TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

THN.COM SITS DOWN WITH CTCPI

One-on-one with CTCPI’s president Vittorio Lo Tauro
Lisa Raffaele

Vittorio Lo Tauro

Yesterday afternoon TRAVELHotNews met with Vittorio Lo Tauro, President of the Canadian Travel Council Promoting Italy (CTCPI) and Arts & Leisure Tours/Travel With Flair to discuss their new product highlights and company focus for 2008-2009. Currently CTCPI and its six members: Arts and Leisure Tours/Travel with Flair, Insight Vacations, Kompas Express, Contiki Holidays, the Globus Family of Brands and ALBATours/Sunquest, have been focusing on highlighting some of the regions of Italy that are typically only discovered by repeat clientele to the country. According to Lo Tauro Italy has competition in Europe from Spain, Croatia and Czechoslovakia, and CTCPI has to keep the country (Italy) in the forefront of people’s minds. To do this Lo Tauro mentions that it is important that people talk to experts and truly know Italy. [Full text and pictures]

G.A.P ADDS SALES MANAGER

Anita Emilio is named as North America Sales Manager, based in Toronto

Brad Ford, Director of Sales-Americas and Anita Emilio, the new North America Sales Manager

G.A.P Adventures has named Anita Emilio to the position of North America Sales Manager. Based in Toronto, Emilio will be responsible for the overall management of the Outside Sales team of Sheralyn Berry and Ned Ambrus in Western Canada and Monty Walsh, Erin Buttler and Justin Wegiel in Eastern Canada as well as supporting all North American agency chain preferred partnerships. In addition, she will oversee the planning and management of the G.A.P Adventures Concept Stores and their marketing and adventure travel branding presence. She will report to Brad Ford, Director of Sales – Americas. Emilio has more than 10 years of experience in retail sales, client relations, and marketing in the travel industry. [Full text and pictures]

FCM LIGHTS UP THE STAGE

Stage and Screen Travel Services opens Toronto office Sep. 1

Jennifer Cairns, Assistant Manager; Ron Schur, Manager; Zuzana Michalkova, Business Development Manager

Stage and Screen Travel Services (a subsidiary of FCm Travel Solutions), is now turning to ‘Hollywood North’ to expand its business horizons. With established offices in Los Angeles, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Auckland, Stage & Screen opened for business in Toronto on September 1st. Expansion plans will continue with New York slated as the next office to be opened over the coming months. Stage and Screen's Toronto operation will feature Ron Schur as Manager, Jennifer Cairns in the role of assistant Manager and Zuzana Michalkova as Business Development Manager. All three transferred over from the company’s corporate division, FCm Travel Solutions and bring a wealth of travel knowledge as well as established clients in the entertainment business. Keep reading for more. [Full text and pictures]

SIGNATURE’S PREMIERE COLLECTION

Beach at Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus

Premiere Collection hotels on sale until Sep. 17; best quality for best price from gateways across Canada
Signature Vacations is offering their Premiere Collection hotels on sale until Sep. 17, 2008. This grouping of hotels has been compiled using the results of the tour operator’s customer survey questionnaires. All of these hotels have received a rating of 85 per cent or higher, giving it an “A plus” in customer satisfaction. Score your clients the best hotels for the best prices this fall. For instance, your clients travelling from Toronto can get to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic at the Catalonia Royal Bavaro (4 stars) for 1 week, all inclusive, departs Nov. 6 – Dec. 11; price costs $948 + $368 taxes. Keep reading for more gateways and offers across Canada. [Full text and pictures]

WESTJET GETS CHARITABLE

WestJet partners with Ronald McDonald House Charities, donates over 500 flights and $20,000

WestJet donated $20,000 to RMHC

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Canada and WestJet recently announced a new initiative where WestJet will donate flights to the charity, which is dedicated to helping children with serious illnesses or disabilities and their families lead happier and healthier lives. Through the airline's community investment program, WestJet Cares for Kids, WestJet will donate more than 500 single flights to support RMHC families, fundraising and administration. WestJet also gave RMHC a cash donation of $20,000 in January 2008 to be allocated to providing comfort and necessity items to families with Ronald McDonald House through a Family Welcome Packs program. "Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada is thrilled to receive such strong support from WestJet," says Shelagh Barrett, Executive Director, of RMHC. [Full text and pictures]

FEMALES CRUISE TO SUCCESS

Canada’s largest women’s travel company launches with ‘Man Overboard!’ women-only cruise

Womens Travel Network founder Debbie Ross with colleague Margot Wirth; Broad Horizons' co-founder, Susan Pearson

Despite soaring gas prices and a downturn in several travel industry sectors, two Canadian companies joined forces to launch Canada’s largest women’s travel company over the weekend. Leading Toronto-based company, Womens Travel Network (WTN), has teamed up with Sarnia’s fast-growing, Broad Horizons, to offer Canadian women the ultimate girls-only getaways. To celebrate, they hosted a "Man Overboard!" ladies-only cruise for hundreds of their female clientele. In the increasingly competitive international travel market, they have teamed up in order to pool their strengths. WTN founder Debbie Ross said that despite the odds and the economic climate, her company has seen increased sales and interest in the concept of women-only vacations. [Full text and pictures]

ISRAEL SHINES ON SHE’AN

“She’an Nights” tour offers new nighttime twist on ancient site of Beit She’an in Jordan Valley

Beit She'an during the day

Offering a modern twist on the ancient archaeological site of Beit She'an, located in the Jordan Valley, "She'an Nights," a multi-media, multi-sensory nighttime tour of the 5,000-year-old city, opened last week. A joint venture between the Israel Ministry of Tourism, the Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority and the Beit She'an Municipality, the $3 million project is the first of its kind within an archaeological site. "She'an Nights" will take visitors on an evening stroll through the streets of the excavated city with audiovisual presentations projected onto dozens of giant screens. The cutting-edge touring experience gives visitors the chance to view the Roman-Byzantine-era marble columns, temples and mosaics within the national park in a whole new light. [Full text and pictures]