TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

WESTJET VACATIONS IS BACK!

VP John Hamilton says, “We have an axe to grind with traditional tour operators”
Charmaine Pang

The WestJet Vacations team

WestJet Vacations is back, and they have an “axe to grind” with traditional tour operators, says vice president John Hamilton. And they mean it. Last night at the Delta Chelsea Hotel in Toronto, a crew of WestJetters from across Canada showed 700 travel agents and media that they mean business. [Full text and pictures]

MALAYSIAN SALES MISSION TO CANADA

Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Minister of Tourism, Malaysia

Malaysia’s minister promotes country during 50th anniversary sales mission tour
Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Minister of Tourism, Malaysia, will lead a Sales Mission tour through Canada and the United States from Sept. 8 to 17, 2007. The mission, which officially kicks off in New York City with a cultural dinner event on Sept. 10. , will take the minister to Toronto and Vancouver, and conclude on Sept. 14 in Los Angeles. In each of the four cities, a special press conference and a dinner event will be held in the minister’s honour. The Canada Cultural Extravaganza Dinners, which will take place at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto and the Westin Bayshore Vancouver in Vancouver. [Full text and pictures]

SCENIC ENTERS EU

European River Cruising

Scenic Tours will be expanding into European river cruising
Scenic Tours, has announced it will be expanding into European river cruising, after the purchase of three new ships. The ships, which will launch in 2008 and 2009, represent a $70 million Canadian investment on the part of Scenic. “These ships are being built to the highest standard to date, and will have wonderful luxury facilities,” says Nicole De Wilde, Scenic’s vice-president of sales and marketing for North America. “In fact we have nicknamed them the ‘space ships’ as the private balcony suites are so spacious.” Over 80 per cent of the staterooms have private balconies, and measure (balcony included) from 200 to 300 square feet. [Full text and pictures]

ACV MEETINGS IN MEXICO

Baja, Mexico

Air Canada Vacations has offered tropical packages for business meetings
Air Canada Vacations is now offering tropical packages to resorts for businesses that want to conduct meetings with a exotic backdrop. ACV has announced that the key ingredient to any successful meeting is a relaxed atmosphere free of stress. Their “Tennis and Tequila” plan offers tennis matches and professional golf courses to follow up a company’s power-point presentation. They offer non-stop flights to Cancun from Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Halifax and all new as of December 22, 2007 from Ottawa. Air & Hotel packages start at only $1239. For a complete listing of participating hotels visit their website at vacv.com.

ACCOR SELLS TEXAS CHAIN

Red Roof chain

Accor completes $1.3US billion Red Roof Inn private sale
French hotel group Accor said Monday it has completed its $1.3US billion sale of the Red Roof Inn chain to a private consortium. Texas-based Red Roof Inn, with more than 325 locations nationwide, said in a separate statement that it would begin to evaluate potential locations for its new headquarters. Accor had announced in April that its was selling the Red Roof chain to a group made up of Citigroup Inc.'s Global Special Situations Group and Westbridge Hospitality Fund LP. Westbridge is a partnership between Westmont Hospitality Group, a global private hotel owner, and a number of Canadian pension fund managers, including a division of the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec and a unit of the Desjardins financial group. [Full text and pictures]

CANUCK NZ WEBINARS

New Zealand

Tourism New Zealand introduces web seminars for Canadian travel agents
Tourism New Zealand launches its first webinar series September 19, with the debut of the interactive training seminar webNZday. The webNZday series is free, designed to advance agents’ knowledge of the destination and how it appeals to such niches as adventure, culture, food and wine, and wildlife watching. The premier webNZday on September 19 will focus on a general overview of the destination and its tourism attractions, and will be hosted online from 10-11 AM PST and 1-2 PM EST. webNZday – or “Web New Zealand Day” – is a designated day of the week, dedicated towards all things New Zealand. [Full text and pictures]

QE2 TURNS 40

Cunard's Queen Elizabeth II

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 will celebrate her 40th anniversary with farewell launch
On September 15, QE2 sets off on a "lap-of-honour" around Britain to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her launch by Her Majesty The Queen on September 20, 1967. While the primary purpose of the voyage is to celebrate the anniversary of QE2's launch, two other significant Cunard anniversaries will be marked: the 100th anniversary of Mauretania's departure from the Tyne for her first sea trials on September 17 (the day QE2 will also be on the Tyne) and the 40th anniversary of Queen Mary's final departure from New York (September 22). For a complete itinerary of the QE2’s farewell voyage visit cunard.com. [Full text and pictures]

CLIA GETS FIT

CLIA announces the addition of fitness, wellness, spa and healthy dining programs
Among approximately 175 cruise ships belonging to members of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA); almost all have health and fitness facilities, with full-sized luxury spas and shipboard sports facilities among larger vessels. In 2007 and 2008, many CLIA member lines will offer fitness, holistic or wellness programs - both on board ships and on land - and themed cruises throughout the world, from the Caribbean and Europe to Asia, Scandinavia, the Pacific, Alaska and Canada. For a complete list of CLIA members and what they offer visit cruising.org.

ASIA NOW IN CYBERSPACE

Hong Kong

ASIA NOW has announced a new launch utilizing major websites
The ASIA NOW partnership of China National Tourist Office, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Korea Tourism Organization, Tourism Malaysia, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand announce the September 10th launch of a national initiative utilizing major websites and visitasia.com to highlight travel to these five key Asian destinations. The ASIA NOW campaign will include 16 major tour operators each offering a wide selection of packages to destinations like China, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia and Thailand. The operators include: Adventures Abroad, Air Canada Vacations, ATOURZ, Canada One Travel, ChinaPac International, Elite Orient Tours, Goway Travel, Indus Travels, Jade Tours, Premiere Tours, Royal Scenic, Silk Holidays, Tour East Holidays, Tours Hai International, Trek Holidays and Vision 2000 Travel Group.