Destinations
Spotlight on Austin
Celebrating Air Canada's upcoming daily direct route to Austin on May 18, representatives from the self-proclaimed “live music capital of the world” were in Toronto this week for an industry soiree on all things Austin. Set to the live musical offerings of Austin's own Gina Chavez and paired with drinks from Austin-made Tito's Handmade Vodka, the event was hosted by Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau and featured partners from Fairmont Austin, Four Seasons Hotel Austin, Hyatt Regency Austin, JW Marriott Austin. “The way that Austin has been packaged is with another city....
On Location With Intrepid, Travel Alberta
Intrepid Travel has partnered with Travel Alberta to launch two new tours in Canada’s adventure capital, marking the first time the tour operator has run tours exclusively in Alberta. It is also the first time that Intrepid Travel, one of the largest adventure travel companies in the world, has partnered with a Canadian tourism board. The two new itineraries cover both the highlights of Alberta (Jasper National Park, Banff National Park, Calgary and Edmonton) along with some of the province's hidden gems. The 13-day Amazing Alberta itinerary makes additional stops to Elk Island...
Tappin Launches Cruise Consulting Service
Ming Tappin has launched a new cruise consulting service based in Vancouver. Your Cruise Coach Consulting will provide services to help travel agencies grow their cruise business by designing and implementing a customized plan, which also includes staff training, mentoring and coaching. Tappin is a veteran in the cruise industry with over 20 years' experience working with full service and cruise-only agencies large and small. Tappin can be reached at [email protected] or (604) 763-4159. Visit http://www.yourcruisecoach.com for...
Sending Out An SOS
Transat has donated close to $33,000 raised during its most recent twitter auction to SOS Children's Villages in order to help victims of the Nepal earthquake. With latest reports indicating that more than 5,000 are dead (a figure that is still rising), thousands are homeless and hundreds of children are orphaned, Transat and SOS Children's Villages agreed to donate the entire auction proceeds to the SOS Children's Villages emergency relief effort in Nepal. The money will be used to provide immediate relief to local communities, with SOS Children's Villages representatives acting on...
Argentina: A Country Of Contrasts
Argentina tour guide Helena Salico says Mother Nature has clearly been kind to her homeland. Salico noted, during a presentation in Toronto this week, that Argentina's varied landscapes includes jungle, glaciers, desert and towering Andean peaks, including Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere. “Argentina is a country of contrasts,” she said. “You can go from the white of the glaciers...to the mountains or the jungle. There's a variety of landscapes.” Patagonia, which reaches the southernmost end of South America, is home to the likes of penguins, sea...
Bordeaux Uncorks Some Surprises
Oenophiles will be in their element in Bordeaux. Sophie Gaillard-Mairal of the Bordeaux Tourist Office told a Toronto audience this week that the southwestern France region is “the capital of wine. Wine is everywhere in Bordeaux.” Those exploring the city of Bordeaux can find wine shops and the city is also a departure point for those visiting surrounding vineyards, she said. Gaillard-Mairal also praised the city of Bordeaux for its “extraordinary 18th-century architecture” and said visitors will find outdoor cafes and trendy bars. Celine Boute of the Regional...
WestJet Adding Vegas-Abbotsford Flights
WestJet will be adding new, non-stop, twice-weekly service between Abbotsford, BC and Las Vegas, beginning Oct. 29, 2015. The Abbotsford International Airport recently eliminated several fees, including the airport improvement fee, creating a cost-friendly environment for WestJbbet to grow service from the Fraser Valley. Gregg Saretsky, WestJet president and CEO, said: “Abbotsford and WestJet have been partners since 1997, and we see the recently announced fee drops at the airport as an opportunity to further build service in the area.” And Saretsky noted that: “We need more...
Hilton Bringing Garden Inn Brand to Hawaii
Hilton Worldwide has announced the signing of a franchise license agreement to operate the first Hilton Garden Inn hotel in Hawaii, bringing the brand to all 50 US states. Once opened, the Hilton Garden Inn Kauai/Wailua Bay will be the only Hilton branded hotel on the island of Kauai. Owned by a partnership led by DiNapoli Capital Partners and managed by Aston Hotels & Resorts, the 216-room beachfront hotel is expected to be renovated and open early in 2016. Next to the Wailua River on the scenic east coast of Kauai, Hilton Garden Inn Kauai/Wailua Bay will be located on one of...