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TURKS & CAICOS - A NEW PRESENCE

New tourist office in Canada expresses confidence and
Charmaine Pang

Brian Been, Director- Toronto, Turks & Caicos Tourist Board; Rosemarie Wilson, Canadian representative, Turks & Caicos Tourist Board; Hon. Dr. Michael Misick, Premier, Turks & Caicos; Lindsey Musgrove, Director of Tourism
The Turks & Caicos delegation trumpeted a 'New Presence in Canada' yesterday evening at the Westin Harbour Castle in downtown Toronto. The government and tourist board want more Canadians to spend their hard-earned vacation (and investment) time and dollars on their unique 'piece of paradise'. Many key members of the Turks & Caicos tourist office and government were present, including the Premier, the Honourable Michael Misick, the Honourable Wayne Garland, Chairman of Turks & Caicos Tourist Board, Caesar Campbell, CEO of the Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHT), Lindsey Musgrove, Director of Tourism, Brian Been, Manager - Turks & Caicos Tourist Board Toronto, and, last but not least, Canadian representative Rosemarie Wilson.

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CARIBBEAN MEDIA BASH

CTO hosts media marketplace and awards luncheon: Canadian Traveller's Melanie Reffes wins Best Trade Feature
Lisa Raffaele

Canadian Traveller's Melanie Reffes, at centre, won the Best Trade Feature prize

As part of Caribbean Week 2008, the CTO hosted a media marketplace and awards ceremony yesterday afternoon at Toronto's Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. The media was invited to have one-on-one exchanges with tourism officials, hoteliers, tour operators and airline representatives. Over 30 Caribbean representatives were available to discuss the upcoming season and new product offerings, as well as showcase their destination's highlights for 2008-2009. Awards were handed out to members of the media that provided exceptional Caribbean coverage for 2008. Canadian Traveller's Melanie Reffes won for 'Best Trade Feature' in her story on St. Lucia. [Full text and pictures]

KIDS STAY FREE WITH SIGNATURE

Travelling families can get the first child free when booking with Signature from Sep. 25-30 for travel Dec. 15-Jan.1

Mazatlan

Signature Vacations is celebrating the holidays early with a gift to travelling families. Book your client's one-week family vacation between September 25 and 30, 2008 for departures from December 15, 2008 to January 1, 2009 at select resorts and the first child will stay at absolutely no charge. Simply pay airfare and taxes and your first child stays free. Some of the rates and properties are available all across Canada from Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg. Keep reading for full details. [Full text and pictures]

HOLLAND AMERICA LAUNCHES E-BROCHURES

Shore excursion e-brochures are now online and can be personalized

Holland America Line has launched a new Shore Excursion e-Brochure online system for its guests to view and print shore excursion information for booked cruises. Now, a cruise guest can receive up-to-the minute, personalized information that is specific to the guest's cruise itinerary. This technological Web enhancement allows guests to access and update any shore excursion that applies to their cruise itinerary on a 24/7 basis. Besides tailoring the Shore Excursion e-Brochures to each guest's ship and sail date, the online versions offer readers the same useful information as the print versions but with two newly added and helpful features: tour pricing and excursion departure times. [Full text and pictures]

AGENTS CAN WIN AN IPOD TOUCH!

Learn about oneworld airline alliance and enter to win an iPod Touch when completing online learning modules
Travel agents around the world have a chance to win an iPod Touch when they find out all about the oneworld air alliance. All they have to do is to complete its online training module. Every agent achieving a pass grade - even when helped by the prompts - will be entered in a draw, with an iPod touch raffled off once every three months. oneworld's Learning Forum is a game-based learning tool designed to teach travel agents all they need to know about the alliance - its member airlines, the alliance's services and benefits, its range of fares and more. Keep reading for full details. [Full text and pictures]

NEW 'PILGRIM'S ROUTE' IN ISRAEL

New trail allows travellers to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea

Jerusalem

Israel has inaugurated the new 'Pilgrim's Route,' a trail enabling travelers to hike to its Christian holy places. Along the route leading from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, tourists can visit the site that recalls the New Testament parable of the Good Samaritan, the Qumran caves and the point in the Jordan River believed to be where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. The Good Samaritan site, located just off the highway leading from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, is home to a Byzantine church built approximately 1,700 years ago. The mosaic floor of the church was recently reconstructed by archaeologists. "The new 'Pilgrim's Route' will add some additional inspiration for Christian visitors to Israel," says Oded Grofman, Consul - Tourism and Director of the Israel Government Tourist Office (IGTO) - Canada. [Full text and pictures]

DELTA, NORTHWEST GO AHEAD

Delta, Northwest Airlines shareholders approve combination
Canadian Press

Delta Air Lines shareholders gave the go-ahead Thursday to the company's purchase of Northwest Airlines by approving the issuance of new stock as part of the transaction. The vote, which was overwhelmingly in support of the deal, came at a meeting near Atlanta. Earlier in the day, Northwest shareholders approved the combination during a meeting in New York. The deal announced April 14, which would create the world's biggest carrier, still requires Justice Department approval. One other potential hurdle for the deal is a federal lawsuit seeking to block the deal that is set for trial Nov. 5 in San Francisco. Delta chief executive Richard Anderson, who will keep his position after the combination, would not discuss the lawsuit, but he indicated the carrier maintains its goal of completing the deal by the end of the year. [Full text and pictures]