All posts filed under: News

Air Canada customers connecting to the U.S. through Toronto now benefit from fully-automated baggage handling

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Streamlined connections strengthen Toronto as preferred routing for U.S. travellers MONTREAL, March 26, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ – Air Canada is becoming an even more attractive option for travellers connecting to the U.S. due to a simplified baggage handling process at its Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport hub. The new system sends checked baggage to connecting flights so connecting customers no longer have to retrieve their checked bags for U.S. customs inspection. “Air Canada’s Toronto Pearson hub is already recognized as a North American gateway and this simplified baggage process makes it even more attractive. It strengthens Toronto’s position as a preferred routing by making transit through Pearson easier for customers who are increasingly choosing to travel our international network because it offers some of the best elapsed travel times between the U.S. and other global centres in Europe and Asia,” said Ben Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air Canada. “Air Canada has earned Skytrax ratings as North America’s Best International Airline and its only Four Star international network carrier. These …

Two New Around-The-World Trips on a Private Jet – Four Seasons-Style

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Embark on a tour of the Americas or visit 10 legendary destinations in 2014 TORONTO, March 26, 2013 /CNW/ – “Departure.” Few words in the English language carry such excitement and promise (especially when spotted at an airport). It means you’re going places — in more ways than one. Now, after selling out all three Around the World by Private Jet tours to date, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts reveals a boarding pass for two new 2014 itineraries that promise a departure from ordinary travel with a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Rediscover the Americas takes flight from February 24 to March 13, 2014, and touches down in seven of the most stunning Four Seasons destinations in the Americas: Miami, Nevis, Buenos Aires, Carmelo, Costa Rica, Punta Mita and Beverly Hills. Around the World is a 23-day itinerary sure to fill a passport with exotic stamps as travellers explore 10 legendary destinations across the globe starting March 14, 2014: from the idyllic islands of Hawaii, Bora Bora and Bali to the vibrant city streets of Sydney, Mumbai, Istanbul …

Canada second to last globally, for paid time off work

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TORONTO, March 26, 2013 /CNW/ – Who doesn’t love time off from the office? It’s when we get to relax and unwind, spend time with our loved ones and, of course, travel. Recent findings by Hotels.com®, which looked at the amount of paid and public holiday time around the world, reveal that Canada is near the bottom of global rankings with a mere 15 days, beaten only by Mexico at 13. On the opposite end of the spectrum was Russia, which came out on top with a staggering average of 40 days of paid leave. “There is a substantial level of inconsistency around the world when it comes to the amount of stat holiday or vacation time for employees, particularly when you compare Russia to Mexico or Canada” said Taylor L. Cole, APR, travel expert for Hotels.com. “If you’re looking to take an extended vacation with just two weeks of paid leave, it can be quite the challenge to get that time off. This could lead to vacation deprivation, or travellers either being forced to …

Majority Of U.S. Travelers Struggle To Take All Their Vacation Days

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Best Western Launches Vacation Citation Contest to Empower Travelers to Take Their Vacations PHOENIX, March 18, 2013 /CNW/ – More than half of U.S. travellers expect to leave unused vacation days on the table in 2013 and even when they take time off, travellers struggle to leave the stress of work at the office according to a new Best Western Vacation Citation survey conducted with Wakefield Research. Sixty-two (62) percent of travellers surveyed said they had difficulty taking vacation in the past 12 months and half said work frequently keeps them from relaxing while on vacation. Enjoying their time off is even tougher for frequent business travellers, as 52 percent say work is more likely to ruin their vacation than bad weather. To empower travellers to take vacation, Best Western has launched its Vacation Citation contest on Facebook. Participants can join Best Western’s “Vacation Citation Nation” by issuing themselves or their family and friends an official Vacation Citation and in turn they will automatically be entered in weekly drawings for prizes to inspire travel including Best Western Travel Cards, MasterCard and Amazon Gift Cards, …

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

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

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

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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.

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

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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 …

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

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

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

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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.