TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

AIR CANADA VACATIONS GETS FRESH!

Air Canada Vacations kicks off fall/winter product launch with new loyalty programs, new niche product and a brand new brochure
Charmaine Pang

Lots of fun was had by agents and exhibitors alike at this year's Product Launch

Air Canada Vacations hosted their 2008/2009 Sun Collections product launch yesterday evening at the Delta Toronto Airport West in Mississauga, Ontario. Approximately 400 agents circulated in and out of the venue, picking up the tour operator�s brand new brochures. Agents also had a chance to meet with suppliers, including tourist boards, CVBs, hotels, car rental companies and more. Keep reading for the full report. [Full text and pictures]

NEW PRESIDENT AT FCM NORTH AMERICA

Gregory Lording will head up FCm North America

Gregory Lording appointed new President, FCm Travel Solutions North America
FCm Travel Solutions has appointed Gregory Lording as its new president North America. A veteran of the corporate travel industry with more than 25 years� experience, Gregory has held senior management positions with FCm and parent company Flight Centre Limited (FCL) for the past eight years. He will now focus on growing FCm Travel Solutions� network of approximately 30 corporate travel centres and 500 people across North America and Canada. Gregory will also work closely with key partners, FCm Bannockburn in the Mid West and Garber|FCm on the East Coast, to expand the network�s service capabilities and client base throughout the region. [Full text and pictures]

LA INC. APPOINTS NEW SR. DIRECTOR

Patrick Kaler has joined LA Inc.

Patrick Kaler becomes Senior Director of Travel Industry & Tourism Development
The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau has appointed Patrick J. Kaler as Senior Director of Travel Industry and Tourism Development. Kaler is responsible for the overall management of the travel industry sales efforts and marketing programs; including the positioning of Los Angeles within the travel industry both domestically and internationally. Kaler most recently served as executive director of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority / Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority / Lake Tahoe Gaming Alliance. In that role, he was responsible for the overall direction and leadership of three destination marketing organizations. Kaler received his bachelor of science degree from Western Illinois University and his master of science degree from the University of Illinois. [Full text and pictures]

YEEHAW! TEXAS TOURISM FAM

Georgia Kourakis Merit Group - Ginette Ford Ultimate/Adventure Travel Group - Cindy Scala - CAA - Carla Norwood - San Antonio Convention Bureau - Nancy Abbott Texas Tourism Canada - Lidia Markser ALIO

Canadian trade FAM trip visits Austin and San Antonio, Texas from June 23-25, 2008
Texas Tourism Canada hosted a Canadian trade fam trip to Austin and San Antonio June 23-25, 2008. Air Canada partnered with Texas Tourism to take the trade delegates down to Texas to showcase their new Austin route on the state-of-the-art CRJ aircraft. Canadian travel partners were wined and dined by the Austin and San Antonio's CVBs and their hotel and attraction partners to showcase their cities. [Full text and pictures]

CLIA�S DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

Jim Smith has joined CLIA

Jim Smith, travel industry veteran, becomes new Director of Marketing for CLIA
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has named Jim Smith, CTIE, to the position of director of marketing. Bringing extensive experience in sales, marketing, branding, event planning and public relations to the job, his responsibilities will include managing all the association�s consumer and trade marketing efforts, including agency membership and training, collateral production and development, e-marketing and Web content and trade advertising. He will also take charge of CLIA�s annual National Cruise Vacation Month and World�s Largest Cruise Night and other CLIA promotional initiatives and programs. [Full text and pictures]

LAN AIRLINES ADDS YYZ ROUTE

International network expands; flights from Toronto to Santiago begin Sept. 3, 2008

LAN offers service to Santiago, which connects to other destinations, including Easter Island

LAN Airlines expands the reach of its international network today by announcing new service to Santiago, Chile, from Toronto, Canada starting September 3, 2008. The flights will run five times a week from Toronto. Once in Santiago, passengers have access to flights to multiple destinations within Chile and Argentina. The company will offer five flights per week to Santiago via New York City on its modern fleet of Boeing 767 aircraft. LAN flights will operate from Toronto to Santiago on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays providing reliable alternatives for passengers travelling to the South America region. The Toronto-New York-Santiago route will operate from Terminal 3 at Pearson International Airport. [Full text and pictures]

WESTJET ADDS SEAT SELECTION

Guests can now select seats for a fee - $10 for aisle/middle/window seat and $15 for an emergency exit row seat

WestJet has announced the introduction of a new seat selection option, which for a small fee, will allow guests to choose where they will be seated at the time of booking, or up to 24 hours before their flight departs. The seat selection fee will be $10 for an aisle, middle or window seat, and $15 for seats in the coveted emergency exit rows, which have substantially more legroom. All WestJet guests, regardless of the fare they purchased, will still be able to select their seat at no charge when using Web check-in or Mobile check-in within 24 hours of their flight. Guests can select their seats online or through a travel agent.