Travel Destination News | Canada's Travel Industry

By Bob Mowat

February 22, 2012

Vail Resorts pens Kirkwood deal

Vail Resorts, Inc has reached an agreement to acquire Kirkwood Mountain Resort at Lake Tahoe, California. Vail Resorts is purchasing the ski resort as well as the undeveloped sites at the centre of the base area which are zoned for residential and commercial development for a purchase price of approximately $18.0 million. The seller will retain a participation interest in the base area parcels and will continue to own the remainder of the real estate development sites. Following the acquisition, Vail Resorts will now operate three world-class mountain resorts in the Lake Tahoe region which...

By Bob Mowat

February 22, 2012

Whistler camps offer the right exposure

This summer Whistler's Momentum Ski Camps will offer "Exposure," a new film and photography camp for youth and young adults, taught by some of action sports' most successful professional filmmakers and photographers. "Exposure" will take place from July 6 to July14, 2012. Ski photographer Blake Jorgenson from Whistler Outdoor Photography, will take a leading role on the photography side and adapt his already established workshops in Whistler to focus on youth action sports. On the film side Darren Rayner of the grassroots film and clothing company, Voleurz, is slated to act as Exposure's film...

By TravelPress Staff

February 22, 2012

Outrigger has front row to Hawaii’s biggest show

Whale watching season in Hawaii runs through May, so there's still time to catch the breaching of the behemoth visitors to Hawaii. Guests staying at the beachfront Outrigger Royal Kahana or Outrigger Napili Shores on Napili Bay can witness these magnificent sights, just offshore. Each year, as many as 10,000 humpback whales make the annual 8,000-km journey from the North Pacific to warm Hawaiian seas to give birth and mate. While visiting the islands, these creatures are often seen in spectacular acrobatic displays. The oceanfront units at the Outrigger properties offer access to these...

By TravelPress Staff

February 22, 2012

Hawaiian Airlines honoured

Hawaiian Airlines has earned the airline industry's first-ever verified aviation carbon credits for its efforts to reduce CO2 emissions. Since 2005, Hawaiian has used an eco-friendly engine washing technology on its aircraft, the result of which has been a reduction of nearly 22,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions overall since then. This is the equivalent of removing 700 cars from the roadways annually. "We are proud to be the first airline to receive verified carbon credits for reducing emissions,"said Mark Dunkerley, president of Hawaiian Airlines. "Engine washing with EcoPower is helping us...

By Bob Mowat

February 21, 2012

Tiara Air Aruba gets first 737-300

Tiara Air Aruba has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737-300. The addition of "The Tiara Air Arawak" to the fleet marks the beginning of a new phase of regional expansion for the airline. Carrier CEO Alejandro Muyale commented: "We are thrilled to welcome our newest and largest aircraft into the Tiara fleet. The increase in capacity provided by the 141-seat 737-300 gives us the leverage we need to enter new markets where travel to Aruba is in demand." Currently, Tiara Air Aruba uses Short 360 aircraft with a capacity of 30 seats on all flights. With the arrival of its new aircraft, Tiara...

By TravelPress Staff

February 21, 2012

Jasper Glacier Walk gets Park Canada approval

A new adventure walk attraction on a glacier in Jasper National Park has been given the green light for development by Parks Canada. The Glacier Discovery Walk project was deemed to have met all required environment assessment guidelines, said Parks Canada in a recent announcement. Brewster Travel Canada will now proceed with the next steps in developing the project. The Glacier Discovery Walk project is a 400-metre-long guided interpretive walkway with a 30-metre glass-floored observation area overlooking the Sunwapta Valley at the Tangle Ridge Viewpoint in Jasper National Park....

By TravelPress Staff

February 21, 2012

New rewards program introduced by Western Vacations

Western Vacations of Victoria recently launched a simple and quick online booking engine exclusive to travel agents. To make booking on the engine more attractive, the company has introduced a new rewards program for agents. All bookings made online or through the call centre will earn $10 per air seat sold. Bonus rewards will be given for business and first class tickets. Agents can choose from HBC, Sears, Walmart or Petro Canada gift cards or they can sign up for the Huntington Agent Scotiabank VISA Rewards Program....

By TravelPress Staff

February 21, 2012

Aston Aloha brings back comedy dinner show

Aston Hotels & Resorts reports the re-opening of the crowd-pleasing comedy show, "The Complete History of America (abridged)."The three-man comedy hit will play every Monday evening at the Aston Aloha Beach Hotel in Kapaa, Kauai. The show's new owner, Wil Welsh of Oceanside Productions, describes the show as 90 minutes of great entertainment with a Kauai track record of sold-out shows since its Aston Aloha Beach Hotel opening in April 2011. He suggests, "Just think of The Three Stooges on Saturday Night Live."The show is presented in the resort's historic Alii Room. Guests receive a...

By TravelPress Staff

February 17, 2012

Agents get $100 booking gift from Rocky Mountaineer

To celebrate its recent World Travel Award win and others, Rocky Mountaineer is offering a special thank you to North American travel agent partners with a booking bonus. From now until March 31, agents will receive a $100 bonus for each guest booked on a qualifying 2012 vacation package in GoldLeaf or SilverLeaf Service. "In 2011, we won the most awards in our company's history and to show our appreciation, we are offering agents 100 more reasons to sell a Rocky Mountaineer package,"says Bob Nicholas, VP of global sales. The Travel Agent Bonus offer is valid on new bookings made by March 31...

By TravelPress Staff

February 17, 2012

Royal Kona opens ‘Royal Tee Golf Trail’ package

The Royal Kona Resort on Hawaii's Big Island has opened its "Royal Tee Kona Golf Trail"package for inclusive travel March 1 through Dec. 21. The five-night-minimum package includes oceanfront accommodations, full American buffet breakfast daily for two at Don the Beachcomber Restaurant and six rounds of golf per stay that include two rounds each at the Makalei Golf Course, Kona Country Club, and Big Island Country Club. The package starts at $1,065 for five nights, double occupancy. Guests will receive special vouchers for golf at each of the courses at check in. Reservations for tee times...

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