TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

A NEW CEO FOR AIR CANADA

Calin Rovinescu named president, CEO of Air Canada; surprise resignation from former head Montie Brewer

Calin Rovinescu

The Globe and Mail has reported that Air Canada has appointed Calin Rovinescu as the new president and CEO of the airline to help weather it through a tough year. Montie Brewer, who was appointed president and CEO in 2004, has resigned. Canada’s national airline is low on cash, and some industry analysts are predicting Air Canada could be forced to file for bankruptcy protection for the second time in six years. Rovinescu will inherit various challenges, including rising debts and pension deficits, less demand for travel, labour contracts that will expire and serious competition in the form of WestJet Airlines. The airline industry is a familiar one for Rovinescu, who helped restructure Air Canada six years ago. [Full text and pictures]

A SUNWING SUMMER SALE

Sunwing offers 6,000 sunny packaged holidays with prices starting from $69 per day

Dominican Republic

Sunwing is introducing a summer holiday sale, with thousands of packages to save your clients thousands of dollars on their next vacation. The tour operator has put 6,000 one week all-inclusive holidays to selected destinations in Mexico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic on sale for departures in May, June, September and October. The sale lasts only from March 27 to April 10, or as long as the seats are available. Price is $69 per person, per day from Toronto and $99 per person from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Montreal. Regular taxes are applicable except in Montreal where the price includes taxes. Resorts range from smaller, family-run resorts to grand beachfront hotels – whether your clients are taking a honeymoon or family holiday. [Full text and pictures]

CONQUEST, FLYGLOBESPAN TEAM UP

Conquest will now offer transatlantic service with flyglobespan; 4 gateways in Canada available

Conquest Vacations has announced a new partnership with flyglobespan which will see the tour operator offer transatlantic service with the airline from across Canada. Flights from four Canadian gateways (Hamilton, Calgary, Vancouver and Halifax) will be offered by Conquest to destinations in Britain and Ireland throughout the summer with all bookings commissionable at 10 per cent. From Hamilton, flyglobespan flights will operate to London Gatwick, Manchester, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh and Glasgow beginning June 1, 2009. [Full text and pictures]

DISCOVER TRANSAT’S AUSTRIA

Transat offers a host of packages in charming Austria this summer

Vienna

Allow your clients to discover Austria with Transat Holidays this summer and choose from a wide range of packages. Your clients will enjoy the history, culture and scenery, with snowy mountains, quaint villages, Baroque architecture and legendary music. City Packages in Vienna start at $1,229 per person plus applicable tax departing on May 10 and $1279 for departures May 17 & 24 staying at the Delta Hotel. If your clients seek excursions, the Imperial Vienna and Romantic Vienna City Package + Excursions is for them. Depart on May 10, 17 & 24 for $1,489 plus applicable tax per person. Included is 7 nights in Vienna at the Fleming’s Hotel. There are also combination 2 or 3-City Packages available. Keep reading for more. [Full text and pictures]

WESTJET’S LOW PRICE GUARANTEE

WestJet launches seat sale and offers WestJet Price Guarantee for bookings between Mar. 31 to Apr. 6, 2009

WestJet has introduced the WestJet Price Guarantee for guests booking between March 31 and April 6, 2009, to ensure clients receive the lowest price offer available. WestJet's Price Guarantee applies to flights booked between March 31 and April 6, 2009, for travel on or before June 30, 2009. If, after booking, a guest finds a lower fare on westjet.com for the same WestJet flight number for travel on the same date on or before June 30, 2009, the difference will be placed in a credit file for use on another WestJet flight within 12 months. "We're introducing the WestJet Price Guarantee in response to our guests, who want some certainty in these uncertain times," said Bob Cummings, WestJet's Executive Vice-President of Guest Experience and Marketing. [Full text and pictures]

AIR JAMAICA’S SUMMER SKED

Air Jamaica increases schedule to Jamaica, Grenada; suspends service from New York to Barbados

Negril

Air Jamaica has announced that it will align capacity in response to market demand by boosting the number of flights on its core routes. The airline also announced that it would suspend its New York/Barbados service effective April 20, 2009. For the summer period, the airline’s schedule will increase to as many as 246 weekly flights, including daily service from Toronto to Jamaica; 4 weekly flights from New York to Grenada; 5 daily flights from Fort Lauderdale to Jamaica; and 4 daily flights from New York to Jamaica. [Full text and pictures]

BIG 5 LAUNCHES CONCIERGE SERVICE

Big Five to expand its White Glove Service with a concierge service desk for your clients

Big Five Tours & Expeditions is expanding its White Glove Service initiatives, which was inaugurated last year. Beginning April 1, 2009, Big Five will have a unique, customized Big Five Concierge Service desk for its guests. White Glove Service will begin before guests leave home, with a phone call to introduce them to the new services available. In addition to in-country managers, guests will now also have 24-hour access to the Big Five Concierge Service team, which means that, regardless of time zone or global location, your clients can speak to a live person – not a recording or voice mail system – who is empowered to take immediate action on their behalf. [Full text and pictures]

ISRAEL LAUNCHES WEBINARS

Israel and Tour East to inaugurate Israel Wonders webinar with training for Tour East sales staff; your company can sign up too

On Wednesday April 1st the IGTO and Tour East Holidays will officially launch the Israel Wonders educational program webinar to educate Tour East’s sales team about Israel as a modern world class tourist destination. The Israel Wonders online educational seminar is available for other tour operators and travel agencies to sign up for and learn. The webinar has received CITC recognition, and can be customized accordingly for each company. “We are excited that Tour East Holidays have come on board, permitting their product managers and sales team to learn about Israel and to gain the confidence and knowledge to sell this lucrative multifaceted destination,” said Oded Grofman, Consul for Tourism and Director for Canada. [Full text and pictures]