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| CANADA NEEDS A STRATEGY, SAYS EUSTACHE |
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Jean-Marc Eustache, President/CEO of Transat, calls on government to adopt a global strategy on travel/tourism
Speaking yesterday to the Cercle finance et placement du Québec in Montreal, Jean-Marc Eustache, President and CEO of Transat A.T. Inc., one of the world’s leading integrated tour operators, called upon the Canadian government to adopt a coherent global strategy to ensure the future of the travel and tourism industry as an engine of economic development in Canada. “The game is changing. Competition among destinations is intensifying,” Mr. Eustache explained, “and if we do not act, we are placing a major component of economy and our future in jeopardy.” In sketching out a few constituent elements of such a strategy, Mr. Eustache highlighted the importance of ensuring that our airport infrastructures are accessible at competitive rates — they are currently among the most expensive in the world.
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| ETIHAD TURNS 3! |
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Airline’s CEO, James Hogan, flies into Toronto to celebrate 3rd year of the “fastest-growing airline in the history of aviation”
Charmaine Pang, with photos by Lisa Raffaele
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| James Hogan | | Yesterday evening at Sassafraz restaurant in Toronto, Etihad Airways celebrated their third year of rapid growth and success in the Canadian market. James Hogan, CEO of Etihad Airways, the Toronto Etihad team and crew from all over the world hosted approximately 85 travel industry partners. Hogan said that Etihad is “fastest-growing airline in the history of aviation”. In just three years, Hogan said the airline has amassed 38 aircraft which fly to 48 cities around the world. At the end of 2008, there will be 42 aircraft deployed to 50 cities. Hogan said Etihad’s goal is to secure daily service from Toronto before expanding into additional Canadian cities. Etihad flies to Abu Dhabi from Toronto three times a week.
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| DISNEY ASKS; WHAT WILL YOU CELEBRATE? |
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The Walt Disney Company hosts luncheon to celebrate 2009 season, ‘What Will You Celebrate?’
Lisa Raffaele
Yesterday afternoon the Walt Disney Company simultaneously announced to Toronto and New York that they want to celebrate you and your client’s birthday, offering everyone a chance to visit a Walt Disney Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park on their birthday in 2009 free. The luncheon also took the opportunity to highlight Disney theme park’s new ad campaign that will begin to air next week, one that Disney will finish ‘Canadianizing’ for the Canadian market, said Bruno Jauernig, Vice President, Domestic and International Marketing, Walt Disney World Resort Florida.
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| AIRLINES DROP FUEL SURCHARGES |
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AC, WJ, Porter drop fuel surcharges; lower fares on the horizon?
Charmaine Pang
This morning, the Globe and Mail reported that Air Canada and WestJet have dropped their North American fuel surcharges, including them in their advertised base fares. Regional carrier Porter Airlines has also followed suit. WestJet also reduced its fares, and Air Canada cut its fares to stay competitive on select routes. Lower fares may be on the way, if oil prices stay below US $100 a barrel. The fares posted yesterday by both airlines were the lowest rates since early 2005 – on selected routes for travel prior to Christmas.
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| CUBA TOURISM UPDATE |
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Region of Jardines del Rey is open for business, post-Ike; includes Cayo Coco, Cayo Guillermo
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| Cayo Guillermo | | The Cuba Tourist Board has provided the latest updates for the cleanup of the Jardines del Rey region following Hurricane Ike. The tourism destinations of Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo, located in the central north area of Cuba has resumed normal operations to receive tourists. Post-Ike, the causeway linking both Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo to the mainland and the water supply were affected. Effective immediately, those services have been restored. It should be noted that hotel infrastructure was not affected by the hurricane. Both Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo are open for business and are once again continuing to welcome tourists to the region. Keep reading for more.
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| AGENTS, GO GREEN! |
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Agents can become certified Green Travel Professionals with CITC, ACTA, Baxter
Today, CITC, ACTA and Baxter Travel Media have teamed up to create an industry-wide recognition program for Green Travel Professionals. This initiative allows Canadian travel counsellors to better represent themselves as promoters of environmentally responsible travel and also promote their Green travel products and services to consumers.
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| GOWAY’S CHINA GETS BIGGER |
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Goway enhances China programs for 2009 thanks to increased demand
With forecasts of accelerated growth over the next several years, Goway has announced the enhancement of their programs to China for 2009. “Since the Olympics, the increase in requests and bookings for this fall and next year have been significant”, said Doug Vogl, Goway’s Asia Product and Marketing Manager. The tour operator has designed several unique packages to the ‘Middle Kingdom’, and has expanded their 8-day Beijing Post Olympics Package to include 2009 departures. The program is priced from $1,399 from Vancouver. In 2009, Goway also offers the 11- or 14-day China Odyssey. Keep reading for more details.
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