|
| |
| ISRAEL'S '09 OUTLOOK |
|
 |
| Arie Sommer and Oded Grofman | | Israel is optimistic about 2010, will adopt a wait-and-see approach for 2009; unveils new marketing and advertising campaign
Charmaine Pang
The Israel Government Tourist Office (IGTO) shared its North American strategies and outlook for the year at a press conference held yesterday afternoon in Toronto. Israel is coming off a record-breaking 2008 which saw 3 million global visitors; of that figure, 70,000 came from Canada. The country also celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2008. Arie Sommer, the IGTO's Consul Tourism for North and South America, presented an overview of the organization's successes in 2008 and provided his outlook for 2009.
[Full
text and pictures]
|
|
| |
|
| |
| VISIT SPC'S CANADA DIRECTION |
|
St. Petersburg/Clearwater announces official changes in their Canadian market presence
Lisa Raffaele
 |
| Rosemarie Payne | | It is now official, Kimberly Hartley, Director for the Canada Office, St. Petersburg/Clearwater will no longer be representing them in Canada. The office is now closed, and all activities with the Canadian market will be streamlined in-house. Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater has officially announced that there will be some changes taking place regarding their presence in and relationship with the Canadian market. Yesterday, the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Board of County Commissioners approved a restructuring plan submitted by their advisory board, the Tourism Development Council, which will streamline convention and visitors bureau operations. Part of this restructuring will involve transferring their Canadian market sales representation duties from their current contracted Canadian sales representative to their in-house leisure sales staff directed by Rosemarie Payne, which can be contacted at Rosemarie@VisitSPC.com.
[Full
text and pictures]
|
|
| |
|
| |
| BLOOMIN' CANADA! |
|
13th edition of Canada Blooms is set for spring; Tourism Ireland kicks things off with 'Green on Green' opening gala
Charmaine Pang
There's nothing like a fresh breath of air, and the Canada Blooms Festival is bringing spring a couple days early. TRAVELHotNews.com visited the show in Toronto to see what some travel industry partners are 'growing'. Booths in the travel section of the Marketplace included major sponsor Tourism Ireland, the Grenada Tourist Board, the Barbados Tourist Board, VIA Rail, the Czech Republic, the Tourist Office of Spain and more. Other 'green'-themed destinations included Butchart Gardens in Victoria, BC, the cities of Ottawa, Oshawa and more.
[Full
text and pictures]
|
|
| |
|
| |
| CIT EXPLORES VENETO |
|
CIT Tours adds Veneto region to its Little Taste Menu offerings
 |
| Villa Pace Park Hotel Bolognese | | CIT Tours has just added the 'Palladian Villas & Veneto Little Taste' to its Little Taste Menu. The featured hotel for this tour is the four-star Villa Pace Park Hotel Bolognese. Located along the Terraglio, a Napoleonic road of Venetian Villas that connects Venice to Treviso, that is right in the heart of the Veneto region. The 95-room hotel, includes a wellness centre, outdoor swimming pool and natural solarium. The hotel's restaurant "Bolognese", features seasonal and regional recipes. This packages includes three nights accommodation, four days AVIS category B car rental, daily breakfast, one dinner at the Bolognese restaurant, guided tour of the Nardini Distillery, a cheese tasting, wine tasting at Villa Sandy, as well as entrance to Andrea Palladio's Villa Emo.
[Full
text and pictures]
|
|
| |
|
| |
| SIGNATURE VACATIONS MARCHES ON |
|
Signature vacations announces March savings; book by March 31 for travel until April 30
Book between March 19 and 31, 2009 for travel until April 30, 2009 and take advantage of savings at several of Signatures inclusive resorts. Your clients can choose from packages in Cuba, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Departures are available from eight gateways across Canada and include: Toronto to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, the four-star Viva Wyndham Tangerine, one-week, all inclusive, departs April 16 for $518 plus $315 taxes; Montreal to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, the four-star Holiday Village Golden Beach, one-week, all inclusive, departs April 6 for $998 taxes included. Continue reading for more deals.
[Full
text and pictures]
|
|
| |
|
| |
| ACV & ME |
|
Air Canada Vacations launches ACV & Me Rewards program; agents receive 100 additional Aeroplan Miles, as well as chance for 1,000 bonus miles
Air Canada Vacations will award agents registered for the ACV & Me Rewards program 100 additional Aeroplan Miles per passenger for air and hotel packages to Italy booked between March 15 and April 15, 2009. Agents booking air and hotel packages to Italy during the qualifying period will also be automatically entered to win 1,000 bonus Aeroplan Miles. To register for ACV & Me Rewards agents should log in to aircanadavacations.com/agents.
|
|
| |
|
| |
| ETIHAD & QANTAS TEAM UP |
|
Etihad Airways and Qantas announce codeshare to start March 29
Etihad Airways has announced details of a new codeshare agreement with Qantas. The deal will see the Abu Dhabi-based airline place its two-letter 'EY' code on selected Qantas domestic services which operate beyond Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane - the three gateway airports currently served by Etihad. In addition, Etihad will place its code on daily Qantas flights from Melbourne to Auckland in New Zealand. The initial codeshare agreement comes into effect on Sunday, March 29, 2009 and is likely to be extended to other routes in the future.
|
|
| |
| |
| BEACHES TURKS & CAICOS' NEW PIRATES ISLAND |
|
Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa announce March 15 opening of newly-expanded Pirates Island Waterpark
 |
| Pirates Island Waterpark | | On March 15, 2009, Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa debuted its newly-revamped Pirates Island Waterpark. Ten times its original size, the expanded Pirates Island Waterpark opened just after the grand opening of the resort's 162-family suite expansion, the new Italian Village. Families vacationing at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa this past weekend were among the first to experience the waterpark's lazy river, surf simulator and seven new waterslides. A total of nine body and tube slides are now available to guests, offering up to 300 feet of slide. A separate 'splash' deck, complete with water cannons, pop-up jets, cranks and spray features, as well as a Tiny Tots zero-entry pool is also available.
[Full
text and pictures]
|
|
| |
|
|
