Newcomer CanJet Vacations tries to win over agents with pay on

TRAVELWEEK
LAUNCHES BRAND
NEW WEBSITE
www.travelweek.ca
October 30, 2014
Volume 42 Issue 40
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
Newcomer CanJet Vacations tries to
win over agents with pay on surcharges
TORONTO — Newcomer CanJet Vacations is trying to win over travel agents by
stressing that it pays travel agents commission on fuel and currency surcharges,
unlike the majority of its competitors.
A Conference Board of Canada study
shows six major tour operators upping
taxes & fees by an average of more than
20% this winter.
“We believe travel agents are working
hard at brokering the sale on our behalf
and they should be paid fairly for their
efforts,” said John Kirk, VP, Sales & Marketing for CanJet Vacations.
Courtney’s Quest fundraising gala for SickKids and Camp Trillium: Gary Sadler, Senior Vice President
of Sales, Sandals Resorts; Aneta Friisdahl; Michael Friisdahl, CEO, Air Canada Leisure Group; Courtney
Sadler, Cancer Survivor; Councillor Michael Thompson.
THISWEEK
3
EBOLA POLL
32
RAIL-BASED TRIPS
A poll of business travellers found that
most were ‘mildly concerned’ by Ebola
G Adventures is adding a series of trips by
rail with 25 different itineraries
4
36
FLYING EX BUFFALO
Sunquest is expanding flights from
Buffalo to 10 more destinations
PM40015622
USA ROUND-UP
Air Canada Vacations clients will be able to
book Cirque du Soleil tickets inflight
CanJet Vacations originally included the
surcharges in the base price but was forced
to change that policy in order to remain
competitive on pricing with other tour operators who do not add those charges in
the base price. However, CanJet Vacations
distinguished itself from the majority of
other operators by paying commission on
these surcharges, added Kirk.
“The charges are now split out of
our price, but are commissionable to
agents,” explained Kirk.
He said that due to the shopping nature of the agency booking platforms
and the online travel agency sites, the
charges cannot be included in the base
price or the package appears to be
more expensive.
“We believe strongly in the value of
the travel agent and we are happy to
compensate them fully on everything
except taxes,” said Kirk.
Kirk also wants to remind agents that
currently, CanJet Vacations has reduced
prices on all of its Dec. 18-22, 2014 departures by up to $500 per couple.
CanJet Vacations is available in SIREV,
Sabre Vacations and Galileo.
All packages feature flights from Toronto with CanJet Airlines Boeing 737-800 aircraft, serving complimentary champagne,
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hot meal service, bar service and inflight
entertainment with complimentary headsets. Agents can also upgrade their clients
to CanJet Select and receive priority check
in, complimentary seat selection, priority
baggage handling and additional baggage
allowance of up to 10kg per segment.
CanJet Select guests also receive a
Comfort Kit southbound and complimentary wine and alcoholic beverages
during bar service.
CanJet Vacations launched this spring
as Canada’s newest tour operator and is
a sister company to well-known Canadian charter airline, CanJet Airlines.
The poll was conducted during the
association’s ongoing global travel
conference in Copenhagen Oct. 1921. The conference drew participants
from 34 countries and leadership from
five independent business travel associations, including delegates from
Africa.
ACTE Executive Director Greeley Koch
said, “The global business travel industry
wants fact and resolution as opposed to
fear and conjecture where Ebola is concerned. Five hundred delegates registered
for this event, including several from Africa, without fear of the Ebola virus. We
thirds of conference attendees still support the assessments of agencies like
the World Health Organisation (WHO)
and the Centers For Disease Control
(CDC).
O 65% stated they remained confident in international, national and regional health agencies to respond to
the Ebola crisis.
O 35% indicated they had lost confidence.
WE BELIEVE TRAVEL agents are working
hard at brokering the sale on our behalf and they
should be paid fairly for their efforts.
TORONTO DEPARTURES . ONE WEEK . ALL INCLUSIVE
Travel agents can call 1-800-809-7777
for further information. A complete e-brochure is available at canjetvacations.com.
Most business
travellers only mildly
concerned over Ebola
COPENHAGEN — A recent poll conducted by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives shows a majority
of international business travellers are
only “mildly concerned” about the
Ebola threat, while two-thirds of respondents are still confident in governmental agencies to assess and address
the Ebola crisis.
had no Ebola fear-related cancellations
and participation for this event grew right
through the first day.”
Koch dismissed a suggestion for temperature-taking booths at the conference as “unnecessary”.
Business travellers are taking Ebola
fears in stride, according to survey respondents.
O 47% indicated their travellers showed
“mild concern”.
O 26% reported “no concern”.
O 13% said their travellers had “strong
concerns”.
O 13% indicated “travellers preferred
not to fly to some destinations”.
The ACTE survey revealed that two
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Recevez notre version FRANCOPHONE par infolettre 2 fois par semaine.
Avec la collaboration de notre journaliste de Montréal Ariane Cloutier, elle ajoute sa touche et par son style pour humaniser
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Abonnez-vous dès aujourd’hui et profitez de tout ce que vous appréciez déjà de Travelweek mais avec Ariane et en français!
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On the subject of restricted travel to
countries with the Ebola outbreak:
O 41% reported their companies had
restricted travel to Sierra Leone, Guinea, Senegal or Nigeria.
O 59% cited no travel restrictions.
ACTE conference participants were
evenly split on the question of a travel ban.
In response to: Do you think that a
travel ban, coupled with an intensified
effort to contain, cure, or control the
spread Ebola would eliminate a growing
travel fear or panic?
O 49% said “Yes”.
O 51% said “No”.
“Corporate travel bans to countries addressing the Ebola outbreak are indicative
of a commitment to a duty of care issue, in
which companies are liable for the welfare
of business travellers, to the point of minimizing every practical risk,” said Koch. He
added that positions advocating national
travel bans to Ebola outbreak countries
are regarded by many as essential to stopping Ebola fears from becoming economic
setbacks for the global economy – while
a concerted effort is made to cure or stop
the virus at its source.
“The lessons of SARS should not be
forgotten,” said Koch.
e-Travel Technologies
creates a web-based
Ebola Travel Alerts
information service
MISSISSAUGA — e-Travel Technologies Inc, a leading provider of travel risk
management services to the travel industry, has created, as a public service, a
web-based Ebola Travel Alerts information service for international travellers.
Donald Churchill, president, e-Travel
4 TRAVELWEEK October 30, 2014
Technologies Inc, stated, “as we have been
reporting Travel Alerts since the outbreak
of Ebola in West Africa, there is now a
demonstrated need for a single source of
Ebola information for international travellers to make informed decisions prior
to committing to travelling to any destination as demonstrated by Wolf Blitzer
reporting that CNN was being contacted
by European travellers asking if it was safe
to travel to the U.S.”
With Ebola Travel Alerts being added
to databases 24/7, travellers will be able to
search for the most recent alerts by country, with additional links to WHO, CDC and
other Ebola related information sources.
Churchill concluded, “With the rapidly
increasing reports of isolated, quarantined
and infected patients, and a multitude of
preventative initiatives, we are confident
that this service will make a significant
contribution to travelling safely and with
confidence.”
PROFESSION
VOYAGES
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]
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Director, Digital Strategy & Senior Staff Writer
Devin Kinasz, Ext. 123, [email protected]
Circulation
Denys Cruz, [email protected]
Accounting
Marie Mercado, Ext. 121, [email protected]
Sunquest expands
service out of
Buffalo Airport to 10
destinations
TORONTO — Sunquest is expanding
its current offering out of Buffalo Airport, now featuring six new destinations and bringing the total number of
routes from this airport to 10.
Effective immediately, in addition to
offering packages out of Buffalo to Punta Cana, Cancun/Riviera Maya, Jamaica
and Orlando, Sunquest now also offers service to Aruba, Barbados, Liberia
(Costa Rica), St. Lucia, Turks & Caicos
and Nassau, with daily flights available
on American Airlines, JetBlue, Delta Air
Lines, United Airlines and US Airways.
ENVOY
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Group Publisher
Gerald Kinasz, [email protected]
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Contents copyrighted 2014 by Concepts Travel Media Ltd.
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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
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Sunquest is also offering a preferred
rate, including parking, at the Hampton
Inn & Suites Buffalo Airport.
For more information and to book,
visit SunquestAgent.ca.
Buffalo Niagara
Airport expects even
more Canadians
to cross border for
cheaper fares
BUFFALO NY — The Buffalo Niagara
International Airport is inviting even
more Canadians to benefit from cheaper airfares from the U.S.
“Southern Ontarians have to bear some
of the highest travel costs in the country,”
said Pascal Cohen, Senior Manager of
Marketing & Aviation Business Development at Buffalo Niagara International Airport. “We are here to offer an attractive
alternative for travellers to save on their
travel by flying from across the border.”
6 TRAVELWEEK October 30, 2014
About two million Canadians took
advantage of the Buffalo savings last
year, the airport is expecting to see that
number grow as travellers continue to
get squeezed with additional baggage
charges, airport fees and the possible
impact of increasing taxes and fees in
Canada such as the tripling of the Ontario jet fuel tax, he added.
On average, a family of four can save
over $500 on a trip to Orlando by simply
flying out of Buffalo instead of Toronto’s
Pearson International Airport. Two Canadian companies, Sunwing and Sunquest,
have also started offering packages to
popular sun destinations such as Dominican Republic and Mexico.
Business travellers also benefit from
substantial savings for top U.S. gateways
such as New York, Chicago and Boston,
with fare savings from 30% to 60% on
select dates. Toronto-based IT company
iNTERFACEWARE, routinely uses the Buffalo Airport for its staff travel. “We travel
heavily and use the Buffalo Airport for
about 30% of our travel, particularly for
those inevitable last-minute flight bookings that we can’t always avoid. We estimate our annual savings to add up to
$10,000-$15,000,” says Toni Skokovic, vice
president at iNTERFACEWARE.
Toronto Pearson has been ranked the
least affordable in Canada by CheapFlights.ca. Conversely, the Buffalo Airport
is ranked 16th in the U.S. for most affordable airfares, according to the U.S. Bureau
of Transportation Statistics, 2013.
Courtney’s Quest
raises money for
SickKids with
support of Sandals
TORONTO – A dinner gala was held earlier this month in support Courtney’s
Quest fundraising initiative for SickKids
Foundation and Camp Trillium. The travel
industry, led by Sandals and Beaches, was
out in full force to support the cause, with
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will be subject to a 16% service fee for services paid with resort credit.
For more information, visit SunquestAgent.ca
Sunquest Vacations 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_ 33475
topnews
Air Canada rouge, Air Canada, WestJet,
Transat Holidays, Melia Hotels International and Moreno Travel also making major
contributions.
The goal of the night was to raise
$50,000 for SickKids Foundation, which is
the largest charitable funder of child health
research, learning and care in Canada, as
well as the Camp Trillium which offers recreational experiences to children and families dealing with cancer.
Courtney’s Quest is the vision of Courtney Sadler, a brave young girl who was
diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia
shortly after her 16th birthday. After four
grueling rounds of chemotherapy and
months spent at SickKids, Courtney is now
in remission and her ‘Quest’ to raise awareness and funding for the organizations that
helped save her life has begun.
Courtney Sadler is the daughter of
Gary Sadler, Senior Vice President of
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Sales, Sandals Resorts. Gary and the
entire Sandals family were on hand
giving full support to Courtney and
the cause, as well as other industry
heavyweights and Councillor Michael
Thompson.
Goway launches
2015 Africa and
Middle East brochure
featuring 22 countries
TORONTO — Goway is launching its
new 2015 Africa and Middle East brochure featuring 22 countries.
Holidays range from walking safaris
to family vacations and gorilla trekking
to Nile cruises.
New for 2015:
O Expanded deluxe and VIP programs in all destinations. These include
the 13-day Ultimate Tanzania, 7-day
Wild Bushtops Luxury and the 7-day
Best of Emirates vacations.
O Special interest touring including
cooking safaris in both South Africa
and Morocco.
O A newly enhanced itinerary for the
Magic of Africa escorted vacation. This
special vacation is a Goway Holiday of
a Lifetime – a deluxe, escorted tour of
Southern Africa.
O Also under the Holiday of a Lifetime brand is the new 12-day Signature
Morocco Tour and the inaugural departure will be led by Moira Smith, Goway
Africa Experts GM.
O New and upcoming destination
Ethiopia with shorter stopover options
en route to other African destinations
as well as vacations to the Cultural
North and the Historic South.
O Expanded Uganda and Rwanda programs including a trip idea that offers gorilla trekking in both Uganda and Rwanda.
O Gulet Cruising in Turkey and a houseboat on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe.
O A 10-day exploration through Botswana’s scenic northern areas.
O New Stays of Distinction in Kenya,
Rwanda and Mauritius.
There are almost as many travel ideas
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topnews
featured as there are animals in the pages
and Goway is challenging agents to count
them and the lucky agent who gets the
number correct will win $1,000. Entries
need to be received by Dec. 31. In order
to enter just e-mail [email protected]
with your best estimate. Winner will be
announced the first week in January.
For the truly independent traveller, Goway’s 76-page Africa and Middle East brochure offers over 250 travel ideas. For more
information or to book, visit Goway’s website at Goway.com or call 1-800-245-0920.
Land of the Incas
soon easier to reach
with new nonstop
to Lima
TORONTO — There’s more to Peru than
Machu Picchu, and soon the South American country will be easier to reach, travel
agents learned during a presentation by
Gateways International at Babalu’U restaurant in Toronto last week.
Travellers can fly to the land of the Incas nonstop between Toronto and Lima
with Air Canada beginning Dec. 11, 2014.
Three flights per week (Mon., Wed., Sat)
will depart Toronto at 5:45 p.m. and arrive in Lima at 1:45 a.m.
The return flights depart Lima (Tue.,
Thu., Sun) at 3:15 a.m. and arrive in Toronto at 11:15 a.m.
Peru’s pleasant climate makes it an ideal
destination year round, explained Gateways Director of Sales Martha Tavio, “except for a few weeks in February when rain
can be heavy and that’s only in Cusco and
Machu Picchu.”
While sampling ceviche, paella and lemon chicken, attendees heard about Peru’s
“amazing” 1,600 kilometre-long coastline
(where surfing is an option) as well as its
beautiful handicrafts, rich history dating
back 20,000 years, a jungle where 70% of all
living species on earth can be found, and
11 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Among
them are the city of Cuzco and Historic
Centre of Lima and Arequipa, the Chan
Chan Archaeological zone – the largest
ancient adobe city in the world, and the
mysterious Lines and Geoglyphs of Nasca
and Pampas de Jumana.
Travellers should also be made aware
of the country’s renowned cuisine – considered one of the best in South America.
“Some of the top chefs today are Peruvian,”
said Tavio. Visitors can explore the gastronomical highlights on the company’s new
7-day ‘Flavours of Peru’ experience, starting
from $5,949, and including a private culinary tour of Lima (fishing, market visit and
Peru is known for its cuisine and tour operators and travel agents at last week’s Gateways International
event were treated to ceviche (pictured here) as well as paella and later lemon chicken Peruvian style.
12 TRAVELWEEK October 30, 2014
cooking class), the Larco Herrera Museum,
luxury cruise in the Peruvian Amazon and
dinner at a top restaurant.
While Machu Picchu is on everyone’s
bucket list (note there is a maximum of
2,500 visitors per day and tickets must be
purchased in advance), Peru is also home to
the deep Colca Canyon where the condor
flies, and the largest lake in South America
– Lake Titicaca. On its islands, Gateways
spokesman Elie Abitbol says people have
no concept of time or age, “but they play
very good volleyball.”
Other tour options include the 12-day
Signature Peru, the 11-day Inca Trail, and a
luxury river cruise on the Amazon, where
you can see the rare pink dolphins. “On one
trip, they found an anaconda and brought
it on the ship, where it regurgitated a caiman,” explained Abitbol, prompting gasps
from the audience.
A visit to Peru can also be combined
with other South American countries.
The most popular choice is Ecuador
and the Galapagos Islands.
Chile promotes its
range of attractions
to agents, operators
in Toronto
TORONTO — A rare sight in Chile’s
Atacama Desert is getting the attention
of travellers from around the world.
Flowers will soon be blooming in the
world’s driest desert as a result of recent
rains. The display is expected to begin in
the next two weeks and last about three
weeks, according to Juan Lopez, North
America Market Manager, Turismo Chile,
speaking to a group of about 60 tour operators and travel agents at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) last week.
That is just one of the many natural
attractions in the South American country, which boasts a pleasant climate that
makes it an ideal year round destination.
In covering the highlights of Chile’s
five main regions, Lopez occasionally
posed a question to the audience from
Continued on page 26 ...
Dominican Republic
The Level at Meliá Caribe Tropical
Melia Hotels goes for higher ground
with The Level Adults Only
by Waheeda Harris
PUNTA CANA — A popular destination
for Canadian visitors, Playa Bavaro’s Melia Caribe Tropical recently introduced a
new offering with The Level Adults Only,
a newly updated section of the resort
that’s contemporary in style and offering additional features for guests who
want more amenities than the plethora
already offered at this all-inclusive resort.
Travelweek was invited to experience
The Level Adults Only on a recent press
trip and found a quiet enclave within
the bustling resort, or as director of development Manfred Schoebel calls it, “a
hotel within a hotel.”
Guests who have chosen The Level
Adults Only are whisked from the main
entrance of the resort by golf cart and
in less than five minutes find themselves
in a lounge more commonly found in
an independent boutique hotel.
Behind glass doors, guests are seated
in The Level Adults Only Lounge on
oversized cream couches, offered an
icy Blue Level welcome cocktail (a combination of blue Curacao, vodka and
pineapple juice) and then asked for personal identification to begin the traditional check-in process.
Guests are introduced to their butler
— in our case, the very friendly Pablo,
whose colleagues had taken care of
our luggage delivery. Pablo explains
the lounge is open 24 hours and provides a place for guests to book day excursions, use the business centre with
its numerous Apple computers to access the Internet, or to lounge with local and international newspapers and
magazines, while sipping on tea, coffee
and continental breakfast in the mornings or cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in
the afternoon.
Pablo explains the services of The
Level as he walks us to our room —
pointing out Cuatro, four restaurants
exclusive to The Level Adults Only,
two swimming pools and the extensive beachfront, all with numerous
lounge chairs under palapas and daybeds. No one needs to rush out and
claim their spot early in the morning
— there are plenty of lounge options
for everyone.
Schoebel explained that for a widespread resort, the key to The Level was
“being connected to the Caribbean Sea.
This was the first all-inclusive hotel for
Melia (Hotels)… and we wanted to offer something unique to the market.”
The 164 rooms that make up The
Level Adults Only are two-storey structures with six suites on each floor, all
within a brief stroll to the main swimming pool or the beach. The ground
floor rooms include a small garden with
a palapa Balinese bed, while the second
floor rooms feature a balcony with loveseat, with buildings that are surrounded
by lush gardens of palm trees, bougainvillea and other tropical flowers.
Dominican Republic
The Level at Meliá Caribe Tropical
According to Schoebel, the resort’s
natural divider, a mangrove, was an inspiration for The Level. “We wanted to
increase the focus on the natural environment, which we’ve found very important
for our European and Canadian guests.”
Numerous mature palm trees are
found throughout the resort, and especially along the beach, providing additional shade and privacy. Part of the
resort’s eco-policy is to plant a tree every 15 days, and guests are often asked
to participate — who now return yearly
to see their tree.
The 450-square-foot rooms are a traditional design, but modern in style.
Cream is the décor colour of choice for
the stone floors, the tile surrounding the
whirlpool bathtub, bed linens and oversized leather headboard of the king-size
bed, while sand, chocolate brown and
green are the accent colours found in
furniture, accent pillows and art.
The rooms feature complimentary
wireless Internet and mini-bar restocked
daily with Dominican Presidente beer,
juice, pop, water, coffee, chocolate and
plantain chips.
The European-style marble bathroom includes a toilet, bidet and large
shower with two showerheads (one at
each end), paraben-free bath amenities designed specifically for The Level
Adults Only, as well as two cotton robes
and pairs of slippers.
14 TRAVELWEEK October 30, 2014
The Level Adults Only also offers
ways to make your room more welcoming by offering a complimentary
pillow menu (with six options) and a
fragrance menu. For $10, guests can
choose from four scents and a hotel
employee will prepare the whirlpool
tub upon request.
Within minutes of arriving in the
room, an employee from The Level
Lounge is calling to see if there are any
questions or if they can make reservations for dinner at the Cuatro restaurants or any of the resort’s restaurants.
Although Melia Caribe Tropical offers
more than 25 dining and drinking options, spa facilities, casino, golf course
and shopping mall, there are plenty of
lures exclusive to The Level. Guests have
two swimming pools, including one
with a swim-up bar, which is the liveliest
part of the Level area (except for the bar
TV screens when baseball is on).
For those looking for a memorable
Dominican gift, an open-air art gallery,
jewelry shop, souvenir shack and caricature shack are found a few steps from
the main pool.
There are two YHI Wellness Spas.
Spa Tropical features a gym with Lifefitness equipment, outdoor pool and
treatment areas, while Spa Caribe offers
treatment rooms, change rooms with
sauna and access to a private whirlpool
and swimming pool.
But if the lounge chair is too comfortable, Level Adults Only guests can also
reserve a spot at the open-air massage
area on the sand with a view of the sea.
Guests can also participate in the
daily schedule of YHI Wellness activities
such as body balance (stretching class),
volleyball or aqua spinning.
Cuatro is open daily for breakfast and
lunch buffet, and features a mix of international and Dominican cuisine (and
at least two different types of caviar). In
the evening the multi-level space transforms into four a la carte restaurants:
Uno (steakhouse), Dos (gastropub),
Tres (also called Nikkei: Peruvian, Japanese and Cantonese cuisine) and Cuatro (international buffet). There are
three bar areas, with one open at night
on the sand under the stars.
Schoebel boasts of the quick success of The Level Adults Only. Officially
opened in December 2013, he revealed
that as of May 5, 2014, The Level had
been hitting an average of 98% capacity.
So what’s next with The Level Adults
Only? Schoebel is hoping to expand the
YHI Wellness activities to offer wellness
seminars, and to be able to respond to
the volume and speed of working within the structure of an all-inclusive.
“We’ve had over 2,500 guests in the
past four months. We make as much as
possible on-site in our restaurants, and
we’re committed to our green policy.
We’re busy, but we’re proud of what we’re
offering in this competitive market.”
melia.com.
Palladium ramps
up luxury at its
resorts in Dominican
Republic
by Vawn Himmelsbach
This fall, several developments are
coming to Palladium Hotels & Resorts’
all-inclusive properties in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Mexico,
most of which were scheduled to be
completed by the end of October.
Guests of Palladium can expect new
Dominican Republic
their vacation package has dropped
since their original purchase can receive
the difference in WestJet dollars.
westjet.com
Sparkling Voyages
offers luxury villas
in Cabarete
Grand Palladium Punta Cana Resort & Spa
luxury suites, bars, restaurants and
family-friendly swimming pools.
Adults seeking an exclusive experience will enjoy room upgrades to The
Royal Suites Turquesa in Punta Cana.
Updates to the luxury suites include
a new modern luxury aesthetic, 42inch flat-screen TVs and Jacuzzis. The
adults-only pool will now have multiple
Jacuzzis and a swim-up bar.
The rooms at the Grand Palladium
Punta Cana Resort & Spa will also undergo updates in décor and amenities,
including new 32-inch flat-screen TVs.
All Grand Palladium and The Royal
Suites guests will have an additional
kid-free option at a new adults-only
swimming pool.
There are currently 14 Grand Palladium Resort & Spas located in Mexico
(Riviera Nayarit and Riviera Maya), the
Dominican Republic (Punta Cana), Jamaica (Montego Bay), Spain (Ibiza) and
Brazil (Bahia).
palladiumhotelgroup.com
WestJet Rewards
introduces new tiers,
perks for members
On Oct. 29, WestJet Rewards took off
with new tiers. With Teal, Silver and
Gold, members can enjoy higher WestJet
dollar earn rates and milestone awards.
16 TRAVELWEEK October 30, 2014
Perks include a free checked bag,
lounge passes and advance seat selection. When a member reaches Gold
status, they’ll also get another free
checked bag, priority security screening, advance boarding and more milestone awards.
Members will now be eligible to earn
up to 5% back in WestJet dollars on
WestJet flights, which is double the maximum of 2.5% back previously offered.
The qualifying flight spend required
to earn their first companion flight
each year will be lowered from $4,500
to $4,000.
The number of companion flights
awarded in a year will also be expanded.
Instead of a maximum of two companion flights each qualifying year (one domestic and one system-wide), members
will have the ability to earn an unlimited number each year.
They’ll receive a domestic companion
flight at $4,000, a system-wide companion flight at $6,000 and another systemwide companion flight at $10,000. They
will then continue to earn system-wide
companion flights for each additional
$5,000 increment of flight spend in the
qualifying year, with no limit.
Along with the launch of WestJet Rewards tiers, the airline also introduced a
price-drop guarantee on WestJet flights
and WestJet Vacations packages. Guests
who see that the price of their flight or
Canadian luxury tour operator Sparkling Voyages has recently added a
selection of luxury villas on the north
shore of the Dominican Republic.
Cabarete is well known in windsport circles for windsurfing, kite
boarding and traditional surfing. It
also offers myriad activities including
tennis, yoga, SUP, white-water rafting,
scuba diving, canyoning, kayaking,
waterfall cascading, hiking, zip lining and more.
For active travellers, Sparkling Voyages offers a selection of upscale villa offerings at Sea Horse Ranch — a distinctive oceanfront villa resort designed by
the award-winning architects of Edward
Durrell Stone & Associates for luxury
living that is private, quiet and secure.
Renting a villa at Sea Horse Ranch is
an ideal way to spend a vacation, enjoy
a celebratory event such as a destination wedding, or enjoy life in the Caribbean as a long-term resident, according
to Sparkling Voyages.
All villas have three to six bedrooms,
with private en-suite baths, private
pools, daily housekeeping, concierge
services and the security of the resort,
as well as access to all common amenities such as the Tennis Center, Beach
Club and Equestrian Center.
The Beach Club restaurant provides
delivery within the resort upon request.
Chefs, nannies and massage therapists
are all available for in-house services.
On-site reception office and concierge
services are available to assist guests 24
hours a day, seven days a week.
Nightly rates range from $800 to
$2,900 for three- to six-bedroom villas
for travel during low season.
sparklingvoyages.com
Car Rental, Motorcoach & Rail
Hertz agent gold rewards points are
‘Twice As Nice’ this autumn
by Vawn Himmelsbach
Hertz created the Agent Gold Rewards
program to reward Canadian travel
agents for the value they provide.
“The Agent Gold Rewards program is
our way of thanking agents for booking
Hertz and for rewarding them for their
loyalty to us over the years,” says Mandy
Alberga, national account manager for
Hertz Canada.
To join the Agent Gold Rewards
program, agents enrol at hertzagentgold.com and receive a unique “AGR”
number, which they can include in the
appropriate GDS field when booking a
client. Each qualifying rental of three
days or more earns 10 points, which
are banked in the agent’s personal
Agent Gold Rewards account.
Points can be redeemed for a variety of rewards including gift cards,
items for the home or office, event
tickets, as well as free car rental certificates. Hertz is always adding new
items so agents can go online to see
what’s new.
There are also opportunities throughout the year for agents to earn bonus
points, including this fall’s “Twice As Nice”
promotion. Until Dec. 15, Hertz is offering double points on all qualifying weekly
rentals in Canada and the U.S. when
agents book premium cars and above. For
international destinations agents can earn
double points on all qualifying three-plus
day rentals on all car classes in Europe,
Australia and New Zealand.
“Just recently it was brought to our
attention that the enrollment process
was asking a Canadian travel agent for a
social security number, and you can rest
assured that we have fixed this issue.
There’s no need for a Canadian travel
agent to provide us with that form of
identification,” says Alberga.
Once enrolled agents can go online
to monitor their reward activity and
profile information. GDS training tuto-
rials are also provided within the Travel
Agent section of hertz.ca, which provides opportunities for agents to learn
more about Hertz products and services while also earning them additional
AGR points.
hertzagentgold.com
Clients earn free
days with return of
National’s ‘Rent Rent
Reward’ promo
National Car Rental is launching its
annual Rent Rent Reward promotion, which offers registered Emerald
Club members one free rental day for
every two qualifying rentals of a midsized or larger vehicle for two or more
consecutive days.
This year National has increased the
chances to earn promotional points
by adding options such as a GPS or by
Go for the Gold…
Roll in the Rewards!
The choices for Travel Agents are endless with the
Agent Gold Rewards Program.
Choose from an exciting array of reward options
like Restaurant and Retail Gift Cards, or choose
ƕȴŕƽȜűǔȔɥǔɈȔ;ǔƽŕǔȔaűŲĬŕɞƐŕdžɥǔɈġǔǔƩ
a vehicle from Hertz.
Go for the Gold!
Sign up at hertzagentgold.com
hertz.ca
®
Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. © 2014 Hertz System, Inc.
Car Rental, Motorcoach & Rail
SPECIALISTS
IN FULLY
CUSTOMIZED
ITINERARIES
renting through Emerald Club’s newly
launched Priority Service in Mexico.
Members can earn up to 50 free rental
days by participating in the promotion, which includes an earning period
through Jan. 31, 2015.
Emerald Club members can earn
points for each qualifying rental, as
well as bonus points for non-rental activities. Each qualifying car rental completed during the “Rent Rent Reward”
promotion is worth 300 points, with a
free day awarded once an Emerald Club
member earns 600 points.
Free days earned for qualifying rentals
through the “Rent Rent Reward” promotion are awarded in addition to a member’s chosen rewards earnings (frequent
traveller miles/points or rental credits).
New customers can join National’s
Emerald Club emeraldclub.ca/rent and
immediately take part in the “Rent Rent
Reward” promotion. There are no fees
to join, and members enjoy expedited
service at airports and free upgrades in
National’s “Emerald Aisle,” an exclusive
section of the lot where members can
select any vehicle as long as they reserve
a mid-sized car.
In addition, Emerald Club members
can choose to receive EmeraldAlerts —
emailed communications that include
arrival and return alerts, and drop and
go service with convenient e-receipts.
Emerald Club members can track
and redeem the free rental days they
earn through “Rent Rent Reward” until June 15, 2015. Up to three free days
can be redeemed per rental at any time,
including weekends. National notifies
participants about their free rental days
via email.
nationalcar.com
Get into the holiday
spirit with coach
tours from Great
Canadian Holidays
Great Canadian Holidays has a number
of Christmas and New Year’s getaways
to help clients get in the holiday spirit. It
also offers a variety of one-day getaways
during the Christmas season.
The Trapp Family Lodge Vermont
Christmas (four days, Dec. 2-5) features accommodation at the world-renowned Trapp Family Lodge in a beautiful natural setting.
Frankenmuth at Christmastime
(three days, Dec. 1-3) features shopping, live entertainment, sightseeing,
and more.
Boston Pops New England Christmas (five days, Dec. 8-12; 13-17) features a Christmas performance by the
Boston Pops.
atourz.ca
877 728 6870
grecianholidays.com
800 268 6786
The Niagara Festival of Lights (two
days, Dec. 8-9) features three live shows:
Daniel O’Donnell, Oak Ridge Boys and
Tom Jackson.
Christmas in Cleveland (three days,
Dec. 2-4; 9-11) features “A Christmas
Story House,” as well as festive sightseeing in Cleveland.
Quebec City at Christmas (four days,
Dec. 23-26) features accommodations
right outside the old walled city, the
“Quebecadabra” Christmas lights display, and more.
The Nashville Country Christmas
(five days, Dec. 23-27) features Radio
City Music Hall’s Rockettes Christmas
Spectacular.
New Year’s Eve in Chicago (four days,
Dec. 29 – Jan. 1) features an all-inclusive
New Year’s Eve dinner cruise.
greatcanadianholidays.com
Travellers lead the
way with ATOURZ’s
motorcoach holiday
in New Zealand
Known for its landscapes and coastlines, New Zealand is the kind of destination that’s best discovered at a
leisurely pace. ATOURZ, which specializes in custom-made tours around the
world, is putting travellers in the driver’s
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20 TRAVELWEEK October 30, 2014
seat with its 20-day ‘Mighty New Zealand by Motorhome’ package, a journey
that allows for plenty of exploration
and leisure time.
Priced from $3,359, this tour departs
from Auckland where travellers will
meet at the Motorhome Depot for a
thorough briefing and orientation of
their vehicle. They’ll be given time to
stock up on supplies and food before
driving 169 kilometres south to the picturesque town of Coromandel in the
North Island. From here, they’ll drive an
additional 120 km to Waihi Beach, a favourite holiday spot with the locals.
Another 115 km will take travellers
to the adventure hotspot of Rotorua
where they can make use of their Rotorua Diamond Pass, which allows them
to experience five local attractions.
From there, the journey continues to
Taupo and the beautiful seaside town
of Napier. A further 315-km drive will
bring travellers to New Zealand’s capital
city of Wellington, located at the southwestern tip of the North Island. Here,
they’ll get plenty of free time to explore
such sights as the Museum of Wellington City & Sea, Wellington Zoo, Zealandia and the Wellington Cable Car.
The second half of the tour includes
visits to Picton, Nelson, Greymouth and
Franz Josef, where travellers will take
a tour of the renowned 12-km glacier.
Following Franz Josef, they’ll drive to
Queenstown, Te Anau, Milford Sound,
Dunedin and finally Christchurch. By
the end of the trip, travellers will have
logged over 3,000 km.
‘Mighty New Zealand by Motorhome’
includes meet-and-greet at the Auckland Airport, 18-day motorhome rental
with full insurance coverage, Rotorua
Diamond Pass, inter-island ferry transfer from Wellington to Picton, two
nights’ airport hotel accommodation,
15 nights’ pre-booked powered sites
at Holiday Parks, two nights’ motel accommodation, Milford Sound Guided
Nature Cruise Tour, and departure
transfer. International and domestic
flights are not included.
atourz.ca
ON THE ROAD TO REWARDS,
THERE’S NO SPEED LIMIT.
BOOK THREE WAYS WITH
UNLIMITED REWARD POTENTIAL.
There are now more opportunities than ever to earn
rewards. With three leading car rental brands included
in Cash-In Club®, you can earn and redeem points for
more flexible rewards and leave your clients to enjoy
an excellent rental experience.
For more information, visit cashinclub.com
NOT A MEMBER? Enroll today at cashinclub.com
Cash-In Club, “Book. Earn. Enjoy”, Alamo, National and Enterprise Rent-A-Car are trademarks
of Enterprise Holdings, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
©2013 Enterprise Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. E01773_4.5625x9.6
October 30, 2014 TRAVELWEEK 21
Romance & Weddings
Meliá Hotels offers free vow renewal,
wedding packages for couples
by Vawn Himmelsbach
With a wedding specialist and bilingual
assistance offered in Canada, planning
a wedding, honeymoon or renewal of
vows ceremony in Cuba is a simple process with Meliá Hotels International.
The company has carefully selected
18 properties for its wedding collection, each chosen for its romantic setting and value. Once on site, the hotel’s wedding coordinators will look
after all the wedding details to ensure
a worry-free ceremony.
If clients are travelling with a group of
friends and family members, they will
receive a free wedding package. With as
few as 10 guests, clients can book their
wedding at one of three upscale Paradisus Resorts in Cuba, and their free wedding package will include not only the
notary fees and room upgrade, but also
musicians during the ceremony, the rehearsal and wedding dinner, as well as a
late checkout.
Also available at the Paradisus Resorts is Royal Service, an “exclusive hotel
within the resort,” with luxury all-suite
accommodations and personalized
butler service.
If clients choose a Meliá Hotel for
their wedding, their free wedding package (with as few as 15 guests) will also
include several perks. The Level rooms,
offered on exclusive floors of selected
Meliá Hotels, will allow clients to enjoy
similar amenities to the Royal Service
available at the Paradisus Resorts.
If clients choose to travel alone or
with only a few guests, affordable wedding packages are available such as
the Memorable Wedding, an exclusive
package for Canadians, as well as deluxe
packages such as the Luxury, Paradise of
Love and Glamorous Weddings.
Meliá Las Dunas continues to be the
most sought-after hotel for weddings,
followed by the Paradisus Varadero
Resort & Spa, Meliá Península Varade-
ro, Meliá Cayo Santa María, Meliá
Cayo Guillermo, Sol Palmeras and Sol
Rio de Luna y Mares.
For those seeking a hotel for their
honeymoon, the company’s free honeymoon package and romance coordinators will take care of the details of
clients’ stay. Honeymoon packages for
newlyweds include flowers in the room,
a bottle of sparkling wine, daily turndown service and a special gift.
Meliá Hotels also offers renewal of vows
packages; clients have the choice of staying at one of the three upscale Paradisus
Resorts in Cuba with 10 guests or more.
The renewal of vows package includes notary service; personal coordinator for all wedding details; a special
room for renewing vows and alternative
locations for the ceremony; wedding
dinner on the day of the ceremony; and
in-room breakfast the morning after
the wedding.
melia.com
Goway offers
honeymoon options
from Tahiti to the
Maldives, Fiji and
Cook Islands
Goway has a number of packages in
exotic locales that are popular with
honeymooners.
Its Tahiti and Bora Bora trip includes
airfare, two nights accommodation in
Tahiti and six nights in Bora Bora. Honeymoon benefits vary by resort but typically include a bottle of champagne,
fruit basket and special discounts.
Goway recommends honeymooners
splurge and spend a few nights in an
overwater bungalow and go for “Tahitian room service,” which is breakfast
delivered to their villa by canoe.
The Maldives is also a popular honeymoon choice, ideal for clients looking for international cuisine, renowned
spas and pristine beaches. Goway offers
an 11-day Maldives escape with airfare
starting from US$3,129 (New York) or
Cdn$3,299 (Toronto).
Honeymoon clients who stay at the
Anantara Veli will receive a spa credit,
bottle of sparkling wine with fruit platter, honeymoon gift on departure and a
three-course dinner (by candlelight) for
two. The Maldives offers overwater bungalows, as well as packages to renew vows.
For destination weddings, Goway
recommends Fiji and the Cook Islands.
Both destinations offer value wedding
packages and couples have the opportunity to get married on the beach, in a
chapel, or in a remote location.
goway.com
Agents can help
plan the perfect
wedding in Cuba
If clients want to get married on a tropical island, Cuba has it all: theme wed-
dings, splashy weddings, quiet weddings, and combined weddings and
honeymoons.
Travel agents can work with Cuban
wedding planners to help design a
perfect day for their clients. Here are
a few pointers:
If they’ve never been married before,
all they need is a passport that is valid
throughout their stay in Cuba, and a
tourist card (available from a travel
agent, airline or the Cuban consulate).
If either the bride or groom has been
married before, the previously married
person must, in addition to the valid
passport and tourist card, also produce
additional documents: if divorced, his/
her birth certificate and Certificate of
Divorce, and if widowed, his/her birth
certificate, Certificate of Marriage and
Certificate of Spouse’s Death.
They must also have their birth certificate and any divorce/marriage/death
documents translated into Spanish and
certified by a notary public and legal-
auténtica bliss
Spectacular beaches wrapped around a country
rich in history, culture and unspoiled nature.
This is Auténtica Cuba. Explore it at gocuba.ca
October 30, 2014 TRAVELWEEK 23
Romance & Weddings
10 days
Airfare from Vancouver with Fiji Airways, 7 nts at
4 star Tropica resort, airport & boat transfers, breakfast.
Request our Travel Planner
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ized by the Cuban consul in Canada (a
service fee applies).
In addition, they must create a list
with their names, home address, occupations, level of education, nationality and the full names of their parents,
living or deceased. They must then attach the photo page of their passport
to this sheet. Copies of all documentation must be faxed in both English and
Spanish to their hotel in Cuba at least
three weeks before their arrival there.
They must bring all their original documents with them.
Their marriage will be formalized in
the name stated on their passport. Their
passport must therefore be correct, and
the name on their passport must match
that on all other documents.
After the wedding, the marriage certificate will be prepared as quickly as
possible and either given to the clients
before they leave (time permitting) or
couriered at the hotel’s expense to the
home address on their documents. The
TICO#1543989. 3284 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON.
marriage is legalized by the Canadian
Embassy in Havana and the Cuban Foreign Affairs Department.
gocuba.com
Grand Velas Riviera
Maya offers three
new venues for
the perfect wedding
The AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas
Riviera Maya on Mexico’s Caribbean
coast has debuted three new wedding
facilities, expanding its destination
wedding options for future betrothed.
A chapel with views of the flora
and fauna of the Riviera Maya jungle,
spacious platform on the edge of the
white-sand beach and Terraza del Mar
with open-air indoor and outdoor
spaces now give engaged couples more
options for a destination wedding in
Mexico.
The wedding chapel provides seating for up to 143 guests and features an
elegant indoor space for ceremonies of
various religions. The chapel features a
Yamaha audio system, LED lighting and
views of the Riviera Maya jungle.
The new beach platform can accommodate up to 200 seated guests, allowing for a wedding on the beach without
having to walk through the sand. Offering views of the Caribbean Sea, the
1,600-square-foot platform is ideal for a
cocktail hour, the ceremony or even the
reception.
The new Terraza del Mar is a collection of indoor and outdoor spaces, inclusive of a dance floor and main salon,
with space for up to 200 seated guests.
Featuring a new linear type of LED
lights, couples can match the lighting
with the theme of their wedding.
At 8,000 square feet combined, the
foyer, main hall and terrace can be used
together or as individual sections with
movable walls that allow for an openair atmosphere while still having an
overhead covering.
rivieramaya.grandvelas.com
Honeymoon in
Vegas: Embassy
Suites offers new
package deal
Grand Velas Riviera Maya
24 TRAVELWEEK October 30, 2014
Lovebirds are in for a treat: Guests can
now book a honeymoon package with
the Embassy Suites Convention Center
Las Vegas for a romantic Vegas getaway.
The package includes access to the
hotel’s honeymoon suite, which features a four-poster king-size bed, large
living area, spa-inspired bathroom and
large patio with views of the strip.
Upon check-in, guests will receive a
chilled bottle of champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries delivered to
their suite. Made-to-order breakfast and
complimentary beverages and snacks at
the hotel’s evening reception are also included in the honeymoon package.
“We felt opening the honeymoon
suite to our guests and offering a honeymoon package would be an excellent
option for those looking to enjoy a romantic getaway to the Vegas area,” says
general manager Rene Ramos.
The honeymoon package is now
available for bookings.
lasvegasembassysuites.com
Wishes come true
with Princess Cruises’
Honeymoon Wishes
Registry
Princess Cruises is helping newlyweds
enjoy the honeymoon of their dreams
with a new online Honeymoon Wishes
Registry. Couples can sign up at the
line’s honeymoon registry page, select
gifts for their cruise vacation and share
the registry with family and friends.
This feature allows couples to
choose from a list of options they
wish to enjoy on their honeymoon,
from contributions to the cruise to
drinks by the pool, specialty dining,
relaxing spa treatments and shore
excursions. All gifts are applied as an
onboard credit to the couple’s stateroom account to use on board during
their honeymoon cruise.
Couples can also create a wedding
website to share photos and details
about how they met, their engagement and the wedding.
“Our new online Honeymoon Wishes Registry feature gives newlyweds a
simple way to customize their honeymoon cruise and select their desired
amenities to enjoy onboard,” says Jan
Swartz, president of Princess Cruises.
When Princess launched its seagoing weddings program in 1998, the
cruise line made maritime and marriage history by having the captain
join couples in marriage. Until that
point, there had been a common misconception that any ship captain was
empowered to join couples in matrimony, but in truth, no such ceremony
was ever conducted aboard a major
cruise ship.
Today, Princess’ Tie the Knot wedding program has grown to not only
offer these special at-sea wedding
ceremonies on its cruise ships, but
also to include fleet-wide harbourside ceremonies at embarkation ports
or weddings ashore in select ports
of call. Together, these options have
created one of the industry’s most
unique wedding programs, offering
the convenience of a wedding and
honeymoon in one customizable
package.
princess.com
This will be one of the most
wonderful days of your entire life, a
special moment you will never forget,
the beginning of something unique,
and… you will spend it in paradise.
C U B A , A T R UE PLE ASUR E
HABANA & SANTIAGO DE CUBA Meliá Cohiba I Meliá Habana I Tryp Habana Libre
Meliá Santiago De Cuba VARADERO Paradisus Princesa Del Mar I Paradisus Varadero
I Meliá Las Américas Meliá Varadero I Meliá Las Antillas I Meliá Península Varadero I
Meliá Marina Varadero Sol Palmeras KEYS Meliá Buenavista I Meliá Cayo Santa María
I Meliá Las Dunas I Meliá Cayo Guillermo Meliá Cayo Coco I Meliá Jardines Del Rey I Sol Cayo
Largo I Sol Cayo Guillermo HOLGUÍN Paradisus Río De Oro I Sol Río De Luna y Mares
October 30, 2014 TRAVELWEEK 25
topnews
Continued from page 12 ...
“How long is our wine route?” (1,500
kilometres) to “How many volcanoes
do we have?” (2,900), and “How many
fjords and glaciers?” (1,750).
Chile’s north and the Atacama region,
Lopez explained, is one of the top three
destinations in the world for stargazing
(due to clear skies 360 day a year). It is
home to geyser fields, a salt flat, Andean
villages and San Pedro de Atacama – the
archaeological capital of Chile, while in the
south – Patagonia – attractions range from
the Marble Caves to Torres del Paine (often
named among the best trekking routes).
In between are 376 lakes and lagoons
(including Budi Lake, South America’s
only saltwater lake); 275 hot springs,
ski resorts, abundant wildlife (including
whales, dolphins and penguins), UNESCO
World Heritage sites, including the city of
Valparaiso, and the wooden churches on
the island of Chiloe, and a chance to experience Mapuche culture and sleep in a
RUKA – a traditional house.
Attendees watched traditional dances
including one from Easter Island and were
offered samples of four Chilean wines including a Carmenere, which comes from
a grape once thought to be extinct. Lopez
compared the country’s wine route – Casablanca – to Bordeaux in France and Napa
Valley in California and said 50 wineries
surround the capital Santiago alone.
He concluded with 10 reasons to visit
Chile, based on the accolades of various
media organizations, who praised everything from the surreal Marble caves, to
Chiloe island, and the Chinchorro mummies, which date to nearly 2,000 years before the oldest Egyptian mummies.
Worth noting: Chile is currently completing the longest trekking trail in the
26 TRAVELWEEK October 30, 2014
Juan Lopez, North America Market Manager for Turismo Chile, promotes at an event at the Art
Gallery of Ontario.
world (9,700km) and next year the country will host the Adventure Travel Trade
Association conference in Puerto Varas,
which will attract 1,000 delegates. This
Adventure Travel World Summit runs
from Oct. 5-8, 2015.
Sunwing Vacations
launches new
weekly direct flights
from Vancouver to
Grand Bahama
TORONTO — Sunwing Vacations will
introduce a weekly service from Vancouver to Freeport, Grand Bahama that
launches Nov. 1.
Departing initially on Saturdays, the
flight becomes a nonstop service departing Fridays from Dec. 19, 2014.
With the introduction of the Vancouver
service, Sunwing will offer eight Canadian
gateways into the island; a development
which has been welcomed by the Grand
Bahama Island Tourism Board which believes this enhanced flight schedule has
largely been responsible for a revitalization
of the island’s tourism sector.
Opened earlier this year, the Memories
Grand Bahama Beach Resort & Casino is
designed for couples and families looking
to explore this Bahamian island. Set on the
white sands of Lucayan beach, opposite
the colourful open air entertainment and
dining complex of Port Lucaya, this expansive property offers a casino, spa and free
unlimited green fees at the nearby Robert
Trent Jones Jr. designed Reef Course.
Part of the Sunwing Family Collection, the resort features a teens lounge
and supervised kids club featuring appearances from famous cartoon characters such as the Berenstain Bears and
Toopy and Binoo as well as the on-site
splash park and daily activities together
with evening entertainment.
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topnews
Couples have access to unlimited allinclusive reservation-free dining options
including the Selections international
buffet, Bella Cucina Italian restaurant, H
Steak House and The Prop Bar serving
pub fare with some island flair.
International spirits and local specialties flow freely from seven bars including the Social Bar, Beach Bar and Swim
Up Pool Bar. The resort also offers a
range of wedding and honeymoon
packages to suit all budgets.
A week’s stay at the Memories Grand
Bahama Beach Resort & Casino starts
from $995 plus $385 taxes based on
two people sharing a Deluxe Room
on an all-inclusive basis and departing
from Vancouver on Jan. 2 or 16, 2015.
Tourisme Montreal
highlights winter,
family travel
TORONTO — Montreal is often touted
as a summer destination for adults, but
Tourisme Montreal is billing it as one of
the top winter destinations for families
with a variety of winter-related festivals
and events. And it’s also launching a
new family pass to encourage adults to
bring their kids with them.
“We find the family product is probably not talked about enough,” Patrizia
Dri, director of media, leisure market
and member services with Tourisme
Montreal, told Travelweek during a
Tourisme Montreal event this week.
“(So) the highlight of this year is the
family pass.”
Tourisme Montreal is developing a
family pass where nine Montreal attractions will offer free entrance for kids under 12 years old, with the purchase of
one adult ticket. This includes a social
media challenge for kids, who receive a
‘VIP pass’ upon check-in at one of the
participating hotels.
So far, six hotels are onboard, with
more expected in the coming weeks.
The family pass (and it partners) will be
officially announced in mid-November.
“The hotels are offering packages –
28 TRAVELWEEK October 30, 2014
Patrizia Dri of Tourisme Montreal and Vincent Lefebvre of Montreal en Lumiere were in Toronto to
promote winter tourism.
many of them pay commission on the
packages,” said Dri. “The pass is free, so
it’s an added bonus (for agents to offer
clients).”
Winter festivities that clients can plan
trips around include Merry Montreal
during the month of December and the
Luminotherapie digital installations at
the Place des Festivals from Dec. 10 to
Feb. 2, 2015. And in the middle of winter, the city will head outdoors for the
Montreal en Lumiere festival – one of
the largest winter festivals of its kind
that involves food and art.
Each year, Montreal en Lumiere highlights a different country’s cuisine, and
this year Swiss chefs will be paired with
50 restaurants in Montreal.
“We have everything from brunches
to high-dining experiences, and there’s
something for everyone’s taste and
budget,” said Vincent Lefebvre, international and travel media publicity with
Montreal en Lumiere. “It starts at $20
up to $250 for high-dining, presidential
meals.”
There are also indoor and outdoor
shows – including music, theatre, circus, dance and outdoor DJs – and all
outdoor events are free. The event
takes place Feb. 18-28.
Encore Cruises and
Travelweek launch
Royal Caribbean
contest
TORONTO — Encore Cruises is giving
one lucky travel professional and a friend
a 7-night Royal Caribbean cruise.
The contest launched in the latest
Travel Professional: Cruise edition which
includes not only the Encore contest,
but features articles on Uniworld’s S.S.
Catherine and the Carnival Breeze, plus
a Fort Lauderdale port guide.
The winner will win a 7-night Caribbean
cruise for two on board Oasis of the Seas
or Allure of the Seas in a Superior Oceanview stateroom with balcony. The contest
closes on Friday, Nov. 21, 2014 and agents
can enter at travelweek.ca/contests/.
Outdated payment
methods in North
America constrain
agency profits: eNett
VANCOUVER — Outdated payment
methods are costing North American
travel agents tens of thousands of dol-
topnews
lars, according to figures quoted by
eNett International at the Travelport
Connect seminar here last week.
Agents attending a session conducted by eNett International, a leading
provider of dedicated B2B travel payment solutions, learned that manual
processing which accompanies conventional payment methods is draining
away money that could otherwise flow
through to their bottom lines.
Based on PhoCusWright research
findings, US$1.5 billion each year is
wasted on manual processing and reconciliation. Small travel agencies turning over less than $25 million typically
needs one to three part-time staff members to manage and reconcile payments
manually, incurring estimated costs of
$33,000 a year. This spirals to around
$325,000 for large agencies transacting
$100 million or more.
eNett Virtual Account Numbers
(VANs) address the problem by allowing agencies of all sizes to easily adopt
WHAT’S
NEW
AT THE
LEARNING
CENTRE?
www.travelweeklearningcentre.ca
an innovative and integrated supplier
payment method that creates cost savings, says the company.
A VAN is a unique 16-digit MasterCard number generated for each
booking and can include payment parameters such as amount, currency,
date and merchant, making it a highly
secure way to pay or be paid.
VANs also enable agents to work more
efficiently, through integration with booking and back-end office tools, while also
automating reconciliation in real time.
eNett’s recent partnership with Cornerstone Information systems, part of
its expanding footprint in North America, has generated a key example of the
efficiencies that can be achieved.
The two companies have combined to
provide a direct hotel billing payment solution for Travel Management Companies
(TMCs) to cut the inordinate amount of
time spent on manual calling and faxing,
freeing them up to take on more clients
and increase profits.
PALLADIUM RESORTS
SPECIALIST PROGRAM
Learn about Palladium’s fantastic resorts
in Mexico and the Caribbean, as well as
weddings, groups, travel agent incentives
and more.
MARTINIQUE
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30 TRAVELWEEK October 30, 2014
eNett Managing Director and CEO,
Anthony Hynes, said, “VANs surpass
legacy payment processes that are hindering the desire for agencies to reduce
costs and increase profit margins.
“In Europe and Asia Pacific, we have
already seen the phenomenal uptake of
eNett VANs driven by the universal need
for agencies to curtail increasing manual
processing costs and the downward
pressure on profit margins.
“As we extend the solution to North
America, our unique cash collateralized
model facilitates easy access to cutting edge
payments technology without the need for
lengthy credit assessments, allowing agencies to be up and running within days.”
VANs are fully integrated within the
Travelport Travel Commerce Platform
that significantly reduces handling times
and eliminates the need to cut and paste
between systems. With each VAN generated for payment, a payment entry is
made instantaneously, recording it for automated and seamless reconciliation.
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.
topnews
Agencies can choose from several
low-cost FX options available across 27
currencies, 15 with local settlement. In
addition, eNett customers can earn rebates for transactions paid with VANs
as soon as they start transacting.
GLP Worldwide
offers savings on
Variety Cruises’
Cuba and Costa
Rica/Panama
sailings
TORONTO — GLP Worldwide Expedition Travel and Tours is offering savings
of up to 30% on Variety Cruises sailings
in Costa Rica and Panama, Cuba and
even the exotic Seychelles.
GLP Worldwide is the Canadian representative for Variety Cruises. Based
in Athens, Variety Cruises is a familyowned cruise and yacht business which
focuses on the cultural, architectural,
historical and natural diversity of the
various destinations it offers including
Cuba, Costa Rica and Panama, Greece,
Italy and Malta, Seychelles, West Africa
and Cape Verde.
“There’s never been a better time to
save while experiencing the comfort, elegance and personalized cruise experience that Variety Cruises is known for,”
said Alan Law, director of sales and marketing for GLP Worldwide Expedition
Travel and Tours. “The ships are smaller
enabling them to venture into areas the
larger cruise ships cannot.”
Savings of 30% are offered on: Sights
& Sounds of Cuba – 8 days. Priced from
Can$2,790 per person for a Category C
cabin on S/C Panorama sailing Dec. 20,
27, 2014, Jan. 3, 10, 24, Feb. 21, March 7,
14, 21, 2015.
The Seychelles – 4, 5, 8 day cruises
available with the 8-day cruise priced
from $2,620 per person for a Category
C cabin on M/Y Pegasus sailing Dec. 6,
27, 2014.
Savings of 25% are offered on: Treasures of Costa Rica & The Panama Canal
– 8 days from $3,250 per person for a
Category C cabin on M/Y Variety Voyager sailing Dec. 14, 21, 28, 2014, Feb. 8,
22, March 8, 2015.
Antiquity to Byzantium – 8 days from
$1,270 per person for a Category C cabin on M/S Panorama II sailing March 6,
13, 20, 27, 2015.
Bookings must be secured by paying
a $1,500 deposit per passenger. Mention
‘Winter Special 2014/15’ upon booking.
The offer cannot be combined with any
existing or future offer.
Contact GLP Worldwide for full
terms and conditions.
The new 64-page 2014-15 Variety
Cruises brochure provides detailed cruise
itineraries including pricing, pictures of the
vessels used on its cruises, term and conditions and destination information.
Both traditional and non-traditional
cruise destinations are offered. For
Featured this week:
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October 30, 2014 TRAVELWEEK 31
topnews
those who relish the cultural side, there
are many cruise itineraries featuring the
food, wine, culture and history of the
destination. The brochure is available
for ordering or can be viewed online at
glpworldwide.com.
G Adventures
launches range of
rail journeys for
adventure travellers
TORONTO — G Adventures is trail
blazing rail-based trips as a new way for
travellers to have grass-roots travel experiences.
The new ‘Rail’ travel style launches
with 25 itineraries between seven and
54 days duration, taking in more than
20 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and
North America. All trips use trains as
the primary mode of transport.
G Adventures created this new program to meet the demand for affordable train-based trips. A relaxing and
scenic way to travel, rail travel holds a
certain romanticism and the new lineup of trips includes both local and famous train routes.
In true G Adventures style, trips include cultural encounters such as home
stays, home-cooked meals with local
families and visits to projects run by
the operator’s non-profit organization,
Planeterra.
Rachel Wasser, Innovation Manager,
G Adventures, says the introduction of
a mid-range rail option will capture the
attention of adventurous, budget-conscious travellers who enjoy the social
aspect of small group travel.
“The new rail trips link remote, scenic
and iconic destinations in an eco-conscious way. Our small groups of international travellers will have the same
cultural interactions they do on all our
trips, with insider knowledge provided
by a local chief experience officer,” says
Wasser.
Countries featured in the new Rail
program include Bulgaria, Canada, China, Hungary, India, Japan, Norway, Rus32 TRAVELWEEK October 30, 2014
sia, Sweden, South Africa and the U.S.
The rail itineraries feature as an insert
in G Adventures’ 2015 ‘Earth’ brochure,
which is available now.
Example itineraries include: The Silk
Road of China – This 18-day crossing by
rail takes travellers deep into the China
few ever see. On this trip they will see
the sun rise over the dunes outside Dunhuang, explore the world of the Muslim
Uyghurs, spend the night in traditional
yurts near Urumqi and venture into the
Taklamakan Desert to Kashgar. Priced
from $2,499 per person for an 18-day
trip from Beijing to Kashgar.
Budapest to Istanbul by Rail – Travellers will see it all on this trip from pastoral countryside to forbidding forests and
fairytale villages. Taking the train from
Budapest to Istanbul is taking the road
less travelled and over 13 days travellers
will experience highlights such as the
architecture of Budapest and Dracula’s
Castle in Transylvania, all via comfortable trains. Priced from $1,899pp for a
13-day trip from Budapest to Istanbul.
Kolkata to Goa by Rail – Travellers
on this journey will get a unique look
at India, travelling by train and learning
about Indian customs and culture as
they go. Highlights include a tour of the
Taj Mahal, enjoying a local lunch in Kalimpong and visiting the seaside town
of Goa, with plenty of time to disembark and get to know the locals. Priced
from $2,449pp for a 24-day trip from
Kolkata to Goa.
For more information or to book,
visit gadventures.com.
Grupo Piñero plans
a new Luxury Bahia
Principe hotel on
Aruba’s Baby Beach
PALMA DE MALLORCA — Grupo Piñero has announced plans to build a resort
on Aruba, with an expected opening
date in summer of 2016. The company
says the development will comply with
the chain’s “highest standards of luxury
and exclusivity under the Luxury Bahia
Principe Don Pablo Collection brand”.
Aruba’s Deputy Prime Minister Mike
de Meza and Grupo Piñero President
Pablo Piñero recently signed the agreement for the new development. “It is
extremely good news for our country,
because it contributes to the island’s
economic development,” said Aruba’s
Tourism Minister Otmar Oduber.
The Luxury Bahia Principe Baby Beach
Don Pablo Collection will have 950
rooms, including 908 Junior Suites and
42 Suites. Facilities will include the Pueblo Príncipe leisure complex, a theatre, a
casino, several specialty restaurants, a
gym, a spa, sports courts and more. The
plans also include designing specialized
spaces and services for specific segments
such as weddings, groups, corporate incentive trips and families.
The new resort will be located on the
Seroe Colorado coast in the southern
town of San Nicolás. Baby Beach will
lend its name to the new hotel complex.
Grupo Piñero’s Bahia Principe hotel
chain is already a presence in the D.R.,
the Riviera Maya, Jamaica and Spain.
Travel24 offers
24/7 assistance to
corporate agency
clients
TORONTO — Travel24 has strengthened its presence in Canada by partnering with Canadian Travel Services, a
leading marketing, PR and DMC company based in Toronto.
With the move Travel24 has brought
a Canadian solution for travel agencies
whose clients can get immediate assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
A call centre for corporate travel
agencies and their clients delivers innovative, quality-driven, customer service
solutions, across all travel industry segments. Using the most advanced technology, comprehensive insights and
dedicated specialists for each account,
Travel24 is able to provide a multichannel approach, via voice, text messaging,
e-mail and social media.
topnews/extras
This customizable customer service method allows agencies to utilize
business insights to deliver lifetime
customer service, loyalty and increase
incremental revenue.
Travel24 is based at 203-29 Gervais
Drive, Toronto, and can be reached at
[email protected], [email protected] or
647-261-1978.
notes
Sunspots offers
Belize trip with new
contest
Agents who book their clients to Belize
with Sunspots Holidays from now until
Jan. 10 will be eligible to win a four-night
trip for two at Belize’s Caves Branch Jungle
Lodge. Valid bookings include flights, hotel and packages to anywhere in Belize, for
travel up to December 2015. The winner
with the most Belize bookings will be announced on Jan. 12 and will be awarded
a four-night accommodation voucher
for two at Caves Branch Jungle Lodge,
including all meals from dinner on arrival
to breakfast on departure day, and two
full day tours at the Caves Branch. The
voucher is valid for travel from April 1 –
May 31, 2015 and space is subject to availability. Sunspots Holidays can be reached
at (416) 484-8144 or 1-800-657-8721 or
e-mail [email protected].
Canadian visits to
Japan surge past
pre-tsunami records
Canadian travellers to Japan set records
in September, the sixth month in a row
to set a record. The 14,500 visitors were
28.0% over the same month of last year
and 25.3% over September 2010 before
the tsunami. For the year to date Canadian visits are up 17.9% over the last
year and +13.0% over 2010.
Clients can Shop ‘n
Stay at The Eaton
Chelsea, Toronto
The Eaton Chelsea, Toronto has brought
back its Shop ‘n Stay package, available
Nov. 1 – Dec. 30, with rates from $139
per night. Shop ‘n Stay includes a free $20
SHOP! card from the Toronto Eaton Centre – just steps away from the hotel – along
with discounted self parking in the hotel’s
underground garage. As the official hotel of the AGO, Eaton Chelsea guests also
have access to discounted tickets to the
Alex Colville exhibit running until Jan. 4,
2015. The Eaton Chelsea’s Show Your Key
and Save program also offers discounted
admission to attractions including Ripley’s
Aquarium, the Royal Ontario Museum
and the Ontario Science Centre. For clients
who want to shop or explore the city without the kids, The Eaton Chelsea offers onsite babysitting and the Family Fun Zone
with downtown Toronto’s only indoor waterslide. See Chelsea.eatonhotels.com.
Resorts of Ontario Appreciates your Business!
We invite you to “GO Resorting”
Resorts of Ontario is once again launching our Travel Trade
Appreciation Month for November 2014. A special travel trade rate is
extended to you as our valuable partners, for the month of November
of $69. per room/night, based on double occupancy at participating
resorts. Taxes are over and above the special rate. Accommodation
is subject to availability (some conditions may apply).
Resorts of Ontario continues to market exciting experiences and
packages. Our magazine is filled with stories of awe-inspiring resort
experiences and informative articles by professional travel writers.
Please share, distribute and help us spread the word on resorting!
For more information on the participating resorts visit
www.resortsofontario.com/travel.htm
You can order your Go Resorting Magazine at [email protected] or at www.envoynetworks.ca
October 30, 2014 TRAVELWEEK 33
marketplace
We are looking for Travel Consultants in
the following centres:
CALGARY, AB • WINNIPEG, MB
SUDBURY, ON • TORONTO, ON
NEWMARKET, ON • ST. JOHN’S, NL
We are searching for sales oriented team players with excellent communication skills
who enjoy exceeding customers’ expectations.The ideal candidates will have a
minimum of 3 years’ experience in retail travel with a good working knowledge in
Apollo, although applicants with Sabre experience are welcome to apply.
Maritime Travel has earned the designation as of one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed
Companies for 15 consecutive years, acheiving Platinum status the past 9 years.
Maritime Travel is committed to a dynamic team environment and prides itself in
providing a competitive salary, unlimited training opportunities as well as an industry
leading travel incentive program and benefits package.
If you would like to be part of this winning team,
please email your resume to:
[email protected]
Fax: 902-420-0447
Maritime Travel has been operating since 1949,
with over 100 locations nationwide
Luxe Destination Weddings is hiring
an experienced Bilingual Travel
Agent to join our team. The ideal
candidate will have min. 2 years
retail experience and experience
with destination wedding groups.
Submit resumes to:
[email protected]
Uniworld Travel & Tours is looking for a
SENIOR SABRE
LEISURE AGENT
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34 TRAVELWEEK October 30, 2014
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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
USA
ROUND UP
ACV clients can book Cirque
du Soleil tickets onboard Air
Canada rouge flights
at New York-New York Hotel & Casino.
Cirque du Soleil’s Vegas show venues are located at resorts
including Bellagio, ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The
Mirage, all part of MGM Resorts International, a significant hotel
partner for Air Canada Vacations.
Canadians represent 36% of the total international visitor market to the city., the largest international market for the Las Vegas.
Daily nonstop flights to Las Vegas aboard Air Canada rouge aircraft operate from Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.
MONTREAL — What happens in Vegas starts right here in Canada as travellers will have the ability to book best-priced tickets
for all eight spectacular Cirque du Soleil shows either when they
book their Air Canada Vacations packages or, for more spontaneous travellers, directly from their seats aboard Air Canada rouge
flights to Las Vegas.
The inflight booking program for Cirque du Soleil tickets, the
first of its kind in Canada, will start Jan. 1, 2015 from Montreal, with
Photo courtesy of Kobby Dagan / Shutterstock.com
a view to expanding across Canada in the future. This new service
is a result of a partnership between Cirque du Soleil, MGM Resorts
International and Air Canada Vacations that was announced at an
event held at Cirque du Soleil headquarters.
To celebrate the launch of this program, every passenger who
books a package to Las Vegas with Air Canada Vacations from
now until Nov. 15, 2014, and completes their travel before April 9,
2015, will receive a free ticket to one of three Cirque du Soleil performances: KÀ at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Zarkana at ARIA
Resort & Casino, or Zumanity, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil
The Walt Disney World Swan
and Dolphin Hotel to get $125m
makeover
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL — The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel is getting the largest makeover in its history.
The hotel has launched a multi-phase, multi-year $125 million
redesign project that will transform every guest room in the 758room Swan Hotel and the 1,509-room Dolphin Hotel.
The transformation will occur without disruption to the
guest experience as the majority of guest rooms will be available
throughout the process. The hotel’s public spaces, restaurants,
meeting rooms, shops, pools and recreational areas will not be impacted and remain fully operational throughout the renovation.
Noted hotel and condominium interior design and architecture
firm Garcia Stromberg/GS4 Studios, designers of the Conrad Hotel Ft. Lauderdale, the Waldorf Astoria’s Boca Beach Club and One
Thousand Ocean condominium in Boca Raton, created the concept for the new rooms.
The new room design is inspired by the resort’s water-themed
architecture. The goal was to create a serene and sophisticated atmosphere. The guest room features upgraded furniture and all of
the latest technology including large HD TVs. Additional power
outlets provide corporate executives and family travellers more
options for use of multiple personal electronics.
The project started at the Swan Hotel, with approximately 500
of the 756 rooms redesigned by the end of 2014. The first phase of
the Dolphin Hotel rooms will begin in 2015 with the entire rooms
project currently scheduled for completion by the end of 2016.
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36 TRAVELWEEK October 30, 2014