All posts tagged: Canada

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 …

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 …

© Cuvee 2013 / Robert Nowell, Cuvée, Niagara, Ontario, Canada, Craft Beer, keg, en Route, European pastries, Black Lager, wineries, icewine, Fallsview Casino Resort

Cuvée 2013 Crushed It! (Niagara Wine Country’s Version Of The Academy Awards)

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Celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2013, Cuvée is the annual celebration of outstanding Ontario VQA wines and culinary delights over an entire weekend (usually the end of February/beginning of March). The weekend long event started in the Fallsview Casino Resort on Friday night with the Grand Tasting Gala that featured the winemakers’ favourite wines, along with a select group of Niagara’s most renowned chefs treating everyone to sampling plates of their signature dishes – created at live cooking stations. With more than 40 of Ontario’s wineries taking part along with a number of local restaurants it was an evening of intoxicating aromas and delights to the taste buds.

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.

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.

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

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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. “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 …

Global Travellers Want to Keep Connected

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– 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.   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 …