Latest Posts

Hangzhou, China Kicks Off Worldwide Search for Modern-day “Marco Polo”

Published by

The most beautiful trip in the world – a free tour of Hangzhou, coupled with an amazing monetary award

HANGZHOU TOURISM COMMISSION MARCO POLO

HANGZHOU, China, March 11, 2013 /CNW/ – The ceremony launching the worldwide search for the modern “Marco Polo” was held with grandeur in Hangzhou on March 11.

The selected traveler will be entitled to the most beautiful trip in the world, including a 15-day complimentary tour of Hangzhou, the opportunity to experience Chinese lifestyle and an award of 40,000 euros. All the winner is required to do in return is share with the world the details of his or her unforgettable Hangzhou stay.

The organizer, Hangzhou Tourism Commission, invited Dr. Liu Yun, Vice President of Google and President of Google China, to the launch ceremony. Liu Yun, on behalf of YouTube, together with Li Hong, director of Hangzhou Tourism Commission, Wang Xinzhang, deputy director of Hangzhou Tourism Commission, and a number of Chinese and foreign guests and reporters, witnessed the release of the “Be the Modern Marco Polo Experience Program” campaign on four major international social networks: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. Hangzhou is taking the China’s lead in promotion on these four key Social Media platforms. Starting here, more and more Chinese cities may hold worldwide tourist destination competitions.

Read More

The average price of a hotel room around the world went up in 2012

Published by

Hotels.com Logo

TORONTO, March 5, 2013 /CNW/ – The average price of a hotel room around the world rose by three per cent during 2012, compared with the previous year, according to the latest Hotels.com® Hotel Price Index™ (HPI™). The rate of increase has moderated when judged against the four per cent rise in 2011 as the Eurozone’s problems pulled down the global average and slowed growth in the second half of the year.

Three regions drew away from the rest. The Caribbean saw a six per cent rise, North America had one of its best results in recent years growing at five per cent and the Pacific gained four per cent, all outpacing the global figure. Asia added two per cent and Latin America one per cent while the Europe and Middle East region registered a slight fall.

Read More

Canadians Have Access to All-Inclusive Air Prices as Airlines Transition to New Advertising Requirements

Published by

Cdn TransportAgency - logo

OTTAWA, March 5, 2013 /CNW/ – WestJet, Air Canada, Porter, Air Transat, Canadian North, First Air, Air Creebec, Sunwing, Air Inuit and Orca Airways are now displaying all-inclusive air prices on their on-line booking systems—in line with new regulations that came into force on December 18, 2012.

The regulations enable consumers to easily determine the total advertised air price and promote fair competition between all advertisers in the air travel industry. They apply to any person who advertises air prices to the public, for travel within, or originating in Canada, through any media.

When searching for an air fare, consumers can now expect to see the total all-inclusive price. The success in achieving a high level of industry compliance can be attributed in large part to the Agency’s collaboration with air price advertisers and its efforts to help them understand their obligations and to provide guidance on all aspects of the new regulatory regime. The Agency is continuing to work with the industry to ensure that all advertisers understand all of the regulatory requirements, which includes a breakdown of advertiser-imposed charges and fees, as well as other third-party charges and optional charges.

Read More

Australia is Hiring, Tourism Australia Launches Search to Fill “Best Jobs in the World”

Published by

New Campaign Highlighting Australian Work and Travel Opportunities Features Six New Dream Jobs

Tourism Australia - logo

March 4, 2013 /CNW/ – Tourism Australia is teaming up with industry and State and Territory tourism partners in a new global campaign directed at the international youth market to promote tourism opportunities provided by Australia’s Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program.

At the heart of the campaign is a global competition involving six of Australia’s State and Territory Tourism Organisations that is each offering their own unique “Best Job in the World” as a prize.

The six ‘Best Jobs in the World’ each come with an attractive six month salary package worth A$100,000 including living costs and are:

  • Chief Funster (New South Wales)
  • Outback Adventurer (Northern Territory)
  • Park Ranger (Queensland)
  • Wildlife Caretaker (South Australia)
  • Lifestyle Photographer (Melbourne)
  • Taste Master (Western Australia)

The competition was unveiled today in Cairns, one of the country’s most popular destinations amongst young travellers, by the Federal Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP, alongside Ben Southall who was the winner of Tourism Queensland’s highly successful “Best Job in the World” campaign in 2009.

Read More

SHOP.CA Launches New Travel Category With “Triple Dip” Travel Rewards

Published by

SHOP.ca - logo

TORONTO, March 1, 2013 /CNW/ – SHOP.CA announces the launch of SHOP.CA Travel, in partnership with TravelOnly Inc., one of the top-rated travel agencies in North America. Together, this partnership will bring an integrated on-line travel-booking engine to SHOP.CA, adding an exciting new category to SHOP.CA‘s extensive online marketplace with bonus travel reward opportunities.

“This partnership offers never before seen value for SHOP.CA members who are also active users of other travel loyalty programs. We are constantly adding selection to create a better experience for our members, and travel is an important category our consumers were demanding. This unique offering has been in the works for over a year,” says Drew Green, CEO and co-founder.

Read More

© 2013 ~ Iain & Gail Shankland / TravelBloggers.ca@gmail.com

A NASCAR Race AND A Family Vacation – It Is Possible!

Published by

If you’re a NASCAR fan you’ll know all about Homestead Speedway in Florida. Even though the entire family might not enjoy racing, you can always make a great family vacation that just happens to have a NASCAR race included.© 2013 ~ Iain & Gail Shankland / TravelBloggers.ca@gmail.com

If you’ve never been to south Florida, you’re really missing all the best parts. Who needs Disney World when you’ve got real live dolphins and alligators, swimming, camping, snorkelling and many, many other tourist attractions to keep you and the family entertained and busy.

Read More

Air Canada Introduces Lowest Price Guarantee to Assure Customers of Best Available Price On-Line

Published by

MONTREAL, Feb. 12, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ – Air Canada is expanding its Lowest Price Guarantee to give customers added assurance they are getting the lowest price available on-line within a 24-hour period when they book flights on Air Canada. The guarantee applies to any destination Air Canada serves for tickets bought in Canada on aircanada.com.

AirCanada logo

“Air Canada’s new Lowest Price Guarantee means customers can be certain they will always get the best price for their Air Canada flight at aircanada.com. With the proliferation of travel websites the market can be confusing, so to make it easy for customers and give them confidence they are getting the lowest price available online we are expanding our existing North American fare guarantee to cover our entire global network. Our promise to our customers is that by going to aircanada.com they are guaranteed of always finding the lowest prices for wherever we fly and if they find the same flight elsewhere in Canada at a lower price within 24 hours we will provide a $50 travel credit plus the price difference,” said Ben Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air Canada.

Here are the highlights of how our Lowest Price Guarantee works.

  • It is available to all consumers and travel agencies purchasing tickets in Canada for Canadian originating flights on Air Canada, Air Canada rouge or Air Canada Express flights operated by Sky Regional or Jazz Aviation LP through aircanada.com
  • If, within 24 hours of purchase, the customer finds a cheaper price for the same flight, itinerary and fare brand on another Canadian online travel retailer, then Air Canada will provide a travel credit for $50 plus the price difference, which can be applied towards future travel. Air Canada’s policy of allowing customers to cancel any flight and receive a full refund within 24 hours of booking remains in effect.
  • Customers and travel agencies who find a lower price can easily notify Air Canada on-line and are not required to buy the lower fare.
  • The program covers all travel within Air Canada’s network on flights marketed and operated by Air Canada, Air Canada rouge and Air Canada Express flights. It is available for all published retail fares sold in Canada by any Canadian online retail distribution channel that is an accredited vendor of Air Canada
  • Travel Agents also have access to the Lowest Price Guarantee when booking on Air Canada’s travel agency website

For more details please consult www.aircanada.com/guarantee.

Global Travellers Want to Keep Connected

Published by

– Wi-Fi and creature comforts are hotel amenity must- haves

LONDON, Feb. 20, 2013 /CNW/ –  Global travellers are looking for a home-from-home experience when they stay in a hotel according to the latest research from leading online accommodation booking service, Hotels.com®. Topping the list of must-have hotel amenities are free Wi-Fi and free food and beverages, with caffeine being a must. All the rest is just well… extra.

 

Hotels.com Logo

Staying Connected…for Free

  • 34 per cent say free Wi-Fi is the number one factor in choosing a hotel even on leisure stays.
  • 56 per cent of respondents said free Wi-Fi was their number one must-have when travelling for business.
  • 66 per cent indicated free Wi-Fi is the amenity they most wish would become standard at all hotels in 2013.

Free Wi-Fi trumps both free parking and complimentary breakfast when it comes to choosing a hotel for both leisure and business travel, showing that access to the online world is a necessity for modern-day travellers with over a third still looking to stay connected whilst on their holidays. In fact just 11% of global travellers said they would be willing to pay for Wi-Fi when staying in a hotel.

Read More