Tour Operators
Sell Big, Win Big with Transat
Transat is launching Confetti, a unique and engaging sales program that aims to reward top travel agents, as well as their agencies. A different sales challenge will be issued each month, with extravagant prizes to be won. “The program is both fun and innovative,” commented Denise Heffron, vice-president, National Sales & Commercial, Transat Tours Canada. “A unique twist is that we are acknowledging and rewarding both agents and their agencies. We understand that support for Transat comes from both and we want to celebrate their mutual achievements. The program is designed to...
Encore, Royal Caribbean Special
For a limited time, Encore Cruises, together with Royal Caribbean International, is featuring a “buy one, get one half off” promotion, along with double Loyalty Points. Running through Oct. 31, the promotion applies to all cruise plus air bookings on all January, February and March 2015 departures aboard Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas. The offer is valid out of all Canadian gateways and prices include roundtrip flights to Fort Lauderdale, Miami or Orlando, a seven-night Eastern or Western Caribbean cruise, roundtrip transfers...
Leading By Example
Africa specialist Big Five Tours & Expeditions insists brushing up on geography could help allay growing international alarm over Ebola and the company's president is citing his own ongoing travels in Africa to demonstrate that most of the continent isn't now at risk for the deadly disease, reports Travel Courier's Ian Stalker. The number of fatalities linked to Ebola is now hovering around 5,000 and a handful of cases that have surfaced outside of western Africa have raised fears among some that Ebola may work its way into other regions, with Africa – where medical care often...
Experience Michelin Star Dining at the Iberostar Grand
Sunquest is offering travellers a unique culinary event that will be available at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Bavaro in Punta Cana. Kicking off on Oct. 31 and running for a full year, the Iberostar Grand Hotel Bavaro is launching a special “Chef Tour,” inviting 16 prestigious Michelin star chefs from Spain to participate. For Sunquest guests who visit the resort during November, they will enjoy the culinary innovations of Chef Danny Garcia, recipient of two Michelin stars. Blending tradition with the latest culinary techniques, Garcia will delight guests with a unique and...
ACV Partners with MGM, Cirque du Soleil
What happens in Vegas starts right here in Canada as travellers will have the ability to book “best-priced” tickets for all eight Cirque du Soleil shows either when they book their Air Canada Vacations' (ACV) packages or, for more spontaneous travellers, directly from their seats aboard Air Canada rouge flights to Las Vegas. The in-flight booking program for Cirque du Soleil tickets, the first of its kind in Canada, will start Jan. 1, 2015 from Montreal, with a view to expanding across Canada in the future. This new service is a result of a partnership between Cirque du Soleil, MGM...
Call For Transparency
WestJet is calling for “transparent and all-inclusive vacation pricing” in Canada, reports managing editor, Michael Baginski in this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press. Noting that the Canadian Transportation Agency now requires “all-in-advertising” for airlines – that is, prices that include taxes and fees -- WestJet says the rules should apply to tour operators too, including OTAs. At the heart of the issue is lack of consistency in pricing that “varies by tour operator” and disadvantages wholesalers that do apply all-in pricing to their...
G Adventures Makes New Tracks
G Adventures is trail blazing rail-based trips as a new way for travellers to have grass-roots travel experiences. The new “Rail” travel style launches with 25 itineraries between seven and 54 days duration, taking in more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. All trips use trains as the primary mode of transport. G Adventures created the new program to meet the demand for affordable train-based trips. A relaxing and scenic way to travel, rail travel holds a certain romanticism and the new line-up of trips includes both local and famous train routes. In...
CanJet Pays Commission on Fuel, Currency Surcharges
CanJet Vacations is reminding travel agents that it pays commission on fuel and currency surcharges. “We believe travel agents are working hard at brokering the sale on our behalf and they should be paid fairly for their efforts,” said John Kirk, VP, Sales & Marketing for CanJet Vacations. CanJet Vacations originally included the surcharges in the base price, but was forced to change that policy in order to remain competitive on pricing with other tour operators who do not add those charges in the base price. However, CanJet distinguished itself from the majority of other...