TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

VISIT DALLAS LIVES LARGE

The Dallas CVB hosts luncheon to announce new “Live Large, Think Big in Dallas” campaign and present new area developments
Lisa Raffaele

CharlesG. Cole, Phillip J. Jones, E. Scott Bozek, F. Ross Crusemann

Yesterday afternoon, the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau invited the media to a “Visit Dallas” luncheon at Toronto’s Flow Restaurant and Lounge to discuss their new “Live Large, Think Big in Dallas” campaign, as well as highlight new developments in the area. According to Dallas representatives, Dallas, Texas is currently in the “midst of a major renaissance.” With over $14 billion being invested into new development over the course of three years, Dallas will be seeing a $2 billion investment in their Trinity River, consisting of a dam and two 40 storey bridges, as well as trails, and an area ten times the size of Central Park. Dallas’ convention building will also be developed by receiving 1,000 rooms, and the downtown sector of Dallas is currently expanding and contains the largest urban arts district in the U.S. [Full text and pictures]

DOUBLE PERKS FOR SIGNATURE CRUISES

Earn double Partner Perks points when booking a Signature Tropical Cruise from Nov. 1-4, 2008

Agents can double their Partner Perks points with Signature Vacations’ newest agent incentive. Book your clients on Signature Vacations’ Tropical Cruise between November 1 and 14, 2008 and you’ll earn two times the points. For each booking made for travel between December 21, 2008 and April 19th, 2009 you’ll receive 2 travel points for every $100 in net sales. Your clients can choose from two itineraries, both departing from La Romana, Dominican Republic. Signature and Thomson offers agents many reasons to book their clients on a Signature Tropical cruise. For instance, gratuities are included in the package price so there is no need to tip. Port taxes are also included in the package price. Keep reading for details on both itineraries. [Full text and pictures]

GLOBAL TRAVEL ACQUISITIONS OPENS

GTA assists travel agency owners in selling their business to qualified buyers

A new start-up firm specializing in assisting travel agency owners to sell their business has opened its doors. Two industry veterans, Larry Finn and John Kennedy have joined forces to launch Global Travel Acquisitions Inc. (GTA), a company created to exclusively match sellers of travel agencies with qualified buyers. Kennedy and Finn collectively have over 60 years of hands-on industry experience including owning, operating and holding senior management positions with numerous travel enterprises. Their experience encompasses all segments of the travel industry including corporate, leisure, wholesale, tour operator, group travel, trade association and specialty companies. Keep reading for more information and contact details. [Full text and pictures]

MORE CANADIANS TO MALAYSIA

Canadian arrivals increase 134.4% from Sep. 2007 to Sep. 2008; total global arrivals number 1.59 million
Charmaine Pang

Canada was Malaysia’s best performing market in the month of September this year, with growth of 134.4 per cent. The figures account for 5,367 Canadian arrivals that month compared to 2,290 in September 2007. From January to September 2008, there has also been a significant increase in the number of Canadian arrivals as compared to the same period last year. In 2007, there were 35,730 Canadians visiting Malaysia; that number increased to 55,522 for the same period in 2008. Looking at global tourist arrivals for September 2008, the grand total was 1,599, 418, a -0.1 per cent decrease from the 2007 figure of 1,601,016. [Full text and pictures]

SUZUKI FOUNDATION’S TIBET TREK

World Expeditions offers David Suzuki Foundation fundraising trip to Tibet, May 31-Jun 16, 2009

Tibet

Adventure expert World Expeditions is offering a unique opportunity to raise funds for the David Suzuki Foundation and to see firsthand the rarely visited eastern Tibet Autonomous region. Departing Canada on May 31 and returning on June 16, 2009, the 17-day donation trip is spent experiencing the area. World Expeditions’ exclusive ‘Chengdu to Lhasa Overland’ expedition will introduce your clients to diverse landscapes, ecosystems, local communities and famous monasteries. Beginning in Chengdu, in the Sichuan province of China, the adventure leads travellers into the scenery of snowcapped mountains, picturesque glacier-fed lakes and fast-flowing rivers deep within gorges. Participants will experience rural villages, famous sites such as the Potala Palace and Barkhor Square in Lhasa, and the opportunity to visit the salt terraces of Yanging. [Full text and pictures]

RIVIERA NAYARIT TO GAIN 108KM

The Mexico Tourism Board announces 108-kilometre Riviera Nayarit expansion along Pacific coast of Mexico

Based on the success of Riviera Nayarit, and planned investments in major new tourism developments in the region, Governor Ney Gonzalez of the state of Nayarit, Mexico has just announced that Riviera Nayarit will expand to encompass the entire coastline in the state of Nayarit. Riviera Nayarit was launched in spring 2007, encompassing 180 kilometres along the coast of the state of Nayarit from Nuevo Vallarta, just north of Puerto Vallarta International Airport, to the town of San Blas. The new Riviera Nayarit extends from Nuevo Vallarta 307 kilometres along the coast of Nayarit to its border with the state of Sinaloa. The new, utterly undeveloped terrain is a blend of mangroves and pacific beaches. [Full text and pictures]

BORDER CARDS COULD BE ABUSED

Fast track customs cards a licence to cheat, border guards fear
Canadian Press

Canada's border guards are skeptical about a card that fast-tracks travellers across the Canada-U.S. border, fearing it's become a ``licence to smuggle,'' says a new report. So-called Nexus cards were first issued in 2000, and have become a boon to frequent travellers who use them to skip long queues and get waved through Canada-U.S. customs stations. The cards, along with so-called Fast cards used by truckers, are issued by both American and Canadian authorities to travellers who are screened as low-risk. But an internal evaluation by the Canada Border Services Agency found that front-line officers have seen too many card-carrying travellers cheating. As a result, they've lost faith in the system. [Full text and pictures]