TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

THN.COM PROFILE: DAN LANGEVIN

Dan Langevin, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Softvoyage says keeping things simple is his everyday challenge
Lisa Raffaele

Dan Langevin

This month's TRAVELHotNews profile takes a peek into the life and views of Dan Langevin, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Softvoyage. Climbing up the travel industry ladder at a young age, Langevin made a mark for himself by becoming Contiki Holidays' president at the age of 24. Fresh out of school, Langevin knew that the travel industry was where he belonged. His mother worked for Air Canada, and his father owned several Budget and Rent-A-Car franchises. Langevin was accustomed to travelling and admitted he was used to free air passes available to him, until the day he received a letter while attending school at Ottawa University. The letter confirmed that now that he was over the age of 18, and in university, he wouldn't have access to passes anymore. Thus began his career in travel. [Full text and pictures]

MSC ENDS FUEL SURCHARGES

MSC Cruises eliminates fuel surcharge for all new 2009 bookings

MSC Cruises has eliminated the fuel surcharge for all new bookings for 2009 voyages beginning today. Last month, MSC eliminated the fuel charge on all cruises departing on or after April 1, 2009. At that time, MSC Cruises' management indicated that they were also considering eliminating the charge on all 2009 cruises should fuel prices remain stable or continue to drop into the new year. All guests already booked on a 2009 voyage with a fuel supplement will receive a shipboard credit identical to that amount. "In light of the current downward trend in oil prices, I am proud to announce that MSC Cruises is eliminating the fuel surcharge for all 2009 sailings and beyond," said Richard E. Sasso, president and CEO of MSC Cruises (USA), Inc. [Full text and pictures]

G.A.P'S ANTARCTIC ADVENTURES

G.A.P Adventures introduces 12 Antarctica itineraries; save clients $400 when booking before Jan. 31, 2009

G.A.P Adventures is introducing its new ship, the M/S Expedition on some brand new Antarctica itineraries. Your clients looking for the trip of a lifetime have 12 adventures to choose from. For a limited time, G.A.P Adventures is offering early booking bonuses of $400 off all expeditions booked by January 31, 2009. The M/S Expedition holds 120 passengers and your clients will have the choice of a variety of different categories of new top-of-the-line cabins including affordable doubles and triples, higher-end double cabins and luxurious suites. All rooms provide outside cabins with views (window or porthole) and full private en-suite bathrooms. Keep reading for more information and some of the itineraries available. [Full text and pictures]

SOUTHWEST, WESTJET LINK UP

Southwest Airlines links to WestJet at southwest.com; code-sharing begins in late 2009
Southwest Airlines today will offer the ability to book flights to Canada on WestJet via an online link to WestJet's booking portal on southwest.com. The airlines plan to announce code-sharing flight schedules by late 2009. Southwest Airlines does not offer service to Canada itself. The link for Southwest Customers to book travel and learn more about WestJet's service, policies, procedures, as well as frequently asked questions, is located at: southwest.com/cgi-bin/canadaTab.

GOWAY GOES APE

Your clients have a rare chance to visit endangered gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda with Goway

Goway is offering your clients the chance of a lifetime - the opportunity to visit rare, endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda. The tour operator notes that the United Nation's 'Year of the Gorilla' has begun - an effort to raise money for threatened primates. In addition, Goway reports that rare mountain gorilla twins were recently born in Uganda's Bwindi Forest - only the second time in recorded history that this has happened. Uganda is home to an estimated 340 mountain gorillas, half the world's population of mountain gorillas, and it is expected that the twins' arrival will cause tourism to jump in Uganda. Mountain gorillas are the main attraction for Uganda's tourism industry. [Full text and pictures]

AC TO LAUNCH MONTREAL-ROME

Air Canada has announced it will launch non-stop service between Montr�al and Rome to meet seasonal travel demand. Beginning June 20, 2009 the carrier will operate daily non-stop flights during the busy summer travel season.

SUNWING'S SUPPORT

Sunwing to introduce "Small Change Can Make a Big Change" project to raise funds for ONE X ONE foundation; helps support children's charities

Sunwing will be continuing its third year as a corporate sponsor of the ONE X ONE foundation, which was founded in Canada. ONE X ONE ("one by one") is a non-profit foundation committed to fighting poverty and preserving the lives of children in Canada and around the world. "ONE X ONE supports a wide array of worthy charities ranging from First Nations Meals here in Canada to Free the Children and the H�O Africa Foundation," said Stephen Hunter, COO of Sunwing Travel Group. Sunwing's newest initiative in support of ONE X ONE will be the launch of the "Small Change Can Make a Big Change" project, collecting and donating leftover foreign and Canadian coins from Sunwing Airlines' passengers on their return flights to Canada. [Full text and pictures]

YHZ HIKES IT UP

Halifax International Airport Authority hikes improvement fee to $15 from $10
Canadian Press

The Halifax International Airport Authority is increasing its airport improvement fee to $15 effective March 1, 2009, up from the current $10. The change will take place for tickets sold on or after Feb. 1, 2009 for Halifax passengers whose flight departs on or after March 1, 2009. The revenues go toward a variety of projects determined in consultation with the airlines that serve the Halifax Stanfield International Airport. The airport improvement fees collected in 2007 totalled $13.6 million. The authority's current capital program includes building a 2,300-space parking facility, improvements to roads and services, airfield restoration, and a terminal building upgrade. In 2007, the Halifax airport processed a record 3.5 million passengers.