Destinations
BC Travel Fund Compensates Travellers
Passengers impacted by travel agency failures in BC have been refunded a total of $36,000 as of the end of April 2015, says Consumer Protection BC. From Jan. 1 to April 30, 24 consumers received compensation through BC’s Travel Assurance Fund, due to the closures of BC travel agencies Air-World Tour & Travel Ltd. (based in Surrey), Safari Studio Ltd. (New Westminster) and Global Pacific Travel Ltd. (Surrey). Last year, the fund paid out $121,000 to 96 impacted travellers. “If we could give travellers just one piece of advice, it would be to ask for – and keep – copies...
‘Meet’ Channing Tatum in Las Vegas
On June 30, moviegoers will have a chance to meet “Channing Tatum,” the star of “Magic Mike XXL,” at Town Square’s AMC Theater in Las Vegas, courtesy of Madame Tussauds Las Vegas. Fans are encouraged to get up close and personal with a dashingly attired – but still super-hot – wax figure of Tatum. Whether they opt to canoodle with the sexy star, give him a smooch, slip a hand inside his jacket or, of course, snap a selfie with him – all is fair game and completely encouraged. His figure will be front and centre on the red carpet at the theatre beginning at 6 p.m. on...
Warwick Set to Open on Cayo Santo Maria
Warwick Hotels will open the Warwick Cayo Santa Maria Resort on Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba, on Aug. 15 – an all-inclusive property spread over 26 hectares of gardens with views of the Caribbean Sea. Located 45 minutes from Santa Clara International Airport, Warwick says the Warwick Cayo Santa Maria “represents the ultimate luxury experience in Cuba” and has 800 rooms, including 16 suites, and eight restaurants, including international buffet, Caribbean, a steakhouse, trattoria and a snack bar. There are six bars. Also found are a kids club, a 2,300-square-metre swimming-pool, two...
Beluga Calf Born at SeaWorld San Antonio
Earlier this week, SeaWorld welcomed the newest addition to its beluga whale family. The female calf was born at the San Antonio park after five hours of labor. Park veterinarians, animal care staff and trainers watched and waited, then shortly before 1 a.m. on June 20 the experienced mother, “Martha,” delivered a calf weighing approximately 120 pounds and measuring four feet in length. The calf’s sire, “Imaq,” resides at SeaWorld San Antonio on a breeding loan from the Vancouver Aquarium. The birth is seen as a big success for not just SeaWorld, but also for all...
‘Time Out in T.O.’
The InterContinental Toronto Centre presents “Time Out in T.O.,” a summer family package full of fun and complimentary goodies, including a take-home Selfie Stick, buffet breakfast, movie night, access to the Kids Zone and a bottle of sunscreen for hitting the streets and shores of Toronto. In the centre of it all, the InterContinental Toronto Centre is just steps to the city’s main attractions – Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, CN Tower, Rogers Centre, Air Canada Centre and Toronto’s bustling waterfront, the Harbourfront Centre. The InterContinental Toronto Centre “Time...
Quantum Sets Sail From Shanghai
Royal Caribbean International celebrated the arrival of Quantum of the Seas in Shanghai (Baoshan), China, this week, set to sail on three- to eight-night, roundtrip itineraries, year-round from Shanghai to North Asia destinations. The ship sailed a 53-night epic journey across the world from New York to Shanghai via the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean, following its inaugural season at Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, N.J. and bringing the largest group of international cruise vacationers ever – up to 4,000 guests – to Shanghai. Government officials, port...
China Eastern Opens Up China to Canadians
A new program of flights that will link Vancouver with the balmy city of Kunming in southwest China is set to start this week. On June 26, China Eastern Airlines will launch a schedule of three flights per week between Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG) and YVR. The service will connect via Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport and will establish Vancouver as the first North American destination with flights from Kunming – a top tourism region in China. The route will operate with an Airbus A330-200, with two cabins – business and economy. The economy class cabin...
Ovation of the Seas Heading Down Under
Royal Caribbean International is heading “Down Under” in 2016-17 when its new Ovation of the Seas home ports in Sydney, Australia for the winter season. Currently under construction in Germany, Ovation of the Seas will not only claim the title of the largest cruise ship to ever call Australia home, but also the most technologically advanced in the region. “Royal Caribbean has been breaking the boundaries in Australian cruising since we arrived in 2007 but today, we have completely changed the face of the cruise industry, making the single largest investment in Australia by any...