TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

Awards of merit 2007

HERE ARE THE FINALISTS...
Last week to determine the winners!

You have until February 10th, 2008
to vote for the candidates.

CAYMAN ISLANDS SPECIALIST PROGRAM

Tara Ebanks, Regional Administrator, Canada, Cayman Islands Dept. of Tourism
Specialist seminars allow agents to earn 3 CITC credits; learn all about the Caymans
Charmaine Pang
This morning, the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Canada (CIDOT) hosted a breakfast seminar for travel agents interested in earning a Cayman Islands Specialist designation. The breakfast and info session took place at the CIDOT’s downtown Toronto office, led by Tara Ebanks, the Regional Administrator (Canada). Ebanks herself is a Caymanian born and bred, so she had much to say on the topic. The Cayman Islands are made up of three islands – Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. The three islands are extremely safe for visitors; the Caymans are one of the wealthiest countries in the Caribbean. Read on for more details about the Caymans, niche markets agents can target, and how to sign up for the specialist program. [Full text and pictures]

CIT TOURS OFFERS ‘LITTLE TASTES’ ADD-ONS IN THE MED

Pre or post-cruise tours are now available with CIT Tours’ Mediterranean cruises, starting at $859

Chianti, Italy - famous for wine

CIT Tours can help you find the right cruise complement for your clients with its extensive choice of pre and post-cruise tours and FIT services in Italy, Spain and many other European destinations. Pre & post hotel accommodation, excursions and cruise transfers are available in Rome, Venice, Barcelona and Athens, and private shore excursions can be arranged at all Italian ports of call. When time is of the essence, CIT Tours’ five Little Tastes are a great option. Flexible and short yet offering an in depth “taste” of the region visited, the Little Tastes make a perfect add-on to any Italy vacation or cruise. Read on for more details. [Full text and pictures]

Days INNS CANADA FUNDRAISER SURPASSES GOAL

Childhood Cancer Foundation receives $43,000 donation from Days Inns Canada

Melissa Kenney, Director of Marketing, Days Inns - Canada; David Stones, President & CEO, Childhood Cancer Foundation - Candlelighters Canada; Cheryl Smith, General Manager, Days Inn - Saskatoon and Irwin Prince, President & COO, Days Inns - Canada

Days Inns - Canada recently unveiled the results of its 2007 fundraising campaign with the announcement of a $43,000 donation to the Childhood Cancer Foundation - Candlelighters Canada (CCFCC) at the Days Inns - Canada Annual Conference held in Vancouver. Hotel owners donated a portion of their revenue for one week in September and collected donations from staff and guests to help fund research to find a cure for all forms of childhood cancer. Irwin Prince, President and COO of Days Inns – Canada, noted that last year’s contribution was doubled with the support of guests and employees alike. Read on for more. [Full text and pictures]

WALT DISNEY WORLD IS FOR LOVEBIRDS

Clients can enjoy a romantic getaway to Walt Disney World this Valentine’s month, renew vows, go on honeymoon or simply get married

Romantic getaways can be had at Walt Disney World this month and beyond. Moonlit strolls, luxurious spas and intimate dining make it feel like Valentine's Day every day at the Vacation Kingdom. The four Walt Disney World theme parks create a perfect setting for romance, whether it's a stroll along the lush Maharajah Jungle Trek at Disney's Animal Kingdom or a relaxing stop for espresso and pastries at a sidewalk table in the France pavilion at Epcot World Showcase. Beyond the parks, couples can embrace a collection of romantic experiences that are designed just for them. Read on for more details, dining options, excursions and wedding/honeymoon options. [Full text and pictures]

Adventure Travel Trends in 2008

Girlfriend getaways are increasingly popular

Girlfriend getaways, family adventures, volunteer/charity trips and exploring family heritage are big travel trends for 2008
Canadian Press
Forget the tan, the Mickey Mouse photos and the cliche souvenirs. These days, travellers want to experience something more than the gated resort and the cruise ship buffet. They want to go on a walking tour, climb a mountain and kayak down a river - adventures that can make a vacation more meaningful. Here, according to the experts, are some of the latest trends in adventure travel. Girlfriend getaways: More women are leaving the men at home. More than 50 per cent of adventure travellers are women and most fall between ages 41 and 60, according to a 2006 survey by the ATTA. Read on for a big list of travel trends in 2008 that agents can capitalize on. [Full text and pictures]

SIA’S A380 TO HIT LONDON ROUTE IN MARCH

Singapore Airlines' superjumbo A380 to fly to London from mid-March
Canadian Press

Singapore Airlines Ltd. plans to fly the world's largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380, on the Singapore-London route starting in March. The airline will take delivery of the third of the double-decker planes into its fleet by mid-March, and will fly it daily between the city-state and London from March 18, the carrier said in a statement. Singapore Airlines received its second superjumbo on Jan. 11, and said it would use it to complement the first A380 service on the Singapore-Sydney route.The double-decker A380 ends the nearly 37-year reign of the U.S.-made Boeing 747 jumbo jet as the world's most spacious passenger plane. The first plane was delivered to Singapore Airlines on Oct. 15, 18 months behind schedule after billions of dollars in cost overruns for Airbus SAS.

DELTA, NWA MERGER IMMINENT?

Person close to Delta, Northwest combination talks says airlines inching closer
Canadian Press

Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines are inching closer to a combination that would create the largest carrier in the United States, and if a deal is reached it could be announced next week, a person briefed on the discussions told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Delta's board of directors is expected to meet over the next several days, the person said without elaborating on the topic of the meeting. The person, who was not authorized to talk as the negotiations entered a sensitive stage and asked not to be named, said one point of contention has been what Northwest chief executive Doug Steenland's role would be at the combined company. Read on for more. [Full text and pictures]