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SUNQUEST IS DEDICATED TO RIU

Sunquest releases 2009-2010 dedicated RIU brochure; new this year is Costa Rica

Sunquest has released the 2009-2010 edition of its dedicated RIU brochure, which features RIU's full line-up of resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico, and new this year - Costa Rica. Along with the addition of the Riu Guanacaste in Costa Rica, set to open on Oct. 30, 2009, Sunquest and RIU are anticipating the opening of the brand new Riu Emerald Bay in Mazatlan next month on May 29, 2009, which will coincide with the start of Sunquest's new summer charter service out of the West to this destination and will expand east for next winter's program. This brochure brings with it early booking bonuses, including savings up to $780 per couple when booked and paid by Oct. 31, 2009, for travel between Dec. 24, 2009 and Apr. 30, 2010 (completed stays). Continue reading for more brochure highlights. [Full text and pictures]

SPAIN RECREATES CATHEDRAL

Tourist Office of Spain, along with the Xunta de Galicia and Xacobeo host 3-D presentation at Royal Ontario Museum to recreate the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral
Photos provided by the Tourist Office of Spain

On April 1, 2009 the Tourist Office of Spain, in collaboration with the Xunta de Galicia and Xacobeo, hosted a unique 3-D presentation called "The Romanesque Cathedral and Town of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia: A real-Time Virtual Reality Reconstruction". This exhibit combines visual digital images based on computer models, along with embedded songs and sounds to recreate the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral as it was in the 13th century. [Full text and pictures]

AC'S SURVIVAL PLAN

Air Canada needs to take axe to service to survive, says analyst
Canadian Press

An airline analyst says Air Canada must take axe to network by cutting more than half of routes and aircraft and 6,000 jobs to save more than $2 billion in a bid to survive. Jacques Kavafian of Research Capital Corp. said a dramatic structural shift is required rather than merely tweaking supplier contracts to extract short-term savings. It would involve scrapping the agreement with regional feeder Jazz and reducing Air Canada's fleet, domestic and U.S. routes by about half. The complexity of the task requires the changes to be made through creditor protection, which could come in three months, he said. Kavafian said the only reason Calin Rovinescu was brought in this week to head Canada's largest airline is to reduce expenses in the face of falling revenues. [Full text and pictures]

ORLANDO'S NUMBER 1 DEAL

Orlando announces new "Deal of the Week" program offer; new deal every Friday through June 30
Beginning today, the "Bundles of Free Smiles" campaign developed by the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. (Orlando CVB) will get a new boost through June 30 with a weekly featured deal and a vacation giveaway contest in addition to more than 130 free offers at VisitOrlando.com/Smile. The new "Deal of the Week" component begins today and offers enhanced savings at select Orlando resorts. With more than 130 accommodations, attractions and other venues already offering "free" components such as stay three nights get two free. The "Deal of Week" will provide a bonus savings of up to $100 in added value. [Full text and pictures]

G.A.P CELEBRATES EARTH MONTH

G.A.P Adventures celebrates Earth Month with Dollar-A-Day program and 10% savings on Volunteer Adventures

G.A.P Adventures is organizing a number of initiatives for Earth Month to raise awareness of the importance of minimizing environmental impact and travelling in a low impact and sustainable manner. G.A.P Adventures Earth Month Activities include: Dollar-A-Day program - Double the impact. In honour of Earth Month G.A.P Adventures will match each donation to their Dollar-A-Day program. This initiative donates one dollar per day for the duration of your clients tour with 100 per cent of these proceeds going to support Planeterra projects. G.A.P Adventures has also created itineraries that give back to the community. [Full text and pictures]

APT'S DOWN UNDER TRAVEL BUSTERS

Australian Pacific Touring announces Down Under Travel Buster savings; 10% savings on tours 10 days or more

Australian Pacific Touring has announced that prices are going "down under." They are offering a 10 per cent savings on tours of 10 days or more for travel anytime through to March 2010. This promotion offers a savings of up to $1,585 per couple on land rates. Bookings must be made by April 30, 2009. This offer is not valid for pre and post accommodation and cannot be used in conjunction with any other discounts or offers. Other conditions apply. Visit apttouring.com for complete details and conditions.

NO APRIL FOOL WITH CELEBRITY AND AZAMARA

Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises launch April offers; Two-for-one cruise fare, price protection guarantee and travel agent incentive
Beginning April 1 and running through April 30, 2009, your clients can book a limited number of berths on select Alaska and Europe sailings at a two-for-the-price-of-one rate based on published brochure rates. Any of these cruises booked during April 2009 also feature a price-protection component and a travel agent booking incentive. "With fantastic cruises available for prices as low as $75 per person per day, quite simply, there has never been a better time to book a cruise," said Dondra Ritzenthaler, Senior Vice President of Sales, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises. Continue reading for complete details on the Azamara Assurance, the Celebrity Starring You Promise, the price protection component and travel agent booking incentives, including prize giveaways. [Full text and pictures]

GERMANY RECORDS CANADIAN INCREASE

Germany announces 5% visitor increase from Canada; Canadians outperform Germany's overall 2008 increase in overnights

In March, at Berlin's ITB world travel fair, the German National Tourist Board announced that despite the worldwide economic downturn in the second half of the past year, Germany has received a 3.2 per cent increase in tourism from abroad for 2008 over 2007, and an overall increase, including domestic travel, of 2.1 per cent. Canadians contributed to these figures with 556,500 overnights in hotels with more than nine beds, not counting smaller bed and breakfast-type accommodations or the nights spent with relatives and friends. [Full text and pictures]

QATAR'S INFLIGHT INTERNET AND TEXT SERVICES

Qatar Airways announces inflight communication technology; internet and text messaging to be available on single aisle airbus fleet

Qatar Airways and OnAir have announced an agreement to install Mobile OnAir inflight passenger communications services on board the airline's single-aisle fleet. The agreement will see the airline install the technology on all 22 single-aisle Airbus A319, A320 and A321 aircraft, as well as several new aircraft on order. Passengers will be able to stay connected inflight using their own mobile phones or BlackBerry-type devices to send and receive text messages and emails, and access the Internet. They will also be able to access the Internet using their own laptops fitted with GSM data cards.