Archives August 29, 2007 Travel News

CARIBBEAN GOES NORTH!

Caribbean Goes North road show in Kelowna, B.C.

Back Row: Elly Johnson - Bermuda Department of Tourism; Stephen Johnson - Bahamas Tourist Office; Traci Farden - Carnival Cruise Lines; Freddie Marsh - Real Resorts; Winston Chang - Sandals-Beaches. Front Row: Edna Ray - Air Canada Vacations; June Chapman - Jamaica Tourist Board; Karen Stephenson - Grenada Board of Tourism; Ricky Goldman - Barbados Hotels; Lana Lubon - St. Lucia Tourist Board

The ‘Caribbean Goes North’ team kicked off a series of B.C. agent presentations earlier this week. Edna Ray, Air Canada Vacations Western Region Sales Manager, opened the event by welcoming 40 Kelowna-area travel agents who attended. Ray explained that the goal of the Caribbean Goes North road shows is "to provide and share information and give the tools to sell the Caribbean." This is the third year of Caribbean Goes North, and the road show continues to evolve with the inclusion of a cruise ship company, represented by Carnival Cruise Lines. New this year were Grenada, Bermuda and St. Lucia. The road show will continue on its way to Kamloops, Nanaimo and Parksville.

PASSPORT DATES PUSHED BACK

Tourism Minister Jim Bradley

Passport requirements for US-CAN land crossings delayed ‘til June 2009; enhanced drivers’ licences may be accepted
The Ontario government has successfully lobbied the U.S. administration to take a step back with passport requirements. Tourism Minister Jim Bradley said, “By working with like-minded U.S. legislators, we have already seen the deadline for requiring a passport at land crossings pushed back 17 months to June 2009. Now the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is advocating Ontario’s youth exemption suggestions.” Prior to confirming a final rule, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is seeking comment on its new proposal to exempt children under 16 and youths under 19 travelling in organized groups from the passport requirement. The department’s new proposed rule mirrors earlier suggestions made by Ontario. [Full text and pictures]

ALL’S WELL WITH CLUB MED

Club Med Village Cancun Yucatan

Club Med issues hurricane report; no damages in Cancun Yucatan, other resorts fully operational
This morning, Club Med issued a report on the state of their resorts in areas affected by Hurricane Dean. Their Club Med Village in Cancun Yucatan was spared, due to the lessened effect of Dean. The resort was closed on Monday August 21, and reopened on Thursday August 23rd. As reported previously in TRAVELHotNews, Les Boucaniers (Martinique) suffered only minor landscaping damages. The resort is now fully operational, as is La Caravelle (Guadeloupe).

CHINA FAM WITH CNTO, HKTB, CX

China National Tourist Office, Hong Kong Tourist Board, Cathay Pacific FAM in November 2007

Shanghai at night

Full-time Canadian travel agents, working at an IATA-appointment agency and who have a minimum of five years’ experience, are being invited on a China National Tourist Office/Cathay Pacific/Hong Kong Tourist Board Agent Familiarization tour due to take place in November 2007. The tour will include the best of Shanghai, Hangzhou and Hong Kong, three of the most exciting cities in Asia. Shanghai is world-famous for its rich historical and cultural treasures and for its rapid growth. Hangzhou is China’s capital of leisure that has been acclaimed as a “Heaven on Earth”. Hong Kong is renowned as a world-class city. With its Chinese and colonial heritage – 5,000 years of Chinese history and 150 years of British administration – it is a place like no other. [Full text and pictures]

CELEBRATE CUBA WITH A CRUISE!

Wayward Princess, the venue of Cuba's event

Cuba Tourist Board invites agents to celebrate the last days of summer and learn about Varadero on a summer night cruise
As summer is cooling down, Cuba Tourist Board wants to heat things up with a harbour cruise on Tuesday September 4th to present Varadero. Attendees to the event will learn what’s new for the upcoming winter season and they will learn why Canadians’ love affair with this part of Cuba is never-ending. For more information on the event and to register, visit the TRAVELHotNews Events Calendar here.

ETIHAD HONOURS TRAVELWIDE FOR SUPPORT

Etihad representatives and Travelwide staff

Travelwide agency receives representatives from Etihad
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, recently honoured the Travelwide agency for their support. Here at the offices of Travelwide are Etihad representatives and the staff of Travelwide. Seated, from left to right, are Saba Abid, Abid Latif, and Janet Rivers. Standing, from left to right, are Nadeem Malik, Muhammad Peracha, Jemshaid Mahmood, Tagdees Ahmad and Mohammad Sohail.

EL AL: POSITIVE Q2 RESULTS

Revenues rise 6 per cent in 2007; attributed to pax growth, improvements

EL AL's 777

EL AL, the national airline of Israel, continues to fulfill its projections as revenues rose by 6 per cent in the second quarter of 2007 totalling approximately USD$453 million. This compares to USD$429 million in the same quarter last year. EL AL’s profit rose to USD$12.6 million this quarter, compared to a loss of USD$10.4 million in the second quarter of 2006. The airline attributes the increase in quarterly profit to growth in passenger traffic and the efforts made to improve service and the overall product of the airline. The load factor reached was 86.5 per cent. “EL AL remains the first choice and preferred carrier for all air traffic into and out of Israel,” stated Professor Israel “Izzy” Borovich, Chairman, EL AL Israel Airlines. “I believe that EL AL’s sound financial status will continue to serve as a solid basis for additional investment to support the company’s growth plans.” [Full text and pictures]