TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

IRRESISTIBLE FRANCE!

Maison de la France hosts annual press luncheon & trade show; "irresistible deals" still to be found in France, says director Caroline Putnoki
Charmaine Pang

Caroline Putnoki, Benedicte Duval

Maison de la France (MDLF) hosted their annual press luncheon in Toronto yesterday afternoon at the Park Hyatt hotel as a lead-up to the annual Destination France trade show, which took place at the Liberty Grand complex. Caroline Putnoki, Director of Maison de la France Canada shared some news about France's offerings this spring and summer. First of all, the brand new France Guide 2009 is now hot off the presses and available for pickup by agents and consumers. France is also launching a certified agent specialist program, with a 30-hour series of online modules. Canada will be the very first country to have this program, available at formation.franceguide.com. [Full text and pictures]

CANADA STRONGEST MARKET IN '08, SAYS CTO

Hugh Riley

CTO says 2.5M Canadians visited Caribbean in 2008; strongest market with 14 per cent growth
Despite the global recession and the challenges it poses for the travel and tourism industry, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) reports that Canada has proven to be a reliable market. Canadians showed the strongest growth to the Caribbean in 2008, with nearly 2.5 million Canadian visitors overall, which translates to 14 per cent growth from 2007. "Canadians have been long-time supporters of the Caribbean and have nearly doubled their tourism numbers to the region since 2005," said Hugh Riley, interim secretary general of the CTO and co-chief executive officer for the Caribbean Tourism Development Company (CTDC). [Full text and pictures]

SPRING SAILING WITH THOMAS COOK

Encore CruiseEscapes, Intair and Fun Sun Vacations introduce agent gift card incentive

Encore CruiseEscapes, Intair and Fun Sun Vacations are inviting agents to Sail into Spring with a brand new agent incentive, offering you gift cards of a value up to $50 when clients book cruises with you in March and April. When your clients book an applicable cruise (minimum 7 nights) between Mar. 23 and Apr. 30, 2009, for travel any time in 2009, 2010 or 2011, you reap the rewards. This incentive is also applicable to Cruisetours. Back to back sailings count as two gift cards. The gift cards are from Sears, Petro Canada, HBC or Loblaws - your choice. Keep reading for all the details. [Full text and pictures]

CIT'S NEW SCOTLAND TOURS

CIT Tours adds 2 new small coach tours - 'Highland Highlights' and 'Islay & The Whisky Coast'

Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness

Along with several additional motor coach tours in Italy and Spain, CIT Tours has introduced two new fully escorted coach tours in Scotland - 'Highland Highlights' and 'Islay & the Whisky Coast', both featured in the Enchanting Europe and Best of Italy 2009 brochure. Visiting some of Scotland's most intriguing sites onboard a deluxe minibus, these coach tours are as close as your clients can get to touring in their own car, but with the added benefit of an expert driver/guide's intimate knowledge of Scotland. Travelling as a small group means many stops can be made along the way and "out of the way" places can be reached, allowing your clients more time off the coach to discover the 'real' Scotland. [Full text and pictures]

SUNQUEST, ALBATOURS OFFER RAPTORS TIX

Ontario agent incentive allows you to have a chance to win box seats to a Toronto Raptors game at the Air Canada Centre
Sunquest and ALBATours are offering Ontario travel agents the opportunity to win tickets to watch the Toronto Raptors take on the Atlanta Hawks from a box suite at the Air Canada Centre on Apr. 7, 2009. Effective immediately and running through to Apr. 2, every time you make a booking with Sunquest or ALBATours, you will receive a ballot for a chance to win. There are no restrictions - any booking, any departure, any price, and you automatically qualify. Sunquest and ALBATours will collect all of the eligible booking numbers (agents do not need to submit their booking numbers) and the random draw will be held on Apr. 3, 2009. Five winners will be selected and they will be notified by phone. [Full text and pictures]

ACV'S FREE GENEVA OFFER

ACV offers your clients free Geneva Transport Card when booking a hotel in Geneva, Switzerland

Geneva

Book a hotel in Geneva with Air Canada Vacations and receive a free Geneva Transport Card. This pass enables the holder to use the entire public transportation network (bus, train and boat) for the entire length of their stay. Air Canada's new flights to Europe this year include the only daily, year-round service to Geneva departing from Toronto and Montreal beginning June 1, 2009. Air Canada Vacations offers 15 hotels in Geneva including Novotel Geneva Airport, Swissotel Metropole, Hotel De La Paix Geneva, Hotel Cristal, Grand Hotel Kempinski Geneva, Hotel Cornavin, Hotel Epsom (by Manotel), Hotel Auteuil (by Manotel), Novotel Geneva Centre, Le Mirador Kempinski, M�venpick Hotel & Casino Geneva, Best Western Strasbourg & Univers, Intercontinental Geneva, Bristol Hotel and NH Geneva Airport Hotel.

N�RAT'S DESTINATION DISPLAYS

N�RAT releases new 2009 destination display posters for retail locations - limited quantities available to order now
N�RAT has announced the release of 2009 destination display posters for its product for retail agencies. The medium gloss posters are sized in a large retail window format or 24"x 36". The poster design has been created to complement the N�RAT 2009 retail brochures. Aimed to attract immediate attention to the product, each poster taps into the unique cultural and geographical aspects of each destination it represents. Posters are available for South America, Africa and Egypt. Quantities are limited and to order, travel agents are requested to contact the agency support line on 1-877-BY-NARAT (1-877-296-2728) ext. 3 or email Agency Account Manager Jim Pellegrini at jpellegrini@narat.org.

QATAR AIRWAYS TEAMS UP WITH GHA

Qatar Airways' Privilege Club Members can earn Qmiles when staying at any Global Hotel Alliance properties

Qatar Airways has entered into a new partnership with the world's largest alliance of independent hotel groups, Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), giving Privilege Club Members the chance to earn Qmiles when staying at any of the groups' 180 hotels across the world. Privilege Club members will be entitled to 500 Qmiles when staying at any of the 180 GHA hotels across 136 cities in 43 countries. As a special promotion to celebrate the new partnership, Qatar Airways is offering its members the chance to earn double Qmiles, totaling 1,000 per stay, when they stay at any GHA-affiliated hotel between April 1 and June 30, 2009. GHA represents eleven hotel chains within its portfolio including Anantara Hotels & Resorts, Kempinski Hotels, The Leela Palaces Hotels & Resorts, Marco Polo Hotels and Pan Pacific Hotels & Resorts. [Full text and pictures]