riviera Nayarit
Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Travel
and tourism represents one of the most
important sectors of our economy,
increasing jobs, revenue and facilities
throughout the state of Nayarit.”
Growth is also supported by the airlines that are adding new routes into
Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) from
Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver
and Winnipeg.
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April 24, 2014 TRAVELWEEK 23
topnews
Building on this momentum, 2014
is already proving to be a solid year
for tourism. In the month of January,
140,018 people visited the destination,
which is an increase of about 6% compared to 2013.
For more information, visit riviera
nayarit.com.
Vacation.com
celebrates success
of top 25 members
on cruise aboard
Viking Cruises’ Idun
TORONTO — Vacation.com hosted 25
of its top members and their guests on
a 7-night cruise aboard Viking Cruises’
Idun, as a way to celebrate and reward the
success of its top producing members.
The celebratory cruise embarked from
Passau, Germany, on March 23 and took
guests through four countries along the
Danube River: Austria, Germany, Hungary and Slovakia. As part of this high-end
experience, guests participated in exclusive gatherings such as a wine tour at the
oldest winery in the Kamptal region of
Austria and an evening in Vienna at the
Palais Auersperg.
Sailing on the Danube are (from left): John Lovell, President, Travel Leaders Leisure Group and
Vacation.com; Christine James, VP Canada, Vacation.com; Nancy Woodworth, President, Robert Q
Travel, London, ON; Dennis Laliberte, CEO Newwest Travel, Edmonton.
“Vacation.com hosted our elite member event outside of the United States
for the first time, and it was an absolute
pleasure to reward our hard working
members which included two Canadians
by touring some of Europe’s most charismatic countries,” said Vacation.com Vice
President Canada, Christine James. “With
the assistance of Viking Cruises, along
with the wonderful product and intimate
setting they are known for, we were able
to create a first class, unique experience
for our members that I’m confident they
will treasure.”
CLUB MED FAMILY FUN SPPEECIALIST PROGRAM
Club Med All-Inclusive resorts are perfect for families!
The Club Med for Families
Specialist Program teaches
agents all about Club Med
properties worldwide and
the many family-oriented
destinations, programs
and activities.
Agents that complete
the program will be
entered to WIN a
7-night all-inclusive
trip for 2 to Club Med.
Register at travelweeklearningcentre.ca and complete this exciting program
to be eligible to win. *Terms and conditions apply.
24 TRAVELWEEK April 24, 2014
While docked in Durnstein, Austria,
guests were able to partake in an exclusive,
three-hour wine tasting and private vineyard tour of Schloss Gobelsburg, courtesy
of Viking Cruises. Schloss Gobelsburg is
the oldest winery in the Kamptal region
of Lower Austria with a documented viticulture history dating back to the 12th
century. Grüner Veltliner and Riesling are
the winery’s most important varieties.
The exclusive experiences, reserved just
for Vacation.com members, continued in
Vienna, Austria, at a gala dinner in the
Palais Auersperg (a baroque palace).
In addition to having direct access to
top executives from Vacation.com headquarters, members were able to partake
in a supplier panel discussion. The supplier
panel discussion featured representatives
from Viking Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Globus family of brands, The Mark Travel Corporation, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and
Royal Caribbean International.
“It was truly an honour to be considered
among the elite Vacation.com members
to attend this special event. The Vacation.
com leadership team went out of their way
to make all the attendees feely very special,” said Vacation.com member Dennis
Laliberte of Newwest Travel, AB.
Agency owners wishing to learn more
about becoming a Vacation.com member to take advantage Vacation.com’s
tools, programs and technology, can go
to joinvacation.com.
topnews
Canada’s northern
airlines – First Air
and Canadian North
– enter merger
discussions
KUUJJUAQ, QC — Makivik Corporation and NorTerra Inc., respectively
the shareholders of First Air and Canadian North, have agreed to hold discussions leading to the merger of their
operations consistent with a merger of
equals, subject to the successful conclusion of negotiations and regulatory
review.
The potential merger is intended to
create a single airline entity that builds
on the strengths and identities of the
two companies. A merger would improve the sustainability of these critical
Inuit birthright enterprises and would
also create better air services and new
economic development opportunities
across the north.
Flight operations and services will
remain independent and unaffected
during the negotiation and regulatory
review phases.
Makivik Corporation and NorTerra
Inc. will inform the public as discussions progress. The public is invited to
visit newnorthernairline.com for updates throughout these discussions.
“Please do not hesitate to contact
us if you have any questions or need
clarifications,” said Allan Coo, Country
Manager, North America.
Canadian sales offices can be reached,
in Vancouver, at 604-276-6015 & 6016,
e-mail: [email protected] and,
in Toronto, 905-405-8774, e-mail: [email protected].
travel agents and trade partners. Etihad
Guest Gold Elite members and representatives from the airline’s codeshare and
equity alliance were also present.
Canada is an important market for
Etihad Airways, which has carried over
750,000 passengers on the airline’s Toronto route since the service commenced in
October 2005, equal to more than 25% of
the city’s 2.8 million residents. The popularity of the service has been bolstered by
a strong and fast-growing trade relationship between Canada and the UAE.
Transactions between the two countries totalled US$1.6 billion last year, almost
95% of which was generated by Canadian
exports to the UAE. The UAE is Canada’s
largest merchandise export market in the
Middle East and North Africa.
Etihad Airways itself has invested
heavily in the Canadian economy, having bought 11 flight training simulators
valued at more than US$310 million
from Montreal-based manufacturer
CAE since 2007. The airline’s single largest order was in July last year, when it
signed a contract for seven CAE simulators, with a list price value of US$200
million. The simulators are used to train
the Airbus and Boeing pilots of Etihad
Etihad Airways
thanks key strategic
partners in Canada
at reception in
Toronto
TORONTO — Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, hosted a VIP reception in Toronto
last week to celebrate the valued contribution of key partners in enhancing air
connections between Canada, the UAE
and other markets around the world.
The event was attended by James
Mueller, Senior Vice President Sales
of Etihad Airways, who was joined by
more than 150 high-level guests, including government officials, ambassadors,
Island Delight
ATHENS ’ MYKONOS ’ SANTORINI ’ CRETE
Philippine Airlines
to move to 0%
commission May 1
SAVE
$
200
per couple
aircanadavacations.com/agents
8930
VANCOUVER — Philippine Airlines
will move to zero commission for travel
agents in Canada and the U.S. effective
May 1, 2014.
BOOK BY
APRIL 30, 2014
12 days | 10 nights
From Toronto or Ottawa
Ac^S`W]`QObSU]`g’AS^ " "
Was:
$
2895
$
2795
Add taxes & other fees: $130
Add $50 for departures from Halifax and $250 from
Vancouver, Calgary or Edmonton
Prices reflect applicable reductions, are subject to change without notice and cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion. Prices are in Canadian dollars, apply to new
bookings only and for departure dates as indicated. Prices are per person based on double occupancy, in Economy class. Non-refundable. Subject to availability at time of booking.
International flights operated by Air Canada. Holder of Quebec permit #702566. TICO registration #50013537. BC registration #32229. Q ®Air Canada Vacations is a registered
trademark of Air Canada, used under license by Touram Limited Partnership, 1440 St. Catherine W., Suite 600, Montreal, QC.
April 24, 2014 TRAVELWEEK 25
topnews
Airways, as well as partner and customer airlines.
Almost 150 Canadians are also employed by Etihad Airways, half of whom
are pilots and cabin crew. In Toronto,
the airline has 12 employees, led by the
country manager James Harrison.
Addressing last week’s event at the
Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, Mueller
said: “Canada is a very important market for us, and to Abu Dhabi and the
United Arab Emirates. There are approximately 150 Canadian companies
in the UAE and more than 40,000 Canadian national residents in the UAE, so
demand for travel between our nations
is strong.
“As our operations continue to grow
in Canada, so does our economic contribution. Etihad Airways’ total expenditure in Canada was US$12.2 million
last year, excluding fuel and wages.”
Featured this week:
GATEWAYS
INTERNATIONAL
Order
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26 TRAVELWEEK April 24, 2014
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featuring new itineraries
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Fully customized
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Pre- and –Post Cruise
itineraries
Italian Culinary Tour
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Small-group tours of
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New itineraries
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ATTENTION
TRAVEL AGENTS:
ORDER THIS
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Etihad Airways’ Toronto route was initially operated via Brussels, but has been
served directly from Abu Dhabi since
June 2007 due to high levels of demand
for services between the two cities. A
growing number of business and leisure
travellers are also selecting Abu Dhabi
as a connection point between Canada
and destinations in the wider Middle
East region, as well as the neighbouring
growth markets of India, Africa and the
resource-rich states of Central Asia.
Abu Dhabi’s strategic position as a
connection point has been strengthened by the convenience of Etihad Airways’ onward services to a growing list of
destinations. In addition, the airline has a
codeshare agreement with equity partner Jet Airways on daily flights between
Toronto and Brussels, and beyond to
Mumbai and Delhi, while Air Canada
also provides a codeshare on seven connecting routes through Toronto.
Etihad Airways’ partnership with Air
Canada was launched in 2013, after the
two airlines signed to enhance travel services. From May 1, 2014, the agreement
will be enhanced to provide Etihad Airways’ premium passengers with access
to Air Canada’s Business Class lounge at
Toronto Pearson International Airport.
“We now operate three flights a week
between Toronto and Abu Dhabi using
Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with 40 Pearl
Business and 340 Coral Economy seats.
Our average load factor, at 83%, reflects
the heavy demand from both leisure
and business travellers, part of which
has been fuelled by our codeshare and
equity alliance partners,” Mueller said.
“Etihad Airways is pleased to be offering more connections to and from Toronto, catering to the growing number
of passengers who are using Abu Dhabi
as a convenient hub between Canada
and destinations across the Middle East
and surrounding regions. We have already launched flights to Jaipur in India
this year, and will commence services to
Yerevan in Armenia from July 2. Both
of these destinations will connect with
our Toronto service, offering even more
options to guests in both directions.”
topnews
Israel sets tourism
records in first
quarter
TORONTO — Some 6,330 tourists from
Canada arrived in Israel in March 2014,
a 12% increase compared to the same
period last year and a new all-time high
for tourism to Israel.
A total of 284,000 tourists from around
the world arrived in Israel in March 2014,
a 13% increase compared to the same
period last year and a new all-time high
for tourism to Israel. And 705,288 tourists arrived in Israel between January and
March 2014, a 17% increase compared to
the same period last year.
“We are thrilled to see a continual increase in Canadian tourism to Israel following last year’s record-breaking figures,”
said Ami Allon, Consul for Tourism, Israel
Government Tourist Office - Canada.
A record 3.54 million tourists from
around the world arrived in Israel in 2013.
rather than destination has made it easier
for agents to match their clients with the
right experience based on their interests
and budget,” adds James. “But we know
it’s far easier for agents to sell a product if
they have first-hand knowledge.”
All itineraries are exactly what agents’
clients would experience – they are not
shortened or altered versions.
The 2014 lineup includes: Classic Bali,
eight days, departing Sept. 27, 2014; Local
Living Italy: Sorrento, seven days, departing Sept. 28, 2014; North India Highlights,
eight days, departing Sept. 28, 2014; Machu Picchu Explorer, eight days, departing
Oct. 13, 2014; Taste of Turkey, nine days,
departing Oct. 18, 2014.
Interested agents can contact their local Global Purpose Specialist for more
information: Sean Russo (seanr@gadven
tures.com) – Ontario; Sahara Abu-Ulbeh
([email protected]) – Prairies;
Featured this week:
COLLETTE VACATIONS
G Adventures
schedules 2014
Canadian agent FAMs
to India, Bali, Italy,
Turkey and Peru
TORONTO — Leading small-group
adventure travel tour operator G Adventures has unveiled its lineup of 2014
Canadian agent FAMs.
Agents have the opportunity to explore India, Bali, Italy, Turkey and Peru
with the travel company this year.
The trips range from seven to nine days
and depart in September and October.
All FAMs are priced at $499 per person,
land only and are available to Canadian
travel agents only. Agents who participate
on a FAM and book eight clients on a G
Adventures trip within a year of their trip
will receive a full rebate on their FAM.
“A big part of understanding the G Adventures experience, brand and culture
is experiencing it first-hand,” says Robyn
James, Marketing Manager, Canada.
“The bold move to segment our trips
into brochures based on ‘travel style’
†Not valid on group travel. Service is offered on all air-inclusive
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ATTENTION
TRAVEL AGENTS:
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April 24, 2014 TRAVELWEEK 27
topnews/extras
Justin Wegiel ([email protected])
– Toronto; Erin Buttler (erinb@gad ventures.com) - British Columbia; Ashley Jean
([email protected]) - Quebec and
the Maritimes.
Applications can be submitted until
May 31, 2014 at: http://go.gadventures.
com/2014CADFAMS. Qualified agents
will be notified prior to the travel date.
events
Major tour operator Collette is hosting a webinar for agents to learn more
about Explorations, its innovative small
group travel product line, on Tuesday,
April 29 at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. “The Collette Explorations line has experienced
33% growth, year over year,” said Brett
Walker, general manager of Collette –
Canada. “This webinar will inform agents
on why this product line continues to
grow and aligns with Canadians’ travel
interests. From touring in the company
of a small group to enjoying accommodations that capture the spirit of
the destination to savoring spectacular
local cuisine to having time to independently explore, this product line delivers the personal adventures travellers
dream about.” To register for the 9 a.m.
online presentation, visit https://www2.
gotomeeting.com/register/620461170.
For the 3 p.m. webinar, visit https://www2.
gotomeeting.com/register/648112018.
people
Young Travel Professionals recently announced the launch of its Toronto Chapter earlier this month and has named its
board. “It’s hard to break out of social and
professional circles in any city, in any business,” says Adam Hodge, Digital Content
Editor at Goway Travel. Hodge joins five
other travel and tourism professionals to
pioneer the organization’s second Canadian outpost in Toronto. They include
Melissa Medeiros, Chapter Liaison & PR
Manager for YTP and Account Manager
at Bannikin Travel and Tourism Ltd.; Iris
Serbanescu, Marketing & Events Manager
and Special Projects Coordinator at Away
by TTI Travel; Michael McCreesh, Mentor Program Liaison and Project Coordinator at Ontario By Bike; Adam Hodge,
Assistant Marketing Manager and Digital
Content Editor at Goway Travel; Zach
Vanasse, Membership Manager and Journalist at Logimonde Media; Kendra Cassels, Social Media Manager and Strategic
Communications Manager at BCD Travel.
For YTP-TO membership inquiries, visit
youngtravelprofessionals.com/join-ytp-to.
marketplace
It’s the
human touch
that makes
the difference.
UPCOMING
SPOTLIGHTS
May 8
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28 TRAVELWEEK April 24, 2014
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Requirements:
s-INYEARSINDUSTRYEXPERIENCE
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Carlson Wagonlit Travel
16, 5404- 44 Street
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April 24, 2014 TRAVELWEEK 29
featurethis
Photos courtesy of Uniworld
Uniworld marks the launch of newest ship,
S.S. Catherine, with red carpet christening
It was a proud day indeed for Uniworld Boutique River Cruise
Collection, which recently christened its newest gem, Super
Ship S.S. Catherine, in Lyon, France with over 150 guests in
attendance. Guy Young, President of Uniworld, welcomed
travel agency owners and executives, local dignitaries, journalists from around the world as well as three generations of
the Tollman family, who has owned and operated the company for the past 10 years.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT
the S.S. Catherine will continue
setting the standard of excellence in
luxury river cruising.
Making her home on the Rhône and Saône rivers in Burgundy
and Provence, the S.S. Catherine has been styled and fashioned
to reflect France’s most breathtaking regions. The ceremony
opened with Brett Tollman, Global CEO and President of The
Travel Corporation, who said, “This is a wonderful day to christen the most gorgeous and glorious ship on the rivers.”
Beatrice Tollman, President and Founder of the award-winning Red Carnation Hotel Collection, Uniworld’s sister company,
shared the heartfelt history of how she and her husband, Stanley
Tollman, have spent the past 60 years in the hospitality industry
owning and operating five-star luxury boutique hotels.
“Life keeps me very busy, very creative, and is very exciting.
I get emotional as we put so much love and passion into our
hotels and Uniworld ships. It means so much to us to please
our guests and make them feel extra special, and these principles have stayed the same for more than 60 years,” she said.
Uniworld launched the new ship on March 27 with help
from her Godmother, famous French actress Catherine Deneuve. The glitzy ceremony also included a live band, the
ceremonial breaking of a champagne bottle across the bow
and a three-day sailing launch for all industry guests in attendance.
Like its sister ships – the S.S. Antoinette and River Beatrice
– the S.S. Catherine has many unique features. It boasts 80
staterooms, five suites and one Royal Presidential Suite. Decorations include original commissioned artwork, a unique
Murano chandelier in the lobby alongside a glass elevator
and even a cascading waterfall. Onboard amenities and facilities include the signature Bar du Leopard that comes complete with cinema facilities, a spacious Van Gogh Lounge, the
elegant Cézanne Restaurant, bistro, coffee and tea bar, swimming pool, Serenity River Spa, fireplace and fitness centre.
And like all Uniworld ships, the S.S. Catherine serves high
quality cuisine made from the finest ingredients. Daily visits
to the local farmers’ markets ensure that guests are treated
to gourmet dishes for every meal.
“I am confident that the S.S. Catherine will continue setting the standard of excellence in luxury river cruising,” said
Young. “She will allow us to offer more capacity to support
our popular ‘Burgundy and Provence’ and ‘Grand France’
itineraries.”
For more information visit uniworld.com.
I NTRO DUCI NG
S.S. CATHERINE
UNIWORLD’S NEWEST MASTERPIECE
Uniworld proudly welcomes the magnificent new Super Ship, S.S. Catherine,
Luxurious
Onboard Amenities Include:
Y Original works of art, antiques, and
stylish signature touches
Y 2-story lobby with exquisite,
sea-green handcrafted Murano
glass chandelier
Y Stunning glass elevator featuring
a cascading waterfall
Y Signature Bar du Leopard
Y Heated indoor swimming pool
with colorful, jungle-themed
mosaic splashback
to its collection of boutique vessels. This art-filled, ultra-luxe masterpiece
was named in honor of acclaimed French actress Catherine Deneuve, who
recently christened the vessel at an elegant celebration in Lyon, France.
Travellers can experience this opulent, one-of-a-kind ship on Uniworld’s
all-inclusive 8-day “Burgundy & Provence” and 15-day “Grand France”
itineraries. In a word, magnifique!
SAVE your clients from C$300 to C$600
per couple on S.S. Catherine’s inaugural season itineraries
in France on select departure dates.*
Offer expires April 30, 2014.
Y Lavishly appointed riverview staterooms and suites with handcrafted
Savoir® of England beds
Y Marble bathrooms and spa-quality
bath amenities
For more information, contact your local Sales Manager at
800-868-7905 or visit us online at uniworldcruises.ca.
*Savings listed in Canadian dollars. Actual savings vary by program. Special Savings is not combinable with any other promotional offers, and requires a C$400 per couple deposit at time of booking. Subject to availability. Capacity controlled. Other restrictions may apply.
Uniworld reserves the right to withdraw or change offers at any time. For complete details on all promotions, general information, and terms and conditions applicable to all Uniworld trips, please visit uniworldcruises.ca.
TICO Reg. #50018458 | Uniworld River Cruises (Canada) Limited | 33 Kern Road | Toronto, Ontario | M3B 1S9 Canada
Have it all with
Unlimited-Luxury:®
Reservation-free
gourmet dining options
No wristbands required
24-hour room service
Unlimited top-shelf spirits
Surfing
Body boarding
Hobie cats
Kayaks
Sailing
Scuba diving
Deep sea fishing
Snorkeling
FINALLY
CATCHING
MY BREAK
Sport fishing
Windsurfing
All this & more!*
*Additional costs may apply
I AM
May Madness is coming! To learn more and renew your Master Agent status, visit AMRAgents.com.
ENJOY UNLIMITED-LUXURY ® IN MEXICO: PUERTO VALLARTAs2)6)%2!#!.#5.sDOMINICAN REPUBLIC: PUNTA CANA
© 2014
now.