Tour Operators
Lion World Donates $10,000 to Rhino Conservation
To celebrate the conclusion of Lion World Travel’s #ShareIfYouCare social media campaign, the company will donate $10,000 to the Endangered Wildlife Trust's rhino conservation efforts. The donation is being made through the TreadRight Foundation, a non-profit organization operated by The Travel Corporation and its family of travel brands, of which Lion World Travel is a member. The year-long #ShareIfYouCare campaign was designed to raise awareness about the drastic increase in rhino poaching in South Africa over the past decade. “We received an overwhelming response from our...
WestJet Vacations Says No to Added Surcharges
WestJet Vacations is reminding agents that they will not find any surcharges and fees in the base price for a WestJet vacation, resulting in a better commission from a higher base price. The Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA) is lobbying for fair and equitable regulatory requirements designed to protect and educate consumers. A recent statement issued by ACTA in support of WestJet Vacation's commitment to fair and honest pricing is encouraging, and speaks to the importance of addressing the issue on a regulatory level. “WestJet Vacations is ready to take a leadership...
Out In The Field
Globus hosted a small group of travel industry personnel on an impromptu Toronto “field trip” last week to help dispel some of the myths surrounding coach tours. Led by Stéphanie Bishop, managing director of the Globus family of brands, and longtime tour director James Sauders, the group was taken to a chocolate-making outlet in the city's Distillery District – the kind of “Local Favourites” activity a client might do while on a Globus or Cosmos tour. Some of the myths revealed about coach tours today are that they are not just for seniors, are not only for people who...
Trafalgar Launches New ‘At Leisure’ Program
Trafalgar has released its new 2015 “At Leisure” brochure, featuring later starts, longer stays of two nights or more and more free time. Whether it’s learning how to tango in Buenos Aires or experience true Italian hospitality at a converted convent in a beautiful Tuscan vineyard, the At Leisure collection lets travellers delve deeper into the essence of a destination. The hand picked program offers 27 in-depth itineraries with two new trips to Europe, the Mediterranean, South America, Australia & New Zealand and the USA. “At Leisure is part of our Europe and Britain...
It’s The Rail Thing
A group of about 30 travel agents and tour operators were briefed on the latest developments for Rail Europe during a presentation in Toronto this week. Rail Europe's president and CEO, Frederic Langlois provided the Toronto area travel trade types with an inside look at the latest joint venture of the French and Spanish railroads, as well as offering insights on how working with Rail Europe can help agents better serve their customers. Launched a year ago, the new Renfe/SNCF high-speed rail service links Paris with Barcelona – plus a host of other cities on the line –...
Sunquest Introduces goGuide
Sunquest is reinventing the travel brochure with the release of its new goGuide: The Caribbean & Mexico Collection, Vol. 1. Adorned with a bright and very noticeable red cover, available in both official languages, and filled with photography and useful destination information, officials say the new goGuide kicks off what will be a very exciting time for the brand. Built around the new tagline “go your own way,” the Sunquest goGuide is “intended to be an inspirational piece for consumers; a resource they can use in creating the vacation of their dreams, travelling when...
Signature Reintroduces Popular Hot Spot, Los Cabos
Signature Vacations has reintroduced its all-inclusive packages to Los Cabos, Mexico, from nine Canadian gateways. Operated by Sunwing Airlines, travellers will be able to take advantage of twice weekly non-stop flights from Toronto together with weekly non-stop services from Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Later this month, a weekly schedule of direct, non-stop flights will also be added from Regina, Saskatoon and Victoria; weekly services from Montreal and Winnipeg resume from mid-December onwards. Andrew Dawson, chief operating officer for the Sunwing Travel Group, commented,...
Transat Expands Cuba Program
Transat has announced the addition of a new direct Hamilton, Ont.-Cayo Coco flight to its Cuban program. Transat Holidays and Nolitours offer nine hotels in Cayo Coco, designed to meet all preferences and budgets. Meliá Hotels features four properties at the destination, including the Meliá Cayo Guillermo Elegance Club, with its exclusive Distinction Collection services. Also available are the Iberostar Daiquiri, Allegro Club Cayo Guillermo, Hotel Playa Coco, TRYP Cayo Coco and Pestana Cayo Coco. Air Transat’s service to the Jardines del Rey airport will run every...