TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

THE HOLIDAY NETWORK WINS MERIT AWARD

The Holiday Network wins Merit Award for 2007

Chris Rivers, VP, Network, Thomas Cook Canada

Recently, TRAVELHotNews.com awarded the winners of the Merit Awards 2007. Chris Rivers, VP, Network, Thomas Cook Canada, accepted the award for Wholesaler or Consolidator of the Year on behalf of The Holiday Network. The Holiday Network won for the category of best wholesaler or consolidator of the year. According to Rivers, they won because they are recognized as having a consistent and quality product. “It is great to win any kind of recognition,” Rivers told TRAVELHotNews. “I think agents feel comfortable working with us, because we offer a consistent and price comparable product. The Holiday Point Program has been very well accepted and has been around for four years. We work with only top quality airlines and agents know that.”

G.A.P ADVENTURES CONTEST WINNER

Robyn Mullen from Flight Centre Metro Hall, Toronto, wins iPod Touch

Brad Ford, Director of Sales, Americas; winner Robyn Mullen, Flight Centre Metro Hall; Erin Buttler, Sales Support Specialist; Monty Walsh, Sales Manager - Preferred

Robyn Mullen from Flight Centre Metro Hall in Toronto recently won an iPod Touch, courtesy of G.A.P Adventures. Robyn was the lucky winner after booking online through G.A.P Adventures’ agent-friendly booking interface, Sherpa (gapadventures.com/sherpa), the adventure industry’s most complete online booking engine. Agents can use this site to create new bookings and options, make amendments, download trip documents and order new brochures. Visit Sherpa regularly, for the latest news on incentives and promotions.

TRANSAT’S FREE ROME CAR RENTAL

Receive a free car rental when booking 2 seats to Rome with Transat

Transat Holidays is offering a special Rome deal – simply book 2 seats to Rome with Transat, and receive a free car rental. Depart from Toronto to Rome on May 3, 10, 17 and 24 for $699 per person plus taxes and get a free car rental with Maggiore and National. Car rental is based on cat B super inclusive, with Manual transmission (unless otherwise stated), air-conditioning, and AM/FM stereo cassette or CD player. Offer is also valid for June and July departures starting from $899 per person plus taxes. For more information or reservations contact Transat Holidays Reservations Department in Toronto at 416-847-8600 or 1-800-5-Transat.

ASIA NOW ROADSHOWS

Malaysia recently celebrated her 50th year of independence
Ottawa, Montreal, Edmonton shows take place from Apr. 22-Apr. 24
Six key Asia destinations have joined to form the Asia Now partnership for 2008. The China National Tourist Office (CNTO), Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), Tourism Malaysia (TM), the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) are participating in the “ASIA NOW ROADSHOW” in 3 cities throughout Canada in April. The events will take place in Ottawa on Apr. 22, Montreal on Apr. 23, and Edmonton on Apr. 24. This special event, supported by the CITC, will provide an update on each destination and will introduce the new 2008 Spring/Summer programs of preferred partners. In each city, there will be destination presentations as well as an “Asia Now Challenge” game show covering all Asia Now destinations - China, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. For more information and to sign up, visit the TRAVELHotNews Events Calendar.

EMIRATES TO SERVE SAN FRANCISCO

Second West Coast gateway to be added on Oct. 26, 2008

Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

Emirates plans to launch service to San Francisco as of this fall, following last month’s announcement launching Los Angeles. The airline will fly non-stop from Dubai to San Francisco starting Oct. 26, 2008, taking its total number of U.S. destinations to four. The airline will use its newest planes for the route, the Boeing 777-200LR, which offers 266 seats in a three class configuration. The service will additionally offer 10 tonnes of cargo capacity in both directions. The distance between the two cities is 8,103 miles, which is about a 16 hour journey to San Francisco. The return flight will be 15 hours 40 minutes. The new service will operate out of the International Terminal at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), one of the world’s 30 busiest airports. Read on for the detailed schedule. [Full text and pictures]

UNITED, AER LINGUS CODESHARE

Agreement comes into effect Nov. 2008, pending government approval

United Airlines and Aer Lingus have signed an agreement to offer codeshare flights, which would expand the international destinations and frequent flyer benefits offered to customers of both carriers. The proposed agreement would result in more flight options for customers traveling between the United States and Ireland. The carriers also plan to give customers of United's Mileage Plus and Aer Lingus’ Gold Circle Club programs the opportunity to redeem miles to travel to new destinations and to accrue frequent flyer miles on select flights. The agreement between the two carriers is pending government approval and is expected to begin around November 1. [Full text and pictures]

CHINA SUSPENDS MULTIPLE ENTRY VISAS

China suspends multiple entry visas, slows visa processing in Hong Kong

Canadian Press
Travel agents say China has stopped issuing multiple-entry visas and is slowing visa processing for travel to the mainland. The Chinese Foreign Ministry denies there has been any change in policy. But local travel agents say authorities in several cities, including Hong Kong, have told them of the changes. They say the restrictions went into effect in late March and are to continue until after the Beijing Olympics in August. They speculate that Chinese officials may have ordered the restrictions to keep tighter watch on tourists ahead of the Olympics following widespread international condemnation of Beijing's crackdown in Tibet. Andrew Work, executive director of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, says the move is already causing hardship for chamber members who frequently travel to China on business. [Full text and pictures]

CANADA’S AIRLINES IN THE BLACK

Canada's airline industry likely to post profit of $150M in 2008
Canadian Press

Canada's airline industry can expect to post ``modest profits'' of $150 million in 2008 as rising costs and competition offset increased demand for travel, the Conference Board of Canada said Wednesday. The private-sector think-tank said profits will remain thin over the next five years, despite healthy revenue growth and lower maintenance costs because of the high loonie. In its report, ``Canadian Industrial Outlook: Canada's Air Transportation Industry, Winter 2008,'' the Conference Board said fuel prices and labour costs should moderate somewhat starting this year, easing some of the upward pressure on costs. Industry costs, however, are expected to rise by an average of 6.5 per cent annually over the next five years. [Full text and pictures]