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| XL LEISURE GROUP NO MORE |
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UK's 3rd largest tour operator collapses, stranding 85,000 travellers
Charmaine Pang
This morning, an estimated 85,000 travellers have been stranded by the collapse of the country's third-largest tour operator. The Guardian UK reports another 200,000 customers have made advance bookings with the company, many of whom will lose out. XL Leisure Group PLC went into administration early Friday morning, after the failure of last-minute talks with its financial backers Icelandic investment group Straumur. The company blamed volatile fuel prices, a sagging economy and its inability to secure more funding. XL Leisure Group chief executive Phil Wyatt said today he was "devastated" at the collapse of the holiday company and claimed his management team had "worked night and day" to try to refinance it.
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| SUNWING ENHANCES AIRCRAFT AGREEMENTS |
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In wake of XL tragedy, Sunwing expands lease agreements with aircraft suppliers, lessors
Charmaine Pang
Early this morning, Sunwing Airlines announced expanded lease agreements with aircraft suppliers and lessors for its fleet operations this winter. The announcement comes in the wake of the XL Leisure Group receivership. Sunwing Airlines assures travel industry partners and customers that it fully intends to meet all of its flight commitments for the peak winter season and has taken the necessary steps to do so. Mark Williams, president of Sunwing Airlines, said, "We have been in discussion with major aircraft leasing companies and other airlines in Europe, regarding the deployment of aircraft for our peak winter season program. Sunwing already has agreements in place with three other European airlines for seasonal movement of aircraft and crews, replacing previous agreements with XL Airways."
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| DEPARTURE AT THOMAS COOK |
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| Manon Blouin | | Manon Blouin, Vice President and General Manager, Quebec Operations departs the company
Yesterday afternoon, TRAVELHotNews.com confirmed with Jill Wykes, Vice President, Operations, Thomas Cook Canada, that Manon Blouin, Vice President and General Manager, Quebec Operations has left the company. Blouin joined the tour operator in 2005.
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| MSC CRUISES EXPANDS CANADIAN TEAM |
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Mary Anne LaChance is new Regional Sales Manager, Ontario
MSC Cruises is expanding its Canadian sales force. As a direct result of rapid growth that will see the line's fleet increase to 12 ships by the end of 2009 and increased interest in the Italian-owned cruise line, the line is adding to its sales force in Canada. An experienced Canadian sales professional, Mary Anne LaChance (nee McKeown) joins the line as Canadian regional sales manager (RSM) for the Ontario region. LaChance spent the last few years as a sales expert with Encore Cruises/Encore CruiseEscapes in Canada. Prior to that, she had worked for more than five years with Royal Caribbean International/Celebrity Cruises. LaChance joins J.C. Cote in working with Canadian agents. Based in Montreal, Cote serves Canadian agents outside of the Ontario region.
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| TRANSAT WELCOMES ARUBA |
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Due to popular demand, YYZ departures pushed up to Nov. 2, 2008 from December
Transat Holidays wants your clients to experience Aruba a little earlier. Due to popular demand, their Aruba program, originally scheduled to start on December 21, 2008 is now slated for a start date of November 2, 2008. An idyllic Dutch-governed Caribbean island, Aruba offers your clients an ideal climate with an average temperature of 30 degrees during the month of November mixed with cooling trade winds. Transat Holidays' Aruba program features the newly renovated Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort Aruba. The 4-star, all inclusive property is located on the popular Palm Beach and is close to the capital of Oranjestad. As an introductory offer, Transat Holidays is offering the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort Aruba at a price of $1,198 per adult for departures November 2, 9 or 16, reflecting a savings of $440 per couple.
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| GRAND TURK CRUISE CENTER UPDATE |
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The Grand Turk Cruise Center scheduled to reopen October 8, 2008
The Grand Turk Cruise Center, which is operated by Miami-based Carnival Corporation & plc, and located on the island of Grand Turk, has been scheduled to reopen on October 8, 2008, following the passage of Hurricane Ike. An engineering survey has confirmed that no damage was sustained to the cruise ship pier, which can accommodate up to two ships at one time. Minimal damage occurred to the facility's retail and restaurant complex. "We believe we can complete repairs to the cruise center within a 30-day period and bring cruise ships back to Grand Turk," said Giora Israel, Carnival's vice president of strategic planning and port development.
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| SEE 'IGOR' FREE WITH SIGNATURE |
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Signature Vacations & Holiday Village offer free passes to 'Igor' movie when booking in September
Signature Vacations is celebrating back to school with a family movie special this September. Your clients will enjoy 4 free movie passes to see Igor the movie when you book their Holiday Village packages. Both properties, the Holiday Village Golden Beach and the Holiday Village White Sands, are included in the promotion. This promotion is offered when you book your clients from Sep. 8-29, 2008 for travel Nov. 1, 2008 to Apr. 30, 2009, your clients will receive 4 free movie passes to see Igor. The fall's biggest animated feature, Igor features an all-star cast sure to please both parents and children alike.
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