TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

ANGUILLA'S ARRIVAL

Anguilla kicks off Caribbean Week in Canada; adds 4 new tour operators, expects more Canadians this year
Charmaine Pang

Dale Pusching, Canadian representative, Anguilla Tourist Board; Hon. Victor F. Banks, Minister of Tourism; Hon. Donna Banks, Special Advisor to Minister of Tourism; Amelia Vanterpool-Kubisch, Director, Anguilla Tourist Board; John Benjamin, Chairman, Anguilla Tourist Board; Marie Walker, Director-North America, Anguilla Tourist Board

Caribbean Week Canada has arrived early to Toronto. Anguilla's tourism representatives set the tone yesterday afternoon for a week of warm Caribbean hospitality, hosting a high tea (and rum!) function at the Sutton Place Hotel to welcome the media and its travel partners to Caribbean Week. While the official events kick off this Wednesday Sep. 24th, yesterday's event allowed guests to learn about the latest tourism developments in Anguilla. The Hon. Victor Franklin Banks, Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Investments & Tourism, was present to discuss his island's new tourism offerings. Banks said the big news this year was the addition of four more Canadian tour operators carrying Anguilla product. [Full text and pictures]

ISRAEL EXPECTS ANOTHER RECORD YEAR

Oren Drori, Deputy Director of Marketing, Israel Government Tourist Office holds press conference to discuss the year's success
Charmaine Pang

Oren Drori, Deputy Director of Marketing, with Oded Grofman, Director - Canada, IGTO

Last Thursday, the Israel Government Tourist Office (IGTO) hosted a group of journalists to discuss their visitation numbers for 2008, their expectations for the close of the year, the impact of their marketing strategies for the year and their plans for the future. Oren Drori, Deputy Director of Marketing for the IGTO, arrived from Israel to share some of the latest statistics. Drori cited last year's numbers showing that 75,000 Canadians visited Israel last year, another record-breaking year. It's important to note that the above number represents those holding Canadian passports only. When factoring in Canadian residents who use U.S. passports, Israeli passports or other documentation, the actual number of visitors from Canada will be much higher. For the first half of 2008, the number of visitors from Canada rose by 30 per cent. [Full text and pictures]

DOUBLE SUN DOLLARS FOR YOU

Agents can earn double the Sun Dollars until Oct. 5, 2008
Travel agents will earn double Sun Dollars on all land product that is booked online with Fun Sun Vacations between September 22 and October 5, 2008. This offer includes hotels, condos, car rentals, transfers, and attraction passes. This promotional offer is valid for all bookings with departures up to June 30, 2009. To make a booking, log onto funsunagent.com. Some restrictions apply.

SUNWING'S ESCORTED CUBA

Sunwing adds 3 fully escorted tours all over the island of Cuba

Holguin

For your clients with a desire to discover Cuba beyond the beach, Sunwing Vacations has added three fully escorted tours. Each features a mix of culture, history, nature - and even a bit of R&R. Two of the three itineraries are one week in duration: Cuba Natural combines a stay and touring in Havana with a tour of farmland, a crocodile breeding centre, and city tours in Cienfuegos and Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The weeklong Cuba's Jewel is a comprehensive tour of eastern Cuba and includes city tours in Holguin, Santiago de Cuba and the country's oldest city, Baracoa - which dates back to 1512. The Isla Grande tour combines city tours (Havana, Trinidad, Camaguey and Santiago de Cuba) with history (a visit to the mausoleum of Che Guevara) and nature - this itinerary also includes a 6X6 tour and a visit to the El Cobre Sanctuary. [Full text and pictures]

SUNSPOTS LAUNCHES ROATAN

Your clients can experience the wonders of Roatan, Honduras, new with Sunspots

Sunspots Holidays has just launched its Roatan program. The destination is located off the North Coast of Honduras, and features unspoiled nature, a diverse and unique reef system, the rainforest and welcoming locals. Sunspots offers packages consisting of air, hotel, airport transfers, and a variety of optional choices and activities, such as diving, meals, honeymoon and wedding packages, and more. The tour operator offers the Turquoise Bay Resort, a Caribbean dive and beach hotel that is located in the East End on Roatan's north shore. This resort, rated 4.5 stars, has 6 duplex bungalows, set on the hillside amongst palm trees and planted gardens. Whether your clients want to scuba dive or just to relax on the beach, Turquoise Bay Resort in Roatan is a perfect place to spend their vacation and enjoy friendly service, a relaxed atmosphere and beautiful scenery. [Full text and pictures]

SIGNATURE FAM TO COZUMEL

Ontario agents have an opportunity to experience the Holiday Village White Sands from Oct. 28-29

Holiday Village White Sands

Agents have heard Signature Vacations talking about the Holiday Villages and now it's their chance to see one on a Holiday Village White Sands FAM. The newest addition to the Holiday Village family, White Sands delivers a unique holiday experience to everyone from families to couples. Join the Signature Vacations sales team on a 2-day/1-night FAM staying at this fantastic property. Spaces are limited so book early before they're sold out. The FAM departs from Toronto Pearson International Airport and the dates are Tue Oct. 28 until Wed Oct. 29, 2008. For more details and to RSVP, go to the TRAVELHotNews.com FAM section here. [Full text and pictures]

GO SOLO WITH GLOBUS

Globus waives single supplement for European vacations; save your clients up to $550

Do your clients prefer to go it alone? The Globus family of brands has great news for your cost-conscious clients, particularly those who prefer travelling solo. The removal of the single supplement has taken effect on 11 new vacations that are part of its 2008/2009 Europe Winter selection. St�phanie Bishop, Managing Director of the Globus family of brands in Canada, said, "On our European Panoramas and Regional Discoveries, travellers going solo will not pay a single supplement for their own room, offering savings of up to $550." From river cruises on the Rhine, Danube, Sa�ne and Rh�ne to independent travel packages featuring better than rack rate prices in London, Paris, Rome or Venice, the Globus family of brands' "European Winter Vacations" offer something for every travel style. [Full text and pictures]

TEXAS UPDATE ON IKE

Most areas of Texas were unaffected and continue to welcome visitors

Houston

While federal, state, and local officials continue the recovery phase in areas affected by Hurricane Ike, other areas of Texas - including Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, the Texas Panhandle, the Big Bend Region, the South Texas Plains, and the beaches of South Padre Island and Corpus Christi-Port Aransas - were not affected by the storm and continue to welcome visitors. Texas Tourism recommends that travellers in Texas and those with plans to visit the state confirm hotel reservations. Coastal areas from Surfside Beach to the Texas-Louisiana border, including Galveston, were heavily impacted. Travellers should closely monitor the current situation in these communities before traveling to them. Keep reading for full details. [Full text and pictures]