ESCAPADES TO LAUNCH "BORN IN AFRICA" BROCHURE Laurie Carter Escapades, the tour wholesaler arm of Huntington Inc., is launching its first ever theme product. In its new 60-page "Born in Africa" brochure, slated for release later this month, Escapades showcases a comprehensive collection of touring possibilities featuring 17 countries including some of the unique and lesser-known destinations like Libya, Rwanda, Madagascar and Ethiopia. The brochure contains itineraries and modular packages to East and Southern Africa, popular among Canadian travellers, while emphasizing some of the exclusive products like Family Safaris, Stays at Classic Safari Camps, Shark Diving Expeditions in South Africa, the Luxury train journeys and Overland Camping Adventures. "Our Africa tour product was long overdue," said Kiran and Vina Budhdev, co-owners of Huntington and Escapades, who originally come from East Africa. "After having served the travel industry for three decades and selling air travel to Africa in a big way. The 'Born in Africa' theme is quite befitting as ours is a team full of people connected to Africa in some form or other... [Full text]

WIN VEGAS FOR TWO PLUS CELINE DION WITH ARTISTOURS Las Vegas specialist Artistours is offering travel agents the chance to win a trip for two to the "entertainment capital of the world" including tickets to the Celine Dion show and an array of other goodies valued at $4,500. Bookings made between now and December 20 qualify. Artistours' Las Vegas brochure details hotels, package deals and a host of value-added bonuses and available add-ons such as tickets to shows like Zumanity, "O", Mystère, Kà, La Rêve and the biggie - Celine Dion. With partner Air Canada, Artistours provides daily non-stop service for clients in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. For more information visit www.Artistours.com (click on English), call 1-877-441-2787, or email marc@artistours.com.

FCCA CONFERENCE BOOSTS ST. KITTS CONFIDENCE IN TOURISM Laurie Carter Hosting the 12th Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Conference and Trade Show at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, "positions St. Kitts to benefit from increased calls and passengers," said Sen. Richard Skerritt, St. Kitts and Nevis' Minister of State responsibility for Tourism in remarks reported today by the Caribbean News Net. Skerritt said that St. Kitts is working hard to improve its ability to handle increased numbers of cruise visitors and provide quality shore experiences, noting that between 200,000 and 250,000 cruise ship passengers already stop at St. Kitts and expressing his hope that the numbers will rise. "Cruise lines go to destinations where they can make money," he said, adding cruise lines are now aware that from the 2006/2007 cruise ship season and onwards "St. Kitts will be ready to take the business to the next level." [Full text]

2005 BIGGEST EXPANSION YEAR FOR KEMPINSKI CHAIN By the end of this year, Kempinski, Europe's oldest group of luxury hotels will have grown from 38 to 51 properties with the addition of a record 13 hotels during 2005. Together with a further 29 projects currently under construction and final development, its portfolio holds a total of 77 properties in Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa and South America. Openings include the Emirates Palace, in Abu Dhabi; the Kempinski Hotel Giardino di Costanza in Sicily; Britain's second oldest magistrates court, reopened as the Courthouse Hotel Kempinski in London; the Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski Beijing; the Kempinski Hotel Atlantis Bahía Real on Fuerteventura; in Turkey, the Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay in the sailing resort of Bodrum; the group's first golf hotel, the Kempinski Hotel The Dome in Belek; opposite the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg the Kempinski Hotel Moika; the St. Moritz, Kempinski now offers a luxurious ski resort in Bansko, Bulgaria, the Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena and the legendary 'Kili', the Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski in Dar Es Salaam, which had its long awaited re-opening in August. [Full text]

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