TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

BREAKING NEWS: THOMAS COOK BUYS INTAIR & FUN SUN

Thomas Cook Group purchases TriWest Holdings for $114M cash TRAVELHotNews.com has learned that Holiday House has purchased Intair and Fun Sun Vacations. The purchase has been confirmed by parties on both sides by TRAVELHotNews.com. Thomas Cook Group also transmitted a press release this morning, confirming that the Group acquired TriWest Holdings, the parent company of Fun Sun and Intair for $114M Canadian in cash, including management incentives.

SUNSPOTS ADDS FUEL SURCHARGE

Sunspots will add fuel surcharges for all transborder/Caribbean packages with AA by June 25, 2008
Sunspots Holidays is adding fuel surcharges to all of their transborder and Caribbean Packages with American Airlines. The surcharges will take effect on June 25, 2008. If you have any packages or special fares, American permits wholesalers to issue the ticket by June 24, 2008. The following fuel surcharges that will be applicable on June 25, 2008, as follows. Hawaii-US, $100 one way; CLE/EWR/HOU – US $20 one way; Fares ending in ‘Z’ - $0 (ask for more details); US-US $65 one way; US-CA $50 USD/CAD. As a reminder, the current LAS Sunday departure surcharge of $10.00 as well as the Canada Navcan surcharge of $7.50 in each direction will continue to apply. If you have any questions please call Sunspots at 1 800-657-8721 or 416-484-8144.

INTAIR RUB-A-DUB-DUB CONTEST WINNER

Bruce Slade from Intair with winner Judy Fitzpatrick

Judy Fitzpatrick at Travel Source Network wins trivia contest, receives 50,000 IntairPoints
Intair has just announced the winner of its Rub-a-Dub-Dub promotion, which was held in March 2008. Judy Fitzpatrick from Travel Source Network was the lucky winner of 50,000 IntairPoints. Travel professionals discovered the newly launched Europe summer 2008 brochure by answering various trivia questions. For more information about the IntairPoints program or the Europe 2008 program, visit intair.com.

TAX SAVINGS WITH SIGNATURE

Save up to $436 per couple on tax when booking from YYZ, YYC, YEG, YVR

Dominican Republic

If your clients are dreaming about an affordable summer vacation, they can enjoy a getaway without the tax and save up to $436 per couple. For a limited time book a Signature Vacations package departing between July 1st and September 30th, 2008 from Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton or Vancouver and you will ‘Save the Tax’. Choose from resorts in Cuba, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. To take advantage of the ‘Save the Tax’ offer, bookings must be made between June 4th and 10th, 2008. Savings are valid on package reservations for one or two week durations, based on double occupancy and are not combinable with any other offer except an applicable Early Booking Bonus. Air only reservation and group quotes do not qualify. Please note that Signature Vacations’ reservations system will reflect these savings. Save the Tax does not include the fuel surcharge or taxes paid locally in destination. For more information on product and available dates, visit SignatureVacations.com.

SPLASH INTO THE CAYMANS THIS SUMMER

Family deals abound for ‘Cayman Summer Splash’ promo

Stingray City

From June 1 - September 1, 2008 families can escape to the Cayman Islands with this year’s Cayman Summer Splash promotion, where kids fly at a discount, stay free and play all day thanks to great deals at some of the destination’s best attractions. Kids are defined as children 11 years and younger. Highlights of the 2008 Cayman Summer Splash promotion include air savings for children; free attraction tickets and complimentary trips and savings on accommodations - book 5 nights and pay for 4 nights. Families who use their American Express Card to purchase a 5-night Summer Splash package will also receive an American Express $100 gift card upon check-in at their accommodations. For all details and participating partners, continue reading. [Full text and pictures]

AIR NZ FEELS THE FUEL BURN

New Zealand airline raises fares, cuts capacity
Canadian Press

Air New Zealand said last Friday that it will raise air fares and eliminate flights on some routes in response to the high cost of fuel and declines in passenger demand. The announcement comes as U.S. carriers including AMR Corp.'s American Airlines and UAL Corp's United Airlines have announced plans to reduce capacity and eliminate jobs while they grapple with record fuel costs. New Zealand's national carrier, 76 per cent owned by the government, said the price of domestic and international airfares sold in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands would increase an average of four per cent later this month. Air New Zealand had earlier signalled that further hikes in ticket prices were likely because of high oil prices. [Full text and pictures]

CELEBRATE CANADA DAY ‘THE MEXICAN WAY’!

The Mexican Consulate and the Mexico Tourism Board in Toronto invite Canadians to celebrate a Mexican experience sharing Mexican culture and traditions on June 28th from 12pm to 10pm at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto. A replica of the Mayan pyramid, Chichen Itza, will be showcased at Yonge-Dundas square in this unique showcase of entertainment, Aztec dancers, mariachis, crafts and Mexican cuisine.

X-RAY MACHINES: NO JUNK!

Air security agency warns screening officers: no junk in X ray machines
Canadian Press

Screening officers at Canada's airports who ask passengers to empty their pockets have been given a stern warning: Stop emptying your own pockets in the X-ray machines. Maintenance technicians have found a heap of garbage inside the expensive machines, which are used to scan hand luggage, purses, jackets and other items for potential weapons. The junk they've extracted from the units includes candy wrappers, coins, paper clips, metal keys, hair clips - even utility knife blades, the very type of weapon the X-ray units are supposed to detect. ``Continued inspections across the country have revealed that garbage and other items ... are still being dropped inside the top panel openings of some X-ray machines,'' says a bulletin issued earlier this year by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority. [Full text and pictures]