TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

SCOTTSDALE CALLING

Scottsdale CVB and 9 tourism partners showcase their corner of Arizona
Charmaine Pang

Chris Ryall, Canadian Representative; Laura McMurchie, VP Communications, Scottsdale CVB

Fresh after the U.S. presidential election, the convention and visitors� bureau (CVB) of Scottsdale, Arizona came to Toronto to provide the travel media and key travel partners with updates on their product. The luncheon event was hosted at Sassafraz CVB representatives and 9 partners, including hoteliers, attractions and more were in attendance to provide the latest news. Laura McMurchie, VP of Communications for the Scottsdale CVB, said her destination, which is bordered by nearby Phoenix and Tempe, is an easy four-hour flight from Toronto. Connections and additional direct flights are also available via major Canadian gateways. Last year, about 130,000 Ontarians travelled to the state of Arizona. Overall, 455,600 Canadians travelled to Arizona in 2007. Keep reading for all the latest news. [Full text and pictures]

TOM WRIGHT TO LEAVE VISITBRITAIN

Tom Wright, Chief Executive, VisitBritain

Chief executive will step down next year; search has begun for his successor
Tom Wright, Chief Executive of VisitBritain, has announced his intention to vacate his position. Wright will leave to take up a new role as Chief Executive of a major new charity in Britain. He will leave VisitBritain after an appropriate handover period and a search has begun for his successor. Wright said, �It has been a great pleasure and honour to lead VisitBritain through some exciting and challenging times and I believe we have a highly effective and well respected team to lead VisitBritain and VisitEngland towards the major opportunity of 2012 and also to address the current economic downturn." [Full text and pictures]

5 GETS YOU $10 PLUS $50!

Holiday House, Fun Sun offer an additional $50 on top of existing promotion

Effective immediately, and complementing the existing �5 Gets You $10� promotion, when you book select product with Fun Sun or Holiday House, you not only earn $10 on all hotel bookings of five nights or more, but another $50 on top of it. When your clients book five nights or more at any Sandals or Beaches resort, at any resort in Barbados, or at the Almond Beach Resorts in Barbados or St. Lucia, you will earn a total of $60. Therefore, when your client makes a booking at the Almond Beach Resorts in Barbados, you will earn $60 from Holiday House and Fun Sun, plus an additional $50 from Almond Beach Resorts for a grand total of $110.

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SAVE $100 WITH SIGNATURE, MAJESTIC

Signature Vacations and Majestic Resorts team up to save your clients up to $100 per couple

Majestic Elegance

Signature Vacations and Majestic Resorts ask �Do you know how to make your winter vacation magical?� It�s easy to give your clients satisfaction and savings � all you need to do is book their package vacation to either the Majestic Colonial or Majestic Elegance in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic before Nov 15, 2008 for travel from Jan. 1 to Apr. 30, 2009 and you�ll save $100 per couple. At Majestic Resorts, your clients will enjoy an international selection of gourmet cuisine; lavish accommodations with hydro-massage tub; high-end facilities including a full-service spa and even an exclusive Elegance Club adults-only section at the Majestic Elegance. For complete details on the Majestic Colonial and Majestic Elegance, departure dates and applicable rates visit signaturevacations.com.

FAIRMONT THANKS AGENTS

Agents can enjoy rates as low as $99 per night; members of Fairmont FAmous enjoy $79 per night and free room upgrade

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is offering travel agent rates as low as $99 per night for all travel agents and $79 per night and free room upgrade for members of Fairmont FAmous, the brand�s agent education and recognition program. Available for new reservations beginning November 5, 2008 through March 31, 2009, all travel agents are invited to experience Fairmont service throughout the brand's 56 destinations worldwide with these preferred rates. All travel agents can indulge with rates starting at $99 per night for the Fairmont room category. A valid IATA card must be presented at time of check-in. Keep reading for more information and how to enroll. [Full text and pictures]

EGYPT IS HOT FOR GOWAY

Goway reports a 38 per cent increase of passengers to Egypt; many offers and popular tours available

Egypt is high on the list of destinations for Canadian travellers this year, according to Goway's AFRICAExperts General Manager, Moira Smith. Reinforcing that statement is a recent announcement by Egyptian Tourism Minister Zoheir Garrana that the number of people visiting Egypt increased more than 25 per cent in the financial year 2007-2008. "Our passenger numbers to Egypt have increased 38 per cent over last year", said Smith. Goway is offering up to 6 nights free accommodation at a deluxe Red Sea Resort to passengers booking our Classic Egypt, Mysteries & Magic of Egypt, Ancient Wonders or Pyramids to Petra tours before December 31st, 2008. [Full text and pictures]

AC, JAZZ TRAFFIC DROPS

Air Canada and Jazz traffic down 3.9 per cent from a year ago in October
Canadian Press

Air Canada has reported a 3.9 per cent decline in October traffic compared with a year ago. Air Canada and the Jazz regional operator posted their best-ever consolidated load factor for the seasonally slack month, with 80.2 per cent of seats filled as system-wide capacity was cut by 5.9 per cent. Canada's largest airline said the Air Canada mainline flew four per cent fewer revenue passenger miles than in October 2007, at 3.55 billion. But its load factor rose to 81.2 per cent from 79.1 per cent as it cut capacity by 6.5 per cent. Jazz, from which Air Canada purchases regional capacity, flew 3.3 per cent fewer revenue passenger miles - 350 million - with the same capacity as a year ago, cutting its load factor to 71.6 per cent from 74 per cent. [Full text and pictures]