TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

Awards of merit 2007

Who will be the personality of the year 2007?
You have until January 20, 2008
to submit your candidates.

ACV ADDS CAYO SANTA MARIA

Air Canada Vacations adds Cayo Santa Maria to list of new destinations, launches inaugural flight to Cuban destination
Charmaine Pang

Howard Bohan, VP operations, GTAA; Nieves Ricardo, marketing assistant with Elias Bestard, director, Cuba Tourist Board; Nino Montagnese

Air Canada Vacations yesterday celebrated the first flight to their newest destination, Cayo Santa Maria in Cuba. The new non-stop charter flight was launched from Toronto's Pearson International Airport. The inaugural flight was full, with 120 passengers who were ready to begin their holiday celebrations in warm, sunny Cuba. A ribbon-cutting ceremony featured Air Canada Vacations' Nino Montagnese, senior director of sales; Elias Bestard, director of the Cuba Tourist Board and Howard Bohan, vice president of operations for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA). Read on for more news and photos. [Full text and pictures]

MEXICO'S HIDDEN TREASURES

Mexico Tourist Board and Mexicana Airlines showcase audiovisual presentation by artist Peter Langer, announce photo contest winners
Charmaine Pang

Monica Garcia, deputy director, Mexico Tourist Board with photo contest winners, Jorge Sandoval and Xochitl Finch; photographer Peter Langer

Yesterday evening at the Art Square Gallery and Café in Toronto, the Mexico Tourist Board and Mexicana Airlines unveiled the 'hidden treasures of Mexico' through the world of photography. A reception was held before the show started, allowing guests to enjoy cocktails, refreshments and traditional Mexican snacks. The Mexico Tourist Board's deputy director, Monica Garcia, announced three winners of a Mexico photography contest held in partnership with Toronto Hispano magazine. The third place winner was Patricia Banks; the second place winner Xochitl Finch, who won a digital camera; and the first prize went to Jorge Sandoval, who won a trip to Yucatan. Read on for more details and photographs. [Full text and pictures]

TRAVELHOTNEWS.COM WISHES YOU A MERRY.

Thank you to our readers for making the year a success!

'Tis the season to be jolly, and TRAVELHotNews.com would like to wish our readers a very happy holiday season. Your comments and suggestions are always appreciated, and you're the reason why TRAVELHotNews.com is a success. The Logimonde / ACT Communications team wishes you the best of the season with your friends and family. TRAVELHotNews.com's office will be closed for the holidays from December 24-26, but will resume publishing the magazine on December 27th and December 28th. With added readership, additional features and extensive event coverage, TRAVELHotNews.com is your magazine for the latest travel industry news. Happy holidays to all!

PASSPORT REQUIREMENT TO BE DELAYED?

Land entries to the U.S. likely won't require passports until middle of 2009; an extra year to get ready

Passports won't be necessary for Americans and Canadians entering the United States by land until mid-2009 - a year later than planned - if a budget bill passed Thursday by Congress is approved by President George W. Bush. A provision of a budget bill passed Thursday pushes back by a year the plan by the Department of Homeland Security to require passports from border-crossers from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean as a way of strengthening national security. U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy, a Democrat from Vermont, said he expects Bush to sign the bill, despite the administration's insistence on implementing the passport requirement next summer. [Full text and pictures]

AWARDS OF MERIT 2007

TRAVELHotNews.com Awards of Merit 2007 - submit an individual or company for this year's awards

TRAVELHotNews.com will be conducting the first annual Awards of Merit 2007. Nominate yourself, a deserving co-worker or your company today. It's time to recognize the hard work of travel professionals in Canada! Click here to submit a nomination. Submissions will be accepted until January 20, 2008.
Individual categories:
-Travel Agent of the Year
-Personality of the Year
-Reservation Agent of the Year (wholesaler and consolidator)
-Representative of the Year (wholesaler, cruises, insurance, hotel chains, airlines, etc.)
Continue reading to learn about all the categories accepting nominations. [Full text and pictures]

PORTER BEGINS TREMBLANT FLIGHTS

Direct seasonal flights to Mont Tremblant start Dec. 22nd

Porter begins winter service to Mont Tremblant International Airport from Toronto City Centre Airport (TCCA) this weekend. Flights start on December 22, 2007, and run until March 30, 2008. Passengers flying Porter from downtown Toronto can reach the ski hill in just 70 minutes. Flights to Mont Tremblant include Monday, Wednesday and weekend flights over the holidays, and continue with regular weekend service into the spring. Regular weekend service begins Jan. 7, with one Toronto-Mont Tremblant round-trip on Saturday mornings and another round-trip on Sunday evenings. An additional Mont Tremblant-TCCA flight is available on the Feb. 18 Ontario provincial holiday. Read on for the schedule. [Full text and pictures]

ANDERSON VACATIONS' NEW GM

First Calgary employee returns as company GM

Lisa MacDonald, General Manager, Anderson Vacations

Anderson Vacations has announced the appointment of Lisa MacDonald to the newly created position of general manager. MacDonald was the first employee of Anderson's Southern Alberta office in Calgary, and helped build the original Perfect F.I.T. Canada program, which Anderson is now known for around the globe. MacDonald returns to Anderson Vacations after two years with Pacesetter Travel in Calgary. "I am very excited to be re-joining the Anderson team," says MacDonald. "We are moving Anderson into the next level, and I love being apart of the growth and success of a company that has strategic goals, and makes them happen." [Full text and pictures]