TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

MARTOUR’S NEW DIRECTOR

Rosa Cabral takes over role as Director; Martha Uruena takes early retirement after 20 years

Rosa Cabral, new Director, Martour

Martour International, a specialist in Latin America, Mexico and the Caribbean has announced their new director, Rosa Cabral. Cabral’s predecessor, Martha Uruena, who headed the company for the last 20 years, will be taking early retirement. Cabral has enjoyed a long career in Canada’s travel industry, being involved in the Latin American Market for Canandes in Montreal, where she was responsible for sales and marketing activities. She also worked for Tour East in Montreal prior to joining Martour. Cabral brings many years of experience to her new position and will be working on developing and adding new destinations to Martour such as Spain and Portugal.

AIR CANADA’S FLIGHT PASSES ARE BACK

Ontario, Quebec summer flight passes provide intra-provincial flying in July & August

Air Canada is taking "the road" out of summertime road trips with the return of its Ontario and Quebec summer passes, which provide unlimited intra-provincial flying during July and August for only $1,099. Available for sale between June 2 and June 26, 2008, the Ontario Pass and Quebec Pass are valid for Air Canada and Air Canada Jazz flights between July 1 and August 31, 2008. The passes provide for unlimited travel, within their respective provinces, between 12 destinations in Ontario and nine in Quebec, with certain exceptions in each province. Read on for more details.

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EXOTIK TOURS’ TUNISIA FAM

Agents from across Canada visit the best of Tunisia from May 14-24, 2008

The group enjoys a camel ride in the desert

Exotik Tours recently hosted 22 agents from across British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and the Maritimes to a 10-day experience of Tunisia. The trip included such highlights as the ruins at Carthage, the seaside city of Sidi Bou Said, a full day 4WD excursion into the Sahara, camel rides, an overnight at a Saharan Berber encampment and the resort centers of Port El Kantaoui and Hammamet. The fam was led by Exotik’s own Dan Prior and Chris Carman. [Full text and pictures]

CSTAR'S PAPER TICKET CASE MOVES FORWARD

Travel agencies can still sign up to be represented by CSTAR if case moves forward
Yesterday, Canada's Competition Tribunal set a schedule to move CSTAR's case against IATA's elimination of paper tickets in Canada to the leave and standing stage. At this stage, the Tribunal will determine whether or not it will grant leave to hear CSTAR's application and whether CSTAR has standing to represent the travel agencies. Justice Simpson has denied IATA’s request to submit an affidavit to the Tribunal. The following timetable was set: June 6, 2008: IATA will cross-examine CSTAR on the issue of standing. June 11, 2008: IATA's submissions regarding CSTAR's leave application and standing are due. June 18, 2008: CSTAR's reply to IATA's submissions are due. According to CSTAR, travel agencies who have not signed up can still do so. To complete the web form authorization, please visit cstar.ca/tribunal.

ICELANDAIR SAVINGS FROM YHZ

Church in Látrabjag, Iceland

Book your clients by June 15 and save up to $200 off packages
Temperatures may be rising this summer, but Icelandair is dropping big savings on travel to Iceland during June and July. Book your clients by June 15 and they’ll receive limited-time discounts off the flexible build-your-own package Iceland Getaway. This tour guarantees a customized visit every time; clients can choose their hotel and then add on tours, car rental, gourmet dining and more. Departures in June receive up to $200 off, while July departures receive $100 off. Package also includes round-trip airfare from Halifax, two nights in a double room of your client’s choosing, Scandinavian buffet breakfast daily except day of arrival and round-trip airport/hotel transfers. More details on this and other packages as well as how agents can make commission on bookings can be found at icelandair.ca.

SUNQUEST PROMO EXTENDED

Sunquest’s Caribbean cruise promotion will not expire until June 30, 2008

Sunquest’s Caribbean Cruise promotion, which was originally set to expire today, has been extended another month to June 30, 2008. With packages that start from $999 per person, this promotion includes a $200 early booking bonus on all new bookings, as well as a kids cruise free offer on applicable sailings Jan. 3-Feb. 21 and Apr. 4-11, 2009. Itineraries available next winter from Sunquest include: 1. Departures: Jan. 3, 17, 31, Feb. 14, Mar. 14, 28 & Apr. 11, 2009. Ports of Call: Cayo Levantado (DR), Philipsburg (St. Maarten), St. John’s (Antigua) & Nassau. 2: Departures: Jan. 10, 24, Feb. 7, 21, Mar. 7, 21 & Apr. 4, 2009. Ports of Call: Key West, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Cayo Levantado. 3: Departures: Feb. 28, 2009. Ports of Call: Nassau, Philipsburg, St. John’s, Cayo Levantado. For more information, please visit sunquestagent.ca.

HONG KONG OFFERS ‘SUMMER TEMPTATIONS’

Festivals and events all summer, leading up to Olympics Equestrian Events

The Equestrian events for the Olympics will be held in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is preparing for ‘2008 Summer Temptations’, a total of 12 weeks when visitors will experience a new programme encompassing art and culture, an exciting ‘shopping and dining’ Lucky Draw, an ‘Explore Hong Kong Stamp Rally’ and a variety of trade fairs, all culminating in the Equestrian Events of the 2008 Olympics. The ‘Summer Temptations’ programme, scheduled to run from July 1 until September 21, will appeal to culture lovers with a ‘Horses in Chinese Art and Culture’ Exhibition, performances of Sylvia and Manon by the Royal Ballet from Britain, the Hong Kong Book Fair, the International Arts Carnival and an exhibition entitled ‘The Ancient Greeks and the Olympic Games’. Read on for hotel, shopping and sightseeing updates. [Full text and pictures]

CANADIAN TOURISM NEEDS BOOST

Tourism Industry Association says `urgent action' needed to halt decline: study
Canadian Press
The Canadian tourism industry is calling for urgent action from governments at all levels, saying it is on ``the precipice of an unprecedented decline'' that could have an impact on jobs in the industry. The message is contained in a competitiveness report released Monday by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada. Chris Jones, vice-president of government and public affairs for the association, says problems in the tourist industry have been aggravated by the rise in the Canadian dollar and the high cost of fuel. ``Previously when we had a weak dollar and relatively inexpensive gas, we were in a situation where those two things concealed some intrinsic weaknesses or structural deficiencies in our industries,'' he said from Ottawa.

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