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Get Ready For An “Extremely Active” 2013 Hurricane Season – Travel Protection Insurance Advised

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(PRWEB) July 25, 2013 – Hurricane season began June 1 and runs through November 30. It generally peaks in August and September, not including Superstorm Sandy’s destruction late last October. With the hurricane season already upon us, climate experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) advise of an “active or extremely active” hurricane season this year. NOAA scientists have predicted a 70 percent chance of between 13 to 20 named storms this year, with 7 to 11 that could develop into hurricanes, and of those, 3 to 6 could become major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher, with top winds of 111 mph or greater. The average number of storms during hurricane season is 12 named storms and 6 hurricanes, with 3 developing into major hurricanes. Extreme weather conditions are prone to causing trip cancellations, delays, and interruptions. The US Travel Insurance Association advises that, in addition to inconvenience, hurricanes and storms can cost travelers unforeseen expenses. Expenses including meals and transportation, unexpected hotel stays, lost or delayed baggage, and lost prepaid …

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10-Year ePassport Now Available For Canadians

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CALGARY, July 2, 2013 /CNW/ – Canada’s new and more secure 10-year ePassport is now available to Canadians, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today. “The new, 10-year ePassport provides more convenience for Canadians, and facilitates safe, secure travel which, in turn, helps create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity for Canadians,” said Minister Kenney. “The Canadian passport is not only a privilege of citizenship, but a reflection of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.” ePassports are  the international norm in travel documents. They contain technologically-advanced features, including an embedded electronic chip, to prevent fraud. The chip stores the same personal information as that which is recorded on the second page of the passport (except for the signature) as well as a photo and a digital security feature that proves that the passport was issued by the Government of Canada. To combat fraud, once the personal information is stored on the chip, it cannot be modified without invalidating the passport.

SafeHarness – The First And Only Portable Seat Belt For Coach Buses

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SafeHarness is all about saving lives and providing a safer environment for those engaging in motor coach travel—particularly the safety of our children and those with special needs. Although new regulations have been envisioned requiring all new motor coach buses to be outfitted with seatbelts in the future, these regulations will not be fully implemented until 2017 at the earliest.  Note, these are merely regulations and not laws.  In addition, these regulations do not include the addition of seat belts on older models of coach buses.  These older buses, estimated to be on the road, in some instances for as many as 10 to 15 years, don’t have an option for basic seatbelt safety…until now. SafeHarness, the first and only personal, portable seatbelt for motor coach buses, has launched a 50-day campaign on crowdfunding platform Indiegogo.com. The creators hope to raise $50,000 to help bring these innovative products to market in order for all to have a choice in basic motor coach safety. Donate to the cause and receive your very own SafeHarness as a thank you!! Read More..

Aeroplan Transforms Program – Listens To Customers

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Aeroplan Transforms Program to Deliver Outstanding Loyalty Experience MONTREAL, June 27, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ – Aeroplan, Canada’s premier coalition loyalty program, announced today groundbreaking enhancements to the program that will be implemented on January 1, 2014, including: The launch of Distinction, a new tiered recognition program that rewards top accumulating members, earned across all coalition partners, with preferential mileage levels for redemption, bonus mile offers and exclusive privileges; New Market Fare Flight Rewards to replace ClassicPlus Flight Rewards, offering significantly improved value, with all members having access to mileage levels reduced by up to 20%, and Distinction members enjoying reductions of up to 50%; and The Cancellation of the seven-year mileage redemption policy, with Aeroplan Miles no longer expiring for members active in the program each year. “The enhancements we’re announcing today are the most significant changes we’ve made in the Aeroplan program’s history,” said Vince Timpano, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canada, Aimia.  “2014 will mark a new era for Aeroplan as we take the program to a whole new level, providing members with …

Winners Unveiled For Australia’s ‘Best Jobs In The World’

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An American finance graduate, a Brazilian travel photographer, an Irish internet entrepreneur, a French tourism graduate, an English film costume designer and a Canadian adventure tour guide have beaten off more than 330,000 competitors from 196 countries to be awarded Tourism Australia’s ‘Best Jobs in the World’. The global competition drew to a finale in Sydney today (Friday 21 June) with job offers made to: Andrew Smith (USA): Chief Funster (New South Wales) Roberto Seba (Brazil): Lifestyle Photographer (Melbourne, Victoria)  Allan Dixon (Ireland): Outback Adventurer (Northern Territory) Elisa Detrez (France): Park Ranger (Queensland) Rich Keam (England):  Taste Master (Western Australia) Greg Snell (Canada): Wildlife Caretaker (South Australia) A seventh job was awarded by Virgin Australia to Cameron Ernst from the USA, who will fly the length and breadth of the country as the airline’s new ‘High Flyer’, championing Australia’s best customer service experiences. The 18 finalists in Tourism Australia’s global competition have spent the past week in Australia undertaking a series of adventure, nature-based, culinary, social media and photography challenges and assessments, as part of a …

Sharks Ecotourism Could Double in Next Two Decades

Shark Ecotourism Could Double in Next Two Decades

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WASHINGTON, May 30, 2013 /CNW/ – According to a new global analysis led by researchers at the University of British Columbia and other scientists, shark watching is a major economic driver for dozens of countries, generating $314 million annually. Citing the study’s projections that shark-related tourism could more than double within 20 years, generating over $780 million annually, The Pew Charitable Trusts is calling for greater protections for sharks through the designation of sanctuaries around the world. Shark-related tourism is a growing business worldwide, with established operations in at least 83 locations in 29 countries. Although places such as South Africa, the United States, and Australia have typically dominated this industry, shark ecotourism is becoming an economic boon to countries across the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean regions. The study finds that shark watching attracts 590,000 tourists and supports more than 10,000 jobs each year. The increase in shark ecotourism and its economic value can lead to interest in establishing sanctuaries for sharks, which play a critical role in the health of marine systems. In …

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Flying This Summer? You Might Want To Reconsider

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I read this today and thought I’d pass it along to our readers. It’s from The Wall Street Journal and it makes me glad I’m not flying this summer! Some of it only applies to flying in the U.S. right now, but some of the changes are happening world-wide. It’s only a matter of time before all the other airlines follow suit so this is eventually going to apply to everyone. Happy travels.  Summer Air-Travel Survival Guide    By Scott McCartney [The Wall Street Journal] The forecast calls for heavy frustration with a 50% chance of innovation at U.S. airports this summer. Airport crowds are expected to be the largest in the U.S. since 2008. There’s already concern that budget cuts in Transportation Security Administration overtime will lead to longer security-screening lines. Atlanta’s airport said wait times from an apparent TSA staffing shortage stretched to 70 minutes on a recent Friday, and both the airport and Delta Air Lines are encouraging summer travelers in Atlanta to get to the airport two hours before departure. Frontier Airlines has joined …

CNN: Consumers Respond That Safety And Security Greatest Concern When Travelling

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  A global study of CNN consumers’ travel perceptions and behavioural trends has revealed that, for 66% of respondents, safety and security is of greater concern when choosing an international travel destination, than any other deciding factor. The survey asked global respondents from over 70 countries, recruited via CNN websites, to identify the key influencing factors in their decision making process, when deciding upon both leisure and business travel destinations. The findings are that : · 67% say ‘safety and security’ matters most · 60% are ‘price’ driven · 58% are driven by ‘reputation’ · 55% say ‘knowledge and availability of information’ matters most · 54% are driven by ‘diversity of things to do/amenities’ The UK led Europe, and is among the top 5 countries globally, for safety and is seen as a developed, hospitable destination. The ‘Consumer Connect: Travel & Tourism’ surveyed 3,106 respondents from over 70 countries worldwide, recruited via CNN websites. The main areas covered included travel behaviour and activities, decision making factors, cultural events’ impact on travel, outlook on 2013 and hotels brand data.   About TravelBloggers.ca Iain Shankland …

Eight Cities To Visit – Where You Can Live Like A Local Without Breaking The Bank

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TORONTO, May 9, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ – Travelling ain’t cheap. After flights, hotels and food, there is little left in the wallet for attractions and excursions. This is why so many Canadians travelling on a budget turn to all-inclusive packages where one payment can take care of it all. While this is great for some, the downside is that staying within resort grounds may mean missing out authentic experiences and culture the destination has to offer. The Hotel Price Index can help travellers find affordable destinations, like Hanoi, to gain authentic cultural experiences. So what’s a world explorer – on a budget – to do? Well, turns out you can have the best of both worlds. The travel experts at Hotels.com® have sorted through their Hotel Price Index™ (HPI™) to find eight interesting destinations where you can have an authentic cultural experience without going broke.