Destinations
Goway Celebrates ‘Down Under Months’
It's that time of the year again as Goway staffers don kangaroo suits, etc., to promote Down Under Months (October and November). This year, Asia has been added to the list with promotional deals in effect for the likes of Tahiti, Fiji, the Cook Islands, Malaysia, Bali and Thailand, as well as Australia and New Zealand. Goway BDMs are calling in travel agencies across the country promoting the destinations and Goway's deals there, as well as issuing rewards to agents. For example, if the tour operator rep finds Goway's three brochures – Downunder, Asia and Idyllic Islands –...
Contiki Puts The Spotlight on Europe, Germany
It was a social media night – #ContikiGermany – as travel media and bloggers got together with Contiki and the German National Tourist Office during a trade event at Otto's Berlin Doner in Toronto, highlighted by German cuisine and beer and the scoop on Contiki's 2016 European program. The program, designed for travellers 18-35, is now available for booking and features 102 unique itineraries in 105 cities. Eight new tours were introduced, including journeys in Iceland and the Balkans. In keeping with the theme of the night, Germany is a featured destination in 63 of Contiki's...
Nexus Holidays Hosts China Fam
Nexus Holidays Canada is hosting a 12-day fam to China for Canadian travel agents Nov. 7-18. The tour will cover Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou and Chongqing, and for the first time, participating agents will get to experience a Yangtze River cruise aboard the President 7, one of the largest and newest cruise ships on the market. The cost of the fam is $1,399 (plus $500 air tax) per person. This includes round-trip airfare from Toronto/Vancouver via Hainan Airlines, five-star accommodations, Yangtze River cruise, professional English-speaking tour guides, meals and all compulsory...
The Bahamas Open For Business
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism (BMOT) is sending out the message that the destination is open for business, receiving an “all-clear” after Hurricane Joaquin touched down in the Central and Southern Bahamas on Oct. 1. “We know that this has been devastating for several islands in the Southern Bahamas and our thoughts, prayers and good wishes and everything with that goes out to the people of those affected islands,” said Joy Jibrilu, director general of the BMOT. “Although you can see the sun and people are on the beach in Nassau, for us the work continues.” The Family...
Working For A Better Planet
As Brett Tollman sees it, we all have a role to play in preserving the environment for our children. The CEO of The Travel Corporation was in Toronto last week to talk about the TreadRight Foundation and some of the things that it has been doing since it was launched in 2008. All of the company's brands are involved in its efforts in some shape or form – here in Canada that involves the likes of Trafalgar, Insight, Contiki, Uniworld, Lion World Travel, etc. – both taking a role in the TreadRight Foundation's key initiatives in the areas of heritage and wildlife programs or getting...
Switzerland Loves Canada
Despite a swooning loonie, Canadians are still visiting Switzerland in increasing numbers. The first half of 2015 saw hotel overnights grow two per cent, setting an all-time record, reports managing editor, Michael Baginski in this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press. “Canada's a fairly stable market for us,” says Evelyn Lafone, Switzerland Tourism's Canadian director. “We predict Canada won't grow as much as the US, but it's still steady.” Swiss tourism officials revealed the positive news at the recent Swiss Travel Mart (STM) in Zermatt, which included a half...
A Colonial Beauty
The interior Mexican city of Morelia clearly demonstrates the long-lasting influences the Spanish had on Mexico, says a tour guide based in that city. Deborah Lopez Garcia told a Toronto gathering Friday that Morelia is “one of the most beautiful colonial cities in Mexico, designed like a very Spanish city.” Chilean poet laureate Pablo Neruda called Morelia the “Pink Stone City” because stone used in many of its centuries-old structures has a pinkish hue, she continued. The city is home to what Lopez Garcia labelled “beautiful religious buildings” and has a “very...
Amelia Island Shines
From pirate and shrimp festivals to 13 miles of beachfront, Amelia Island, located on Florida’s Atlantic coast, was the focus of an industry event yesterday (Sept. 30) at Toca restaurant in the Ritz-Carlton Toronto. “The downtown area, Fernandina Beach, it's a very charming old Florida feel,” said Amy Lacroix, director of marketing at the Amelia Island CVB, (pictured above at the event). “People come for the beach, but stay for the marsh.” While spring break and summer vacation is considered the high season, she says the current shoulder season offers the most value for...