Destinations
Hampton Expanding to Hawaii
Hampton Hotels says the first Hampton Inn & Suites in Hawaii will be located at Ka Makana Alii, the 1.4 million-square-foot regional mall being built in West Oahu. Construction on the 175-room hotel is slated to begin summer 2015. Featuring more than 150 shops and restaurants, a movie theatre, and LEED-certified office space, Ka Makana Alii will be Hawaii’s newest mall and the first regional shopping centre to be built in more than 30 years. Its expanding roster of signed tenants includes anchor department store Macy’s, as well as Forever 21, H&M, and three GAP, Inc....
YVE Hotel Opens in Miami
Host Hotels & Resorts has teamed up with Destination Hotels, the largest operator of independent hotels and resorts in North America, to open YVE Hotel Miami. The hotel is in downtown Miami's business and financial district. The 243-room YVE Hotel Miami offers views of Biscayne Bay and the Port of Miami and guests can absorb themselves in interactive art experiences in the lobby and take advantage of YVE Hotel Miami’s partnership with local gallery Art Bastion, which will curate hotel installations with artists from across the globe while also offering guests art tours throughout...
Sunwing Adds Second Flight From Hamilton
Sunwing Vacations is making it easier for residents of Hamilton, Ont. to reach the Dominican Republic with the introduction of a new direct flight from Hamilton to Punta Cana. The new route, which began Dec. 19, is the second one to be offered by the tour operator, who commenced operations from the airport last year with a direct service to Varadero, Cuba. Customers on the new service can also be amongst the first to experience Sunwing's new and exclusive, adults-only resort, CHIC Punta Cana. Opened just last week, this beachfront property promises first rate amenities and a...
Jamaican ‘All White Affair’ Honours Top-Selling Agents
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) recently rewarded its top selling Jamaica vacation travel agents with a three-night getaway that included tours, world-class dining, golfing, shopping and more. As part of the JTB’s “A One Love Rewards” travel agent specialist program, the top 50 agents from North America were flown to Jamaica and given the royal treatment at Secrets Resorts in Montego Bay. The vacation concluded with a special “All White Affair” gala where the top selling agents were presented with specially designed artwork by noted Jamaican artist Everald...
AC rouge Debuts Vancouver-Palm Springs Service
Air Canada rouge launched new non-stop service between Vancouver and Palm Springs last week. This seasonal service operates up to six times weekly on an Airbus A319 aircraft with 136 seats offering three choices of seating comfort. Service is timed to connect conveniently across Air Canada's domestic network within BC and Alberta and across Canada. Customers on the inaugural Dec. 18 flight from Vancouver enjoyed a celebration including music, golf-themed treats and a golf simulation in the boarding...
Jamaica Installs New Airport Kiosks
Ten new automated kiosks were commissioned into service at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay Jamaica, to expedite the immigration process for passengers arriving to the island’s most popular tourism hub. The kiosks, which arrived in time for the Dec. 15 official start of the winter tourist season, are a welcome addition to the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency and its drive towards faster clearance for passengers. This news arrives on the heels of the commissioning of five kiosks at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston in late November....
India In The Spotlight
Travel agents can look forward to a higher profile for India in this country now that India Tourism again has a full-time director here, says the man who assumed the post this spring, reports Ian Stalker in a special India supplement in this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press. Anil Oraw, who arrived in the Toronto office in April and has held previous India Tourism postings in the head office in Delhi and abroad, notes that the office hadn't had a director since June 2011 until his arrival. “There's no question it makes a lot of difference,” Oraw says of having a...
Transat Adds Halifax-Punta Cana to Summer Lineup
Air Transat has extended its direct flight program from Halifax to Punta Cana during the summer season. Transat offers direct flights from Halifax to Punta Cana from February to May, with departures on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. From June 24 to Aug. 19, flights to Punta Cana will be operated on...