WestJet sets load factor record in third quarter

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11/12/2012 12:00:44 PM
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1115PAGE02.indd 2
11/12/2012 10:34:46 AM
WestJet sets load factor record
in third quarter
he recent announcement of a regional
Tgrabbed
airline launch by WestJet may have
all the headlines of late, but the
company’s just-released third-quarter
financial results are the real story.
Leading off that report is news that the airline posted its
highest-ever quarterly load factor, reaching 84.6% for July,
August and September. As well, third-quarter earnings for
the company are up by 80%, to $71 million.
“It was another great quarter for WestJet with significant
earnings growth and continued margin expansion,” said
WestJet president and
CEO Gregg Saretsky.
He reported a 12.7%
return on invested capital, which surpasses the
10
cover story
company’s 12% target.
24
calendar
WestJet said that
26
west
codeshare and inter30
classifieds
line agreements
with foreign airlines
continue to help fill
WestJet cabins, and that two to three codeshare deals are
in the pipeline for 2013.
Also to be announced early in the upcoming year will be
the first schedule for WestJet Encore, setting out the smaller
communities in Canada that have been chosen for flight services. Encore will operate a total of seven Bombardier Q400
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment recently stopped by Toronto’s
King Edward Hotel for a “meet-and-greet” session to promote
all things new at the SeaWorld parks in Florida, including the
recent launch of a web site specifically for travel agents. The
site provides the ability to book everything for a vacation at
the company’s 10 parks in one place. See www.seaworldparks.
com/travelagents for details. Pictured at the Toronto event are
Aimee Jeansonne Becka and Randy Anger with two trainers,
Penny (the penguin) and a rock hyrax.
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
1115NEWZ.indd 3
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3
11/12/2012 3:44:54 PM
aircraft (starting with three in the summer)
on these regional routes, which are yet to be
determined. That news is coming on Jan. 21.
WestJet also revealed that the new president
of WestJet Encore will be Ferio Pugliese,
who was integral to the design of the
new airline.
But its operation will constitute a
relatively minor portion of expenses
and revenues in the company’s overall
financial performance, said WestJet
brass who fielded questions during a
third-quarter analyst conference call.
“They will be a tiny percentage of the
total ASMs (available seat miles) that
WestJet will fly,” said Vito Culmone,
executive VP and CFO of WestJet.
More aircraft are in the books for delivery to WestJet, with three B737s coming
in the first quarter of the new year, and a
total of 12 on the way for all of 2013.
— Ted Davis
MOST NEW YORK TOURIST
ATTRACTIONS ARE OPEN
Tourism promotion body NYC &
Company says the recovery effort following Hurricane Sandy is moving forward.
“Most businesses, especially those in
the main tourist zones, including Lower
Manhattan, have resumed operations. The
majority of our hotels, restaurants, theatres
and cultural institutions are open, the
power system is close to fully restored, and
the subways are almost all back online,” it
reported on Nov. 9. Most New York City
FOUNDER
W.H. Baxter
1919-2004
hotels are open. Before travelling, visitors
are advised to reconfirm their hotel reservations directly with the property, regardless of location. Other highlights:
• The hotels along West 57th Street that
were temporarily closed due to a construction incident have reopened (Le Parker
Meridien, West 57th Street by Club Hilton
and Salisbury Hotel).
• Some hotels in Lower Manhattan remain
closed Nov. 9, but many of those were
expected to reopen shortly, including
The Ritz-Carlton, Battery Park; the New
York Marriott Downtown; W New York
– Downtown; DoubleTree by Hilton New
York City – Financial District and Andaz
Wall Street.
• The Wyndham Garden Long Island City/
Manhattan View in Queens will remain
closed for the next several weeks.
• The Manhattan Cruise Terminal has
reopened, but the Brooklyn Cruise
Terminal remained closed as Nov. 9. Those
planning to sail from New York were
being advised to access www.nycruise.com
and social media channels for updates on
service, and contact their cruise line to
confirm their itinerary before arriving for
any cruise they scheduled.
• Most major sites and attractions
throughout the city are open. Retail shops
and restaurants are open as well.
▶www.nycgo.com
ATLANTIC CITY
BACK IN BUSINESS
Two of the US’s top northeast event and
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Edith Baxter
[email protected]
PRESIDENT
David McClung
[email protected]
N
eed the latest
edition of Personnel Guide or Canadian Tourism Resource
Guide? Now, it’s easier
than ever to buy at the
new SHOP.BAXTER.
NET. Baxter Travel Media’s online store, The
Baxter Shop, allows
travel industry professionals to purchase
the latest editions of
directories such as
the Personnel Guide
and other travel trade
tools. The newly redesigned site features
a user-friendly interface and convenient
payment and shipping
options. For a limited
time only, receive $10
off any Baxter Shop
purchase using coupon
code: TB-1012. Check
out the new SHOP.
BAXTER.NET and let us
know what you think.
http://shop.baxter.net
EXECUTIVE V.P. OPERATIONS
Wendy McClung
[email protected]
Vol. 47 No. 44
www.travelcourier.ca
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Bob Mowat [email protected] ‡ EDITOR/PUBLISHER Michael Baginski [email protected] ‡ ASSISTANT EDITOR Greg D. Coates [email protected]
QUEBEC EDITOR Mike Dunbar [email protected] ‡ WESTERN EDITOR Ted Davis [email protected] 604-685-2588 FAX: 604-734-9743
STAFF WRITER Ian Stalker [email protected];
SALES & MARKETING
DIRECTOR INT’L. MARKETING
SALES MANAGER
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER
PRODUCTION
ART DIRECTOR
PRODUCTION MANAGER
ADV. MATERIAL COORDINATOR
CIRCULATION
Earl Lince [email protected]
Rodney Tugwell [email protected]
Mitchell McClung [email protected]
Jacqulyn Bester [email protected]
Johnny Koo [email protected]
Wayne Labourn [email protected]
Sharron Taylor [email protected]
Dee Ristic [email protected]
REGIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVES
WESTERN CANADA
Terry Ohman [email protected] 604-657-2100
ALBERTA
Greg Ohman [email protected] 403-804-3497
QUEBEC AND ATLANTIC CANADA Rodney Tugwell [email protected] 416-968-7252 FAX: 416-968-7569
USA
Earl Lince [email protected] 416-968-7252 FAX: 416-968-7569
FLORIDA - SOUTH
Dino Torres [email protected] 305-775-8734 FAX: 305-477-6607
FLORIDA - NORTH
Gillian Harper [email protected] 954-933-2786
HAWAII
Laurie Doerschlen [email protected] 808-737-4621 FAX: 808-737-2695
MEXICO
Paloma Martinez [email protected] 52 55 2122-3900 FAX: 52 55 5395-4985
CENTRAL & S. AMERICA
Lillian Martinez [email protected] 305-476-1130
UNITED KINGDOM
Maureen Wingham [email protected] +44(0)1449-771200
SPAIN
Luis Andrade [email protected] 34-91-4416266 FAX: 34-91-4416549
TRAVEL COURIER is published weekly by Baxter Travel Media at 310 Dupont St., Toronto, Ont., Canada M5R 1V9 Tel.: 416-968-7252, Fax: 416-968-2377/416-968-7569. Single price per copy $2.00 (plus applicable taxes)
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PRINTED IN CANADA Copyright 2012.
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.
4
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1115NEWZ.indd 4
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
11/12/2012 3:45:15 PM
1115PAGE05.indd 5
11/12/2012 10:34:23 AM
convention venues, the
Atlantic City Convention
Center and Historic
Boardwalk Hall, are open
for business after Hurricane
Sandy with neither experiencing any significant
damage from the unprecedented storm. According to
Jeff Vasser, president of the
Atlantic City Convention
& Visitors Authority, the
destination is working very
closely with groups whose
meetings, conventions or
events were impacted by
the hurricane. “Both the
Atlantic City Convention
Center and Historic Boardwalk Hall came through
the storm and both venues
are ready to resume operations,” he said.
▶www.DoAtlanticCity.com
SANDALS RESORTS
BUYS LASOURCE
Sandals Resorts International (SRI) has finalized
its purchase of LaSource in
Grenada. SRI’s acquisition
of the property was a hot
topic at the luxury-included
resort operator’s recent
“More Quality Inclusions”
event in Toronto. The deal
closed following the successful completion of the
ongoing discussions that
SRI had been having with
the Grenada government.
LaSource was purchased
by SRI for an “undisclosed
sum.” Sandals chairman,
Gordon “Butch” Stewart
commented, “After looking to expand here for
more than a decade, we are
delighted to confirm the
acquisition of our first-ever
resort in Grenada and are
incredibly proud to have
found the perfect location
to add to our brand.”
Pink Gin Beach
The property, which is
located on the exclusive
Pink Gin Beach and surrounded by the Caribbean
on three sides, will become
Sandals LaSource Grenada
Resort & Spa and will open
following certain enhancements customary to the
Sandals Resorts brand.
Once complete, the resort
will have added nearly 100
rooms to offer a selection
of 200 guest rooms, private
cottages and bungalows,
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND...
COLLETTE’S AGENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM
Last year Book Your Own Bonus* bolstered the
bank account for many of our agent partners.
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your money grow.
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Any booking after 3 receive $100
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⁺Offer is valid on new retail bookings made between 11/1/12 - 4/30/13 for departures in 2013. Agent qualifies for program by making first booking;
earning $50 for 2nd booking, $100 for 3rd; from then on any booking after the 3rd receive $100 per booking with no limit. These incentives will
be paid within 30 days following the quarter that the qualifying bookings have traveled. A booking is defined as a minimum of two full paying
passengers in a double room or a single passenger in a single room. All payments are payable per agent and bookings cannot be combined with
other agency bookings. Not valid on existing bookings. Other restrictions may apply; call for details. Valid on all Collette brands including Classic,
Explorations and Family Vacations.
6
TRAVEL COURIER
1115NEWZ.indd 6
many of which will be
concierge- and butler-level
suites, including the brand’s
signature Rondoval suites.
▶www.sandals.com/grenada
HEDONISM II
UP FOR SALE
SuperClubs Chairman John
Issa has confirmed that he
is in negotiations to sell
Hedonism II to Marshmallow Ltd., a new company
headed by majority stockholder Harry Williams
and including Jon Gross of
UnWind Travel (Fluffernutters), the John Issa Family and Kevin Levee. The
group has said that upon
conclusion of a deal, there
will be a smooth transition
of ownership with no interruption to service. All reservations and tour operator
contracts will be honoured,
and the property will not be
rebranded and will continue
to deliver and enhance the
Hedonism Holiday.
▶www.superclubs.com
CANARY SINGING
AT GLOBAL
TRAVEL EVENT
World Travel Market, held
annually in London in
November, is often considered a canary in the coal
mine of global travel. If
that’s the case, this year’s
event – held from Nov.
5-8 – heralded some good
news with event organizers
Reed Exhibitions reporting
that the first three days of
the event (the fourth day
is generally a wind-down
day with fewer attendees),
saw a four per cent increase
in visitors. Overall, 38,735
visitors walked through the
doors of ExCeL – London,
says Reed, compared to
37,331 at WTM 2011.
▶www.wtm.london.com
TRANSAT EUROPE 2013
READY FOR TAKE-OFF
Transat Holidays is advising agents that its flights to
Europe for 2013 are now
available for sale. Transat
Holidays and Air Transat
are offering direct flights
to the most destinations in
Europe – a total of 28 destinations in 12 countries.
Transat Holidays’ a la carte
hotels in Europe are also
available for sale. Certain
packages are also available. The complete offer
will be unveiled late this
month with the new Transat Holidays’ Europe Collection 2013/2014 brochure.
▶www.transatholidays.com
NOLITOURS IN THE
GREY CUP SPIRIT
Nolitours reports it is a
sponsor of the Canadian
Football League’s Grey Cup,
and will take part in festivities in Toronto Nov. 23-25.
The tour operator will be
inviting spectators to participate in activities such as
limbo and piñata contests,
salsa lessons and bar flair
shows. As part of the event,
Nolitours is also the official
sponsor of the 100th Grey
Cup Film Festival, which
will be held at the Toronto
Scotiabank Theatre from
Nov. 15-18. Throughout both
sponsorships, Nolitours will
be giving away all-inclusive
vacations to the noliZONE
in Mexico; there are four
trips for four to be won at
the Grey Cup, and two trips
for two Festival.
▶www.nolitours.com
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
11/12/2012 3:45:35 PM
7RURQWR'HSDUWXUHV‡:HHN
Flight + Hotel
Flight + Hotel
All Inclusive
Hotel Room
Dec 03 & 10
Studio Suite
Jan 07 & 14
ËËËËË
Hotel Room
Dec 03 & 10
$
$
Radisson Aruba Resort,
Casino & Spa ËËËËË
$
+ $340 taxes
Divi Dutch Village
Beach Resort ËËËplus
+ $340 taxes
Riu Palace Aruba
+ $340 taxes
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limited and capacity controlled and were available at the time of printing. All transportation fees and taxes are extra and must be pre-paid. For full terms and
FRQGLWLRQVSOHDVHUHIHUWRRXUFXUUHQWEURFKXUH$OOÁLJKWVDUHRQ6XQZLQJ$LUOLQHVRU7UDYHO6HUYLFH6XQZLQJ9DFDWLRQV,QF'%$DV6LJQDWXUH9DFDWLRQV)DVNHQ
'ULYH7RURQWR210:.2QW7LFR%&5HJ4XH5HJ11152012
1115PAGE07.indd 7
12/11/2012 3:54:37 PM
SUNSWEPT RESORTS
St. Lucia’s SunSwept Resorts, owners
and operators of The BodyHoliday
and Rendezvous, has launched
the SunSwept Resorts Specialist
Program, designed to reward agents
for the number of bookings they
make to the resort’s portal. Under
the new program, agents who are
registered to book stays through the
SunSwept portal, will be rewarded
based on the number of stays that
they book, and can activate a higher
rate of reward by booking pre-set
numbers of stays each calendar year.
‘Preferred Agent’
Agents who register on the
SunSwept portal and book one to
four stays per year will achieve
“Preferred Agent” status and a $25
per stay reward; those that have
achieved Preferred status and book
five to nine stays in a calendar year
will earn “Expert” designation and
a $50 bonus for each booking; and
those registered agents who book 10
or more stays per calendar year will
earn “Partner” status and a $100
WESTJET
WestJet has changed terminals at
Cabo San Lucas airport. The airline
now flies out of Terminal 2.
▶www.westjet.com
Lisbon, Porto, and Istanbul.
From Western Canada
The carrier also offers direct
flights from Vancouver and Calgary
to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris,
Glasgow, London, and Manchester.
From Ottawa, Halifax and Edmonton, Air Transat features direct
flights to London.
Transat Holidays’ a la carte
hotels in Europe are available for
sale. Certain packages are also
available. The complete offer will
be unveiled in late November with
the new Transat Holidays’ Europe
Collection 2013/2014 brochure.
▶www.airtransat.com
AIR TRANSAT
Transat Holidays is advising agents
that its flights to Europe for 2013
are now available for sale. Transat
Holidays and Air Transat are offering direct flights to the most destinations in Europe – a total of 28
destinations in 12 countries. From
Montreal, Air Transat flies direct
to Athens, Brussels, Barcelona,
Madrid, Malaga, Bordeaux, Lyon,
Marseille, Nantes, Nice, Paris,
Toulouse, London, Dublin, Rome,
Venice, Lisbon, Porto, Basel, and
Istanbul. From Quebec City, Air
Transat has direct flights to Paris
and Marseille. And, Air Transat flies
direct from Toronto to Amsterdam,
Athens, Barcelona, Madrid, Paris,
Birmingham, Glasgow, London,
Manchester, Dublin, Shannon,
Rome, Venice, Lamezia, Faro,
8
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1115CHK_IN_AIR_SPACE.indd 8
AIR FRANCE, KLM
As part of a new promotion for
flights out of Montreal, Toronto
and Ottawa, Air France is offering
reduced fares to various destinations
with Economy fares starting at $899.
The promotion runs until Nov. 20,
and applies to trips with departures
between Jan. 9 and March 30, 2013.
Travellers can choose to fly to Paris,
bonus per booking.
▶www.sunsweptresorts.com
BRIGHTON RESORT
Utah’s Brighton Resort opened
for the 2012/2013 season this
week. Brighton received more than
four feet of snow over the weekend
and combined with the resort’s
snowmaking activities makes for
good early season skiing. Early
season day-lift ticket prices are
US$49.00 for a day pass.
▶www.brightonresort.com
Vienna, Warsaw and other European
cities from $899. Other destinations
featured in the promotion include
Dubai, Amman, Jeddah and Riyadh
at $999, as well as Mauritius ($1,299).
KLM Royal Dutch
As part of a new promotion for
flights out of five Canadian cities,
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is offering tickets to Amsterdam, Budapest,
Bucharest and Manchester starting
at $899; Kuwait at $999 and Dar Es
Salaam, Johannesburg, Kilimanjaro,
Entebbe, and Nairobi at $1,299. These
winter fares apply to departures from
Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa, and
for a $200 supplement, Calgary and
Vancouver as well. Fares include a
free stopover in Amsterdam either
on the outbound segment or the
return segment of the trip. The promotion runs until Nov. 20, and
applies to departures between Jan. 9
and March 30, 2013. From Ottawa,
Air France and KLM offer coach
transportation from Ottawa’s train
station to Montreal-Trudeau airport.
▶www.airfrance.ca, www.klm.com
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
11/12/2012 3:14:39 PM
TRANSAT, NOLITOURS
Transat Holidays and Nolitours are
advising agents that they can now
apply payments to group booking
files via the reservation system.
With the new Transat Holidays
and Nolitours reservation system
in place, agents now have access to
their group booking files for reference, and can also apply payments
to these files. “Once again, it is with
continuous improvement in mind
that Transat Holidays and Nolitours
have added this new option to their
reservation system. We wish to
simplify travel agents’ work, and we
believe that this is another step in
that direction,” says Denise Heffron,
vice-president, National Sales &
Commercial, Transat Canada.
▶www.transatholidays.com
www.nolitours.com
HOLA SUN
Hola Sun is offering five-night
Havana stays, with rates for Dec. 9
departures from Toronto starting at
$618, plus $273 in taxes. That offer is
for the Club Acuario. Other available hotels include the Meliá Cohiba,
Comodoro, Occidental Miramar and
Hotel Plaza. Those wanting to stay
outside the Cuban capital can opt for
Breezes Jibacoa.
No fuel surcharge
Meanwhile, Hola Sun reports it
won’t have fuel surcharges for all
new ITC packages that depart from
Toronto, Montreal and Halifax, with
the booking window for the savings
offer running through Nov. 21.
It’s applicable for departures to
Oct. 31, 2013.
▶www.holacaribeagent.ca
DENURE TOURS
DeNure Tours notes that for over 50
years, it has been creating holidays
for the mature traveller. Long-stay
vacations in Florida have been an
important part of DeNure’s business
since 1965, and it offers ocean-side
stay-put holidays. Each of its Southern Sunshine destinations features
kitchen-equipped suites or condominiums with modern amenities.
Vacation packages include coach
transportation to the southern destination and accommodation.
▶www.denuretours.com
MFDAEAL=< O9L=JKHGJLKAF;DM<=<9LK9F<9DK J=KGJLK
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Call your Tour Operator or 1-800-545-8283 • sandals.com
Sandals ® is a registered trademark and is represented worldwide by Unique Vacations, Inc.
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
1115ON-TOUR.indd 9
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9
11/12/2012 12:49:40 PM
Industry ‘Bonds’ with British super spy
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI
ames Bond is back and the travel
Jquicker
industry has jumped on the occasion
than British super spy 007 gets
the girl in most of his films.
With the release of Skyfall, the 23rd Bond flick, which
also marks the 50th anniversary of the famous fi lm
franchise, a host of suppliers have taken licence to thrill
fans with a host of tours and hotel packages based on the
series, which, among other things, is known for its spectacular and often exotic settings.
Thomas Cook Canada, for example, has released a top
10 list of favourite Bond fi lm locales and, in a creative bid
to make the exercise actionable, supported each choice
with a recommended tour package. The list (from one
to 10) includes: Istanbul (several films, including Skyfall) – package with Air Transat Holidays (ATH); Venice
(several films, including From Russia With Love) – package, ATH; Jamaica (Dr. No, Live and Let Die) – package,
Sunquest; Las Vegas (Diamonds Are Forever) – package,
WestJet Vacations; The Bahamas (several fi lms, including
Thunderball) – package, Sunquest; Thailand (Man With
The Golden Gun, Tomorrow Never Dies) – package, Exotic
Tours; Mexico (several films, including Goldfinger) – package, Sunquest; Egypt (The Spy Who Loved Me, Diamonds
Are Forever) – package, Exotic Tours; Miami (several films,
including Casino Royale) – package, WestJet Vacations;
and Monte Carlo (GoldenEye) – air, Air Canada.
A complete list of packages and flights is listed at
www.thomascook.ca.
Meanwhile, here is a sampling of other Bond-related
bonanzas, many, as one would expect, centred in 007’s
home base, London:
• Madame Tussaud’s London has given the movie’s two
headline stars a Skyfall makeover (cover photo). Daniel
Craig and Judi Dench have been redressed in original costumes from the movie and repositioned in a new themed
Bond set in the recently revamped fi lm area. In the new
set, James Bond wears a navy single-breasted tuxedo,
white dress shirt and black bow tie, while M wears a black
woven suit, collarless silk blouse and silver coat. • Veenus Hotels and Experiences offers two-day Bond tours
showcasing more than 12 Bond film locations in London
(day one) and outside the city (day two) with a “highly
10
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1115PAGE10.indd 10
Film fans can channel their inner spy in London.
knowledgeable Bond specialist guide.” The package
also includes a martiniafternoon tea at a five-star
hotel, martini-making session, high-speed boat ride,
lunch at Pinewood film
studios, dinner and 007
movie night. The package is priced from £190 to
£330 p.p.
▶www.veenus.com
• Dukes London claims
that Ian Fleming brought
Bond to Life in Duke’s
Bar. The hotel package
includes a vesper martini
there, along with accommodation in a junior suite,
dinner, and Aston Martin
(Bond’s preferred ride)
rental for 1,068 pounds
p.p., per night, through
Jan. 13.
▶[email protected]
• London’s Radisson Blu
Edwardian Mercer Street
has introduced its own
Special Agents menu in its
Dial restaurant, showcasing some of 007’s preferred
food, such as scrambled
eggs and caviar, grilled
lamb cutlets in a red wine
sauce with mint-buttered
peas and garlic-roasted
potatoes, and vodka-marinated strawberry jelly and
cream.
▶www.radissonblu-edwardian.
com/mercerstreet
• In Toronto, Trump
International Hotel &
Tower has an over-thetop $17,007 Shaken Not
Stirred: Bond On Bay
package for two nights,
highlighted by personal
attaché service; access
to a Continental Bentley
GT for duration of stay;
admission for two to the
exhibition “Designing 007:
Fift y Years of Bond Style”
and two movie passes
to a Bond film at TIFF
Bell Lightbox; limousine
service; a designer cocktail
dress and Hugo Boss tuxedo (with private fitting)
for guests to keep, and
making martini lesson.
Available through Jan. 20
with the Promo Code
PKG007.
▶www.TrumpTorontoHotel.com
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
12/11/2012 2:33:51 PM
Anderson’s
Western Canada FAM
Book any Qualifying Rocky Mountaineer
2013 Rail Journeys before November 30th
for an Early Booking Bonus Credit up to
$1,500 per couple! Which can be used
towards additional room nights, meals,
activities and more!
Western Explorer with
Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf
Gold Leaf Service
8 DAYS/ 7 NIGHTS
Prices starting from
$3519
per
ITINERARY:
person
Day 1: Calgary
Day 2: Calgary - Banff
Day 3: Banff - Lake Louise
Day 4: Lake Louise - Columbia Icefields
- Jasper
Day 5: Jasper Sightseeing
Day 6: Jasper - Kamloops
Day 7: Kamloops - Vancouver
Day 8: Vancouver
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
12 Minute Summit Helicopter Tour, Banff
Gondola, Ice Explorer on the Columbia
Icefields, Vancouver Lookout, PLUS all the
Must See Sights of the Canadian Rockies.
(Pricing is per person, based on double,
plus applicable taxes)
WIN . . .
1 Seat on our 2013 Western Canada FAM
Valued at over $8000
// Visit www.canadatravelsolution.com and answer three
simple questions to be eligible to win the ticket.
Q1: On Page 8 and 9 of the Anderson Vacations
Custom Canada Brochure, name one package that
includes the Rocky Mountaineer?
A1: _____________________________________
NAME: _____________________________________
AGENCY: ___________________________________
ADDRESS: _________________________________
_____________________________________________
Q2: Which tour in Anderson Vacations Fully Escorted
Tour Catalogue, includes the Rocky Mountaineer as
an option?
PHONE: ____________________________________
A2: _____________________________________
EMAIL: _____________________________________
Q3: What new level of service has Rocky
Mountaineer introduced on its First Passage to the
West and Journey Through the Clouds routes?
IATA# ______________________________________
A3: _____________________________________
1115PAGE11.indd 11
Please Fax Entry to: 416-968-2377 or enter online
http://promo.baxter.net/contest/anderson.asp
Deadline for entries is Dec 21, 2012.
All entrants must be full-time accredited Travel Agents.
Only one entry per person.
11/12/2012 10:33:57 AM
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Hawaii/South Pacific
SPARKLING COVERS HAWAII
WITH CUSTOM-MADE TRIPS
With custom-made itineraries,
Sparkling Voyages has something
for everyone looking for a Hawaiian
vacation, as well as expert agents with
first-hand knowledge of the islands and
training in designing well-balanced
itineraries with personal touches. For
example, for travellers who wish to visit
several islands in Hawaii, while enjoying adventure and beautiful scenery,
yet wishing to have some leisure time
as well, can start their holidays with
a stay in Kauai, the Garden Island
known for some of the best hiking
trails in Hawaii and beauty of Napali
Coast, followed by a stay in Maui at
one of the most romantic and laid-back
resorts. Sparkling Voyages can also
offer exclusive ideas for honeymoons,
family retreats or adventure getaways.
▶www.sparklingvoyages.com
Kauai
ISLANDSESCAPES REVEALS
WHAT’S COOK-ING ON FIJI
IslandsEscapes…by Goway has a new
Great Value Vacation in Fiji incorporating an island stay, Captain Cook
cruise and a night on the mainland. By
booking 28 days in advance, travellers
can save 20% on the cost of their cruise.
IslandsEscapes’ exclusive seven-night
escape starts from $3,379 and includes
Let the kids sleep in late.
This is “us time.” Just before the
Room & Car package turns into
“where are we going next Daddy?”
MAUI’S NEWEST LUXURY RESORT
12
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1115PLA_HAW_S_PACIFIC.indd 12
866-728-5699 WWW.HONUAKAI.COM
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
11/12/2012 12:09:49 PM
roundtrip airfare from Vancouver,
meet-and-greet upon arrival, transfers,
five nights on Malolo Island Resort in
an Ocean View Bure, four-day Captain
Cook Cruise in a Stateroom with all
meals, most activities and an exclusive
$50 per cabin bar credit, traditional
Fijian entertainment, snorkelling and
coral viewing, and one night at the
Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa with full
buffet breakfast.
▶www.goway.com
SAY ‘I DO’
WITH AQUA
Couples dreaming of a Hawaii wedding that is “not only affordable, but
also stress-free” can say “I do” to Aqua
Hotels & Resorts’ No Commitments
Wedding Guest Accommodations
Program. No Commitments makes
“planning a Hawaiian wedding a
breeze” by eliminating contracts,
minimums and hassles. Aside from
standard cancellation policies, wed-
ding parties aren’t bound to minimum
room counts or contracts. Aqua will
work with a wedding party of any size,
and all guests can easily book through
the web site.
Group rates
In addition, Aqua provides discounted group rates with an array
of complimentary and customized
services and amenities based on
the unique needs of each couple.
Couples and their wedding party can
select from Aqua hotels on Oahu,
Maui, Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai.
Popular wedding sites include Hotel
Wailea, nestled in the hillsides of
Maui with scenic views of Wailea
Beach; the oceanfront, plantationstyle Kauai Beach Resort; Aqua Lotus
Honolulu with penthouse views of
Diamond Head and the Pacific Ocean;
and Aqua Ilikai Hotel & Suites adjacent to Waikiki Beach and Ala Wai
Yacht Marina.
▶www.aquaresorts.com/weddings
ANDERSON CLIENTS CAN RIDE
THE RAILS IN AUSTRALIA
Anderson Vacations, in partnership with Australia’s Great Southern Rail, has released an electronic
Australia Rail brochure. It is provided to Anderson’s agents online
as a selling tool and can be found
at www.downundersolution.com/
pdf/trainjourneys.pdf. Great Southern Rail is a “fantastic way to travel
across Australia and viewing the
vast landscapes presented by the
country. There is nothing more
stunning than awaking to find the
sun rising in the Red Centre, the
Blue Mountains rushing past, or the
golden farmlands found in-between,”
Anderson Vacations says. “When
travelling on the Ghan or Indian
Pacific, it is just a point-to-point train
commuter service, but rather an travel
experience that will provide a remarkable holiday.”
▶www.downundertravelsolution.com
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
1115PLA_HAW_S_PACIFIC.indd 13
TRAVEL COURIER
13
11/12/2012 12:09:30 PM
GOWAY SAYS DOWN UNDER
IS CLEARLY THE WAY TO GO
Goway Travel is continuing its
Sell Downunder Month initiative,
and to celebrate has a number of
deals. On the South Pacific Explorer
clients can travel to Australia, Tahiti,
New Zealand and Bali for 15 days
from $3,899. The price includes
three nights in Tahiti, three in
Auckland, four in Sydney and four
in Bali, with return airport transfers. Daily breakfast is included,
plus return airfares and taxes and
fees from Los Angeles. The Hot Go
As You Please Special is a 15-day
vacation that visits Tahiti and New
Zealand. From $2,949, clients receive
roundtrip airfares from Los Angeles,
all taxes and fuel surcharges, three
nights in Tahiti with airport transfers,
two nights in Auckland, nine nights
bed-and-breakfast accommodation,
and nine days car rental.
▶www.Goway.com
NEW AIR SERVICE
FROM KAHULUI TO HANA
Mokulele Airlines is now operating twice-daily flight service from
Kahului Airport to Hana Airport,
in partnership with Travaasa Hana,
Maui. Passengers fly aboard a nineseat Cessna Grand Caravan 208B and
enjoy spectacular views of Hana’s
coastline during the 20-minute flight.
Morning flights depart Kahului at
11:19 a.m., arriving in Hana at 11:40
a.m. It departs Hana at noon arriving
in Kahului at 12:21 p.m. The afternoon flight departs Kahului at 4:14
p.m. arriving in Hana at 4:35 p.m. It
leaves Hana at 4:55 p.m. and arrives
in Kahului at 5:16 p.m. Tickets are $59
each way. Travaasa Hana, Maui is also
offering complimentary roundtrip
flights for guests who book a threenight, all-inclusive package.
▶www.mokuleleairlines.com
www.travaasa.com/hana
TENNIS CHALLENGE
COMING TO MAUI
The United States Tennis Association Hawaii Pacific Section has
announced the men’s 2013 Maui
Challenger will be held at the Wailea
Tennis Club, Jan. 20-27, 2013. The
USTA Pro Circuit in the Hawaii
Pacific Section is one of the first
tennis events in the year, starting
on the heels of the Australian Open
and has the highest number of wins
by American players. In 2012, the
Challenger hosted over 60 players in
Honolulu, ranked in the top 250 in
the world. For information, contact
Melissa Pampulov at 808-585-9525.
▶[email protected]
VISITORS CAN GET PADICERTIFIED IN WAIKIKI
Waikiki Ocean Club is now offering PADI scuba diving instruction
in the waters off Waikiki. The full
introductory certification course is
AQUA Beach Boutique Hotels
BEACHLIFE
URBANVIBE
conducted by a PADI dive instructor. Equipment is provided and
basic scuba skills are taught during a 30-minute lesson. Initially,
divers will descend using the vessel’s
custom-built elevator to a depth of
4.6 metres to practice diving skills
and to get acquainted with the equipment. Once completed, divers will
exit the elevator for their first dive
in open waters. Cost for the introductory dive lesson and certification
is US$99 plus admission. Open to
participants 10 and above.
▶www.WaikikiOceanClub.com
BIG ISLAND OFFERS
REST ATOP A VOLCANO
First built in 1846, Volcano House
Hotel has been fully restored and
is open for business this fall. Sitting
on the rim of Kilauea’s caldera, one
of the most active volcanoes worldwide, the 34 guest rooms offer views
of Halemaumau crater and the rain
forest. Amenities include a dining
room, snack bar, lounge, gift shop,
and cultural events and demonstrations. For the more adventurous,
Volcano House also manages 10 newly refurbished camper cabins in the
nearby Namakanipaio Campground.
Volcano House is walking distance
from Hawaii Volcanoes National
Park Headquarters and the Kilauea
Visitor Center.
▶www.aquaresorts.com/island-ofhawaii/volcano-house
• Hotels on 5 Hawaiian Islands
• Each with their own unique personality
• Excellent service
®
• Great rates
• Plenty of FREE stuff
Call your preferred Hawaii tour operator or
toll-free 1.866.406.AQUA (2782)
www.AquaTravelAgent.com
14
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NOVEMBER 15, 2012
11/12/2012 12:09:05 PM
THAI RESORT
NOW BEARS THE
OUTRIGGER NAME
The Outrigger Phi Phi
Island Resort and Spa
has opened in southern
Thailand. The 156-room
property, formerly known
as the Phi Phi Island Village
Beach Resort & Spa, will
be run by Outrigger Hotels
& Resorts, the 65-year old
Hawaii-based company
that continues to expand
throughout Asia-Pacific
from its regional headquarters in Phuket, Thailand.
Outrigger took over the
sales and marketing of the
property in October of last
year. Since then, improvements have been made,
including the addition of
44 new Deluxe Garden
Bungalows. Food and
beverage venues have been
enhanced, and the gym has
been improved.
▶www.outrigger.com
CENTARA WILL
SOON OPEN FOURTH
PATTAYA PROPERTY
Centara Hotels & Resorts
will open its fourth property in Pattaya in March,
with the latest being the
five-star Centara Grand
Resort & Spa Pattaya. The
newly built nine-storey
hotel will have 161 rooms
and suites. The hotel will
have an all-day restaurant
named Oceana serving
international and Thai cuisine, and featuring a huge
aquarium. Other outlets
include a rooftop restaurant named Altezza that
will serve Italian cuisine
and comfort food against
a setting of ocean and city,
a deli called Crumbs, and
a French-inspired bistro.
There will also be a Spa
Cenvaree, a fitness centre
and a swimming pool.
▶www.centarahotels
resorts.com
THAI POND SERVES
AS A MIGHTY BIG
BATHTUB
Thailand’s Patara Elephant
Farm makes sure its longterm residents get a mighty
good scrubbing. The 36
elephants at the Chiang
Mai-area facility get regular
cleanings that they appreciate, says the farm’s Vikron
(Ben) Maneechoti. The
facility welcomes about 20
tourists a day who are given
brushes they use to scrub
elephants after they help
lead the massive mammals
into a pond, where their
skin is coated with soothing
water, part of the Elephant
Owner for a Day program.
Cleanings helping rid
the creatures of external
parasites, enabling them
to sleep better.
▶www.pataraelephant
farm.com
AIR NZ TAKING
AGENTS TO
MIDDLE-EARTH
Air New Zealand, the
airline of Middle-Earth and
official travel partner for the
highly anticipated movie
The Hobbit: An Unexpected
Journey, is offering two
agents a chance to win a trip
for two to the film’s North
America premiere in New
York on Dec. 6. The airline
is offering this “money
can’t buy opportunity” to
inspire agents across North
America about destination
New Zealand – the real
home of Middle-Earth. The
Hobbit trilogy was filmed
at a number of spectacular locations around New
Zealand, and it is widely
expected to increase tourism to the island nation.
Deadline Nov. 15
For a chance to win,
agents must register by
the end of Nov. 15 at
www.airnztravelagent.
com/hobbit. The lucky
winners (one from Canada
and one from the US) and
a friend will be flown from
their hometown to NYC on
Dec. 5 for the gala North
American premiere of The
Hobbit: An Unexpected
Journey, which takes place
on Dec. 6. The prize also
includes up to four nights
accommodation.
▶www.airnewzealand.com
HAL RETURNS TO THE
‘LAND DOWN UNDER’
In winter 2012 and
spring 2013, two Holland
America Line (HAL)
ships – Oosterdam and
Volendam – will sail a series
of Australia, New Zealand
and South Pacific cruises,
visiting more than 50 ports
where guests can revel in
the attractions of Sydney,
Melbourne and Auckland,
or explore the exotic landscapes of Vanuatu and Fiji
in the South Pacific. The
complete series of sailings ranges from 10 to 58
days and features for the
first time one of the line’s
larger Vista-class ships,
Oosterdam. This addition
represents almost a 25%
capacity increase.
▶www.hollandamerica.com
New Zealand
Luxury Coach Holidays
119 Day New Zealand Rail,
Cruise & Coach Holiday
16 Highlights of
New Zealand Tour
N
9 Day Northern
Spectacular
110 Day South Island
Spectacular
19 Day Grand Tour
Anderson Vacations, is the exclusive
provider of GPT in Canada!
Luxury Coach Holidays
www.downundersolution.com
d
l i
1-866-814-7378
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
1115PLA_HAW_S_PACIFIC.indd 15
TRAVEL COURIER
15
11/12/2012 12:08:38 PM
Mexico & Latin America
CANCUN SENOR FROG’S
SURE TO CATCH YOUR EYE
Should this vehicle be amphibious? A Cancun-area store offering
merchandise from Mexico’s Senor
Frog’s chain of often-raucous party
bars has a golf cart positioned
outside with a human being-sized
frog replica permanently positioned
in the passenger seat. The promotion on Isla Mujeres for a chain
famed for its offbeat ways (advising
Cancun visitors, “If you don’t like
our standards of service, please lower
you’re standards”) is eye-catching,
says Rodrigo Esponda of the Mexico
Tourism Board. Golf carts are a common form of transportation on Isla
Mujeres. But would Esponda want to
travel local roads with the massive
frog next to him? Definitely, he says.
“I think it’s great fun.”
▶www.visitmexico.com
SIGNATURE HAS MEXICO
OPTIONS FOR ALL BUDGETS
Signature Vacations offers properties
to suit all budgets and travel styles
in Mexico. Packages to Cancun and
the Riviera Maya can include the
Aventura Cove resort, the luxurious
Grand Yucatan Princess Platinum
Suites or the stunning Riu Palace
Riviera Maya. Those looking to
experience beautiful beaches, nightlife and culture can choose from the
Riu Vallarta in Puerto Vallarta, the
Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta in Riviera
Nayarit, or the Riu Emerald Bay in
Mazatlan. For a tranquil vacation or
an active holiday, visitors can choose
Huatulco and Puerto Escondido,
where they can enjoy the Dreams
Huatulco Resort & Spa. Those looking
for a little adventure can enjoy the
unique beauty of Los Cabos, with a
stay at the Riu Santa Fe or the Riu
Palace Cabo San Lucas.
▶www.signature.ca
16
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1115PAGE16-18.indd 16
Those visiting the Senor Frog’s store are sure to notice the golf cart’s passenger.
DIVERSE COSTA RICA
A SHOWCASE FOR
MOTHER NATURE
Relatively little Costa Rica carries a lot
of clout when it comes to showcasing
nature. Costa Rica native Joshua Reyes
told a Montreal audience recently
that his homeland has a “rich diversity in flora and fauna,” with Costa
Rica being home to 5% of the world’s
biodiversity, even though it only has
.03% of the world’s surface. The Central
American nation has more than 860
bird species alone, he reported. Exotic
wildlife includes howler monkeys,
which can be heard from 500 metres
away, promoting Reyes to dub them
the “Pavaraottis of the rain forest…
Their voices are very, very, strong.”
Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast sees
fewer tourists than its Pacific coast but
Reyes said luxurious vegetation awaits
those who visit a coast, Christopher
Columbus landed on.
▶www.proimagencostarica.com
PARADISE FOUND
IN RIVIERA MAYA
Riviera Maya tourist board spokeswoman Emma Gomez clearly
believes that her part of Mexico is
heavenly. “We call it a paradise here
because I really think it is a paradise,”
she says of a region found south of
Cancun and which is home to long,
sweeping beaches and jungle growth.
Much of the destination’s popularity
is linked to Playa del Carmen, the
ocean-fronting community home to
a huge number of bars, restaurants
and other tourism-oriented businesses. But Gomez says that Playa
del Carmen is only one side to the
Riviera Maya, with the destination
featuring nature retreats and Maya
archeological sites, including Tulum,
which rests on a bluff and has a dazzling view of the ocean. Sunwing
sends people to the Riviera Maya
year-round.
▶www.sunwing.ca
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
12/11/2012 3:17:20 PM
L ibe
1115PAGE16-18.indd 17
O rd e n
12/11/2012 3:17:20 PM
BOUTIQUE HOTEL ADDED
TO CABO INVENTORY
Los Cabos has announced the opening of a boutique property. Located
five minutes from the historic town
of San José del Cabo, El Ganzo, an
independent member of Preferred
Boutique Hotels, stands at the Marina
in Puerto Los Cabos and is scheduled to officially open its doors this
month. The property will offer 66
deluxe rooms, four master suites and
two signature suites, all of which are
oceanfront. Geared toward young
people, El Ganzo will offer the artistic
and cultured traveller a sushi fusion
restaurant, an organic seafood restaurant, vodka bar and rooftop night club.
▶www.visitloscabos.travel
NEW PARADISUS
RESORT SET TO OPEN
Meliá Hotels International has transformed the Gran Meliá Cancun property
into a luxury all-inclusive Paradisus
resort that’s scheduled to open its doors
Dec. 1. The new Paradisus Cancun is 15
minutes from the airport and 20 minutes
from downtown Cancun. The resort will
include adults-only Royal Service program, Family Concierge program and
Kid’s Club, four pools with swim-up bars,
six restaurants and five bars, a YHI Spa
and Health Club, meeting and convention space and a nine-hole golf course.
Renovations
The multi-pyramid architecture of
Gran Meliá Cancun will remain, while
a series of renovations and beautifications will “elevate the property to the
high design standards of Paradisus
resorts.” Family Concierge will feature
its own lounge with private check-in/
out, Internet access, a snack buffet and
premium drinks. Similarly, guests at
Royal Service suites will also have their
own private check-in/out lounge and
individualized butler service. Paradisus
Cancun is offering a special introductory rate of $140 a night, p.p., based on
double occupancy, through Dec. 22
and Jan. 10 to March 31.
▶www.melia.com
18
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1115PAGE16-18.indd 18
HILTON TO MAKE PERU
DEBUT IN LIMA THIS YEAR
Expected to open later this year and
already accepting reservations for 2013,
the 207-room Hilton Lima Miraflores
announces an introductory offer to celebrate the company’s first managed hotel
in Peru and the brand’s first Hilton Hotels
& Resorts hotel in the country. Valid Jan. 1
through Feb. 28, business and leisure travellers alike will be welcomed with special
introductory rates starting at US$159 per
night, based on double occupancy, including Internet access and breakfast. The
Hilton Lima Miraflores is in an upscale
area of Lima known for its shopping,
gardens and fine dining.
▶www.hilton.com
ECUADOREAN TRAIN TRIP
HAS SEVERAL ‘HIGH-LIGHTS’
Tren Ecuador now offers eight rail
routes along the Andean and the
Coastal regions of Ecuador, thanks to
the addition of two routes originating
from Riobamba. Tren del Hielo (the Ice
Train) will go from Riobamba to Urbina,
and the Senderos de los Ancestros (or
Ancestors’ Trails) train will travel from
Riobamba to Colta. Tren del Hielo has
large windows allowing tourists to
take in scenery, including Chimborazo,
Ecuador’s tallest snow-capped volcano (20,564 feet), as well as Altar,
Tungurahua and Carihuayrazo peaks.
Upon arriving in Urbina, visitors can
head to the Eco-Center, where traditional
agricultural activities can be observed.
The train offers typical dishes from the
Andes, including ice cream made with
shaved ice from the Andean peaks.
▶www.quito.com.ec
CHILE PACKAGES PROVIDE TWO
WAYS TO TOUR PATAGONIA
Chilean tour operator Latitud90 has packages offering both land and sea exploration
of Chilean Patagonia. Patagonia Between
the Fjords & Nature features three nights
at the Remota resort and three on the
Skorpios III cruise vessel for US$3,580 p.p.
double or three nights on the Skorpios and
four in Remota for US$3,980 p.p., double.
Rates include airport transfers in Punta
Arenas, and ship transfers; all excursions
offered by Remota, which has more than
20 guided tours; superior exterior cruise
accommodation; full board and open bar
both at the resort and on the ship; and use
of a spa at Remota.
▶www.latitud90.com
COPA AIRLINES TOUTS ITS
BROAD COLOMBIA PRESENCE
Panamanian carrier Copa Airlines is
making a pitch to those planning to
travel to Colombia. Copa, which also
has four weekly flights to Toronto, with
planes heading south from the Ontario
capital arriving in Panama City at 2:12
p.m., enabling those continuing on to
make same-day connections, Laura
Marin, Copa’s Canadian sales manager,
told a Toronto gathering. Copa, in business for 65 years, serves 11 Colombian
cities and 64 destinations in total. Marin
said Copa offers the likes of special agent
rates and a free Panama City stopover for
those continuing onward from Panama.
Marin also said her Star Alliance member airline – which ordered 42 planes
in 2010 – will also check luggage to the
passenger’s final destination.
▶www.copaair.com
BOGOTA MUSEUM EXHIBITS
GOOD AS PURE GOLD
One of the Colombian capital of Bogota’s
tourist attractions has a distinctly golden
hue. Maria Guzman of the Colombian
Trade Commission in Toronto told a
Toronto audience that Bogota is a “very
cultural city,” noting that its attractions
include the Gold Museum, which she
labeled a “can’t miss” for tourists. The
museum displays thousands of preColumbian gold artifacts. Those venturing into the Andes can see the country’s
Coffee Triangle and literally “wake up
and smell the coffee,” enabling themselves to learn about a crop that’s almost
synonymous with the country, Guzman
said. The coastal city of Cartagena is a
cornerstone of Colombia tourism, thanks
to its Spanish colonial architecture.
▶www.proexport.com.co
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
12/11/2012 3:17:22 PM
=c`aSZSQb`Sa]`ba
G]c`^S`TSQbZg
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The Beloved Hotel Playa Mujeres
Excellence Playa Mujeres
Excellence Punta Cana
Excellence Riviera Cancun
EXCELLENCE GROUP
LUXURY HOTELS &
RESORTS
ONLY FROM TRANSAT HOLIDAYS
Excellence Group surrounds guests with the lush romance of the tropics and
impeccable personalized service. Their philosophy is one of total wellness.
Complete with delicious gourmet cuisine, transforming spa treatments,
stunning accommodation and stellar service, Excellence is the very definition
of a romantic getaway for two… A vacation lapped in luxury, attentive
service and unparalleled comfort. Free wedding and honeymoon packages
are also available at all Excellence Resorts and The Beloved Hotel Playa
Mujeres. Strive for excellence and offer your clients the ultimate in luxury!
b`O\aObV]ZWROgaQ][
1115PAGE19-21.indd 19
12/11/2012 2:34:32 PM
Las Vegas
NEW HOTEL DEBUTS
IN DOWNTOWN VEGAS
The former Fitzgeralds Casino & Hotel
has completed its transformation
to become the D Las Vegas, a sleek
property in the downtown Freemont
Street block, at the centre of non-stop
party action. It features one of the
only two-level casinos in the city, with
the latest in slots/table games on the
first floor and a Vintage Vegas gaming
experience on the second. A total of
624 remodelled rooms, plus 14 luxury
suites, have amenities like pillow-top
mattresses, flat-screen TVs, safes, iPod
docking stations, high-speed wired
and WiFi Internet etc.
▶www.theD.com
CIRQUE WEEK WILL SOON
RETURN TO LAS VEGAS
Back by popular demand in Las Vegas,
Cirque du Soleil presents the third
annual Cirque Week Dec. 1-8, offering
fans the “experience of a lifetime with
access to an eight-day series of exclusive events.” Cirque Week offers fans
the opportunity to get an all-access
look into how extraordinary shows
come to life nightly. Cirque Week
packages range from $150 for a twoshow ticket package to $540, which
includes tickets to all seven Cirque du
Soleil productions in Las Vegas.
▶www.cirquedusoleil.com/cirqueweek
AGENTS WIN WITH
CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT
Caesars Entertainment has extended
its travel agent incentive program
– which rewards retailers for registering bookings at any of its resorts
– through Dec. 30. Simply log-on to
www.CaesarsTravelAgents.com to
register bookings under the promotions tab and by doing so, earn one
chip for each room night booked at
any Caesars Entertainment resort.
Chips are accrued throughout the
20
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1115PAGE19-21.indd 20
promotion and redeemable for
prizes, which include show tickets,
two-night hotel accommodations,
dinners for two, Diamond status,
and day passes to Qua Baths & Spa.
In addition, agents registering by the
end of the year will be entered to win
a three-night Las Vegas vacation for
two, including premium accommodations and show tickets.
▶www.CaesarsTravelAgents.com
IT’S A FOUR-COURSE
NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATION
A special four-course menu in
celebration of the arrival of the
New Year will be presented on
Dec. 31 at Sugar Factory American
Brasserie inside Paris Las Vegas.
Suger Factory New Year’s Eve prix
fi xe menu will be available at two
different dining locations. Priced
at US$150, guests can have their
dinner in the dining room, or for
breathtaking views of the Bellagio
fountains, guests can dine in the
outdoor seating on the patio priced
at US$250. The menu will be served
at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
▶www.parislasvegas.com
MGM GRAND COMPLETES
MAJOR TOWER RENOVATION
Las Vegas’ MGM Grand has
announced the completion of its
US$160-million room and suite
remodel in the hotel’s main tower,
marking a major milestone in the
PBR ROCK BAR
resort’s “Grand Renovation.” The
remodel, which began in October 2011, SET TO CELEBRATE
includes 3,570 Grand King and Queen PBR Rock Bar & Grill inside
guest rooms and 642 suites of varying Miracle Mile Shops at Planet
Hollywood Resort & Casino will
types, including the Skyline Terrace
ring in 2013 with a special New
and Skyline Marquee Suites.
▶www.mgmresorts.com
Year’s Eve bash on Dec. 31. Revellers
will be able to celebrate the New
PRIMM VALLEY CASINO
Year on the Strip-side destination’s
KICK STARTS BLACK FRIDAY
huge 3,000-square-foot patio, with
Beginning at 10 p.m. on Nov. 22,
prime viewing of the fireworks on
Primm Valley Casino Resorts will
the Las Vegas Strip and a televised
allow shopping enthusiasts to start
broadcast of all the action. The
crossing off their holiday gift lists
soirée will offer two options for
earlier than ever at the Fashion
partygoers, with either an indoorOutlets of Las Vegas’ Fashionably
only or full-venue access party,
Late Sale. A complimentary shuttle
from 9 p.m. until midnight.
bus will depart from the west wing of
$100 pre-sale
MGM Grand at 8:15 p.m. and arrive
Those that would like to party
just in time for pre-party festivities
indoors can purchase $100 pre-sale
at O’Mulligans Pub inside Primm
wristbands that include an open bar
Valley. Shoppers can toast the season
featuring domestic drinks, while
as they enjoy music and a drink on
patrons who want to enjoy access
the house before heading over to the
to the entire venue and an open bar
shopping extravaganza. Valuable
of premium drinks can purchase
coupons, complimentary appetizers,
pre-sale wristbands for $150 p.p.
prizes, and green savings cards will
Tickets to “the most rockin’ party
be up for grabs to all who join in on
on the Strip” can be purchased at
the fun (while supplies last).
the venue or at:
▶www.fashionoutletlasvegas.com
▶www.TicketLeap.com
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
12/11/2012 2:34:34 PM
THINK
OUTSIDE
THE
STRIP.
TWO W O R L D -C L A S S D ES T IN AT ION S
M I NUTE S FROM T H E S T R IP A N D A IR P O RT WITH
CO M PL I ME N TA RY S H U T T L E S ERV IC E
R E G I STE R FOR U P D AT ES ,
SP E CI A L O FF ERS & FA M T RIP S
1 0 % CO M M IS S ION PA ID
8 5 5 . 5 6 5 .8 2 6 4 OR S C LV. C OM/ TR AVE L-AGENT S
E M A I L T R AV E L A GE NTS @ STATION C ASINO S.CO M
CONDÉ NAST
TRAVELER
RED ROCK
1115PAGE19-21.indd 21
RED ROCK & GVR
RED ROCK & GVR
RED ROCK
© 2012 Station Casinos, LLC, Las Vegas, NV
12/11/2012 2:34:34 PM
GIFTS FROM
ROYAL CARIBBEAN
With Christmas just around the
corner, Royal Caribbean is making
it more compelling to give the gift
of a cruise by offering savings ranging from $50 to $1,000 on all 2013
Bermuda, Bahamas, Caribbean,
Canada, Europe, and transatlantic
sailings during November. Complete
details on the offer are available at
www.RoyalCaribbean.com/together.
Cruises must be booked between Nov.
1-30, and agents are advised to use the
promotion code SKC9 at the time of
booking or applied to the booking by
Nov. 30. Limit one offer per stateroom
and additional restrictions apply.
▶www.RoyalCaribbean.com
PRIVILEGE FARES
FROM SILVERSEA
Silversea Cruises has set sail with
its new Silver Privilege fares, now
available on all of its sailings. Fares
are structured to make the cruise
buying decision easier by offering
guests one simple low fare for their
desired suite. These new cruise-only
fares will reward guests who book
early with the best possible fare and
the privilege of being able to select
their desired suite when the best
inventory is available. These new
fares are easy to understand, so consumers know exactly what they are
paying for. In addition, guests will
still be able to customize their entire
vacation with Silversea’s optional air,
transfer, hotel and land programs.
Fare Gaurantee
The line is also introducing a
new Fare Guarantee Program for
all voyages departing on or after
June 1, 2013, effective for new Silver
Privilege bookings made on or after
Nov. 1, 2012. With guarantee program, guests are assured that when
they plan ahead and book early, not
only will they enjoy the privilege
of reserving their desired suite, but
they can also benefit from any future
reduction in the Silver Privilege fares
for their voyage.
▶www.silversea.com
CELEBRITY ENHANCES
‘CONCIERGECLASS’
Celebrity Cruises has added to its
plush “ConciergeClass” accommodations. Guests booked in ConciergeClass staterooms are still treated to
the full slate of services and amenities associated with the category,
including a bottle of chilled Blanc de
Blancs sparkling wine with a commemorative label upon arrival; fresh
fruits and flowers; daily delivery of
afternoon savories; pillow menu and
the Celebrity eXhale; personalized
stationery; oversized tote bag; special
room service breakfast menu; Frette
bathrobes; plush bath rugs; two hair
dryers; Hansgrohe massaging showerhead; use of in-stateroom golf umbrellas and binoculars; custom-blended
bath amenities; a veranda table large
enough for dining al fresco; and
special services including priority
luggage delivery, dining time, shoe
shine service, and priority embarkation and debarkation privileges.
Priority services
Now, the list of services and amenities has been expanded to also include
even more personalized service with
hand-delivered, customized courtesy cards to ensure that guests can
directly contact the Concierge at any
time during the cruise for assistance
with special occasions or any requests
they may have. Additionally, priority debarkation services have been
enhanced to include an exclusive ConciergeClass pre-departure lounge with
complimentary coffee and juices.
▶www.celebritycruises.com
COSTA OFFERS FREE
NIGHTS IN ROME
Costa Cruises has unveiled a new
“Europe on Us” program that enables
guests to extend their cruise vacation
with a free two-night post-cruise hotel
stay in Rome, Italy. The package is
offered on select seven-, 11- and 12night roundtrip Civitavecchia (Rome)
itineraries aboard Costa Pacifica and
Costa Magica from Dec. 20 through
April 12, 2013. In addition to the hotel
stay, the package includes a one-way
transfer from the pier to the hotel on
the day of disembarkation. The offer
is valid on new reservations for first
and second guests booked in an oceanview or veranda stateroom.
▶www.costacruises.com
All the cruise you need!
All the time! www.travelpress.com/CRUISES/
22
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1115CRUISE.indd 22
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
11/12/2012 1:16:45 PM
NEW
DOUBLE
ACV & ME
REWARD
MILES
1
Air & Cruises
from Toronto
Carnival Cruise Lines
EARN
Carnival Dream
2,000 BONUS
AEROPLAN MILES
®
7-night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Maarten,
Round-trip flight to Orlando
Inside stateroom, cat. IS, Feb. 23, 2013
per
member2
759
$
Add taxes & other fees: $183
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International
Adventure of the Seas
Adventure of the Seas
7-night Southern Caribbean Cruise
7-night Southern Caribbean Cruise
St. Croix, St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados
Round-trip flight to San Juan
$
Inside stateroom, cat. M, Jan. 13, 2013
699
St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Aruba, Curacao
Round-trip flight to San Juan
Inside stateroom, cat. N, Mar. 17, 2013
1239
$
Add taxes & other fees: $123
Add taxes & other fees: $129
Norwegian Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises
Norwegian Pearl
Celebrity Silhouette
7-night Western Caribbean Cruise
7-night Western Caribbean Cruise
Great Stirrup Cay, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, Cozumel
Round-trip flight to Miami
$
Inside stateroom, cat. IF, Feb. 17, 2013
Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Haiti
Round-trip flight to Fort Lauderdale
Inside stateroom, cat. 10, Mar. 24, 2013
799
Add taxes & other fees: $239
OUR ADVANTAGES
› The service and reliability of Air Canada and
its Star Alliance partners
› Convenient connectors from 65 Canadian cities
› In-flight seat-back entertainment from gate
to gate on most flights
› Mobile app, web and mobile check-in
› Dedicated travel experts for groups of 16 or more
› Earn & Redeem Aeroplan® Miles
1149
$
Add taxes & other fees: $240
› Upgrade to Executive Class® service or
Comfort Plus seating
› Special extras from Privileges, our added-value program
› Pre-bundled or customized packages
› 15 industry leading cruise line partners, hundreds
of itineraries around the world
› A wide selection of hotels, car rentals, transfers and more
› Flight and best price guarantees
› Book your cruise online
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, are valid for bookings made by Nov. 16, 2012, apply to new bookings only and for
departure dates as indicated. Prices are per person based on double occupancy, unless otherwise stated, from Toronto - Pearson International Airport in Economy class. Flight to Florida based on O class availability. Flight to San Juan based on G
class. Non-refundable. Limited quantity and subject to availability at time of booking. Not applicable to group bookings. Further information available from a travel agent. Flights operated by Air Canada. For applicable terms and conditions, consult
the Air Canada Vacations brochures or www.aircanadavacations.com. Holder of Quebec permit #702566. TICO registration #50013537. BC registration #32229. †Aeroplan Miles vary based on points of departure and destination. For details, visit
www.aircanadavacations.com. For terms and conditions of the Aeroplan program, consult www.aeroplan.com. Q 1 Valid for new bookings made as of November 1, 2012 for departures January 1, 2013 onwards. 2 Offer of bonus miles applicable to
customers only. Bonus miles valid for travel from Jan. 1, 2013 and completed by Apr 30, 2013. Q ®Aeroplan is a registered trademark of Aeroplan Canada Inc. ®Air Canada Vacations is a registered trademark of Air Canada, used under license by
Touram Limited Partnership, 5925 Airport Road, Suite 700, Mississauga, ON. Royal Caribbean International Ltd. ships’ registry: The Bahamas. NCL Corporation Ltd. ships’ registry: The Bahamas and United States of America. Carnival Cruise Lines ships’ registry: The
Bahamas and Panama. Celebrity Cruises Inc. ships’ registry: Malta and Ecuador.
7039
1115PAGE23.indd 23
11/12/2012 10:33:26 AM
JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD
Agent seminars
Through Nov. 28
The Jamaica Tourist Board in Canada is inviting agents to register
for a Jamaica update seminar this
fall. As Jamaica celebrates their
50th Anniversary of Independence
throughout 2012 and into 2013,
there is no better time for agents to
brush up on their island knowledge
and encourage clients to make the
trip. Sessions are as follows:
• Western Canada: Nov. 28. TBC
location, Kelowna, BC.
• Quebec & Eastern Canada: Nov.
19, Chateau Moncton, Moncton,
NB; Nov. 20, Prince George Hotel,
Halifax; Nov. 26, Holiday Inn
Ottawa Downtown, Ottawa; Nov. 27,
Hotel des Gouverneurs, Montreal;
Nov. 28, Hotel Universal Quebec,
Quebec City, Que.
• Ontario: Nov. 15, Michael &
Marion’s restaurant, Barrie.
All sessions are trade show and
dinner seminars and will run from
6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Representatives
from Jamaican hotels and tour
operators will also be present to
answer questions. Go to http://
www.visitjamaica.com/canada and
click on “Seminars” to register.
Agents are asked to RSVP at least
two days prior to the date of their
selected seminar.
SANDALS
Agent workshops
Nov. 13-29
Sandals Resorts is hosting a second
series of comprehensive travel agent
workshops across Canada this fall.
As part of its 30-year commitment
to support agents with more training and more ways in which to earn
commission, the workshops are open
to all Canadian agents seeking to
become Certified Sandals Specialists
24
TRAVEL COURIER
1115CALENDAR.indd 24
and current CSS agents who need to
maintain their status.
The workshops will cover a wide
range of topics, including educational sessions across three brands
– Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts
and Grand Pineapple; new product
and partnership updates; sales
tips and techniques; marketing tools
and co-branding opportunities.
All participants will receive a workbook and collateral kit and also
receive a certificate upon completion
of the workshop.
Workshops run from 8 a.m. to
noon, and breakfast will be served.
Space is limited, and agents are asked
to register early. A non-refundable
fee of $35 is required at time of registration. Agents can register online at
www.uvisandals.ca/Workshops2012.
The Sandals 2012 Canadian Fall
workshop schedule is as follows:
Nov. 21, Edmonton, Hilton Garden
Inn; Nov. 22, Calgary, Hilton Garden Inn Calgary Airport; Nov. 27,
Timmins, ON, Cedar Meadows
Resort & Spa; Nov. 29, Windsor, ON,
Hampton Inn.
ATOUT FRANCE
Western road show
Nov. 20, 21
Atout France, the France Tourism
Development Agency and its partners,
the Provence Alpes, Azur Regional
Tourism Committee, Avignon – Palais
des Papes Tourist Office, Air Canada
and Gateways International, invite
travel agents to a “South of France”
event in one of three Western Canadian cities. The travel trade workshops will take place in Edmonton
on Nov. 20 at breakfast, in Calgary on
Nov. 20 for a cocktail event, and an
evening function in Winnipeg on
Nov. 21. All events are set in convenient downtown locations. Participants in each city are eligible to win
a three-night stay in Avignon and
roundtrip flights for two to France
courtesy of Air Canada. To participate (maximum two attendees per
agency), RSVP no later than Nov. 15
at [email protected].
AZORES TOURISM
Agent presentations
Nov. 19-22
The Azores Tourism Association will
be conducting a series of product
presentations for agents in Ontario
in November. The schedule is as follows: Nov. 19, Kitchener-Waterloo,
Holiday Inn Kitchener; Nov. 20, St.
Catharines-Niagara, Holiday Inn
and Suites St. Catharines; Nov. 21,
Hamilton, Courtyard By Marriot;
Nov. 22, Toronto, Sheraton Toronto
Airport (Dixon Rd.). All presentations start at 6 p.m. and include a
trade show featuring Azores Tourism, SATA Airlines and various tour
operators. This will be followed by
dinner and an Azores audio-visual
SKÅL TORONTO
Holiday Gala
Dec. 10
Skål Toronto Club is hosting its
annual Holiday Gala in Toronto at
the Arcadian Loft on Dec. 10. The
evening will include a cocktail reception, dinner with wine followed by
musical entertainment and dancing.
Raffle prizes will be awarded during the evening, including a oneweek all-inclusive vacation at the
Occidental Grand Nuevo Vallarta
resort. Tickets for the evening are
$100 for Skål Toronto members and
$135 for guests/non-Skål members.
Special overnight rates are available
at the King Edward Hotel.
▶www.torontoskal.org
presentation. For further details,
contact Ron MacEachen at:
▶[email protected]
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
11/12/2012 1:16:07 PM
CHINA
NOV. 28 – DEC. 4
Royal Scenic, Air Canada and China
National Tourist Office are hosting a
seven-day/five-night fam trip to Beijing and Chengdu, China. The trip
departs on Nov. 28 and returns on
Dec. 4. Prices start at $799 p.p. and
include airfare from major cities to
China on Air Canada, five nights
superior hotel accommodation, most
meals and sightseeing tours with an
English-speaking guide. The trip will
visit Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. There’s
also a chance to enjoy a Chinese traditional kung fu show. In Chengdu,
the trip will visit the Sanxingdui
archeological site, Chengdu Panda
base, a world-class facility to preserve the giant panda and the Leshan
Giant Buddha, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site with the largest Buddha
statue in the world. For additional
details, contact jonathan.murray@
royalscenic.com or call Royal Scenic at
1-888-302-8886 ext 3. To download
an application form, visit:
▶http://www.royalscenic.com/agent/
k2ss35/special/doc/famtrip.pdf EGYPT
NOV. 25
Tour East Holidays has a Nov. 25
to Dec. 3 Egypt fam trip that costs
$1,499 (plus air taxes of $550). The
tour includes a Nile cruise, a visit
to the Aswan Dam, a visit to the
Pyramids and the Sphinx, a trip to
Cairo’s Egyptian Museum, exploring Luxor and Karnak Temples, and
touring the Valleys of the Kings and
Queens. Three nights are spent in
Cairo, three on a Sonesta cruise ship
and one in Zurich. The trip departs
from Montreal with Swiss.
▶www.toureastholidays.com
Uniglobe Vision Travel is hosting a January fam to Israel (above).
THAILAND
NOV. 26
Chinapac has a 10-day Thailand
fam that leaves Nov. 26 and costs
$1,249 from Vancouver. That rate
covers air and land travel. The
cost is $1,349 for a companion
leaving from Vancouver and the
single supplement is $329. The
tour includes the capital city of
Bangkok, the historic River Kwai
and the ancient capital of Ayutthaya.
Also to be seen on Tropics, Temples
and Treasures is Kanchanaburi.
E-mail [email protected].
▶www.chinapac.com
ISRAEL
JAN. 23
Uniglobe Vision Travel has a 2013
fam to Israel. The trip is limited to
20 travellers and is designed to offer
a historical and spiritual experience. Eshet Tours, the Ministry of
Tourism, Air Canada and Uniglobe
Vision Travel are involved. The
departure date is Jan. 23 and the
return is Jan. 31. Participants must
adhere to these travel dates. The cost
is $2,099 p.p. Spouses are $2,499 p.p.
and are subject to space availability.
Single supplement is $499. Price
will include roundtrip air travel
from Vancouver (there may be a
surcharge for those departing from
another gateway). Flights are with
Air Canada via Toronto. The rate
also includes touring and admission
fees as per program, breakfast and
dinner daily, and special meetings
and seminars.
▶[email protected]
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
1115FAM.indd 25
TRAVEL COURIER
25
11/12/2012 12:50:20 PM
DESTINATION MKTG.
FEES MAY BE OFFSIDE
Some hotels in BC may be in for some
legal wrangling, if a newly launched
class action suit is certified for proceeding by the BC Supreme Court. A
total of 16 hotels have been named in
the suit, which seeks compensation
for charges that were apparently levied
without the consent of guests.
$3.75 per room
The suit alleges that destination
marketing fees were charged by the
hotels, at a rate of $3.75 per room
night, then collected upon check-out.
They were “charged without guest
knowledge or consent,” says law firm
Poyner Baxter LLP. The Stonebridge
Hotel in Fort St. John, plus 15 hotels in
Vancouver, were named as defendants.
SUNSHINE OPENS EARLY
AS SNOW KEEPS ON
Recent early season snowfalls in
the Rockies has set the stage for
another early ski resort opening,
with Sunshine Village welcoming
skiers and boarders as of Nov. 9.
Mt. Norquay in Banff managed
an unprecedented opening in late
October. The current snow pack has
settled to 65 cm, providing a solid
base for good early season skiing/
boarding. With above-average snowfall for early winter, Sunshine Village
is on track for another banner year.
▶www.skibanff.com
WESTJET STARTS NEW
ROUTE TO MANZANILLO
WestJet has launched non-stop
seasonal services to Manzanillo,
Mexico – the airline’s 80th destination, and seventh in Mexico.
WestJet flies between Calgary and
Manzanillo weekly on Fridays, with
26
TRAVEL COURIER
1115WEST.indd 26
Calgary departures at 10:05 a.m.,
arriving at 3:03 p.m. It will return
from Manzanillo at 3:50 p.m. WestJet
Vacations is offering vacation packages to Manzanillo, with all hotels
featuring beachfront views and many
with all-inclusive services.
▶www.westjet.com
www.westjetvacations.com
LONG-TIME NANAIMO
AGENCIES MERGE
Long-time travel agencies Nanaimo
Travel (est. 1953) and Around
The World Travel (est. 1959) have
merged to form the largest and
longest-established independent
travel agency in Nanaimo, BC. The
combined company will operate as
Around The World Travel, and is
centrally located in downtown
Nanaimo. The new agency is posed
to capitalize on a resurgence in
bookings with travel professionals,
as booking online become increasingly onerous. “With an established
travel agency that has been around for
almost 60 years and a combined team
of very experienced travel professionals, we are well positioned for this,”
said owner Nazir Hirji.
▶www.aroundtheworldtravel.ca
POLAR BEAR RESCUE
CENTRE OPENS IN MB
The International Polar Bear
Conservation Centre has opened at
the Assinboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg.
IPBCC will care for, rehabilitate and
transition orphaned polar bear cubs
rescued in Northern Manitoba. It will
feature a multimedia-rich interpretive
gallery, which will educate visitors on
polar bear awareness. The new facility
is a key component of the Journey
to Churchill exhibit currently under
construction at the zoo.
▶www.travelmanitoba.com
YT
AIR NORTH BACK
ON BOARD FOR QUEST
Air North, based in Yukon, has
returned as the official airline of
the Yukon Quest, providing flights
between Whitehorse and Dawson
City for race officials and veterinarians during the famous dog sled race.
Seats are also provided on flights for
staff and officials during the rest of
the year, and for flights to assist with
the Quest’s fundraising efforts. This
is the 30th year for the running of the
Yukon Quest, which starts Feb. 2 in
Whitehorse and stretches across 1,600
km of wintertime wilderness.
▶www.yukonquest.com
VAIL STARTS 50TH
WITH NEW GONDOLA
Vail, one of Colorado’s best-known ski
resorts, opens in mid-November for
its 50th anniversary season. Most significant of the celebrations is the debut
of Vail’s new state-of-the-art 10-passenger gondola. It offers a 7.5-minute
ride from the base of Vail Village
to mid-Vail with heated, cushioned
seats and WiFI access. This year, Vail
will host the Snow Daze (Dec. 10-16)
concert series and Family Holidaze
(Dec. 16-31), when the mountain is
transformed into a winter wonderland
– plus the Burton US Open (Feb. 15 to
March 2), the longest-running snowboarding competition in the world.
▶www.vail.com
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
11/12/2012 3:20:29 PM
Unwind inTexas. To plan your ownTexas adventure or to order
your FREE Texas State Travel Guide, Accommodations
Guide and Texas Map, visit Travel Tex.com.
1115PAGE27.indd 27
11/12/2012 12:25:27 PM
1115PAGE29-32.indd 28
12/11/2012 2:35:25 PM
AIR CANADA VACATIONS
Agents booking three Disney cruises
with Air Canada Vacations (ACV)
between Oct. 23 and Dec. 16 will
receive one free cruise for themselves.
Cruises available for booking include
Disney Dream: Nov. 25, 29, Dec. 2, 6,
9, 13 and 16. The free cruise includes
one oceanview stateroom (category
9B) for two on Disney Dream threeor four-night sailings departing Sept.
1 to Nov. 14, 2013. Government taxes,
fees, gratuities and shore excursions
are not included. Each additional
guest in the same stateroom is $199
(plus government taxes, fees and gratuities) and is non-commissionable.
▶www.aircanadavactions.com
JADE MOUNTAIN
Luxury St. Lucia property Jade
Mountain is providing agents the
opportunity to experience the resort
with its “Seeing is Believing” travel
agent promotion. Through Dec. 19,
agents can take advantage of special
rates. Rates for travel agents staying in
a Sky Jacuzzi Suite – including breakfast and dinner – through Dec. 19 Oct.
31 are US$259 p.p., double occupancy.
Agents wanting to experience one
of the Infinity Pool Sanctuaries can
do so for US$449 p.p., double occupancy, including breakfast and dinner,
through Dec. 19. Rates include all
taxes and service charges. For further
information, contact Canlink Travel
Representatives at 905-235-9091 or:
▶[email protected]
EXOTIK TOURS
Travel agents who “like” the new
Exotik World Book on Facebook
will get $10 in Thomas Cook loyalty
points in return.
▶www.exotiktours.com
RAIL EUROPE
Rail Europe Inc., distributor
of European and domestic rail
products in North America, has
introduced its “Book Acela, Get
$10 Amazon Gift Card” for travel
agents. For each online Acela booking made on Rail Europe’s dedicated
agent web site, agents will receive a
$10 Amazon.com gift card. The offer
is valid through Dec. 7.
▶www.raileurope.com
ADVENTURE CENTER
Adventure Center has introduced
a new agent incentive. For every
$1,500 booking (excluding air) made
during October on tours completed
by May 31, 2013, the small-group
specialist is offering agents a $50 gift
certificate for The Bay. Agents are
advised to quote promo code BEAR
at the time of booking.
▶www.adventurecenter.com
Tauck Europe Treasure Chest Contest
Book your clients on ANY Tauck Europe product between 1Nov and 15 March 2013
and earn a prize from the Tauck Treasure Chest
Level 1
4 Passengers Booked receive $100 Gift
Card from Tiffany & Co.
Level 2
8 Passengers Booked receive Apple TV
Level 3 10 Passengers Booked receive IPAD Mini
Terms: Valid on new bookings only from the same travel consultant. Submit all your booking
number details by email to [email protected]. Once bookings have been verifed
and passengers are under final payment, Prize level achieved will be sent to the agent.
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
1115PAGE29-32.indd 29
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12/11/2012 2:35:25 PM
GROUP TRAVEL
COORDINATOR
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Our Ideal Candidate is:
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[email protected]
30
TRAVEL COURIER
1115PAGE29-32.indd 30
EXPLORE OUR WEB SITE!
Travelindustrypersonnel.com
AND FIND OUT HOW WE CAN HELP YOU
We are celebrating over 25 years of recruiting for the
travel industry throughout Canada.
Our service is free to candidates. We maintain strict
confidentiality for both candidates and clients.
Or contact us:
Tel: 905-542-2989 or 1-800-717-4917
E-mail: [email protected]
Member of
Business Development
Manager –
Eastern Ontario & Atlantic Canada
Globus family of brands is looking for a
bilingual Business Development Manager
(BDM) residing in Ottawa to cover Eastern
Ontario and Atlantic Canada.
The BDM is responsible for the following results:
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sales volume increases
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new and developed accounts
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The preferred candidate must have noteworthy
experience in the cruise and/or tour industry,
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account management.
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your resume, with salary expectations, to:
[email protected]
by November 23, 2012.
Only those candidates who meet the requirements will be
contacted.
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
12/11/2012 2:35:25 PM
TRAVEL AGENCY FOR SALE
Independent travel agency in
St. Catharines.
A successful
licensed retailer for 30 years
and member of IATA and TICO.
Owners retiring.
E-mail:
[email protected]
SellOffVacations.com
is looking for District Sales Manager – Atlantic Canada
Halifax, Nova Scotia
RESPONSIBILITIES:
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‡0DLQWDLQDQHIIHFWLYHOHYHORIFRPPXQLFDWLRQZLWK%UDQFK0DQDJHUVDQG'LUHFWRURI6DOHV
‡,PSOHPHQWEXVLQHVVSODQVDQGORFDOPDUNHWLQJLQLWLDWLYHVWKDWZLOOVXSSRUWEXVLQHVVJURZWK
‡0DLQWDLQDQGGHYHORSSUHIHUUHGVXSSOLHUUHODWLRQVKLSV
‡(QVXUHEUDQFKSHUIRUPDQFHVDUHUHDFKLQJWKHFRPSDQ\REMHFWLYHV
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QUALIFICATIONS:
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ZLWKLQWKH7UDYHO,QGXVWU\
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SellOffVacations.com is an equal opportunity employer.
We ONLY focus on the
independent agent.
Can your current host say the same?
TPI provides:
- Industry leading commission splits.
Is your host agency one of
Canada’s 50 Best Employers?
Home Based Consultants
If you are an experienced Travel Agent and
want to grow your own travel business from
home, join Flight Centre and partner with
one of the top employers in Canada.
Join the market leading host
agency and turn your client
base into your dream business.
“Talk to us before you sign!”
Apply Online
www.applyfirst.ca/job22277
or call 1 866 474 3140
- Dedicated support desk, on-going training,
marketing, quality assurance, IT support,
ticketing, and accounting.
- Choice of GDS: Sabre or Galileo.
- Our exclusive Velocity incentive program.
- Top-tier supplier commission levels.
Find out why agents from every
major travel agency chain and group
are joining TPI today.
Melanie C.,
TPI Manager, Training and Marketing
Please contact us at
866-627-2122 or [email protected]
All inquiries are confidential. Visit tpi.ca for more details.
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
1115PAGE29-32.indd 31
TRAVEL COURIER
31
12/11/2012 2:35:26 PM
FOR A LIMITED TIME!
Purchase a
2-Day
Ticket
And get the
3rd Day
*
FREE!
Canada Exclusive Offer...
**
Save 40%
at one of the three on-site hotels at Universal Orlando Resort
• For new bookings from now until December 31/12
• Travel Dates : Nov 25/12 – Mar 9/13
• Black out: Dec 21-31/12, Jan 18-20/13 and Feb 15-17/13
• Minimum Length of Stay is 4 nights. Can not be combined with any other offer,
subject to availability and is limited to capacity.
Loews Royal Pacific Resort®
Standard Room Canada Offer (EP)
Tax additional $17.06 per room per night
EXCLUSIVE!
KIDS EAT FREE†
in conjunction with the
Canadian Residents 40% offer!
137
$
CDN Per night
• Valid for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
(during restaurant hours of operation)
• One Free Child Meal with purchase of EACH adult entrée
• Children Up To 12 Years Old
• Valid for Kids Menu and Buffets Only
• Offer valid at the 3 resort hotels at Universal Orlando
and applies to select hotel restaurants only
Visit www.thomascookagent.ca
and click on the TravelGenie logo!
*2-Day Base Ticket and 3rd Day Free. This offer is not available for purchase at Universal Orlando theme parks. Ticket is for purchase and use by residents of the United States and Canada only. Proof of United States or Canadian Residency required. Ticket must be purchased
by June 16, 2013. Ticket is valid for any three (3) calendar days of admission to Universal Studios Florida® or Universal’s Islands of Adventure® - one (1) theme park per day, during regular theme park operating hours-within a fourteen (14) consecutive calendar day period
beginning with the first day of use. Ticket also includes fourteen (14) consecutive calendar days of admission to Universal CityWalk clubs; some clubs require 21 and older for admission with valid photo ID. Ticket expires in full on June 30, 2013; any unused days shall be
forfeited. Limit six (6) tickets per purchase. Excludes parking admission to separately ticketed events and venues at either of the theme parks and Universal CityWalk. Ticket is non-transferable, non-refundable, and may not be copied or resold. Additional restrictions apply and
benefits are subject to change without notice.**Offer valid for residents of Canada only. Valid identification must be presented at check-in. Promotional discount is based on savings from seasonal rates. Discount is valid for stays most nights for travel 11/25/12- 3/9/13. Price for
hotel only is per room per night based on a 7-night stay in double occupancy and valid for travel from December 5 to December 12/12. Prices and availability are subject to change without prior notification and was available on November 5/12. The number of rooms available
at this savings is limited. Rates vary for other room types. No group rates or other discounts apply. Rates are higher on Fri/Sat and holidays. Offer must be booked by 12/31/12. Blackout dates include 12/21/12 – 12/31/12, 1/18/13 – 1/20/13, 2/15/13 – 2/17/13 and other
restrictions may apply and are subject to change without notice. Reservations must be made in advance of arrival and are subject to availability. †Each child(ren) must be accompanied by an adult/legal guardian at all times and provide voucher, per meal, per child(ren) and valid
onsite hotel room key card. One free child meal with purchase of each adult entrée, valid for children up to and including age 12 dining from Kids Menu or buffet at breakfast, lunch & dinner. Gratuity not included. Offer applies to select hotel restaurants only, days/hours of
operation may vary. Not valid at Bice Ristorante, Palm Restaurant or Tchoup Chop. Not valid for room service. Cannot be combined with any other offers, promotions, or discounts. Other rate program restrictions may apply. Offer subject to availability and to change without
notice. Universal elements and all related indicia TM & © 2012 Universal Studios. © 2012 Universal Orlando. All rights reserved. Fun Sun Vacations & Holiday House are wholly-owned divisions of Thomas Cook Canada Inc. 75 Eglinton Ave. E., Toronto, ON M4P 3A4, Ont.
Reg: 50012702. Visit www.thomascookagent.ca for full terms & conditions.
PG30050
1115PAGE29-32.indd 32
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