Industry urged to
tout NEXUS
The Binational Tourism Alliance
has introduced a NEXUS Incentive Pro-gram aimed at providing travellers with a secure, cost-effective and convenient
means of cross-border travel that utilizes the NEXUS card – an “existing and underutilized
form of travel identification.”
Tourism industry partners in the Golden Horse-shoe region (
“Very few people are aware of the NEXUS Trusted Traveler
program that has been in existence since 1999. By involving the tourism
industry in the promotion and distribution of NEXUS materials, we provide a
valuable service to our customers, reducing their fears of crossing the border
and rewarding them for participating in the program,” says Arlene White,
executive director of the Binational Tourism
Alliance. “With the Feb. 4 announcement by Congresswoman Slaughter of the PACT
Act and the Feb. 12 AIR NEXUS announcement by Minister Day, we believe the
perfect opportunity exists to focus on increased NEXUS usage as a key solution
to WHTI legislation for those who live and travel in cross-border regions.”
Because of the importance of the
Of the current 113,000 NEXUS cardholders along the entire
northern border, approximately 25,000 are in the
“The cost of a NEXUS card is US$50 or $80 Canadian for
adults for a five-year term, and there is no charge for children under 18 –
that represents huge savings for most families and is more practical than
requiring a passport for those who travel mainly by land,” notes White. “The
NEXUS card has already been approved as an alternative document for air travel,
and we expect it to be approved for land and marine passage when the WHTI
land/marine rule is released later this year.”
She adds, “Since April 2005, we have made it clear that the
tourism industry wants to be involved in the implementation of WHTI to ensure
it does not destroy trade and travel between
This NEXUS Incentive promotion is one way that the tourism
industry can support the efforts of Congresswoman Slaughter and others in
Washington and
Sailing
Continued from page 1
Radisson Hotels, Regent Seven Seas
Cruises, Country Inn and Suites, and Carlson Wagonlit
Travel Associates, among others.
With its storefront franchise network, Cruise Holidays has
been taking advantage of the cruise industry boom and has experienced significant
growth in the last year. Booked revenue for December was up 22 per cent from
the previous year, and overall the company posted a 13 per cent increase in
business in 2006 over 2005.
Peter Thom-son, vice-president and chief operating officer
at Cruise Holidays, says the cruise industry has really taken off in the past
few years and is still a market with much potential.
“The industry has exploded which has the public excited, but
also confused. There are so many choices out there,” Thomson told Canadian
Travel Press. “Our franchisees have really embraced the opportunity, the need
for expertise when it comes to selling cruises.”
Thomson noted that while today’s travellers
are much more educated, thanks in part to the Internet, they still need help when
it comes to picking the perfect cruise holiday.
“That’s where agent expertise comes into play. You can come
sit down with us and get the information needed,” says Thomson, adding that
there is so much product out there – from
around-the-world sailings to river cruising in
Adding to the con-fusion is the variety of ships available,
which Thomson describes as destinations upon themselves.
“You’ve got rock climbing walls, bowling alleys, ice-skating
rinks, Vegas-style entertainment and shopping as good as at any mall, not to
mention world-class dining experiences,” says Thomson. “Travellers
are looking for an experience that exceeds their current lifestyle. They want
that ‘wow’ factor, and the cruise industry is delivering.”
A recent Cruise Holidays’ travel trends survey shows that travellers are choosing their cruises by itinerary, cruise
line and price, in that order.
Also helping set Cruise Holidays apart is its newly launched
Excursion Society program, a value-added shore excursion program for premium
cruisers.
At no added fee, Excursion Society offers unique shore
excursions exclusively for select Cruise Holidays and Carlson Wagonlit Travel customers, who prefer for their own
distinctive experience, rather than choosing from selections offered every
other passenger.
“While it’s one thing to listen to the braggadocio of
someone who merely enjoyed a regular shore excursion available to the masses,
it’s quite another to actually revel in an exclusive, exceptional experience,”
says Dan Chappelle, director of Excursion Society.
“We’re placing bragging rights within reach on many of the top premium sailings
for 2007, all without paying anything extra.”
Beginning May 19, Excursion Society will initially offer
select cruise guests with “a one-of-a-kind epicurean shore excursion” on each
of the 10 most popular sailings booked. Added to that will be specialized
onboard care from a dedicated host, as well as opportunities like private
receptions to get to know other society members.
Among the offerings avail-able are a “Tuscany Wine Tasting,
Pasta with Our Italian Grand-ma and a Stop in Lucca,”
available exclusively on a May 19 sailing during a port call in Livorno, Italy, and “Mendenhall Glacier Rafting & Gold
Creek Salmon Bake,” available on May 25, June 17, July 20 and Aug. 19 sailings
during calls in Juneau, Alaska.
Cruise Holidays currently has 30 members (mostly in the
“We’re always looking for potential franchisees,” he says.
“We would welcome representation throughout the rest of the country.”
For more on Cruise Holidays, visit www.cruiseholidays.com.
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