canada’s travel trade publication bahamas push comes...

C A N A D A ’ S T R A V E L T R A D E P U B L I C A T I O N

December 5, 2013Volume 41 Issue 45

PM40015622

Bahamas push comes as Nassau adds 5 hotels, Sunwing flies to Grand BahamaTORONTO — A new campaign from the Bahamas Tourist Office puts the islands of the Bahamas front and centre with Ca-nadian travellers, and the timing couldn’t be better as the country gets an early taste of winter.

In Toronto, TTC subway riders can get an eyeful of the Bahamas with new ‘wrapped’ subway cars, plus radio and TV ads are mak-ing their debut across the country as well.

If the Bahamas Minister of Tourism, Obie Wilchcombe, has his way, promo-tional campaigns like this one will be a 12-month event. “I have a problem with seasonal advertising. People need to know about the Bahamas year-round.”

Wilchcombe was welcomed to Toron-to by the Bahamas Tourist Office, up and running in this market for more than 40 years.

Long a favourite with Canadians, the Bahamas is embarking on a new phase of growth and development with proj-ects like the mega-project Baha Mar, set to open later next year with more than 2,900 hotel rooms across five properties, from brands including Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Mondrian, Grand Hyatt and the latest addition, Melia Hotels. The Baha Mar Casino & Hotel will anchor the $3.5 billion development, located 12 minutes from Nassau’s newly expanded Lynden Pindling International Airport.

While Baha Mar is shaping up to be a dazzler, these days travellers to the Baha-mas are seeking out lesser-visited islands as well, like Exuma and San Salvador.

And the biggest news for the Bahamas, at least out of Canada, is the new program from Sunwing offering packages to Grand Bahama Island from six Canadian gate-ways, scheduled for a January 2014 launch.

“We’ve never had this much lift into Grand Bahama Island out of Canada, ever,” said Paul Strachan, who heads up the Bahamas Tourist Office in Toronto.

Americans are travelling again, and the Canadians never really stopped. “We’re not going to allow the Bahamas to be left out of this resurgence,” said Minister Wilchcombe.

4 CG JOURNEYS LAUNCHCanadian Gateway is branding its tour program as CG Journeys

8 PHILIPPINE FAMRoyal Scenic went ahead with a long-planned fam just days after typhoon

12 AUSTRIAN FLIGHTSAustrian Airlines has revamped its Business Class to include a flying chef

43 CRUISING UPDATEClients can save 5% by booking early with GLP for AMA Waterways cruises

THISWEEK

Ambrose Morris, Manager, Communications for the Bahamas Tourist Office in Toronto (left) and Paul

Strachan (centre), National Director for the Bahamas Tourist Office, Canada, greet the Bahamas Minister

of Tourism, Obie Wilchcombe (right) at a Bahamas event last week.

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topnews Pool Sanctuary “is a half million dollar room” with 1,250 square feet. Dining options will include the new Butch’s Chophouse, featuring 21-day dry-aged beef flown in from the U.S.

The company is also busy ‘Sandal-izing’ Sandals Barbados (originally Al-mond Beach Casuarina and, briefly, Couples Barbados), adding five more restaurants (including the chain’s first Indian restaurant) and overhauling all

the rooms.

Sandals’ love affair with Canadian agents, travellers enduresTORONTO — Always a strong market for Sandals Resorts, over the past five years Canada has also been the luxury all-inclusive chain’s most stable market, and both Chairman Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart and CEO Adam Stewart said a heartfelt thank-you to travel agents and industry partners at two Toronto events last week.

“Our relationship with the travel agent community continues to grow,”

said CEO Stewart. “No other company protects travel agents from discounting the way we do.”

Canada has been “an amazing market for us”, he added. The Canadian office is celebrating its 20th year in operation in 2014 and already the year is shaping up to be another positive one from this market.

Sandals will wrap up 2013 with the opening of Sandals LaSource Grenada, set to debut Dec. 12 with an Italian Vil-lage with balcony infinity pools, a Pink Gin Village and a low-profile South Seas Village where the Honeymoon One-Bedroom Butler Suite with Private

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Maureen Barnes-Smith, Director of Sales & Marketing for Unique Vacations (Canada), celebrates

all things Sandals with Chairman Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart and CEO Adam Stewart, at last week’s

Sandals Resorts lunch.

Canadian Gateway launches 2014 product to Russia & Eastern Europe under CG Journeys brandTORONTO — Canadian Gateway is in-troducing its 2014 program to Russia & Eastern Europe under a new brand name – CG Journeys.

Specializing in this part of the world Canadian Gateway has been a well-known airline consolidator as well as offering tour, cruise and FIT programs since 1986.

“We made the decision to rebrand in order to differentiate our airline consol-idations business from tour programs,” said Yury Manukhov, Business Develop-ment Director for Canadian Gateway.

“Canadian Gateway is a known airline consolidator brand in the travel trade for special fares to Russia and Eastern Europe, but the name doesn’t carry a strong association in the trade or con-sumer marketplace with specialty tours to the region.

“We felt CG Journeys would be a more marketable brand under which to promote our tour program to con-sumers. Our airline consolidation busi-ness will continue to operate under the Canadian Gateway brand.”

CG Journeys’ product lineup for 2014 includes Russian River Cruising, rail tours covering Siberia and the legendary Silk Route, extensive cov-erage of Russia and tours to Belarus, the Ukraine, the Baltics and Eastern Europe. New in this year’s lineup are tours that cover Armenia, Georgia and Karelia.

Beaches Barbados (formerly Al-mond Beach Village) was announced earlier this year as well, and should open in 2016 with all the Beaches fa-vourites when it comes to activities, plus new offerings including a movie theatre and BMX bike tracks. “Beach-es Barbados will be a built-from-the-ground-up property that will be the most incredible family resort in the Caribbean. We won’t tell you how much it will cost because you’ll feel sorry for us,” he joked.

“To say that 2013 has been a crazy year would be an understatement,” he added.

4 TRAVELWEEK December 5, 2013

topnews

EditorPatrick Dineen, Ext. 132, [email protected]

Managing EditorKathryn Folliott, Ext. 128, [email protected]

Associate EditorCindy Sosroutomo, Ext. 130, [email protected]

French Journalist for Profession VoyagesAriane Cloutier, 450-531-6193, [email protected]

Graphic DesignerJonathan Carmichael, Ext. 126, [email protected]

Web Application DeveloperAntonio Carito, Ext. 134, [email protected]

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CirculationDenys Cruz, [email protected]

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cility; VIP room for the Club Premium; restaurant improvements; upgrades to its three bars; outdoor theatre; and guest rooms enhancements.

In addition to the leisure traveller market, Barceló Grand Faro Los Cabos will also cater to business travellers and groups at the on-site Barceló Grand Faro Convention Center. The 26,000 square foot facility can host up to 1,000 people. Additional meeting space in-cludes 10 breakout rooms and a busi-ness centre with three offices.

For more information on Barceló Grand Faro Los Cabos resort, visit barcelo.com.

WestJet pilots vote against tentative agreementCALGARY — WestJet pilots have vot-ed against a tentative agreement by a margin of 58.7%. Turnout was very strong, with 96% of pilots voting, said the carrier.

The current agreement remains in ef-fect until a new agreement is reached. Pilots at WestJet are represented by the WestJet Pilots Association (WJPA), a non-union employee association.

“We are disappointed with the re-sults of the vote,” said Gregg Saretsky, WestJet President and CEO. “Our lead-ership team and the WJPA will regroup in the coming weeks, focusing on un-derstanding the specific concerns of the pilot group and, just as we’ve always done, work collaboratively to bring for-ward a new agreement.”

Turkish Airlines to connect Montreal and Istanbul starting June 3MONTRÉAL — Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) is announcing that Turkish Air-lines, named Best Airline in Europe for 2013 by Skytrax, will begin operating out of Montréal-Trudeau airport start-ing June 3.

Earlier this year, the wholesaler re-ceived a designation to sell in the U.S. and plans to expand its product offer-ing. As a result, the tour program in the 2014 CG Journeys brochure (poly-bagged with this issue of Travelweek) is priced in U.S. dollars.

CG Journeys will also be offering spe-cial packages and tickets to the 2014 Ice Hockey World Championship in Belar-us this coming May.

Canadian Gateway’s strong partner-ship with the Russian airline Transaero means that agents can take advantage of special low fares to Russia and key beyond markets; and thanks to the partnership agreement between West-Jet and Transaero, clients can take con-necting flights from 20 Canadian cities via Toronto to Moscow.

Canadian Gateway also continues to work with the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Canada to provide entry visa services.

Barceló Hotels & Resorts adds Barceló Grand Faro Los Cabos to its collectionLOS CABOS — Barceló Hotels & Resorts has added the Barceló Grand Faro Los Cabos, a 5-star resort with 350 rooms and suites owned by Grupo Hospitali-dad Latina, as part of its all-inclusive collection.

The beachfront Barceló Grand Faro Los Cabos is situated next to the Sea of Cortez, just 1.5 miles from the heart of the city. Los Cabos is a beautiful colo-nial town known for its great cultural environment with several renowned international art galleries, wide gastro-nomic offerings and integrated design for many restaurants.

As part of the resort’s introduction into the brand and to meet Barceló Hotels & Resorts’ service standards and guest experiences, the resort will under-go a US$1.1 million renovation, which will include the following: a new spa fa-


topnews

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topnews

A Star Alliance member, Turkey’s main carrier will offer three regular weekly flights to Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sun-days. Turkish Airlines will use Airbus A330-300 aircraft with a capacity for 28 passengers in business class and 261 in economy. Tickets are on sale now.

In addition to serving 42 domestic centres, Turkish Airlines flies to and from some 200 international desti-nations in more than 100 countries. Atatürk Airport is its chief connection hub with Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe (mainly the Balkans) and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Located 15 kilometres west of cen-tral Istanbul, the airport is experiencing astounding growth, having welcomed 45 million passengers in 2012, or 20% more than the previous year.

Royal Scenic CAS Philippines fam returns after seeing typhoon aftermathMANILA — Royal Scenic’s Certified Asia Specialist fam recently returned home from the Philippines after having wit-nessed the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan.

With months in advance planning and after consultation with weather and tourism authorities and receiving safety reassurances, the group of Cer-tified Asia Specialist agents proceeded as scheduled and arrived the weekend after the typhoon passed over the Phil-ippine archipelago.

This fam trip was conducted in association with Shangri-La Hotels and the Philippines Department of Tourism and visited Manila and Cebu.

The trip was a great success, said Royal Scenic, and the group visited sev-eral of the major tourist attractions in both cities, including Intramuros, Rizal

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Park and Fort Santiago in Manila, and Fort San Pedro and Santo Nino Church in Cebu. The agents also experienced luxurious accommodations at three Shangri-La properties.

In Cebu, the group made a collective do-nation to local relief organizations to show their appreciation of the local hosts by helping out those in need. The trip show-cased the uniqueness of each destination and educated them about the culture and warm hospitality of the Filipino people.

While the typhoon did hit parts of the country, Manila did not suffer any serious damage from the typhoon. In both cities, all of the main tourist attractions and fa-cilities are fully operational.

“The Philippines remains a safe and fun destination and looks forward to wel-coming tourists from all over the world on their next vacation,” said Royal Scenic.

The Certified Asia Specialist program is a CITC approved non-profit self-study travel agent destination program admin-istered by Royal Scenic that jointly pro-


topnews

Royal Scenic held a fam trip to the Philippines. Here at Fort Santiago in Manila are: (back row

left to right): Avtar Singh Kataria, Kataria Travels; Mike Mehta, Nationwide Travels; Jon Murray,

Royal Scenic; Nuryn Hudani, Sunshine Pacific Travel; Shirley Bu, Voyages Vasco; Carl Chin, Bayview

Travel; Cindy Chin, Bayview Travel; Richard Chin, Expedia CruiseShipCenters; Jenny Chin, Expedia

CruiseShipCenters; Janet Hong, World Travel Warehouse; Lynn Lester, Marlin Travel; Dorothy

McLeod, CAA Manitoba; Karen Vereecken, Worldwide Tours; (front row left to right): Sumon Dash,

Asha Travels; Avery Chuang, EVA Airways.

motes Asia with the participating tourism boards, airlines and hotel suppliers.

CAS is the only one-stop multiple destinations specialists Internet dis-tance learning course to train agents on ‘How to Sell Asia’. Interested agents can sign up at royalscenic.com/cas or call Royal Scenic at 1-888-302-8886 in East-ern Canada, 1-866-736-6078 in Western Canada for more details.

With flying chef, 10 Viennese coffees, Austrian Airlines reconfigures Business Class, ratings up 40%By Patrick Dineen

VIENNA — Austrian Airlines has long been known for its quick connections (a 25-minute legal minimum) through its Vienna hub, especially to Central and Eastern Europe.

The carrier recently raised the ante with a brand-new Business Class with lie-flat beds, an onboard chef and a choice of 10 different kinds of Viennese coffee.

On the ground, the connections are more convenient than ever through a new terminal dedicated to Star Alliance carriers that opened last year, adding

departure gates and six new lounges.With a 58% transfer ratio, Austrian’s

hub offers 69 counters, 38 self-check-in terminals and free WiFi in the 150,000 square metre Star Alliance terminal.

Austrian offers access to over 100 destinations across Europe. In Central and Eastern Europe, the route network is particularly dense and with 43 desti-


topnewsPhotos courtesy of A

ustrian Airlines


topnews nations Austrian Airlines is the market leader throughout the region.

The Austrian carrier, part of the Luf-thansa Group, has seen customer satis-faction rise 40% since it remodelled its Business and Economy class cabins.

With a regularity of operation hitting 99.3% last year and punctuality ratings of close to 90%, Austrian Airlines ranks as best in the world.

A new advanced onboard enter-tainment system offer nonstop op-

tions and the new Business Class seats on the Boeing 767-300 aircraft used on the Toronto-Vienna route all have access to the aisle, have a mas-sage and memory function and are capable of being transformed into entirely flat beds.

Business Class menus are prepared by DO & CO, a popular rooftop restaurant overlooking St. Stephen’s Cathedral in the centre of Vienna and in other major centres.

Meals in Business Class receive their final touches from flying chefs who are onboard each flight.

In the tradition of the Viennese cof-fee house, Business Class passengers are offered a choice of 10 different coffees after their meal.

The onboard changes have been no-ticed with Austrian named in second place for Best Business Class Catering in the World Airline Awards Skytrax in 2012 and first place for Best Wine by Global Traveler Magazine.

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Where we lead, others follow. What we innovate, others imitate. Sandals Resorts is al l about keeping it new, excit ing and hot. That’s why we added chic f ire features at our resorts—on the beach, over a pier, even in the middle of a rooftop lounge. It ’s yet another signature innovation at Sandals, and another reason why we’re the undisputed leader in al l- inclusive excel lence.

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The carrier offers a number of ancil-lary services, called redservices, that can be booked with a ticket such as red/lounge (access to the Business Lounge), red/upgrade (short-term upgrade to Business Class) and red/legroom (seat in the exit row), red/cab (airport trans-fers) and red/extra bag.

For more information on Aus-trian’s new Business Class, visit businessclass.austrian.com/en/.

Although many passengers connect to other destinations, Austria’s capital Vien-na is well worth a visit. Travelweek looks at what’s new in the next issue.

Air Canada rouge launches up to six flights daily linking Toronto-OrlandoTORONTO — Air Canada rouge has launched year-round flying between Toronto and Orlando with three daily departures and two more starting on Dec. 14.

By March 1, 2014 the airline will fly six times daily to/from Orlando, more than any other Canadian carrier. Custom-ers on this route now have the option of enhanced comfort with Premium

rouge service in addition to rouge and rouge Plus service on Air Canada rouge’s A-319 aircraft.

Premium rouge service on the A-319 aircraft will also be introduced on sev-eral Air Canada rouge destinations in the U.S., Caribbean and Mexico to be launched in the coming months.

Air Canada rouge will also assume the Montreal-Orlando route on Feb. 15, 2014 and tickets are available now through travel agents.

Air Canada rouge adds second Florida destination with the only nonstop flights from Toronto to SarasotaTORONTO — Air Canada rouge continues its expansion into Florida launching Saturday and Sunday flights from Toronto to Sarasota, on Florida’s white sand Gulf Coast last weekend.

This will increase to daily flights from Dec. 17 through to April 27, 2014.

Air Canada rouge is the only Cana-dian carrier offering nonstop service between Toronto and Sarasota and will

add 10% more capacity to the route over the coming year.

“Sarasota attracts Canadians look-ing to escape the snowy winter and is a perfect choice for this seasonal service by Air Canada rouge,” said Michael Friis-dahl, President CEO, Air Canada Leisure Group. “Our short nonstop flight makes it ideal for long weekends and golf get-aways as well as longer stays in vacation properties and offers customers the con-venience of arriving directly in Sarasota, instead of Tampa, an hour away.”

Clients can book a vacation package to Sarasota with Air Canada Vacations.

Book air and hotel by March 31, 2014 and save up to $150 per couple on des-tinations in the U.S. Booking flight and hotel will save $100 per couple, plus save an extra $50 on a car rental when added to flight and hotel. In addition, clients earn Aeroplan Miles on every air-inclusive vacation that is booked.

Some 19 hotels in the area are of-fered.


topnews

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Three Hilton brands, Conference Centre planned for Calgary AirportCALGARY — Hilton Worldwide has am-bitious plans here and will open three prominent Hilton branded properties, including Alberta’s first full service Hil-ton Hotel and Conference Centre.

The Calgary Airport Hotel and Con-ference Centre, developed by Pres-tige Hospitality Group and managed by Hilton Worldwide, will include: a 135-room Hampton Inn, opened last month; a 122-room Homewood Suites, opening Spring 2014; a 266-room Hilton Hotel, opening in 2016; and a 30,000-square-foot Conference Cen-tre, also opening in 2016.

Tourism figures show that in 2012, visitors from more than 60 countries and five continents visited Calgary in-cluding tens of thousands of confer-ence delegates.

With more than 13.5 million passen-gers in 2012, the Calgary International Airport is undergoing a multi-billion dollar development to meet the grow-ing numbers. That includes Canada’s longest runway at 14,000 feet and a new international terminal.

Connaissance Travel offers 70th anniversary ‘Remembering D-Day in Normandy’TORONTO — June 6, 2014 marks the 70th

anniversary of D-Day in Normandy.

To commemorate the event Con-

naissance Travel and Tours is offering

a D-Day 70th anniversary itinerary ‘Re-

membering D-Day in Normandy’.

The journey begins with a departure

from Canada on May 30, 2014.

Retracing the courageous paths of

Canadian troops during operation Over-

lord, the journey will take clients to Ber-

nieres-sur-Mer where they will attend the official D-Day ceremony on June 6, walk-ing in the footsteps of the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada with expert guided tours of Juno Beach, other notable sites and pay tribute to the soldiers at Bény-sur-Mer’s Canadian cemetery.

The tour will also be a discovery of the Normandy region with its histori-cal, cultural and natural treasures. From Paris to Honfleur, the travellers will em-bark on a 7- day cruise and meander on the river Seine, visiting numerous land-marks such as Claude Monet’s house and its famous Lily Garden in Giverny.

The journey will end with a visit of the spectacular world heritage site of Mont St. Michel as well as Jacques Cart-ier’s hometown of St Malo.

For more information, contact: Liz Dachuk at 416-291-2676 ext. 239 or 1-877-701-7729 ext. 239.

More details are available by visiting the dedicated website dday70.ca.

Win a trip to Kuala Lumpur just for booking MalaysiaTORONTO — Tourism Malaysia is run-ning a contest where agents who book the destination have a chance to win two roundtrip tickets to Kuala Lumpur, plus six nights accommodation, in partnership with SkyLink and Qatar Airways.

Agents receive one entry for every booking they make to Malaysia.


topnews

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Prices reflect applicable reductions, are subject to change without notice and cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion. Prices are in Canadian dollars, apply to new bookings only and for departure dates as indicated. Prices are per person based on double occupancy, unless otherwise stated, from Toronto - Pearson International Airport in Economy class and include surcharges. Non-refundable. Limited quantity and subject to availability at time of booking. Not applicable to group bookings. Further information available from a travel agent. Flights operated by Air Canada. For applicable terms and conditions, consult the Air Canada Vacations brochures or www.aircanadavacations.com. Holder of Quebec permit #702566. TICO registration #50013537. BC registration #32229. For terms and conditions of the Aeroplan program, consult www.aeroplan.com ®Aeroplan is a registered trademark of Aimia Canada Inc. ®Air Canada Vacations is a registered trademark of Air Canada, used under license by Touram Limited Partnership, 1440 St. Catherine W., Suite 600, Montreal, QC.

aircanadavacations.com/agents

Feb. 1 – Mar. 17, 2014 Daily departures

From VancouverSuperior accommodations

Australia Wine Route15 days | 12 nights

$3999Add taxes & other fees: $915

Add $245 for departures from Toronto

Continued on page 36...

Transat Discoveries thinks outside the box with family itineraries

spotl ight Family Travel

by Cindy Sosroutomo

Family travel doesn’t have to be cook-ie-cutter. In fact, Transat Discoveries is thinking outside the box by offering unique tour packages that are just as unique as the family that’s travelling.

One suggested itinerary is the ‘Sa-haran Explorer’ package to Tunisia, which is conducted by four-passenger 4WD vehicles. Fully guided and priced at $1,919, this itinerary includes a visit to the Star Wars film sites, a camel ride through the Saharan Desert, an open-air train ride through the rocky can-yons and much more. There’s even an overnight at a luxury encampment in the middle of the desert. Price includes flight from Toronto with a March 28 de-parture. Other Canadian gateways are available as well as departures through-out the year.

Another possibility for adventurous families is a safari in Kenya and Tanza-nia. With eight safaris included, the ‘Sa-

fari: Kenya Tanzania’ itinerary travels by

six-passenger vehicles to such parks as

Masai Mara National Reserve, Nakuru

National Park, Amboseli National Park,

Tarangire National Park and the Seren-

geti before arriving at the N’Gorongoro

Crater. Priced at $5,510, this safari de-

parts on Jan. 8, 22 and Feb. 5 and 19.

For your more independent clients,

Transat Discoveries can customize trips

in over 40 countries, meaning they

won’t have to book one of the small

group tours listed in the brochure. A

few possibilities include Thailand beach

vacations with a Bangkok city tour,

Eastern Europe independent city stays

that include accommodation, rail and

hop-on, hop-off sightseeing, and island

stays in Greece.

To keep budgets in check, Transat

Discoveries is offering an Early Book-

ing Discount of $200 for bookings

made prior to Dec. 15 and clients will

only pay half the $500 deposit. Those

who’ve travelled with Transat Discover-ies, Transat Holidays or Nolitours in the past two years will apply for the repeat traveller discount of $60. Clients paying by cash or cheque will also receive a $60 cash discount. And new this year is the Referral Bonus of $30 for clients who refer friends or family to the same tour and departure date they’re travelling on. All discounts are combinable.

For more information visit transatdiscoveries.com.

Sunspots highlights family options in Florida and beyond, launches New York shopping tripWith the holiday season in full swing and Family Day fast approaching, there’s no better time to start brows-ing for and booking a family vacation.



Sunspots Holidays is answering the call with a slew of fun trips that suit all bud-gets and preferences.

Always a family favourite is Orlando, Florida, which Sunspots offers for a price starting at $789 per person. This package includes flights from Toronto, a three-night stay at the four-star Shera-ton Lake Buena Vista Resort, and all ap-plicable taxes and fees. Child discounts are available.

To make the browsing process a completely one-stop shop experience, the tour operator can also reserve and book adventure park tickets for Disney World, Universal Studios, Lego Land and SeaWorld.

New to Sunspots’ lineup is a shop-ping program in New York, featuring a guided tour and discounts at Macy’s for the whole family. Famous for its holiday festivities, New York City has long been popular among families looking to end the year with lots of fun.

In the Caribbean, Sunspots offers a wide selection of properties and all-inclusive options that include kids stay and eat free. Clients can choose from beachfront accommodations to city and mountain properties featur-ing pools, hot tubs, recreation centres, gourmet kitchens, game rooms, private staff and more.

To see Sunspots Holidays’ full range of family offerings visit sunspotsholidays.com.

Families are priority #1 with Trafalgar’s new 2014 Family Experiences brochureTrafalgar knows only too well how im-portant it is for families to get as much quality time out of their holiday as possible, which is why it’s excited to announce the launch of the new 2014 Family Experiences brochure.

Featuring 19 trips throughout North America, South America, South Africa and Europe, the company’s Family Ex-

periences program is jam-packed with travel options that the entire family will enjoy. From four-star accommodations to authentic restaurants, all trips have been designed with the family in mind.

New for 2014 is the 11-day ‘An Af-rican Adventure’, which journeys through the heart of South Africa from Cape Town in the south up to Kruger National Park in the northern country. After four nights in Cape Town, families will venture off on day trips to some of the country’s most beautiful southern coastal areas, including the Cape Pen-insula region where they’ll embark on a Seal Island cruise. Onboard, they’ll enjoy a regional meal of African cui-sine and a Local Specialty of ‘djembe’, an interactive drumming experience. The perfect trip for animal lovers, ‘An African Adventure’ also gives guests the chance to encounter hand-raised cheetahs at a cheetah outreach facil-ity, spot whales on a whale-watching expedition and check out ragged-tooth starks at the Two Oceans Aquarium. But perhaps the biggest highlight of all is a two-night stay at mighty Kruger Na-tional Park, home to the Big 5 and 147 other species.

If Europe is more your client’s flavour, suggest the 10-day ‘Spanish Salsa’ trip, which begins in Madrid and travels on-ward to Seville, Grenada, Valencia and Barcelona. Highlights include a Be My Guest Spanish-style barbecue in Seville, a paella cooking class in Valencia, a visit to Camp Nou, FC Barcelona’s football stadium, and a lively flamenco lesson in Seville. Families will also visit the elabo-rate Alhambra Palace and the unique cave dwellings in Gaudix.

Kids will get the best cultural expe-rience possible on their summer vaca-tion with the ‘European Wonderland’ trip. This 14-day itinerary visits four countries, starting in Rome, ending in London and spending two nights each in Paris, Engelberg, Venice and Florence. Guests will see some of Europe’s most famous sights like the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, Big Ben and, of course,

the Eiffel Tower. On top of sightseeing,

kids will love the fun activities designed

just for them. These include a visit to

a traditional pizzeria to learn how to

make the classic Italian dish, and paint-

ing and decorating a traditional Carni-

val mask.

To kick off the launch of the new

brochure, Trafalgar is offering savings of

10% off 2014 Family Experiences Sum-

mer Europe & Britain guided vacations,

which represent a savings of up to $373

per person, and 10% off flights that are

booked by Jan. 15, 2014.

For more information visit Trafalgar.com.

Sparkling Voyages offers a range of family-friendly accommodations in the CaribbeanCanadian boutique tour operator Spar-kling Voyages is highlighting a variety of multi-bedroom luxury villas in the Caribbean that are perfect for families.

Available in St. Lucia, Dominican Re-public, Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica and many more, these private villas double as a home away from home, featuring all the modern-day luxury amenities needed to keep families comfortable during their stay.

For example, Sparkling Voyages’ partner property, Windjammer Land-ing Resort in St. Lucia, offers two- to four-bedroom villas with private pools. Prices range from $560 per night plus 18% tax for a two-bedroom villa with a pool, to $1,885 per night plus 18% tax for a four-bedroom Estate Villa. Travel-lers can even add an all-inclusive plan.

Also available is Half Moon Rose Hall in Jamaica, which takes villa rent-als to a whole new level. Villas come with their own personal butler, cook and housekeeper, as well as a private swimming pool, outdoor areas, golf carts, spacious living room, ocean or garden views and many more luxury inclusions. For large families, the resort also offers seven-bedroom villas that accommodate up to 14 guests.

For more information visit sparklinvoyages.com.

Atlantis, Paradise Island launches new marine program for young explorersNo one does underwater adventure better than Atlantis, Paradise Island Re-sort, which features the world’s largest open-air marine habitat.

Brand new to the resort is the Ju-nior Ultimate Trainer for a Day, a kid-only marine program that’s similar



The Hogwarts Express has arrived at Universal Orlando Resort. Earlier in October, Universal Orlando placed the iconic locomotive and train ten-der on the tracks between the two theme parks. Just like in the books and films, guests will be able to board the Hogwarts Express and travel between Hogsmeade at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which opened in June 2010, and ‘London’ when The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley opens at Universal Studios Florida next year.

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to the Ultimate Trainer for a Day but customized to maximize marine life knowledge. This new four-hour pro-gram has been curated specifically for kids ages 6-10 years old.

Hands-on and educational, the pro-gram takes guests behind the scenes of the fascinating world of marine life, and teaches participants how to care for over 50,000 sea animals at the resort. Key features of the pro-gram include animal care and feed-ing, interaction with turtles, dolphins, sea lions and birds, a private lunch with Atlantis’ marine specialists, a visit to the resort’s animal hospital, and digital negatives as a memento of the day. Advance reservations are recommended.

For more details visit atlantis.com.

Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort now under constructionUniversal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, the fourth and largest on-site hotel at Universal Orlando Resort with 1,800 rooms, is now under construction. The ‘Castaway’ building is the first to be topped off with glowing neon display-ing an iconic name reminiscent of the 1950s and 60s.

When completed, the Cabana Court-yard next to ‘Castaway will feature a 10,000 square foot zero-entry pool with an iconic dive tower waterslide, an in-teractive kids play area, cabanas for rent and the Atomic Tonic pool bar.

Guests can now book all-new fam-ily suites that sleep up to six through

an introductory offer with rates start-ing at US$104 per night for stays be-ginning March 31, 2014.

For more information visit universaltravelagents.com.

New Despicable Me suites debut at Loews Portofino Bay HotelFor once, it’s a good thing to call a hotel ‘despicable’. The world’s first and only Despicable Me-inspired hotel suites are making their debut at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort. The suites bring to life the excitement of Gru’s house with missile beds and Minions, who rappel from the ceiling and surround guests with their unpre-dictable antics.

The project took more than 5,000 hours of work, 600 yards of carpeting, 36 missile beds, dozens and dozens of Minions and countless bunches of ba-nanas to complete. The kid’s room in these two-room suites are outfitted with Minion-inspired bedding and pale blue interior while the adult’s room comes with a king-sized bed in the hotel’s newly-renovated Italian luxury design. An added feature that parents will appreciate is a single entry door into the suite (kids rooms do not have a door that opens into the hallway).

All of the hotel’s 18 kids suites have been transformed with the Despicable Me theme.

“Our guests will love the theme and at-tention to detail that went into creating these one-of-a-kind suites,” said General Manager Diane Petit of Loews Portofino

Bay Hotel. “From the moment they step inside, children and adults alike will be swept up in the world of Despicable Me.”

Guests staying on-site can save up to 30% when staying three nights or more with the ‘Stay More, Save More promo-tion. On-site guests also receive a pack-age of exclusive benefits, including Early Park Admission and free Universal Ex-press Unlimited ride access, which lets them skip long lineups on most rides and attractions in Universal Studios and Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

For more information visit universalorlando.com/portofinobay.


More to see and do with Trafalgar’s 2014 Australia/New Zealand brochure

spotl ight Australia, NZ & South Pacific

by Cindy Sosroutomo

Hot off the press is Trafalgar’s 2014 Aus-tralia and New Zealand brochure, fea-turing 19 full itineraries, five mini-stays and stopovers as well as stopovers in tropical Fiji.

New this year is the 12-day ‘Tropical Escapade’ itinerary, an At Leisure trip throughout some of Australia’s most incredible coastal cities. Starting with three nights in Sydney, the trip then spends two nights each in Hamilton Island and Port Douglas before ending with two nights in Cairns. Guests are treated to a catamaran cruise at the Great Barrier Reef, where they’ll snorkel among ocean life and learn from a lo-cal expert. In Sydney, they’ll visit the fa-mous Rocks Markets in the historic dis-trict, tour the Opera House and board a Captain Cook Sunset Cruise, while in Hamilton Island, Authentic Accom-modations are provided at Reef View, a tropical resort at the edge of the Great

Barrier Reef. In Cairns, guests will en-

joy plenty of free time and can choose

from four ‘Included Choice’ sightseeing

experiences, including visits to Tjapu-

kai Aboriginal Cultural Park, the Cairns

Tropical Zoo or Hartley’s Crocodile

Adventures, or an afternoon cruise on

Cairns Harbour.

Also sure to be a highlight next year

is the 12-day ‘Contrasts of New Zea-

land’, which takes travellers through-

out the north and south island. The

itinerary kicks off with two nights in

Auckland and ends with an overnight

in Christchurch, with visits to Rotorua,

Franz Josef Glacier and Queenstown in

between. This package is filled with Lo-

cal Specialties, including a visit to the

Agrodome Sheep Show in Rotorua, a

stop at a jade factory in Hokitika and

a sample of stone fruit at Mrs. Jones’

Orchard in Cromwell. A Be My Guest

experience will take travellers to the

Tamaki Family Marae in Rotorua for

dinner, followed by a concert. Other

highlights include a cruise of Milford

Sound, and a day in Queenstown where

guests can choose from a range of fun

activities like a Thunder Jet ride on Lake

Wakatipu, a wine tour, a round of golf

or a gondola ride to the Skyline Restau-

rant for dinner.

For clients who want to stay and linger,

suggest the 23-day ‘Highlights of Austra-

lia and New Zealand’ tour, which starts

in Melbourne, visits Alice Springs, Ayers

Rock, Cairns, Sydney, Auckland and

Queenstown, and ends in Christchurch.

This trip packs in more value with three

Be My Guest dining experiences, like

lunch at Morelea Farm, and an addition-

al Local Specialty in Melbourne, a private

walking tour of the city’s famous hidden

laneways. The itinerary also includes

two nights at Ayers Rock Resort, one of

Trafalgar’s Authentic Accommodations,

where guests will fall asleep and wake up

to Ulura as their backdrop.

Great Barrier Reef

An adventure in aDifferent WorldToday’s travellers are seeking once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and no place on the planet is as unforgettable as the Land Down Under. On this life-altering journey, travellers will visit Australia’s top wine region, enjoy a two-night stay in the cosmopolitan city of Melbourne, experience a three-day adventure in the Outback, and so much more. Your travellers are seeking wonder—and you can deliver it beyond their wildest dreams in Australia.

Sedan Service Included! On all air-inclusive tours, receive roundtrip home to airport sedan service! †

Highlights:Sydney Sydney Opera House Alice Springs Uluru Cairns

Essential Experiences:

evening, with each course in a different restaurant around the fabulous Darling Harbour.

Enjoy a champagne toast as you watch the sun set at

sightseeing and unforgettable scenery.

$4499*

For more information call 800.468.5955 or visit www.collettevacations.ca

Exploring Australia 18 Days, 23 Meals

Departing May 16, 2014

*Land only, per person, double occupancy. †Not valid on group travel. Service is offered on all air-inclusive departures when within 100 km radius from most major Canadian gateways. One transfer per room booking. Additional stops are not permitted on route. Other restrictions may apply; call for details. Travel Industry Council of Ontario Reg.# 3206405 BC Reg.# 23337

“Australia and New Zealand are two of our most culturally-rich destinations and our goal with this new brochure is to take guests to the places they’d never see and meet the people they’d never encounter if they had travelled on their own,” said Doug Patterson, President of Trafalgar Canada. “Our By My guest dining takes travellers to the working farm of a family in Queenstown and our Authentic Accommodations bring them to the most special hotels and resorts in the destination, where guests will find themselves staying at the edge of the Great Barrier Reef and waking up to the sun rising over Uluru.”

For more information on these and other tours visit Trafalgar.com.

Choose from eight Australia & NZ packages with Collette VacationsCollette Vacations offers eight tours to Australia and New Zealand, with high-lights ranging from champagne toasts at Uluru to snorkelling in the Great Bar-rier Reef.

A particular highlight is the 18-day ‘Exploring Australia’ tour, one of Col-lette’s newest offerings. While on this tour, travellers will visit Barossa Valley, considered Australia’s top wine region, enjoy a two-night stay in the cosmo-politan city of Melbourne, embark on a three-day adventure in the Outback, and sample Sydney’s best dining expe-riences in a single evening, with each course at a different restaurant.

Other highlights include a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House, a tour of Kata Tjuta and the base of ‘the Rock’ at Uluru, a high-speed catamaran ride to the Great Barrier Reef where travellers can either view ocean life via a glass bottom boat or by snorkelling and swimming, and a visit to the Blue Mountains, known for its sandstone plateaus, valleys and pristine wilderness.

‘Exploring Australia’ is priced from $4,499 per person, land only, double occupancy for May 2014–April 2015 departures.

For more information visit collettevacations.ca.

New aircraft, affordable fares in store for Fiji Airways heading into 2014In with the new and out with the old, says Fiji Airways, which recently retired its final B747-400 following a flight from Los Angeles to Nadi. And with the pur-chase of three new A330s that operate out of the LAX gateway as well as 737s out of the HNL gateway, the airline is poised to make 2014 a milestone year.

Starting this month, Fiji Airways will provide daily service out of LAX. It of-fers codeshare with Alaska Airlines out of YVR via LAX to Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa and the Soloman Islands. It also has partner agreements with AC, WJ, AA, DL and US out of all major Canadian cities via LAX, not to mention three-times a week ser-vice out of HNL, one service per week via Christmas Island, a second service via Samoa and one direct to Nadi.

Economy fares from Canada start from $1,110 (YVR/NAN/YVR) and from $1,276 (YVR-SYD-AKL-BNE/YVR). Fares must be purchased by March 31, 2014 with travel completed by Aug. 31, 2014. Blackout dates apply from Dec. 15, 2013 to Jan. 15, 2014.

When travelling beyond Fiji, passen-gers will receive a free stopover in Fiji. Fiji Airways also includes fuel in all its fares, and when booked through a pre-ferred South Pacific wholesaler/consol-idator, agents will receive commissions on fuel.

The airline also offers special OW fares from LAX-NAN/AKL/CHC/SYD/BNE/MEL starting at US$530 to cor-relate with 2014 cruises starting in the South Pacific. Tickets must be pur-



WAKEUP IN

$2799pp

5 nights at Outrigger on the Lagoonand 5 nights at Musket Cove Resort,

plus $50 gift card.

Round trip airfare on Fiji Airways from Vancouver via Los Angeles.

Please call Anderson Vacations

*conditions apply

FiJi

at 866 814 7378

chased by Jan. 31, 2014 for travel from Feb. 8–May 31, 2014.

And if that weren’t enough, Fiji Air-ways has signed an agreement with Air Canada for departures from YVR-HNL then from HNL to NAN. Travellers will need to stopover in HNL not as a con-nection but as a South Pacific island escape. Fares start at $1,388 including a free stopover in Honolulu.

For more information visit fijiairways.com.

ATOURZ ventures into Middle Earth with NZ packageWith its majestic mountains, emerald green valleys and incredible stretches of coastline, New Zealand is the one bucket-list destination that most trav-ellers strive for their entire lives. To make their dream into reality, ATOURZ is offering the eight-day ‘Experience New Zealand’ package, a comprehen-sive look into the many wonders of this South Pacific nation.

Priced from $1,599 per person, dou-ble occupancy, the itinerary begins in Auckland where guests will overnight at the President Hotel. They will then travel south through the lush Waika-to pasturelands to Hamilton and the Waitomo Caves where they’ll board a subterranean boat ride under a canopy of lights. From there, they’ll head to Rotorua, known for its incredible land-scapes and geothermal wonders.

Here, guests will enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour, which includes visits to Te Puia, the native garden setting of Rainbow Springs. The afternoon is free

for leisure, during which travellers can bathe in therapeutic thermal waters. At night, a traditional Maori ‘hangi’ dinner and concert will captivate audiences at a local Marae.

A short flight (not included) will take travellers to Queenstown, where they’ll overnight at the Tanoa Aspen Hotel. Af-ter waking to stunning scenery, they’ll drive to Milford Sound via motorcoach for unforgettable views of the Stirling and Pembroke Falls. A full day at lei-sure will be given for optional sightsee-ing. Guests can sign up for thrilling jet boat rides, vintage steamer lake cruises, mountain gondola rides or visit high country sheep stations.

The trip winds down with an epic journey through the Kawarai Gorge, over the Lindis Pass, along the plains of the MacKenzie Country before reaching Mount Cook National Park. Travellers will then cross Burkes Pass to Canterbury Plains then spend their final day in the cosmopolitan city of Christchurch.

“There’s a reason why out of all the countries in the world, New Zealand was chosen to portray Middle Earth in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Very few destinations have landscapes as dramatic and spectacular as New Zealand,” said Elena Prountzopoulos, Head of Tour Operations at ATOURZ. “Our ‘Experience New Zealand’ tour was designed to capture some of the fantastical elements J.R.R. Tolkien en-visioned in his books, and we believe we managed to do just that.”

This package includes seven nights’ ac-commodation, two lunches, one dinner, return airport transfers, entrance to Wait-omo Caves, half-day sightseeing attrac-

tions in Rotorua, Maori hangi dinner and concert, and Milford Sound excursion.

For more information or to make res-ervations call toll-free 1-877-728-6870 (in Toronto, 416-485-6375) or email [email protected].

Hilton Queenstown updates its identity with name change and new packageTwo years after its grand opening, Hil-ton Queenstown has further cemented


1543

989

888.469.2934 www.goway.com

Great Self drives

DOWNUNDER

®

Whether it’s indulging in a traditional Maori Hangi feast or soaking

in the tranquility and beauty of Milford Sound, Trafalgar’s insider

knowledge takes experiencing New Zealand to a whole new level.

For more information on Trafalgar guidedvacations to New Zealand, contact your Sales Manager or call 1-800-387-2680.

Don’t just see New Zealand

- experience it!

Don’t just see New Zealand

- experience it!

Waitomo Caves



its presence on the country’s South Is-land after reestablishing itself as Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa.

“We felt somewhat confined by the original name, which didn’t quite com-municate the expansiveness of the guest experience here,” said Andrew Nisbet, general manager. “As a resort and spa, we’re really embracing this destination as a place to experience some of the great-est natural wonders and most exhilarat-ing pursuits available in all New Zealand.”

Hilton has four properties spread throughout the country, with the Queenstown location being the only Resort & Spa. Situated at the foothills of the Remarkables mountain range, the property is a jumping off point for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and hiking and biking in the summer. Numerous adventure sports are also available in the surrounding area in-cluding bungee jumping, which began in New Zealand.

In celebration of the name change, the resort has unveiled a new spa pack-age called ‘Escape to eforea’. This in-cludes accommodation for two in a lake-view room with floor-to-ceiling windows, private balcony and a schist stone fireplace, two half-hour massages (per stay) at the award-winning eforea spa: at Hilton, with 20% discounts on additional treatments, and a full buffet breakfast at Wakatipu Grill.

Guests can opt for à la carte treat-ments like the Meditation Massage us-ing deep aromatic oils, or select from three distinct spa journeys – Essentials, Escape and Men’s. The three-level spa includes a 25-metre heated pool with adjoining hot tub, sauna and steam rooms, and a fitness centre.

The resort is ideally situated only five minutes from Queenstown Inter-national Airport, and just a 15-minute drive into the centre of Queenstown. For more information visit Hilton.com.

Hayman, Great Barrier Reef to be rebranded as One&Only Hayman IslandMulpha Australia has entered into an agreement with Kerzner International Holdings Limited to assume manage-ment of the luxury island resort Hay-man, Great Barrier Reef. With new man-agement in place, Hayman will undergo a multi-million dollar renovation and will relaunch as One&Only Hayman Island in April 2014, One&Only’s first resort in Australia.

“Hayman has long been acclaimed as an iconic Australian resort and Kerzner is the perfect partner to her-ald in a new era for the resort under their One&Only brand,” said Mul-pha Australia’s Executive Chairman Seng Huang Lee. “The transforma-tional refurbishment combined with One&Only’s innovation and commit-ment to delivering an extraordinary level of service will redefine resort luxury in Australia.”

Hayman is located in the heart of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, sur-rounded by a natural ecosystem of pris-tine coral reef formations and diverse marine life. It will present a number of unique guest experiences, enhanced accommodations, new culinary op-

tions and signature One&Only service throughout the resort.

“I am thrilled to introduce One&Only to Hayman Island. It is the perfect des-tination for the first One&Only in Aus-tralia and I know the resort will be well received by our many loyal One&Only guests, as well as guests that have been enjoying Hayman for years,” said Alan Leibman, CEO, Kerzner International. “My personal commitment is to make One&Only Hayman Island a ‘must stay’ for the well-travelled to explore the wonders of this destination.”

Other enhancements include a re-developed Pool Wing featuring new all-suite living spaces with either one or two bedrooms. New Hayman rooms and Hayman suites with ocean and la-goon views will be introduced with rei-magined interiors and amenities. Some suites will provide direct access to the pool, while the exclusive Beach Villas with second bedroom Retreat rooms, as well as the one-, two- and three-bed-room Penthouses will continue to offer the ultimate in personalized service.

A new Beauty Salon concept will be introduced adjacent to the Spa. In ad-dition, a state-of-the-art fitness centre with expert personal training will be added for a comprehensive health and wellbeing offering.

As with all One&Only properties, One&Only Hayman Island will cater to couples and families alike. Family of-ferings include the KidsOnly Club and Teens Club, plus a separate family pool and children’s beach area. A new adults-only pool and chill-out lounge area will also be introduced.

For more information visit hayman.oneandonlyresorts.com.

Request a quote: [email protected] 1-877-727-6387

Group AirSpecialists

Capella Pedregal unveils new spa treatments, both indoors and poolside

spotl ight Wellness Travel

by Cindy Sosroutomo

Even though Auriga spa at Capella Pe-dregal in Cabo San Lucas was listed as one of ‘The World’s Greatest Hotel Spas’ by TripAdvisor, it doesn’t mean it can rest on its laurels and simply coast from here on out. Instead, Auriga has unveiled new treatments to its dynamic menu, ensuring that guests receive the utmost in relaxation during their stay.

These additions include ‘The Art of Couples Massage’, ‘Magical Stones’ massage and ‘Baja Flavor’, which utilizes damiana herbs, aloe vera and honey. Also new to the menu is the ‘Ancient Traditional Massage’, which transports guests to ancient times with the help of lemons, herbs and suction cups to cre-ate a healing experience.

Those who want to stay poolside can also take advantage of new treatments, including the ‘Foot Quench’ that be-gins with an exfoliating and hydrating scrub followed by a foot massage with

organic shea butter. The ‘Scalp Quench’

incorporates a potent dose of anti-

oxidant vitamin E oil that’s massaged

into the scalp, followed by a 10-minute

steam and cool water rinse. Similarly,

there are the ‘Hand and Arm Quench’,

‘Back Quench’ and the complimentary

‘Quench on the Go’.

“At Auriga spa, we are constantly

looking for new, authentic ingredients

and techniques to maximize our treat-

ments. We are so fortunate that our

location in the heart of Baja provides

us with a source for indigenous ingredi-

ents known for its exceptional healing

and wellness powers,” said Vanessa In-

fante, Auriga spa director. “Our legacy

is not only to pamper our guests but to

leave a lasting memory of their experi-

ence here as well.”

Auriga is the first Mexican spa for

world-acclaimed spa designer Sylvia

Sepielli. Its treatments are inspired by

the sea and authentic Mexican folk

healing traditions. Guests can experi-

ence these treatments in settings that

include luxurious ‘pods’, a seaside ‘pa-

lapa’ or directly on the beach.

In addition to Auriga, the Salon by

Julien Farel offers the same beauty

services as his Madison Avenue salon

while the 24-hour fitness centre comes

equipped with a personal training gym,

cardio/weight room, movement studio,

group classes and Advanced Techno-

gym equipment.

For more information visit

CapellaPedregal.com.

COMO Hotels to roll out new juice menu resort-wide starting next yearPower juices have become all the rage

among the physically fit, which is why

COMO Hotels and Resorts will begin



rolling out its signature Shambhala line of wellness juices in 2014.

The new menu features 10 beverages, all of which are extractions and blends of fresh fruits and vegetables prepared by the glass using nutritious recipes developed by dietician Eve Persak. The juices – already favourites of guests at COMO’s flagship wellness retreat in Bali – will be available for all COMO guests worldwide from January onward.

The ingredients in each juice com-bine to provide therapeutic benefits that balance, stimulate, settle, nourish, or relieve certain systems within the body. ‘Berry Quencher’, for example, is an antioxidant-rich smoothie of dark-coloured berries to ward off free radi-cals and counteract the effects of aging and stress. ‘Muscle Mylk’ is a creamy mixture of coconut, banana, almond and cocoa bean, which refuels and ac-celerates post-workout recovery. ‘Liven Up Your Liver’ boosts liver function and cleanses the blood with a potent blend of green apple, celery, broccoli, cauli-flower, spinach, ginger and turmeric.

The juices and blends will be avail-able at every COMO property around the world, including its urban ‘Metro-politan’ hotels in Bangkok and London, ‘Uma’ adventure retreats in Bali and Bhutan, and private island resorts in the Turks and Caicos and the Maldives, as well as the COMO Shambhala Urban Escape in Singapore.

For more visit comohotels.com.

Grandhotel Lienz’s new detox package designed to add more energy With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it’s no wonder many people are left feeling high-strung. The Grandhotel Lienz in Austria hopes to relieve some of that stress with a new detoxing and pu-rifying spa program called Symbio Care.

The seven-night package is scientifi-cally designed to give guests more en-ergy and make them feel lighter and fit-ter. The first day involves an interview with a doctor and an examination to determine the body’s composition us-ing traditional Chinese medicine tech-niques and regeneration acupuncture. On day two, guests will receive a colon cleansing, followed by detoxication ho-meopathy with Globulis and daily liver cleansing.

In addition, each guests will receive one Hydro Scrub Massage, Morphose Body Shaper Massage that focuses on problem areas, one ‘Grand Slim’ ho-listic body wrap and detox massage, one Lymphatic Drainage massage, one Agyptoswrap, one Serail Purification Bath and one Body Building Morphosis.

The Grandhotel Lienz is located in Southern Austria and is surrounded by The Dolomites Mountains. It features 76 suites, an indoor/outdoor swim-ming pool, health-oriented menus, lob-by bar, landscaped terraces on the River

Isel and a wide array of activities like riv-er rafting, mountain biking, horseback riding, tennis and climbing. The resort also boasts two major skiing areas and a 27-hole golf course.

Also included in the package are daily breakfast buffet with tea, gourmet din-ner specially prepared by the gourmet chef, use of all facilities in the Wellness, Spa and Fitness Area, complimentary tea and fruit juice in the spa, bottle of Detox Cucumber Juice daily, sisal brush for daily use, daily fitness program, beach bag with fluffy bathrobe, towels and slippers, complimentary Wi-Fi and underground parking.

Guests who book the Symbio Care package will stay in a roomy Superior Suite North featuring a large bathroom, separate shower and separate toilets. Rates start at approximately $2,600 from now through Dec. 15.

For more information visit grandhotel-lienz.com.

One&Only Maldives and Mauritius make bucket-list destinations more affordableThe Maldives and Mauritius are among the many bucket-list destinations that travellers save for years in advance. But what they don’t know is that once they’re there, luxury accommoda-

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tion can be surprisingly affordable. One&Only Resort is currently offering special deals at both of its properties on these islands, making it easier to justify that bucket-list trip.

The ‘Stay 5, Pay for 3’ deal at One&Only Le Saint Géran is valid for travel from now through April 11, 2014 (blackout dates from Dec. 21, 2013-Jan. 4, 2014). With this promo, guests can experience this Mauritian garden para-dise with complimentary half board at Le Terrasse restaurant (excluding bever-ages). Two kids under 12 years sharing with parents stay complimentary on the same board basis.

Giving travellers more reason to book is the resort’s spa, which offers a unique wellness program called ‘Harmonia’. This program includes elements of nu-trition, meditation, acupuncture, mas-

sage and more into single treatments. Guests will also want to check out Le Badamier, the new French-inspired out-door buffet.

Over at One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives, there’s the ‘Short Break Getaway’ deal, which offers guests to stay four consecutive nights and only pay for three in the Beach Villa, Beach Villa with Pool or Water Villa catego-ries of accommodation. This deal is valid for stays until Dec. 19, 2013.

During their stay, guests can also take advantage of new activities on offer, including wall climbing and golf in a golf simulator. And for those with an artist’s touch, artist-in-residence Gregory Burns is on hand for consul-tations.

For more information visit oneandonlyresorts.com.

Tea is elevated to new heights at Shanghai’s PuLi Hotel and SpaThe PuLi Hotel and Spa, China’s first luxury urban resort located in the heart of Shanghai, is inviting guests to de-stress over the holidays with a tranquil new offering from its Anantara Spa.

Honouring the renowned properties of tea, the ‘Pampering Tea Ritual’ in-cludes a 60-minute spa treatment that incorporates ancient techniques from China’s healing past, followed by a re-juvenating afternoon tea experience at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Jing’An.

Among an array of offerings available at Anantara Spa, guests can choose be-tween a relaxing massage, revitalizing body scrub, nourishing body wrap or a personalized facial for their 60-minute experience. Afterward, they can take a dip in the spa’s infinity lap pool that over-looks the lush greenery of Jing’An Park.

Once in a state of pure relaxation, guests will retreat to Jing’An to sample traditional Chinese delicacies. Sweet and savoury delights will be served to them in an authentic oriental wooden lacquer box. Afternoon tea can also be enjoyed in the hotel’s scenic Garden Terrace or at The PuLi’s Long Bar of-fering Shanghai’s ‘longest’ selection of wine and champagne by the glass.

The Anantara Spa ‘Pampering Tea Ritual’ is priced at approximately US$325 per couple. Guests will also re-ceive a 20% discount voucher valid for any single treatment for two people.

For more details visit thepuli.com.

Anantara Spa Single Treatment Room at The PuLi Hotel and Spa

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TruExperiences Tours unveils seven new itineraries in sunny Cuba

spotl ight Cuba

by Cindy Sosroutomo

Sandy beaches, intoxicating cigars and lively Latin music — it’s hard to resist Cuba. With this in mind, TruExperienc-es Tours, an award-winning Canadian tour operator, is now launching seven itineraries to this culturally rich island.

Designed by Oscar Lorenzo, a Cu-ban national who now lives in To-ronto, TruExperiences Tours provides more than traditional fun-in-the-sun Cuban holidays. Instead, it seeks to provide travellers with an authentic, rich experience that immerses them in the heart of Cuban culture, all while travelling in style.

While on the eight-day ‘Classic Cuba Small Group Tour’, for example, cli-ents will enjoy the contrast of the rich history and lively atmosphere of Ha-vana with the laidback beach vibe of Varadero. This tour has a special holi-day departure on Dec. 26 to Jan. 2, and includes highlights like a walking tour

of Old Havana, a traditional cannon-

firing ceremony, cigar rolling demon-

stration and a ride in a classic 1950s

American car. Departures in 2014 in-

clude Feb. 1–8, March 8–15, April 26–

May 3, and Aug. 16–23.

Also available is the eight-day ‘Cuba

Bella Small Group Tour’, which vis-

its Havana Cienfuegos, Trinidad and

Varadero. This itinerary culminates in

a spectacular catamaran cruise to Cayo

Blanco and is also available as an inde-

pendent package. Departure dates in

2014 include Feb. 8–15, March 15–22,

and July 5–12.

More cultural experiences are to be

had with the seven-day ‘Cuba Explorer

Small Group Tour’, which visits a tobac-

co farm and various locations that in-

spired author Ernest Hemingway. Other

highlights include a stop at Viñales, Fi-

del Castro’s favourite spot on the island.

2014 departures include Feb. 15–21,

March 1–7, and May 11–17.

For more discerning clients, however,

suggest the eight-day ‘Signature Cuba

Private Tour’, which includes a private

tour guide, chauffeur, accommodation

in the island’s finest five-star hotels, a

jeep safari tour and a catamaran cruise.

Daily departures are available.

Equally enchanting is the eight-day

‘Cuba Glamorosa Small Group Tour’,

which profiles the stunning architec-

ture of Havana and Varadero. Guests

will marvel over stunning art deco

apartment buildings and mansions

built by Cuban tycoons. They’ll also

have plenty of time to enjoy Havana’s

vibrant nightlife. Departures for 2014

include Feb. 22–March 1, March 29–

April 5, June 21–28 and Sept. 27–Oct. 4.

Not to be outdone is the ‘Gems of

Central Cuba Small Group Tour’, which

shines the spotlight on Cienfuegos,

Trinidad, Sancti Spiritus and Cayo

Santa Maria. From sugar plantations to

colonial buildings and shallow beaches,

the very best of Central Cuba is on full display. Departures next year include March 22-29 and May 3-10.’

For the more independent traveller, TruExperiences also offers tailor-made Cuba tours that guarantee travel at their own pace. Clients can set their own itinerary and budget to suit their interests and needs. Daily departures are available.

For more information on these and other offerings call 1-800-228-6902 or visit tetours.com.

Seven leading Cuban artists’ works on display at new Toronto galleryTORONTO — On Dec. 7, a new art gal-lery, Galleria Siete-7, opens in Toronto for an exclusive limited-time exhibition featuring an outstanding collection of

contemporary art from the studios of seven important Cuban artists.

This art has never been seen together outside of the island nation and will provide Canadians an opportunity at home to be part of the Cuban art wave that has already taken hold in Europe.

Thirty-five pieces will be flown to To-ronto in late November to be shown in the new Galleria Siete-7 that has been established for this exclusive show in the lobby level of the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.

“The Fairmont Royal York is located in the heart of this multi-cultural city of To-ronto, and we are proud to be hosting im-portant cultural artwork from Cuban art-ists,” said Tim Morrison, Hotel Manager. The Fairmont Royal York’s Upper Canada Room will also host an exclusive Artists’ Reception sponsored by the gallery and show’s sponsors 360 VOX Corporation, Dundee Corporation and Norton Rose Fulbright and the website VisitCuba.com.

The organizer of this landmark art event is the Cuban International Cul-tural Council (CICC), a non-profit group established by 360 VOX to fa-cilitate opportunities for Cubans to share their cultural scene with the rest of the world. “Cuba’s greatest resource is its people - and its artists have a unique voice recognized by a growing number of collectors world-wide. We are proud to bring this col-lection of works to North America so that Canadians and visitors may ap-preciate their quality and depth,” says Guy Chartier, CICC’s President.

Rafael Acosta de Arriba, a leading artistic curator and academic author-ity in Cuba and beyond, has gathered the 35 pieces for sale to both aficiona-dos and those just discovering Cuban art. Acosta has prepared a detailed 72-page catalog of the works including bi-ographies and extensive commentary on today’s contemporary art on the

spotl ight Cuba


AGENT ACCESS: www.holacaribeagent.ca Amadeus Sirev | CALL CENTER/RESERVATIONS: 905.882.9445 or 1.800.668.8178 Prices are in CAD, per person, based on double occupancy and subject to change without notice. Space is subject to availability at time of booking. Rates based on lowest room category offered. All departures are from Toronto on Cubana Airlines, Air Transat or Canjet and taxes of $180 must be added to the published rates. All EBB’s mention will reflect in the published rate. Refer to our

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island nation that will be available at the Galleria Siete-7 and online.

More information and detailed view-ing is available at siete.ca.

Cuba ushers in a new wave of hotels and major renosThere’s plenty to be excited about in the sun-soaked island of Cuba. For one thing, travellers won’t have any trouble finding accommodations as a slew of new hotels have been intro-duced. The Melia Marina Varadero, for example, brings 423 additional rooms and 122 apartments to Cuba’s shores, while the Eurostar Hotel in Cayo Santa Maria opened with 846 rooms. The Pestana Hotel in Cayo Coco offers 468 rooms, Royal Ser-vice at Paradsisu Princesa del Mar in Varadero has 168 rooms, while Blau Costa Verde Hotel in Holguin brings to the table an additional 400 rooms.

In addition, over 3,000 rooms across the country have been renovated. Of particular interest are the renos at Villa Cojimar in Cayo Guillermo, and Cayo Levisa and Villa Coral in Cayo Largo. Other developments include a new dolphinarium that will debut in Cayo Guillermo, an increase in tourist trans-portation, and modernization and ex-pansion at several airports.

For more information on travel to Cuba visit gocuba.ca.

Signature offers Riu Varadero and Playa Turquesa, both now offering free Wi-FiThere’s always room for improvement, something both the Riu Varadero and Riu Playa Turquesa in Cuba have tak-en to heart.

Last month, for the first time ever in Cuba and available only with Signature Vacations, both properties started of-

fering guests access to free Wi-Fi and in-room liquor dispensers.

The Riu Varadero has been charming guests with its beachfront location, lav-ish accommodations, delightful cuisine and non-stop activities since it opened. While perfectly suited for Canadian families, it’s also one of Riu’s first hotels to offer an exclusive adults-only section.

Over at the Riu Playa Turquesa, lo-

cated on a beautiful stretch of sand in Holguin, families can enjoy a plethora of activities and amenities, including the RiuLand Kids Club, not to mention shallow turquoise water on the beach.

All Signature guests receive other ex-clusive RIU-Topia inclusions including a welcome cocktail, free Wi-Fi in lobby, limitless international drinks, unlimited dining at specialty restaurants, a regu-


auténtica blissauténtica bliss

Spectacular beaches wrapped around a country rich in history, culture and unspoiled nature. This is Auténtica Cuba. Explore it at gocuba.ca


spotl ight Cuba

larly stocked in-room minibar, spa credit

available on select treatments and more.

Signature offers convenient direct

flights to Varadero from 23 major gate-

ways across Canada with over 50 flights

weekly during the peak season. Service

to Holguin is offered from six major

gateways across Canada.

For more information visit

signature.ca.

All systems a go for Cuba Cruise’s inaugural season This month marks Cuba Cruise’s in-

augural season circumnavigating the

island of Cuba. Final pre-departure

preparations are well underway, tasks

that include quality safety inspections,

training crewmembers, upgrading the

ship’s satellite systems, even stocking

olives for martinis and installing ceiling

hooks for aerial circus acts. The last de-

tail that was completed before its Nov.

24 departure from Greece was painting

the company’s signature flowers on the

side of the ship.

“We’re right on schedule with the

launch,” said President Dugald Wells.

“We have an excellent crew equipping

the Louis Cristal in drydock and our Cu-

ban and Canadian teams are excitingly

preparing for its arrival to the island.”

Partner Louis Cruises will help ensure

the ship and its crew are both in top

shape for the season. The Louis Cristal

is a deluxe cruise ship with a unique

yacht-like modern design and a cruising

speed of 18 knots. It features an array

of amenities with all the comforts of

today’s upscale vessels, including spa-

cious staterooms and suites (some with

balconies and each one equipped with

shower, WC, wash basin, telephone,

hairdryer and TV), elegant lounges and

restaurants, casino and open prom-

enades. The ship also features modern

communication facilities including

an Internet corner, Wi-Fi and roaming

GSM mobile phone service.

Guests can join the seven-night

cruise at either Havana or Montego

Bay with a lead-in price of $586. Each

cruise includes the opportunity to visit

world famous beaches, UNESCO World

Heritage sites and national reserves, as

well as in-depth exploration of Cuba’s

dynamic culture.

To make a reservation visit

yourcubacruise.com.

CUBAexperience

416-915-2516 / 1-800-228-6902CALL TO ORDER OUR NEW CUBA BROCHURE!

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Cuba

World Heritage Site Castle San Pedro de la Roca del Morro near Santiago de Cuba

DOWN SOUTH.UPGRADED.

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Live the excitement of the Occidental Grand Xcaret.

Only from Transat HolidaysPart of Transat Holidays’ Distinction Collection, the 4-star Occidental Grand Xcaret Preference Club is great fun for families and nature lovers, boasting a tropical setting adjacent to the Xcaret Ecological Park, a green initiative that’s really paying off . Guests can opt for the hotel’s Unlim-ited Xcaret Xperience package, which includes tons of exciting extras like a resort credit of US $920, a private

eco-cultural tour, a reserved seating area at the Gran Tlachco theatre during Xcaret Mexico Xpectacular evening shows, free access to chil-dren’s Xiquitos Soñando activities, and unlimited access to the Xcaret park and its natural wonders. With Playa del Carmen just under 15 km away, guests can also enjoy beach hopping during the day, and bar hopping at night!


topnews

Also up for grabs, as an added bonus,

are 12 Kobo Readers that will be award-

ed to the agent who makes the most

bookings each week.

Michael Smith, online and produc-

tion coordinator, Travelweek, says “this

is a great opportunity for agents who

are booking Malaysia for next year. The

odds of winning are quite high in com-

parison to many other contests, and the destination is fantastic.”

The grand prize includes return flight tickets in economy to Malaysia from Montreal, courtesy of Qatar Airways, plus six nights accommodation in Ma-laysia, courtesy of SkyLink and Tour-ism Malaysia. Also included are airport transfers in Malaysia, daily breakfast and a half-day city tour of Kuala Lum-pur, the nation’s capital.

This is part of a concerted effort to grow online engagement and inspire agents to increase their bookings to Malaysia. The destination is a fabulous combination of capital city, culture, history, shopping, ad-venture and beaches, perfect for clients looking for something more exotic.

For more information about the contest, visit travelweek.ca/twcontests/ tourismmalaysia.

ALBATours offers Magnifica Class special on all Alitalia flightsTORONTO — Available on all of ALBA-Tours’ Alitalia flights, clients can now save $300 per person when they book Magnifica (business) class at least 55 days prior to departure.

Offering an upgraded level of service, including lounge access, leather seats that recline up to 180°, a wide range of the best Italian wines and meals that have been voted ‘Best Airline Cuisine’ for three years in a row, Magnifica Class is available through ALBATours for $2,797 roundtrip – a price that reflects the $300 savings.

Alitalia features a year-round pro-gram that supports ALBATours’ winter Golden Mediterranean Odyssey cruis-ing product, as well as its summer Italy touring and Mediterranean cruising programs. The airline offers flights to 17 destinations in Italy, with direct, regular service from Toronto to Rome.

Visit ALBATours.com for more infor-mation.

Kensington Tours launches new Land & Cruise series of month-long toursTORONTO — Kensington Tours is launching a new Land and Cruise Series, a collection of customizable 25-30 day cruise and tour fusions featuring the globe’s most popular destinations.

www.envoynetworks.ca

ATTENTION TRAVEL AGENTS:

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Featured this week: ADVENTURE CENTER

Exodus celebrates their 40th Anniversary helping clients see the world differently

Small group adventure, cultural, activity and wildlife holidays

Over 200 trips in 90 countries.

Graded trips suitable for first timers to experienced travellers

An increased range of Premium Adventures this year, the same great Exodus trips with a little extra comfort.

Continued from page 16...

These itineraries consist of two cruis-es woven together and bookended with private guided tours seamlessly combined into one experience.

“Whether baby boomers, retirees, or those with a month for holiday, today’s travellers are more active and adventur-ous than ever,” says Kensington Tours President Phil Sproul.

“They are looking for more variety and opportunity than a classic cruise can offer. They want to enjoy the luxu-ries of cruising and the multi-country port hopping with the in-depth (and in-land) experiences of private guided travel. Our Destination Specialists and Cruise Experts researched Kensington’s bookings from 2012 through 2013, identifying the key routes by land and sea, ocean and river across the globe and most importantly talked to our past clients with similar itineraries to ensure that every moment of these travel experiences was curated to their needs and interests.”

From a Machu Picchu/Galapagos and Amazon adventure to a Greece/Italy/Spain/Croatia and France fusion, each itinerary has been planned for travellers by the destination experts at Kensington.

For more information, visit kensing tontours.com.

Silk Holidays’ Hong Kong and Bali package takes in major Rugby Sevens tournamentRICHMOND, BC — Silk Holidays is of-

fering an exclusive departure for a Hong

Kong and Bali package departing March

26 for the 2014 Hong Kong Sevens Inter-

national Rugby Tournament.

The tournament runs March 28-30

at the Hong Kong Stadium with more

than 15 professional rugby teams and

thousands of fans from all over the

world gathering in Hong Kong for the

famous annual Sevens tournament.

The 12-night program features five nights in Hong Kong and seven nights in Bali. The price starts at $2,349 per person including return air ticket on Cathay Pacific Airways, five nights ac-commodations in Hong Kong located within walking distance to the game venue, seven nights accommodations in Bali, daily breakfast at the hotels and several sightseeing tours.

Clients can also purchase a three-day game ticket for $350/ticket while quan-tities last.

For more information, visit silkholi-days.com andsilkholidays.com/products/package-hong-kong-bali.

Costa Rica kicks off cruise season with new routes and major partnershipsSAN JOSE, Costa Rica — With the 2013-2014 cruise season officially underway, Costa Rica has announced a new strat-egy to strengthen and promote the cruise industry.

“In addition to reaching important agreements with industry executives, we have concentrated our efforts on improving port infrastructure and the amenities available to passengers through our local entrepreneurs,” said Minister of Tourism Allan Flores. “These relationships and efforts will continue to strengthen our position as a cruise destination and create an even better experience for visitors.”


topnews

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The arrival of the Island Princess, op-erated by Princess Cruises, to the Port of Limón marked the start of a cruise season filled with new arrivals, part-nerships and improvements aimed to support the destination’s offerings and passenger services. This was the first of 64 ships expected to arrive in the port city, 12% more than last year.

Officials also announced plans to in-clude the improvement of infrastruc-

ture as well as projects for the recovery of architectural and cultural heritage in the Caribbean city.

As part of the destination’s new strategy, Costa Rica has announced a cooperative partnership with Royal Ca-ribbean Cruise Lines.

To further solidify the country’s cruise offerings, a new Mesoamerican regional agreement has also been im-plemented. For the first time, countries

in the region have cooperatively devel-oped a partnership with cruise lines worldwide to introduce new routes through the Pacific.

The new route, named Amazing Pa-cific, will begin operations on Jan. 14, 2014, with the arrival of Azamara Club Cruises, part of the Royal Caribbean fleet, to Costa Rica’s Puerto Caldera re-gion. Additional major Pacific ports will include Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guate-mala and Mexico.

For more information on visiting Costa Rica and the variety of options for cruise passengers, visit VisitCostaRica.com.

Signature Vacations now offers all-inclusive packages to Ixtapa TORONTO — Signature Vacations is now offering vacation packages to Ix-tapa, Mexico.

With an oceanfront stretch and year-round warm waters, Ixtapa is be-coming an increasingly popular tour-ist destination. Through Signature Vacations, travellers can select from a variety of all-inclusive resorts and hotels.

Situated five minutes down the road from the charming fishing vil-lage of Zihuatanejo, vacationers can journey from the resort to this hum-ble village that has grown from a few hundred residents to a thriving town with restaurants, art, entertainment and a beautiful protected bay. Dur-ing the day, travellers see fishermen spread out their fresh-caught fish to sell at the waterfront. At night on the weekends, entertainment lights up the downtown plaza where many cultural activities are held.

Clients can choose from all-in-clusive resorts that offer fun for all ages, or luxury hotels located on the most magnificent Ixtapa beaches including Tesoro Ixtapa, Krystal Ix-tapa, Park Royal Ixtapa, Posada Real Ixtapa.


topnews

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All Signature Vacations packages are on board Sunwing Airlines and offer convenient, direct flights to Ix-tapa from five major gateways across Canada including Toronto, Montreal, Kelowna, Vancouver, Calgary and Ed-monton. A one week, all-inclusive vaca-tion to Krystal Ixtapa starts from $655 plus $357 taxes per person, departing from Toronto on Dec. 16, 2013 for sev-en nights. For more information, visit signature.ca.

notes

Jade offers extra Gift CardsJade Tours has a special offer this holiday season – new low fares and extra gift cards. Agents booking on-line at jadetours.com receive an ex-

tra $15 Gift Card for every ticketed PNR. This offer is valid until Dec. 31 2013. Jade’s booking engine of-fers live inventory, low airfares and advance search on multi-stops. For details, call 1-800-387-0387 (press 3).

peoplePorts of Call recently announced the winner of the grand prize for agents who completed the Ports of Call Specialist Program on Travelweek’s Learning Cen-tre. Amanda Stewart of CAA Burling-ton has won a 7-night stay at the Ports of Call Resort located in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos for two, with roundtrip air from Toronto Pearson International Airport. Stewart says, “I am still in shock that I actually won a week trip to the Ports of Call Resort in Turks and Caicos just by doing an online training. The online courses offered by Travelweek

tend to be informative as well as inter-esting. The fact that there’s a possibility to win prizes by completing the training is an added bonus.” Janelle Jones, resort marketing manager, Ports of Call, per-sonally made the trip to Burlington to award the prize to Amanda. Jones says, “We are incredibly pleased with the re-sults we received from the Ports of Call Specialist Program featured on Travel-week’s Learning Centre. We had over 250 travel agents become Specialists to learn more about our resort, but also the island of Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.” While the prize portion of Spe-cialist Program is now complete, it will still be available Travelweek’s Learning Centre until June of 2014. Agents can still learn about one of the fastest grow-ing properties in the Turks and Caicos and earn 12% commission on future reservations. “We are excited that our program was not only informative, but has an additional commission incen-tive for the agents who completed the


Learning how developing expert advise on how to sell Israel translates into increased revenue!

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December 19

January 9

January 16

January 23

UPCOMINGSPOTLIGHTS

416.365.1500

program. The Ports of Call Resort looks forward to accommodating all new and existing guests in the near future,” says Jones. Port of Call Resort is centrally located in Grace Bay within walking distance from many shops and restau-rants – closer than other resorts. It of-fers 29 standard rooms, plus 69 deluxe guestrooms in two three-story build-ings. The beach is 300 yards from the resort and is fully staffed and equipped perfect for fun and relaxing days at the beach. For more information, visit portsofcallresort.com or complete the Ports of Call Specialist Program at travelweeklearningcentre.ca. For agents not currently registered to the Learning Centre, go to travelweek.ca/airmiles and entre promo code: Smile-WithAirMiles for your chance to win 8,000 AIR MILES reward miles just for registering. Furthermore, every course complete by the end of the year will give you a chance to win.

Carnival Cruise Lines has hired two new Business Development Managers. Marilisa De Simone is the new Business Development Manager for Ontario. She was most recently the Sales Manager for Barcelo Hotels & Resorts and prior to this she was employed by Thomas Cook Canada. De Simone joined Thomas Cook in 2000 and has held a number of different positions over the years includ-ing Manager of Product and Marketing which she held from 2008 till earlier this year. She can be reached at [email protected]. Cindy Chau has been named Business Development Manager for Western Canada. She comes with seven years of experience as a BDM for Thomas Cook Canada. In this position, Chau used to promote Carnival and other cruise lines to her ac-counts in Western Canada. She has held various positions within the Thomas Cook organization since 2000. Chau can be reached at [email protected].

Flight Centre has named Aaron Stub-bings Western Canada Marketing Man-ager. Based in Vancouver, Stubbings is responsible for leading and executing all marketing and advertising initiatives in the Western Provinces of Canada (BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan) to support the Flight Centre brand. Originally from Australia, he brings with him almost 10 years experience in various advertising/marketing roles, in-cluding the last three with Flight Centre in Brisbane as National Marketing Executive for the company’s Cruiseabout brand.

Retain up to 80% of top commissions Enhance your skills with training, coaching, and networking Manage your bookings with your choice of GDS or graphical booking engines Operate your business efficiently with tools and technology Differentiate yourself with exclusive Cruise Block Space and supplier offers Increase your customer base with innovative marketing solutions

If you are an independent travel agent looking to affiliate with a host agency to run your business more profitably and efficiently then Nexion Canada is the partner for you

Contact us now to become part of our winning team!www.join.nexioncanada.com | 866.399.9989 | [email protected]

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F road show


marketplace

Aaron Stubbings

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LOOKING TO PLACE A MARKETPLACE AD?Contact us at [email protected] or 416-365-1500

TRAVEL AGENTAFFILIATE PROGRAM

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marketplace

Indus Travels, a leader in travel to exotic destinations.Due to our continued growth, we are always looking forpeople to fit into our team of wanderlust employees.

Work forIndus Travels,an award winingTour Operator

Salary: As per experience. The right candidate will receive a competitive, above average industry salary plus target based incentive.

All positions based in Richmond, BC office. Submit your resumes to: [email protected] or fax to 604 608 3421

INSIDE SALES CONSULTANT

Generate new sales while providing excellence in customer service. Prepare custom tour itineraries. Communicate with suppliers Excellent communication skills

GROUPS COORDINATOR

Coordinate Group tours with sales team Creating and managing tour costing Book group files, issue contracts and invoices Prepare group travel documentation

AIR SPECIALIST

Book competitive air for FIT’s & Groups

Proficient with Amadeus or Sabre

Communicate with consolidators & airlines Excellent

communication skills

Apply Onlinewww.applyfirst.ca/job22277

or call 1 866 474 3140

If you are an experienced Travel Agent and want

to grow your own travel business from home,

join Flight Centre and partner with a highly trusted,

global leader.

Join the market leading host agency and turn your

client base into your dream business.

Who said you have to work from an office?

Home Based Consultants

“Talk to us before you sign!”

HRG North America. A Hogg Robinson Group company.

© Hogg Robinson Group 2013. HRG is a registered trade mark of the Hogg Robinson Group.

All rights reserved.

Manager, Operations Government of Canada – Ottawa

Join our team!

Lead a large front line operations team to deliver expected service levels

Participate in the budget process, sales presentations, site visits

Prepare and deliver quarterly business reviews Coaching, mentoring and development of supervisory team Collaborate with client facing and support departments

Qualified candidates are: Fluently bilingual English/French Have minimum 8 years Operations travel agency experience Have minimum 5 years management or supervisory experience

in a travel service center Basic knowledge of finance/accounting Excellent communication skills

For a full job description, qualified and interested candidates should visit our talent network to apply:

http://www.jobs.net/jobs/hrg-north-america/en-us/job/canada/manager-operations-government-of-canada/J3J0BM6N9XL4CRGPG9C/

At HRG our business is built on the strength of our people.

Sunwing is an equal opportunity employer.We would like to thank all applicants. No phone calls please.

These positions require a minimum 1-2 years of Customer Service experience in a travel related environment and someone who is self-motivated with eff ective time management skills and the ability to manage a varied workload. If interested, please e-mail your resume and cover letter to [email protected].

CUSTOMER RELATIONS COORDINATORS

CONTRACT POSITIONS RESPONSIBILITIES:

Process post travel customer concerns received from both the airline and tour operator Analyze and investigate all customer concerns received on a daily basis, resolving to customer satisfactionRespond to written inquiries, update travel agents and customers on the status of their concerns, and provide consultation as appropriate on policy inquiries

SPECIAL SERVICES COORDINATOR

CONTRACT POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

Communicate with special needs passengers & their requests – air and landAnalyzing special needs passenger requests and action/processing of sameCommunicate with inter-company departments and suppliers to ensure services are provided as needed

Caarllson WWagonlit

Join an exciting world class organization that has been voted for the prestigious award of Top 100 Employers for three consecutive years. Carlson Wagonlit Travel, a world leader in business travel management, is currently seeking to fill the role of…

Senior Corporate Travel CounsellorOttawa, ON You have a post-secondary education related to the Travel Industry, and 3-5 years’ corporate experience combined with strong international experience. You are a team oriented, self-driven and positive individual with excellent communication and customer service skills. Bilingualism in French and English is an asset. Candidates must be flexible to work rotating shifts between 8:00AM to 8:00PM EST.

Interested candidates should forward their resume by January 11th, 2014 to:Human Resources [email protected]

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be

contacted. No phone calls, please.

Follow us on Twitter@CWTJobsCanada.


marketplace

Save on AMA Waterways cruises by booking early with GLP WorldwideTORONTO — Clients can save 5% by booking early on a variety of AMA Waterways cruises in Europe, Vietnam and Cambodia and Myanmar. GLP Worldwide is the Canadian representative for AMA Waterways.

GLP is offering a 5% early booking discount on all 2015 cruis-es to Europe, Vietnam and Cambodia and Africa. The 5% early booking discount applies to cruise only for bookings made by July 31, 2014. The deposit must also be made by July 31, 2014.

As with all cruises GLP Worldwide features the pricing in Cana-dian currency.

“Travel agents should be aware that many of the most popular cruises sell out over a year in advance so if they have clients or especially groups it’s important they book well ahead of the cruise date while getting an early bird discount but also getting exactly what their clients are requesting,” said Alan Law, director of sales and marketing for GLP Worldwide Expedition Travel and Tours.

The AMA Waterways cruise fare includes shore excursions in every port of call; fine dining on board; unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; in-room Internet and Infotain-ment; spacious staterooms with many featuring private balconies; dedicated cruise manager; spa and hair services; fitness room and complimentary use of bicycles.

Agents can order the AMA Waterways 2014 Europe, Russia,

Africa, Vietnam and Cambodia brochure from GLP Worldwide.

For information on AMA Waterways cruises, dates, prices and

itineraries, e-mail: [email protected] or call 905-

258-7778 or toll-free at 1-866-760-1987.

Costa Diadema floated out at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyardHOLLYWOOD, FL — Costa Cruises’ future flagship, the US$739

million Costa Diadema, was floated out last week during a techni-

cal launch ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy.

The 132,500-ton, 3,724-passenger ship is scheduled for delivery

Oct. 30, 2014.

“Costa Diadema will be our new flagship and our tangible com-

mitment to the future success and growth of our company,” said

Michael Thamm, chief executive officer of Costa Crociere S.p.A.

“She is the 10th cruise ship built in Italy by Fincantieri for Costa

since 2000, with a total investment worth almost US$6.7 billion.”

Costa Diadema’s technical launch ceremony followed a long-es-

tablished seafaring tradition, beginning with the welding of a coin

at the base of what was once the mainmast, a custom thought to

bring good luck to the ship. The ship’s godmother, Franca Grasso,

a member of CostaClub chosen from among more than 12,000

guests who sailed on Costa ships in the Mediterranean during

October and November 2013, cut the ribbon to break a bottle of

champagne against the bow of the ship.

The dry-dock basin was filled with water, and the ship was

floated for the first time.

Among many innovations on Costa Diadema will be food and

wine venues Vinoteca, Birreria (beer house), Japanese Teppanyaki,

Piazza Pizza and Gelateria. New entertainment offerings include

Country Rock Club, featuring ‘classic rock’ music, and the Star La-

ser room, offering interactive laser games including Laser Maze.

Portobello Market Piazza is an 11,840-square-foot area with de-

signer stores and retail outlets.

In winter 2014-15 Costa Diadema will be deployed on a seven-

night itinerary departing Savona and calling at Marseille, France;

Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Civitavecchia (Rome)

and La Spezia (Florence), Italy.

crusingupdate


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