Destinations
Intrepid Overwhelmed By Nepal Donations
Intrepid Travel has increased the target for its Nepal Appeal to more than AUD$200,000 after being overwhelmed by donations to its not-for-profit, The Intrepid Foundation The adventure travel company offered to match traveller donations dollar-for-dollar to assist with emergency relief in Nepal, and originally set a target of AUD$40,000 for the appeal, which launched on Sunday. The Intrepid Foundation has been overwhelmed by the response from travellers, with more than AUD$50,000 received within 24 hours of the launch, resulting in a combined total of AUD$70,000 raised for the...
Japan Flying High Out Of Canada
New flight services to Japan from Vancouver are helping to ensure that more Canadians visit, while a new bullet train service has opened up more tourism territory once they get there, reports western editor, Ted Davis in this week's digital edition of Travel Courier. A schedule of direct non-stop flights between Vancouver and Osaka will start on May 1, with operations by Air Canada rouge. This is the first trans-Pacific rouge flight, and the only direct flight between Canada and Osaka. Five flights per week will operate from YVR to Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Osaka, using...
G Adventures Launches Nepal Aid Initiative
G Adventures has launched a $75,000 aid appeal in response to the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that has devastated Kathmandu, Nepal and its surrounding areas. Funds raised will support the long-term recovery of the affected communities. Bruce Poon Tip, founder, G Adventures, said: “Nepal needs our help. Relief agencies are already mobilizing to provide food, shelter, and medicine to those affected by the earthquake, but it doesn't end there. It will take months, even years to rebuild the country.” G Adventures is covering all administration costs so 100% of all donations will...
Globus Expanding Latin America Offer
Although Peru and Costa Rica remain the most popular destinations in Latin America for the Globus family of brands, the company's Kim Vincent was in Toronto on April 24 to highlight new trips planned for other nearby countries. “We have a couple of new destinations on the horizon,” said Vincent, product and business development manager for South/Central America and Hawaii, at an industry briefing. “South and Central America is now the safe destination to go to and it's also very budget friendly.” New trips to Uruguay, featuring visits to colonial towns and Montevideo, will...
2015 Is The Year For Europe
The Travel Corporation wants to make European vacations a reality for those dreaming of a holiday on that continent. Jeff Element, who oversees The Travel Corporation's Canadian operation, told a Toronto audience this week that our dollar is doing well against the euro, even while faring poorly against its American counterpart. “There's still lots of offers...There's still lots of air capacity...,” he said. “This is the year to go.” Travel Corporation brands include Contiki, with Element saying Contiki can cater to “every budget, every travel style.” Contiki clients...
Air Canada Set To Take Off To Amsterdam
Air Canada and about 150 travel agents, tour operators and corporate customers were on hand at Toronto's Casa Loma to celebrate the carrier's June 4 launch of service to Amsterdam. But that wasn't all. Along with Amsterdam, Air Canada – as well as Air Canada rouge – will also bring close to a dozen more, new or expanded services online between now and the end of June. A sample of some of the destinations Air Canada is adding include Atlantic City and Austin, Texas from Toronto; a batch of domestic flights to Terrace and Nanaimo from Calgary and to Comox from Vancouver. Plus Air...
PATA Back In Canada
After a seven-year hiatus, PATA is back in Canada. The new Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Canada Chapter was launched last night (April 23) at a celebratory industry function in Markham, Ont., complete with the 27 Founding Members. The event was streamed live across Canada. Barbara Dirnberger, executive director of PATA Canada, kicked things off by thanking the Founding Members for believing in and supporting the initiative to bring PATA back to Canada. "Each of them is highly invested in promoting the Asia Pacific region, an area that is to many Canadians 'the other side...
San Antonio Set To Thrill Visitors Even More
This summer, Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio will be unveiling its latest and most thrilling ride to date – Batman, The Ride, a 4D free fly coaster ride that features the first magnetic technology of its kind in the world providing riders with the feeling of weightlessness. Magnetic fins on the ride allow riders to flip over the top of a 12-storey hill and two vertical drops. Lasting about two minutes, the ride takes flight over a steel track with six full inversions descending downwards to two 90-plus degree vertical drops. Coaster enthusiasts can look forward to a...