TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

TRAVELHOTNEWS PROFILE: BRUCE POON TIP, CEO OF G.A.P ADVENTURES

Adventure travel mogul and self-professed ‘shy’ guy incorporates compassion into his business
Charmaine Pang

Bruce Poon Tip, CEO and founder of G.A.P Adventures

This month, TRAVELHotNews.com had the rare opportunity to meet with Bruce Poon Tip, the CEO and founder of G.A.P Adventures at his company’s global headquarters in Toronto. A true entrepreneur, Poon Tip started G.A.P Adventures in 1990 as a 22 year-old with “all these dreams and $800 in my pocket…I just wanted to take over the world”. He financed the company with his meagre savings and a handful of credit cards, as banks were reluctant to loan business money to someone so young. “The name G.A.P Adventures [short for ‘Great Adventure People’] comes from a gap in the market between the mainstream kind of traveller, between the traditional market and the backpacker.” [Full text and pictures]

CONQUEST ADDS AIR-ONLY TO CROATIA

Zagreb, Croatia is new air-only summer destination; flights begin May 28 from YYZ
Conquest Vacations have introduced Zagreb, Croatia as a new air only destination for the summer. The non-stop flights, being operated by Skyservice, will depart Toronto on Wednesdays beginning May 28 with return flights departing Zagreb every Thursday through October 9th. Return fares to this up and coming destination start at $799 plus tax and are commissionable at 8 per cent.

ATOURZ IS ALL SET FOR CARIBANA!

Send your clients to Caribana this year with packages from $149 per person

ATOURZ offers Caribana packages this year

When Caribana comes to town, Toronto comes alive with sizzling music, colourful costumes and fantastic performances that set the soul of the city and spirit of the people ablaze. To ensure your clients get the most out of this year’s Caribana, ATOURZ is offering special packages combining North America’s largest international cultural festival with a Toronto Blue Jays game or a ticket to Dirty Dancing, the hit show wowing audiences at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. Packages start from $149 per person based on double occupancy, and combine a wide range of festivities with traditional Toronto sightseeing and other special events. Read on for more information. [Full text and pictures]

START YOUR SUMMER WITH ACV

Tropical escapes offer savings for couples and families alike

Occidental Royal Hideaway Ensenachos in Cuba

Head south for the summer and immerse yourself in tropical landscapes or take a dip in the ocean’s refreshing salt waters. Soak it all in while diving deep into Cuba’s past in Santa Clara. Or prepare for the future and take advantage of great deals on advance bookings at all Couples Resorts in Jamaica and Beaches Turks & Caicos. Explore Cayo Santa Maria and a seemingly undiscovered network of islands. Or enjoy the crystal clear waters in Turks & Caicos over the holiday season with the whole family...couples can stroll hand in hand in Jamaica and save up to 30 per cent on bookings made by June 30, 2008. For more details, keep reading. [Full text and pictures]

TRANSAT’S NEW GREECE PROGRAM

Added legroom as of June 2008; new itineraries and more savings – up to $1,000 per couple

Transat Holidays Greece program is as glorious as ever with new itineraries, added value features, and more legroom on all flights as of June 2008. Savings of up to $1,000 per couple on select Greece packages are offered to those who book by June 30, 2008. The Greece sale is valid for departures July 6, 13, 20, & 27 on selected itineraries. Flights to Athens with Air Transat are available from Toronto on Wednesdays and Sundays. As of June 2008, Air Transat will be offering a more comfortable travelling experience with added legroom on all aircrafts. Read on for more details. [Full text and pictures]

BLUEBAY GOES TO CUBA

Cayo Coco will have a new resort this November

Club Los Balcones, Cayo Coco becomes BlueBay’s first Cuban location
BlueBay Resorts is opening its first resort in Cayo Coco, Cuba. The 328 room Club Los Balcones has become the BlueBay Resort Cayo Coco and will open this November. The hotel has maintained its 328 rooms, which includes 280 standard rooms (Four with handicap accessibility), 36 junior suites and 12 suites located in two story bungalows. The rooms have complete bathroom, closet and terrace. The junior suites on the ground floor open up to a small garden and have an outdoor shower. The resort has 4 restaurants including a buffet, a specialty restaurant, snack bar and Beach Club. There are five bars located at the resort, including a pool bar, a coffee shop and bar, one at the health club, and a beachside bar. [Full text and pictures]

DAYS INN SUMMER PROMO

Consumer promotion offers weekly grand prizes to resorts around the world

Days Inns - Canada announced the launch of a summer-long promotion designed to drive incremental value to its hotels and generate awareness for its newly expanded and renamed Wyndham RewardsSM travel rewards program. The Play Together, Stay Together sweepstakes offers weekly grand prizes including resort vacations in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, hotel stays throughout North America and a full package including travel, accommodations and admission to a PGA tournament. The grand prizes also include a weeklong vacation package at the winner’s choice of any Days Inn location or participating Wyndham Worldwide family of hotels in Canada and the United States. Read on for more details. [Full text and pictures]