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| MEET THE NEW DIRECTOR FOR INDIA TOURISM |
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TRAVELHotNews sits down for an exclusive interview with India Tourism's new director, Ronjon Lahiri
Lisa Raffaele
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| Ronjon Lahiri, Director, India Tourism Toronto | | Yesterday afternoon TRAVELHotNews met with India Tourism's new Toronto director, Ronjon Lahiri for an exclusive one-on-one interview. Lahiri was born in London, England and studied in Sweden, where he received a degree in geology. He has been with the India Ministry of Tourism for the past 24 years working his way up to director after being involved in the human resources department for the hospitality and tourism sector in Delhi, India. According to Lahiri he will not be making any projections as to how the Canadian market will be travelling to India; “one should not guess.” Read on for the whole interview.
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| LEISURE TRAVEL ROUNDTABLE |
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Annual Leisure Travel Roundtable features industry experts sounding off on summer trends
Charmaine Pang
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| The panelists: Rudy Maxa, television host; Dorothy Dowling, Best Western International; Nathalie Belanger, Director, Non-Air Rewards, Aeroplan; Pat Rotz, Vice President, Travel, CAA Niagara | | Yesterday afternoon at Canoe restaurant in downtown Toronto, the annual Leisure Travel Roundtable took place. Members of the media were invited to the roundtable to learn more about consumer travel trends that are affecting the current marketplace. Tony Pollard, President of the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) served as the moderator for the afternoon’s discussion. The panelists included Dorothy Dowling, Sr. Vice President, Marketing and Sales, Best Western International; Rudy Maxa, a consumer travel journalist and host of the television program Rudy Maxa’s World; Pat Rotz, Vice President, Travel, CAA Niagara; and Nathalie Belanger, Director, Non-Air Rewards, Aeroplan.
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| SIGNATURE ADDS CROATIA |
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Newest destination from Signature Vacations; summer flight program to Zagreb begins
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| One of Croatia's many beaches | | Signature Vacations has just announced the addition of a summer flight program to Zagreb, Croatia. Regarded as one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, Croatia is a hidden gem that has exploded onto the world travel scene. The destination offers your clients something new, plus lots of value. With unspoiled beaches, rich culture, welcoming locals and a riveting history it’s easy to see why. Air only rates start as low as $1,049 for June and July departures and $798 for October departures. Wednesday departures are available weekly from Toronto to Zagreb beginning June 11th until October 9th, 2008 onboard Skyservice Airlines. Interested consumers will be able to purchase round-trip tickets as well as one-way fares, Toronto to Zagreb only. For more information on pricing and available dates, please visit SignatureVacations.com.
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| BOOMERANG’S AUSSIE ROADTRIP |
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Boomerang Tours visits London, Kingston and Whitby to educate agents on Australia
Boomerang Tours’ Dan Prior hit the road last week to spread the word about Australia. Lunch seminars were conducted in London, Kingston and Whitby. Prior said he received excellent feedback from agents, who felt they hadn't received enough training on some of the "unique destinations we offer," he said. Read on for more details.
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| ATOURZ & CITC KENYA SAFARI FAM |
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ATOURZ and CITC host Kenya Safari FAM
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| Hippos in Lake Naivasha | | Travel agents are invited to experience a Kenya safari on a FAM trip hosted by ATOURZ and the Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors. The 10-day FAM, scheduled for departure on Sept. 6, 2008 features game drives at Samburu Game Reserve, the Maasai Mara and Amboseli National Park. The itinerary includes a visit to the area around Lake Nakuru. Agents will also stay at the Safari Park Hotel and Casino and in accommodations at the Sarova Panafric Hotel in Nairobi. Land-only prices start from $1,820 per person, based on double occupancy. There is a $200 surcharge for spouses/companions and $450 for single room supplement. Optional add-ons are also available to Mombasa, Zanzibar or a Kilimanjaro Climb on the Rongai Route. For information visit TRAVELHotNews’ FAM section here.
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| 2008 NEW ZEALAND CANADA STATS |
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New Zealand experiences 16.3% increase in arrivals from Feb to Apr 2008
New Zealand has released their figures for February to April 2008. Canadian arrivals totaled 3,024 visitors in April 2008 vs. 3,151 visitors in April 2007. Canada arrivals totaled 6,400 visitors in March 2008 vs. 5,520 visitors in March 2007. Canada arrivals totaled 9,085 visitors in February 2008 vs. 7,245 visitors in February 2007. When you add the figures up for the three months, the statistics show that 18,509 Canadians came to New Zealand from February to April 2008, versus 15,916 for the same period of time in 2007. That translates to a 16.3% increase.
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| SAME-DAY CAR TRAVEL FROM US STAYS THE SAME |
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Decline in same day car travel from U.S. ends in April; fewer Canadians travel say StatsCan - Travel
Canadian Press
Same-day car travel from the United States levelled off in April, halting a series of seven straight monthly declines. Statistics Canada reports Canadian residents made fewer trips to both the United States and overseas countries in April. Americans made about 743,000 same-day car trips to Canada in April, virtually unchanged from March. But that was about half as many as four years ago, and about a quarter of the record high set in March 1981. Same-day car travel from the United States has fallen 21.5 per cent since last August. Overnight car travel from the United States rose 2.3 per cent to 637,000 trips in April, the second straight monthly increase. In total, overnight travel from the United States edged up one per cent to 1.1 million trips in April.
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