Destinations
Agents Are Special For New Zealand
Travel agents selling New Zealand can now vie for status tiers and new incentives with the recent launch of an updated 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist Program. Online and free, the program offers agents the chance to build in-depth destination knowledge and in turn, grow New Zealand sales. Through online training modules, webinars and informative videos, agents can learn about New Zealand’s diverse regions and the variety of experiences available to visitors. The newly tiered program rewards long-term and continually engaged specialists with incentives such as familiarization...
On The Road in Thailand
Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2017 opened in Chiang Mai Wednesday with Thai tourism officials citing the host city as a major selling point for Thailaind's tourism industry. PressToday's Ian Stalker was on hand as Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul told a gathering at a museum dedicated to contemporary art that, “Thailand is beautiful, but Chiang Mai is a very special place... This is a living, creative town.” Thailand traditionally hosts huge numbers of visitors each year, but those visitors sometimes largely bypass some parts of the country, with northeastern Thailand often...
Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
This holiday season, Universal Studios Hollywood will introduce “Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” transforming Hogwarts castle into a unique light projection show that captures the spirit of the yuletide season. Hogsmeade village will also shine brightly as the quaint town celebrates with festive décor uniquely themed to each of the individual storefronts, along with holiday-themed food and beverages, including hot Butterbeer. A special time in the Harry Potter series, the all-new “Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” tradition invites guests...
California: Absolutely Golden For Canadian Agents
California has a simple message for the Canadian market these days – Canadians are welcome and travel agents and tour operators are an integral part of bringing more of them to the Golden State, reports executive editor, Bob Mowat in a special 16-page supplement on California in this week's digital edition of Travel Courier. And, as Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California, observed during a recent visit to Toronto, Canadian travel agents and tour operators continue to be “a very, very important part of the sales and transaction process because they actually connect...
Starwood Celebrates ‘Sixty Days of Summer’ in Hawaii
In celebration of summer, Hawaii resorts in the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) portfolio will kick off “Sixty Days of Summer” from June 16 to Aug. 14, offering “dozens of can’t-miss activities, events and experiences that will leave indelible memories to last throughout the year.” SPG is one of Marriott International’s award-winning loyalty programs. In Hawaii there are 12 SPG resorts on four islands representing the Sheraton, Westin, St. Regis and Luxury Collection brands, with something new to offer visitors every day this summer. “A stay at one of our SPG resorts in...
TAP Celebrates New Lisbon, Toronto Service
Along with celebrating Portugal Day (June 10), commemorating the death of the national literary icon Luis do Camoes in 1580, TAP Portugal celebrated new non-stop service between Toronto and Lisbon. The new flight runs five days per week. It departs Toronto Pearson at 11:55 p.m., arriving in Lisbon at 12:15 p.m. the following day. The return flight departs Lisbon at 6:45 p.m. and arrives in Toronto at 10 p.m. Toronto is the latest route addition to a year of incredible growth for TAP. The airline has added new aircraft and, last year, two new routes from the US. TAP currently flies...
Dallas-Fort Worth Take On Canada
It was a Lone Star State of mind last night (June 12) at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto as tourism officials from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Visit Dallas and the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau hosted an industry event to promote Texas' DFW region. In terms of air arrivals, Canada is the DFW's top international market, with with nearly 264,000 Canadians heading to the Dallas-Fort Worth area last year alone. Access is easy with DFW having 14 direct daily flights from Canada (seven from Toronto) aboard Air Canada, American and WestJet. Both Dallas and Fort...
Beaches Debuts New Live Shows in Turks & Caicos
Beaches Resorts has partnered with Canadian-based production company Creativiva Caribbean Inc. to introduce “Voilà,” a series of live cinematic entertainment shows, at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages and Spa. Launching this month, Creativiva Caribbean Inc. will perform four weekly live productions on the resort’s main stage – Alice in Wonderland, Treasure Island, Jungle Book Live and Dolce Vita. “We are so excited to share this brand new experience with our guests,” said Adam Stewart, deputy chairman and CEO of Sandals Resorts International. “Partnering...