Destinations
It’s The Last Day To Vote
Voting for the Product of the Year Award for Destination France 2014 will close at 6 pm on Feb. 12, 2014. The award will honour a tour operator programming innovative tours in France and featuring creative product. Travel agents are invited to vote for the Product of the Year Award and enter for the chance to win a bag from Le Tanneur Air France by visiting Destination France's website at http://www.destinationfrance.ca . The winner of Product of the Year Award (Canada) will be announced at an Awards Ceremony during the Destination France evening event in Toronto, Wed., Feb. 26,...
Back Where It Belongs
According to the latest US Department of Labour figures, the US travel industry has returned to its pre-Great Recession employment level, while most of the US economy continues to struggle to reach that mark. With an addition of 7,000 travel jobs in January, plus a substantial upward revision of previous data, the new labour report reveals that the travel industry actually reached the milestone in October, and now stands 11% above the pre-recession employment peak of February 2008. Since the recovery began, the travel industry has added jobs at a rate 19% faster than the rest of the...
Pye Gets The Nod
Michael J. Pye has been appointed general manager at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. As general manager of the 556-room hotel, Pye will oversee the $12 million lobby renovation that will be completed for the hotel's 75th anniversary in the fall of 2014. Most recently, Pye was the general manager of the Fairmont Winnipeg and he brings 17 years of hotel experience and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary with majors in marketing and tourism hospitality...
Rainbow of savings in Hawaii
The Hanalei Colony Resort, located on Kauai’s north shore, is offering a “Rainbow of Savings” for winter travel dates through March 31. The special program includes the following values, with a two-night minimum stay required: 20% off room rates; 10% off spa products at Hanalei Day Spa; 10% off food and beverages at Napali Coffee House & Art Gallery; and 15% off food at the Mediterranean Gourmet Restaurant. In addition, a seventh night is offered free after six consecutive paid nights. Rates (undiscounted) for February through March in Hanalei Colony’s two-bedroom suites...
Westin Bayshore has new director of sales
Ryan Matheson has been appointed director of sales and marketing at The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver. He brings more than 20 years of hospitality and sales experience to the position at the hotel. In his new role, Matheson will be responsible for leading the sales and marketing efforts for the hotel while driving revenue for the hotel located on picturesque Coal Harbour. Most recently he held the position of director of sales and marketing at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel. Previously he held the role of senior regional sales manager with Metropolitan Hotels leading the...
Waikiki Beach Walk marks return of Na Mele No Na Pua
Hawaii’s Waikiki Beach Walk is set to bring back its popular monthly Na Mele No Na Pua Sunday Showcase concert series. Kicking off on Feb. 16, the concert will feature renowned entertainer Ku‘uipo Kumukahi and Na Lani ‘Eha Band. The free concert series will treat music lovers to live music performances every third Sunday of the month from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Waikiki Beach Walk Plaza Stage. Na Mele No Na Pua, or “Music for the Generations,” is sponsored in part by Outrigger Enterprises Group and underscores the company’s long-standing commitment to preserving and...
Morocco aims to increase tourism from Canada
“If there’s a place to go in the world today, it’s Morocco.” That was the message that Morocco’s minister of tourism, Wissal El Gharbaoui had for a select group of travel trade and business types during a meeting in Toronto yesterday (Feb. 4). El Gharbaoui made it clear that Morocco was a good place to do business and that the climate for investing -- particularly in tourism -- in the country was right. The minister told the Toronto meeting that Morocco was a “stable, open, democratic” country offering a healthy business environment, improved competitiveness in...
WestJet Hits The Jackpot in Vegas
If you listen closely, you can hear the champagne corks popping as Las Vegas and WestJet celebrate the fact that the Canadian carrier deliver 1 million passengers to McCarran International Airport in 2013 and will also be increasing its nonstop service into Las Vegas with 18 additional weekly flights starting this summer. Beginning in June, WestJet will boost its Vegas offerings in multiple cities to a total of 76 weekly, non-stop flights. John Weatherill, WestJet's director, network and schedule planning, observed: "In 2013, WestJet became the first foreign airline to carry over 1...