TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

ISRAEL'S NEW MARKETING PLAN

Israel Government Tourist Office unveils new marketing plan to target Christian market in Canada
Charmaine Pang

Oded Grofman, Consul-Tourism and Director for Canada, IGTO; Arie Sommer, Consul-Tourism Commissioner North & South America, IGTO; Mark Dreistadt, President and CEO of Infinity Concepts

On Wednesday afternoon, the Israel Government Tourist Office (IGTO) held a lunch press conference to unveil their new Christian marketing strategy for Canada. Two representatives from the IGTO - Oded Grofman, Consul-Tourism and Director for Canada, as well as Arie Sommer, Consul-Tourism Commissioner North & South America, visiting from the New York office - were present. Mark Dreistadt, President and CEO of Infinity Concepts, a marketing company that specializes in the Christian market, also conducted a presentation. [Full text and pictures]

TRANSAT & NOLITOURS SUN PREVIEW FOR 2008-2009

Transat and Nolitours release separate brochures for upcoming sun season

Transat Holidays and Nolitours have released separate brochures for their 2008-2009 Sun Preview. Both brochures highlight the tour operators' products for the 2008-2009 Sun season. These products are available for booking effective immediately. Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba; Samana, Dominican Republic and Jamaica, to name only a few of Transat Holidays’ most popular destinations, are back this year. For Nolitours, the popular Cameleon resorts, exclusive to Nolitours, are available in Cuba and the Dominican Republic again this year. The Central and South American destinations, which Nolitours is renowned for, such as Panama and El Savador, are also back. [Full text and pictures]

COME VISIT ALBERTA

Travel Alberta hosts agent appreciation night in Toronto
Lisa Raffaele

Monique Morrison, Manager, Trade Development, The Americas, International, Travel Alberta; Vikki Ellis, Reservations and Sales Manager, Windtower Lodge Suites; Cindy Guay, Marketing Director, Alberta Central Tourism Destinations Region, Travel Alberta; Lindsay Jardine, Tourism Sales Manager, Calgary Stampede; Jackie Velcoff, Managing Director, Alberta South Tourism Destination Region, Travel Alberta; Joseph A. Hagopian, Director of Sales; Marriott Edmonton at River Cree Resort; Barry Dane, Manager, Leisure Sales; Tourism Calgary; Marney St. John, Director, Leisure Programs, The Americas, International, Travel Alberta; Derek Selinger, Illusionist, Speaker & Corporate Mind Reader

On Wednesday evening Travel Alberta and their eight partners hosted a travel agent reception at Toronto’s Montana Restaurant and Bar. Entertainment was provided by Illusionist Derek Selinger. The evening’s festivities, according to Marney St. John, Director, Leisure Programs, The Americas, International, Travel Alberta, were to toast off Toronto’s Ultimate Travel Show this weekend, which they are the destination sponsor. The evening was also an opportunity for the Alberta team to meet new faces, while saying thank you to long-time supporters. [Full text and pictures]

EXOTIK TOURS’ NEW 2008 BROCHURE

Get ready for spring and summer with Exotik Tours
Exotik Tours has released their new 2008 spring catalogue. The spring brochure highlights Exotik Tours’ best-selling destinations including Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, Russia, Bali and Thailand. Exotik continues to tout Tunisia as the perfect destination for clients looking for an all-inclusive getaway with superb sightseeing, including rich history and cultural excursions. European excursions to Spain and Portugal, as well as an extensive Asia program featuring China, Bali, Thailand and Vietnam offer your clients many options for travel. New this year in the Mediterranean section, hotels and excursions to Dubai have been added, as well as a 4-wheel-drive tour of Tunisia. Read on for all the details. [Full text and pictures]

AMADEUS WATERWAYS BROCHURE ERROR

Error in 2009 brochure for Amadeus Waterways; agents, take note!

Portugal's Douro River, one of the places where Amadeus Waterways sails

GLP Worldwide Expedition wishes to inform the retail travel trade in Canada that an error has been discovered in the most recent release of the 2009 Amadeus Waterways brochure for Europe and Russia. The error is found on Amadeus Waterways’ 14 and 21 day programs in the category upgrade indicator on pages 49, 53, 57 and 61 in the 2009 Waterways of Europe Brochure. The prices shown are for one week and need to be multiplied by the actual number of weeks (i.e. 2 or 3). Furthermore, the Early Booking Discount offer is valid for 2009 booking made and deposited between April 10 and April 30, 2008 as indicated in the release. In addition to the 7 and 14 day program early booking discounts outlined in the release there is also a 21 day program discount. Here are the summary of the discounts. For the 21 day program the EBD is $1,000 CAD per couple.

CELEBRITY BUTTS OUT

Celebrity Cruises will ban smoking in staterooms, verandas from Oct. 1, 2008

Beginning October 1, 2008, guests on Celebrity’s ships will enjoy fresher air as a result of a new policy that disallows smoking in Celebrity’s staterooms or on stateroom verandas. The policy also will reduce the number of public areas in which guests can smoke onboard. The new policy, created after Celebrity polled past guests, will result in a cleaner, fresher and healthier environment on Celebrity’s ships. Designated indoor areas where guests can smoke cigarettes include the port side of one lounge per ship and a designated slot machine area in each ship’s casino. The new policy also designates outdoor areas where guests can smoke. Read on for the full details. [Full text and pictures]

ETIHAD SPONSORS F1

Airline inks 3-year sponsorship deal with Ferrari F1 team; new theme park in Abu Dhabi to come

Etihad Airways has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with the Ferrari F1 team, the current Formula One world championship holders. The airline’s chief executive officer James Hogan signed the deal with the Ferrari F1 Grand Prix team, ahead of the opening of the first Formula One race of the season in Melbourne, Australia on Sunday 16 March. The Abu Dhabi-based airline’s name can be seen featuring prominently on the rear wing and side of the world’s most famous red cars throughout the 18-race 2008 Formula One season. Ferrari is also set to open a US $600 million, 2,500-acre theme park in Abu Dhabi.

AA'S 4TH DAY OF CANCELLATIONS

American grounds 570 flights Friday, marking fourth day of mass cancellations
Canadian Press

The cancellation of thousands of flights this week will cost American Airlines tens of millions of dollars, the company's chief executive said Thursday, but he said the carrier can withstand the losses. American said it cancelled another 570 flights Friday and disruptions will continue through Saturday as it continues to check electrical wiring in all 300 of its MD-80 aircraft. CEO Gerard Arpey said he took full responsibility for the airline's failure to comply with a federal safety rule designed to prevent electrical fires in the planes. American scratched more than 900 flights Thursday, the third straight day of major cancellations, while its mechanics worked overtime to check the aircraft and comply with the rule. The company said all its MD-80s would be back in service by Saturday night. [Full text and pictures]