Archives March 7, 2008 Travel News

ADDISON WRAPS UP SERIES III

Series III wraps up in Hamilton and Ottawa in late February; Addison Series IV hits Prairies from Mar. 17-20

The Addison Shows, Series III, wrapped up in Ottawa and Hamilton last month

Last month, the Canada-wide series of Addison travel trade shows wrapped up in Ottawa on Feb. 19 and in Hamilton (back on the schedule for the first time in five years) on Feb. 21st. Rex Armstead, President of ACT Communications and of Addison Travel Marketing, said of the two shows, "Ottawa and Hamilton were the two smaller shows in the Eastern Series and we experimented with a new floor layout that gave easier access to both exhibitors and attendees." Read on to see pictures from the Ottawa and Hamilton shows, and learn more about the upcoming shows in Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Regina. [Full text and pictures]

INTAIR & CARNIVAL'S FUNTENNIAL: WEEK 2

Intair offers up to $300 credit per stateroom for summer departures; book before Mar. 14!

Carnival cruise ship in New York

Intair Cruises, Canada's premier Carnival Cruise Lines wholesaler, is offering travel agents the Funtennial Celebrations. Week #1 was a tremendous success and an incredible number of clients received onboard credit of up to $100 per cabin. Week #2 of the Funtennial promises to be just as exciting with savings of up to $300 per stateroom (based on a family of four traveling together) for summer departures between June 1st and Aug. 31, 2008. Cabins must be booked before March 14th to take advantage of the offer. All Carnival reservations made with Intair are reported to Carnival Cruise Lines, ensuring that travel agents are made eligible to all of the cruise line's promotions. To contact Intair Cruises, call 1-888-223-0259.

SOUTHWEST FLEW FLAWED PLANES

Regulators seeking millions in penalties against Southwest Airlines

Canadian Press
U.S. federal regulators said Thursday they will seek a civil penalty of US$10.2 million - the largest ever - against Southwest Airlines Co. for failing to inspect older planes for cracks and then flying them before inspections were done. The FAA said Southwest operated nearly 60,000 flights in 2006 and 2007 using 46 planes that had missed inspections for possible fatigue-related cracking on the fuselage areas. The airline flew another 1,451 flights with the same planes in March 2007, even after discovering that it had failed to conduct the required inspections, the FAA charged. All but $200,000 of the proposed penalty dealt with those later flights. [Full text and pictures]

Spa & Wellness Holidays Expands to Iceland

Enjoy a spa stopover in Iceland before continuing on to Continental Europe!

Blue Lagoon - geothermal mineral springs

Spa&Wellness Holidays and Icelandair have teamed up to offer Canadians a chance to enjoy a unique spa stop-over experience before continuing their journey to Continental Europe. Starting April 21 from Halifax and May 2 from Toronto, travellers on Icelandair can select either a 1 or 2 night spa and wellness package. For your clients desiring more time to explore the natural wonders of Iceland, Spa & Wellness Holidays can design a more comprehensive program just for them. For information and booking, contact your Spa & Wellness Holidays at (416) 915-SPAS(7727) or toll free at 1 (866) 631-SPAS) (7727).

JAMAICA PRODUCT EXCHANGE RETURNS

Travel agents, tour operators, wholesalers invited to JAPEX showcase in Kingston, Apr. 25-27

Jamaica's capital city of Kingston will host the 18th annual Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) from April 25 - 27, 2008. This is the first time since 2003 that JAPEX is being held in Kingston, providing an opportunity to highlight the diversity of the city's product, including its business offerings, energetic nightlife, rich history and culture. Jamaica's new Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding, and Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, will be in attendance.Sponsored by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), JAPEX offers the ideal forum for leading suppliers of the Jamaica tourism product to meet with travel wholesalers and tour operators from Europe and the Americas in a professionally organized business exchange. [Full text and pictures]

TOUR EAST HOLIDAYS AT LIFEFEST EXHIBITION

Tour East Holidays teams up with Singapore Tourism Board for LifeFest show in Toronto, focusing on women's health & beauty from Apr. 4-6

Singapore's famous 'merlion' fountain

Tour East Holidays today announced it has been named the "Special Plus" sponsor of LifeFest 2008, billed as "Canada's largest and most inspiring show for women." Last year's LifeFest exhibition attracted over 30,000 women to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, which again will host the 2008 edition, April 4, 5 and 6. Tour East Holidays will team up with the Singapore Tourism Board as co-sponsors at LifeFest. Representatives of Singapore, one of the most sought-after destinations in Asia, will be at LifeFest to show attendees all the expansion plans taking place in this dynamic city-state, the playground for the sophisticated in Asia. [Full text and pictures]

SCENIC TOURS' AUSTRALIAN COACH PROGRAM

Great season for touring in Australia; itineraries from 5-29 days available

Ayers Rock, Australia

Canadians may still be in the depth of winter, but down under the Australians are getting ready for their temperate fall. Our spring and summer months - which are fall and winter in Australia - are a great time for touring. Scenic Tours' new Canadian dollar brochure offers a wide range of escorted coach tours that will show your clients the highlights of the land Down Under, or give you an in depth look at some of its favourite sights. And who better to show you Australia than Scenic. Headquartered in Sydney, Scenic has been showing the best of Oz to Australians, and now foreign visitors, for more than 20 years. [Full text and pictures]

REGENT SEVEN SEAS' 2009 SAILINGS

Journeys to over 300 ports on all 7 continents; new itineraries to Northern Europe

Antarctica is one of the places RSSC will sail to

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has launched its full schedule of 2009 voyages. The 2009 program features an unprecedented two World Cruises, new itineraries across northern Europe and an enhanced version of the sold-out "Discovery Collection" series of voyages to Africa, the Middle East, India and South America. Regent is offering a broad selection of sailings to Africa, Antarctica, Alaska, Asia, Australasia, Europe and the Mediterranean, India, the Caribbean and Mexico, the Panama Canal, South America, and Tahiti and the South Pacific in 2009. Regent Seven Seas has crafted a new Northern Europe itinerary for 2009 that will transport guests from big cities of the Northeast to New England villages and to landscapes across Iceland and the United Kingdom. Read on for more details and the full 2009 deployment schedule. [Full text and pictures]

Awards of merit 2007

Vote now for the Canadian Travel agent of the
Year 2007 and the Canadian Personality
of the Year 2007!

You have until March 9th, 2008 to vote