Tour Operators | Canada's Travel Industry

By Bob Mowat

February 9, 2012

One team, 4 brands, One roof

The "key to our success," observed Fabien Pelous, vice-president for Air France-KLM Canada and the general manager sales Canada for the Delta-KLM-Air France-Alitalia joint venture, will be "providing more flight options and frequencies to our customers" and that can "only be offered through pulling [our] forces together." Pelous made this observation as he welcomed a group of 65 travel agents, tour operators, tourist board officials, and carrier staffers at the official opening of the carriers' new joint offices in Toronto. Explaining how the airline industry business model has changed in...

By TravelPress Staff

February 8, 2012

Win with Signature

Signature Vacations has launched a new promotional campaign for agents and their clients. Each month starting this month (February), Signature will select a destination to become the "Your Dream Destination of the Month."Bookings made to the selected destination will receive additional benefits such as chances to win free vacations for both travellers and agents, special rates and in some cases a commission bonus for the agents. The first destination to be showcased is Aruba. Agents booking vacation packages to Aruba by Feb. 29 for travel through Oct. 21 will receive a 4% bonus commission at...

By TravelPress Staff

February 8, 2012

Monograms now featuring Floriade day trip

Visiting the famed Floriade flower show in Holland this year just got a little easier thanks to pre-packaged day tours now being offered by Monograms. The company is offering an optional day trip to the show on its tours to Holland, including round trip transportation to the show site at Venlo and show admission. The show, held in Holland only once every 10 years, is considered a must on any gardener's bucket list, and comprises 66 hectares encompassing five themed "worlds"separated by wooded areas. The tour is offered daily from April 5 to Oct. 7. The special Floriade trip is available to...

By TravelPress Staff

February 8, 2012

Two-city adventures with Hola Sun

Cuba specialist Hola Sun is promoting sun and city combos. April departures are: Club Acuario/Brisas Del Caribe from $558 plus taxes; Hotel Victoria/Villa Cuba Resort from $538 plus tax; Quinta Avenida Habana/Barcelo Marina Palace from $618 plus tax; Nacional/Melia Varadero from $938 plus tax; Tryp Habana Libre/Sol Sirenas Coral Resort from $788 plus tax; Melia Habana/Sol Palmeras from $918 plus tax; Melia Cohiba/Iberostar Laguna Azul from $998 plus tax; and Hotel Parque Central/Iberostar Laguna Azul from $1,108 plus tax. More combos are available. Combo packages include roundtrip airfare...

By TravelPress Staff

February 7, 2012

Sunquest extends ‘Tax’ offer

Sunquest has extended its "We Pay the Tax"offer on air only bookings to select destinations to Feb. 13. Valid on all new air only bookings (roundtrip) for travel from Feb. 1-29, this offer is available from gateways across Canada to Aruba, Jamaica, Punta Cana and Nassau. The offer applies to three-, four-, seven- and 14-night durations, is available to both adults and children, and is applicable to groups....

By Bob Mowat

February 6, 2012

Sun shines at Florida Huddle

The annual Florida Huddle travel trade show kicked off late last week in Fort Lauderdale with an evening gala on the beach on the site of what will soon be a Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville hotel and restaurant complex in Hollywood (opening 2014). Canada, as usual, was represented a strong delegation of media and tour operator buyers, including WestJet, Sunwing and Thomas Cook. The show moved onto the floor of the Fort Lauderdale Convention Centre over the weekend, with meetings taking place that will help shape the look of next winter's Florida tour programs. Fort Lauderdale CVB vice president...

By Bob Mowat

February 3, 2012

A Dragon of a deal

Chinapac International is celebrating the Year of the Dragon with new 2-for-1 China tours promotion. "In our 27 years of business, never before has such a super value tour been offered, " said Chinapac president Jenny Soares, "it is definitely something to take advantage of especially if you have long been wanting to visit China." The itineraries include must-visit cities Beijing, Xian and Shanghai; the Yangtze River and the towns of Suzhou and Hangzhou; and the full package with air, land, meals and accommodation is priced from $2,999 for two. The 12 Day Super China is a great introduction...

By Bob Mowat

February 3, 2012

3 Events, 1 Objective — MORE MONEY!

Kind of like a math problem, isn't it? So what's the answer, well it's pretty simple. Register for the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) conference, the Canadian Tourism Marketing Summit (CTMS) and Online Revealed Canada (ORC) event -- which take place March 5, 6 & 7 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto -- before Feb. 6, 2012 (that's Monday -- so be quick, quick, quick) and you can save some money. Choose your conference, choose your breakout sessions and you're good to go. Need more information? Well if you're into tourism marketing, check out the Canadian Tourism Marketing Summit which in one of...

By Bob Mowat

February 3, 2012

Your Time, Our Place

Northern Ireland is doing it all in 2012 with a cornucopia of special events, anniversaries, new visitor attractions, not to mention some compelling visitor experiences and its wrapping it up nicely under the banner -- "Your Time, Our Place." Jayne Shackleford, manager of Tourism Ireland in Canada, says of the coming year: "2012 is going to be an amazing year for Northern Ireland and should be a must-see destination for Canadian travel specialists' clients." Shackleford continues: "With a new iconic Titanic Belfast visitor attraction, unprecedented events and historic anniversaries, there...

By Bob Mowat

February 3, 2012

Goway has a plan for Asia in 2012

With the release of its brand new Asia 2012 Travel Planner, Goway definitely has a plan for Asia. The new planner features 12 adventure ideas, 14 boutique cruises, 10 rail ideas, 22 luxury ideas and 365 hotels covering 25 countries. Diane Molzan, general manager, Asia, said: "This year we're introducing Russia to our Asian line up, featuring a Moscow to St. Petersburg cruise, along with some new Korea World Expo tours, eco jungle lodges in Northern Thailand, three newly selected Stays of Distinction in Shanghai, Ubud and Taipei, and more group touring options than ever before." Also in 2012,...