TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

ADDISONTIME IN TORONTO!

Agents, suppliers pleased with quality of interaction and face-to-face contact
Charmaine Pang

The Toronto Addison

Yesterday afternoon, the Addison Show headed to the Toronto Congress Centre, providing travel agents and suppliers the industry’s best forum to do business and make contacts. Approximately 100 exhibitors, many of them participating for the first time, had a chance to meet face-to-face with almost 400 travel agents. Rex Armstead, President of ACT Communications, which puts on the popular travel trade shows, said of the Toronto event, “The general consensus from exhibitors was that it was a bit quieter than last year, but over all the quality of attendees was very good. We also had positive comments from attendees, who noted less Caribbean exhibitors [due to Caribbean Week], but overall this was a good show.” [Full text and pictures]

ACTA OPEN FORUM IN TORONTO

Travel agents and tour operators sound out on “The Wholesaler/Travel Agent Relationship – Is it Working?”
Charmaine Pang

Bruce Slade, District Sales Manager, Intair; Denise Heffron, Vice President, Commercial & National Accounts, Transat/Nolitours; John Hamilton, Vice President, WestJet Vacations; Lorraine Brisbois, Business Development Manager, Sunwing Vacations

Yesterday afternoon at the Toronto Addison Show, ACTA Ontario held an Open Forum for travel agents and suppliers to discuss the topic of “The Wholesaler/Travel Agent Relationship – Is it Working?” The survey was distributed to ACTA members in Ontario via TRAVELHotNews.com. Panel members were Bruce Slade, District Sales Manager from Intair, Denise Heffron, Vice President, Commercial & National Accounts from Transat/Nolitours, John Hamilton, Vice President of WestJet Vacations and Lorraine Brisbois, Business Development Manager from Sunwing Vacations. The moderator was Edward Bennington from the Air Miles Reward Program. [Full text and pictures]

TRAVEL IDOL TO END SOON

Last week for Travel Idol submissions

Transat Holidays and TRAVELHotNews wants you to know that this is the last week for Travel Idol 2 submissions, so send in your picture or your co-workers picture in now. To submit a picture click here.

WESTJET OFFERS $37 FARES

Airline celebrates fleet of 737s with special fares between Calgary or Edmonton to Vancouver or Abbotsford

WestJet today announced a one-day $37 fare for guests travelling between Calgary or Edmonton to Vancouver or Abbotsford. This fare is only available for purchase today, September 27, 2007 for travel until December 15, 2007. "In celebration of our fleet of 68 Next-Generation Boeing 737s, we are offering $37 fares to our guests in Alberta and British Columbia," said Bob Cummings, WestJet Executive Vice-President of Guest Experience and Marketing. Seats at these fares are limited and may not be available on all flights. New bookings only. 100 per cent non-refundable. Offer combinable with other fares. Flights may not operate on certain days. All fares shown are one-way. No advance purchase required. Taxes, fees and surcharges are extra where applicable. Visit westjet.com for more information. [Full text and pictures]

TRANSAT ADDS 7 MARLIN AGENCIES

Seven new Marlin Travel agencies join Transat’s Canadian travel agency network
Transat Distribution Canada Inc., Canada’s leading travel agency, announced today the signing of 7 new franchises over the Marlin Travel Network. This growth is in line with the recent launch of the new value proposition. These agencies are located in Woodstock and Bolton, Ontario; Winkler, Manitoba; Edmonton, Alberta and Kelowna, British Columbia. Marlin Travel will also be opening in two more Wal-Mart locations in Ontario by January 2008 (Markham and Aurora). While no ownership details change with the new Marlin Travel Franchise affiliation, the new franchisees are now linked with Transat. [Full text and pictures]

HOLIDAY HOUSE WINNER

Helen Mah of Edmonton Alberta wins Washington weekend getaway

Helen Mah, winner & Sheana Aronyk,Holiday House
This past summer, Holiday House ran a trip giveaway contest for a complete weekend getaway to its newest U.S. destination - Washington, D.C. Helen Mah of Travel Guardian in Edmonton, Alberta, was the winner of a complimentary weekend for two, which included a roundtrip airfare with Air Canada, a two-night stay at The Madison, as well as lunches, dinners and tours.

TORONTO AIMS TO LURE U.K. & MEXICO MARKETS

With U.S. travel flat, Toronto tourism officials woo other markets

The dollar's parity may have put a pinch in the travel plans of Americans, so Toronto tourism officials are going after people with pounds and pesos. Affluent Mexicans and Britons are the targets of new international ad campaigns announced Tuesday by Tourism Toronto and the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corp. ``This is part of our strategy to reach more high-value customers - people that will stay longer, spend more when they're here, take advantage of what Toronto really offers a visitor,'' said Andrew Weir, vice-president of communications for Tourism Toronto, an industry association of more than 1,100 members. Previous campaigns in the United Kingdom have been successful, said Weir, noting a trend there for spring and fall getaways that might only last four days and three nights. [Full text and pictures]

TOURISM SPENDING HIGH

Tourism spending rises for 16th straight increase, despite decline in non-U.S. visitors

Tourism spending in Canada rose in the second quarter - its 16th straight quarterly increase. Tourism spending in Canada was up 0.8 per cent, following 0.9 per cent growth in the first quarter, as spending by international visitors turned around and outlays by Canadians continued to climb. Spending on tourism by international visitors travelling to Canada rose 1.8 per cent during the second quarter of 2007, the first increase in a year and only the second since the end of 2004. The turnaround in the second quarter stemmed from a 2.9 per cent increase in the number of visitors from the United States, the first quarterly increase in 11 quarters. [Full text and pictures]