Destinations
Kevin Spacey Brings Star Power to Tianguis
The connection to Mexico was a bit tenuous, but there was no doubting the star power of special guest speaker Kevin Spacey at this year’s Tianguis Turistico trade fair and conference. Hollywood A-list actor Spacey had no problem drawing a capacity crowd to the main theatre at the Lakam Convention Center in the Riviera Maya region of the Yucatan Peninsula. Although it was billed as a press-only gathering, available seats were filled by buyers, suppliers and conference staff. They mostly heard Spacey recount various career highlights, but his principal mission was to promote his...
WestJet Encore Says Bienvenue to Quebec City
WestJet has announced the launch of new, non-stop twice-daily service between Toronto and Quebec City, Quebec, effective March 15, 2015. Using WestJet Encore’s fleet of Canadian-made Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft, the new service will replace WestJet’s current daily service on board its Boeing Next-Generations 737s. “One of WestJet Encore’s raison d’être is to allow us to make service improvements to the communities we serve by increasing frequencies, and this is a prime example of that strategy,” said Chris Avery, WestJet vice-president, Network Planning, Alliances...
New Look Tianguis Topples Records
Likely the largest Tianguis Turistico Mexico in recent history is now underway, with buyer numbers being tabulated that topple the count from 2013. Tianguis Turisticio 2014 has attracted about 1,500 buyers from 60 countries, smashing the count of some 700 set last year, when Tianguis was held in Puebla. This 39th edition of the annual trade fair and conference is taking place in the Mayan Riviera, at the Lakam Convention Centre, where exhibitors from all across Mexico are stationed. The day before they started doing business, Mexico’s president Enrique Pena Nieto welcomed...
Sunquest Introduces Packages to London and Paris
Sunquest continues to expand its product offering and featuring packages to London and Paris. Available to book now, the product line offers departures out of either Toronto, with service to London and Paris, or out of Montreal, with service to Paris. Packages include roundtrip airfare aboard Air Canada, Air Transat, Air France or British Airways, and a range of hotel options (11 in London and nine in Paris). Transfers, tours and theatre tickets are available at an additional charge. Package prices start from $560 p.p. plus airline taxes and fees. The following are a few...
Incredible India Welcomes New Director
Anil Oraw, the new director for India Tourism, Toronto was introduced to about 50 members of the Canadian travel trade on Monday (May 5). Oraw was quick to thank the group for their patience as the office has not had a director for some time. In fact, he told his audience that he appreciated their efforts in supporting and promoting India during that time. “India is a beautiful land with no end of opportunities,” Oraw said, before adding that India is a strong supporter of the travel trade and will be planning educational trips to help promote its wonders. He also invite...
Transat Launches Toronto-Marseille Service
Air Transat celebrated the first departure of its new Toronto-Marseille flight at Toronto-Pearson Airport Monday night (May 5) with a festive nautical theme. The new service to Marseille is scheduled to Oct. 20 with departures from Toronto every Monday. This new destination is the 20th to be offered in Europe by Air Transat via direct service from Toronto. Transat Holidays, meanwhile, offers travellers who wish to visit Marseille and Provence several new vacation options, including the nine-day Marseille, Nice & Aix-en-Provence package, which explores the historical port of...
Germany In The Spotlight
In this week's edition of Travel Courier, Ian Stalker reports that the German National Tourist Office has chosen a Canadian director who was well familiar with this country even before her current posting. And Antje Splettstoesser notes her taking on the job comes on the eve of Lufthansa preparing yet another Canadian route, making her homeland even more accessible for many Canadians. Splettstoesser's been in this country for five years, first working for the Toronto-based German Canadian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, after which she worked for a company involved in inbound travel,...
Ride The Waves in Oahu
Oahu’s Fabled North Shore is the original home of big wave riding, serving each year as the host to the most prestigious events in professional surfing. Travellers are invited to join the world’s top professional surfers as they take on the legendary waves of the Banzai Pipeline, Waimea Bay, Sunset Beach and Haleiwa this winter, and making Turtle Bay Resort their home away from home. As the last stop on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Championship Tour, everything is riding on the North Shore waves, including $1 million in prize money, and prestigious Vans...