TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

TEAM CARIBE COMES TO YOU

Discover the Eastern Caribbean � Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts and St. Vincent and the Grenadines in Ontario

Team Caribe - representatives from the Eastern Caribbean islands of Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts and St. Vincent and the Grenadines � will be visiting Oakville, Kingston and Barrie & Innisfil in late November. These dinner events will assist agents in educating themselves about these destinations, and help them maximize their sales. All events take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Oakville session will be held on Nov. 19; Kingston on Nov. 26 and Barrie & Innisfil on Nov. 27. Register early to ensure your seat! For more details, go to the TRAVELHotNews.com Events Calendar. [Full text and pictures]

AIR FRANCE STRIKE

Pilots� strike from Nov. 14-17 will affect Toronto (today's flight cancelled), Montreal routes (only one flight will operate)

French airline pilots� unions have unanimously called a four-day strike from Friday Nov. 14, 2008 to Monday Nov. 17, 2008 at midnight. �very severe disruptions to its operations". Air France�s Canadian schedule at this time of year offers one daily flight from Toronto and two daily flights from Montreal. Today, the Toronto flight has been cancelled and only one out of two flights will operate to Montreal. Keep reading for all the details and what options your clients have during this strike. [Full text and pictures]

THOMAS COOK GIVES A RAINCHECK

RainCheck promotion allows consumer to a free vacation if it rains for more than half their holiday; starts tomorrow

Starting tomorrow, Saturday Nov. 15, 2008, Sunquest, Holiday House and Fun Sun Vacations are launching a brand new and exclusive consumer promotion called �RainCheck�. Simply put, RainCheck is a weather protection guarantee that entitles the purchaser to a free vacation should it rain for more than half their holiday. Available on all land-only or package vacations (min. 3 nights/max. 21 nights) to the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Florida and California (some exceptions apply), if it rains half an inch or more in a 24-hour period for at least half of the total number days of a person�s vacation, those who took a RainCheck will get to replace that vacation with another one. [Full text and pictures]

SIGNATURE�S FREE KARISMA UPGRADE

Book clients to the El Dorado Royale Karisma and receive a free room upgrade and other value-added features

Signature Vacations and Karisma Resorts want to make your client�s Mexican getaway even better this winter season. Book your vacation package to the El Dorado Royale, A Spa Resort, by Karisma before Mar. 31, 2009 for travel until Apr. 30, 2009 and receive a complimentary room upgrade plus your client�s choice of a his and hers 50-minute relaxing massage; a romantic beachfront candlelit dinner; or $200 El Dorado Dollars towards a Wine Cellar purchase. The El Dorado Royale features all � la carte gourmet dining with creative options including fondue, pan-Asian and fresh seafood eateries; suite accommodations with 4-post beds, Jacuzzi for two and hammocks on the balcony; and a full-service spa offering body treatments, massages and a couples massage class. For full details, pricing and departure dates on the El Dorado Royale, A Spa Resort, by Karisma visit signaturevacations.com. [Full text and pictures]

TRANSAT CRUISE REWARDS

Book a cruise with Transat Holidays from Nov. 12-Dec. 15, 2008 and receive Petro Canada gift cards worth $25 or $50 (when booking air)

Transat Holidays is rewarding agents all across Canada with a new cruise promotion. Book a cruise with Transat from November 12 to December 15, 2008 and receive a $25 Petro Canada Gift Card, or a $50 Petro Canada Gift Card when booking the cruise with a Transat Holidays flight. This offer is valid on all 2008 and 2009 sailings throughout the world, for sailings of 7 nights or longer from November 12, 2008 to October 31, 2009. Petro Canada Gas Gift Card is based on per stateroom. This offer is not valid with cruiseline air/sea program. Offer is valid for new, individual bookings only. Cancelled and group bookings are not eligible. Costa Atlantica sailing from La Romana does not apply. Keep reading for additional rules and restrictions. [Full text and pictures]

ST. MAARTEN�S ROI PROMO

�Relax On Island� promotion allows your clients to save 15 per cent off nightly room rates when booking now until Dec. 31, 2008

If your clients are looking to save on their Caribbean holiday, you can steer them towards a brand new promotion - St. Maarten's 15% ROI - Relax On Island promotion. Book between now and December 31 and save 15 per cent off nightly room rates at participating hotels. As an aded bonus, your clients will receive $100 in SXM Bucks to be used on-island at restaurants, shops, rental cars and tour excursions. The booking window is Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, 2008 for travel between Dec. 20, 2008 to Apr. 30, 2009. Your clients will then receive 15 per cent off the nightly room rate plus $100 in SXM Bucks (on-island credit). This promotion is based on a minimum stay of 7 nights. Keep reading to learn about participating hotels and tour operators. [Full text and pictures]

ATLANTIS BAHAMAS CUTS 800 JOBS

Atlantis Bahamas feels strain of U.S. economic woes, lays off 10 per cent of work force

The Atlantis hotel and resort in the Bahamas says it has laid off roughly 800 workers due to low occupancy rates amid the global economic crisis. The cuts represent about 10 per cent of the work force at the country's largest private employer. The layoffs announced Wednesday add to the misery for the Atlantic archipelago's tourism-driven economy, which is reeling from a steep decline in visitors from the United States. Hundreds of other hotel workers already have lost jobs or seen their hours reduced. George Markantonis is president and managing director of the hotel's owner, Kerzner International Bahamas Limited. He says the decision was "difficult and emotional" because of the impact on the Bahamas.