Jetstar announces direct Hawaii service from Melbourne


Jetstar has just announced direct service from Melbourne to Hawaii, with the new route to debut from 15 Dec - just in time for the summer holiday peak season.

The reinstatement of the Hawaii route (suspended in 2008) has come along with capacity expansions to other destinations including an increase of Jetstar's Sydney to Phuket services to four flights a week.

Jetstar Bali flights from both Melbourne and Sydney will also increase to daily, with the additional long-haul capacity to Indonesia, Hawaii and Phuket providing up to 19,000 extra seats a month for outbound holidaymakers.

The lead-in fare for the Melbourne-Honolulu service is $499 one way. The service will initially operate twice a week, moving to thrice weekly from March 2013.

"Jetstar specialises in putting more holiday destinations within reach for more people through low fares, domestically and internationally," said Jetstar Group ceo Jayne Hrdlicka.

More information in today's Travel Daily.


Holiday Inn celebrates 60 years of firsts

Holiday Inn turns 60 this month, and is celebrating the many innovations that have led to the diamond anniversary for the iconic brand here and around the world.

Six decades after the first Holiday Inn hotel opened in Memphis Tennessee in the US, there are more than 3375 Holiday Inn brand family hotels around the world.  What began as a roadside inn has become a household name across the globe, and a pioneer of many firsts for the hotel industry – such as being the first to invite children under 12 to stay and eat free whenever staying at Holiday Inn, anywhere in the world.

Other innovations include being the first hotel brand to offer online bookings in 1995, and to introduce computerised reservations in 1965.  Most recently, Holiday Inn completed the biggest relaunch ever undertaken by a travel brand, with the investment of US$1 billion into upgrading more than 3300 hotels worldwide.

This month, Holiday Inn will be the first international hotel brand to open its 60th hotel in Greater China, Holiday Inn Resort Changbaishan – a fitting achievement given it was also the first international hotel brand to be introduced to China, in 1984.

Here in Australasia, the innovations spread from the practical, such as Holiday Inn Sydney Airport being the first hotel in Asia Pacific to introduce paperless check-in, to the extraordinary, best demonstrated by the world's only crocodile-shaped hotel, Holiday Inn Gagudju in Kakadu, Northern Territory.

"For us, Holiday Inn's 60th birthday is a celebration of the constant innovation that has kept the brand relevant to our guests – demonstrated most recently by the US$1 billion invested into refreshing more than 3300 Holiday Inn properties worldwide. It's this series of firsts that has allowed Holiday Inn to remain one of the world's best known and fastest-growing hotel brands," Bill Edwards, IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) Australasia director of operations said.

"Holiday Inn's 60th anniversary is a chance for us to share these achievements and invite others to experience what keeps our regular guests coming back time after time," Bill said.

Holiday Inn hotels around the world will be celebrating their own firsts in honour of the brand's diamond anniversary this month, with guests invited to get involved.  Here in Australasia, Holiday Inn is offering guests the chance to win diamond jewellery and free nights* by sharing photos of their favourite birthday moments on the Holiday Inn's Facebook fan page's new Guestbook gallery.

Existing Holiday Inn fans on Facebook will get automatic access to the new Holiday Inn Guestbook app, which launches today in celebration of the brand's 60th birthday.  New fans will simply need to Like Holiday Inn Australasia on Facebook to get involved for the chance at sharing in Holiday Inn's diamond anniversary.

For more information on Holiday Inn, visit www.holidayinn.com.au.

* Free nights will be awarded as Priority Club Rewards points.

 



Sheraton on the Park wins at AHA (NSW) Awards for Excellence 2012

Sheraton on the Park has again been recognised for their consistently outstanding achievements, by winning two awards at the 2012 AHA (NSW) Awards for Excellence, on Thursday 26th July. Sheraton on the Park took home 'Brasserie / Café of the Year' and 'Workplace Health & Safety Hotel of the Year'.

Renowned for its popular seafood buffet and five star service, Sheraton on the Park's Botanica Brasserie was named "Café / Brasserie of the Year".  This is the third time that Botanica has won this award previously winning in 2008 and 2010; further acknowledges its reputation as the best seafood buffet in Sydney.  With its central location and sweeping view of Hyde Park, Botanica Brasserie is the perfect place to enjoy a meal with colleagues or loved ones.

Sheraton on the Park was also awarded "Workplace Health and Safety Hotel of the Year" and as an industry leader, this award reinforces that Sheraton on the Park is committed to looking after the safety, health and wellbeing of associates, guests and visitors. All associates are committed to safe work practices and this is reflected in the success at these awards. This is the fourth year that the hotel has won this award previously winning in 2008, 2010 and 2011.

The Australian Hotels Association (NSW) Awards for Excellence are recognised as the most prestigious awards in the hospitality industry, honouring the achievement of excellence in service. According to Mr. Sean Hunt Managing Director, Sheraton on the Park and Regional Vice President Starwood Pacific Hotels, the award recognises the Hotels commitment to taking care of both all guests and associates.

"Winning these prestigious awards is the culmination of many years of hard work and constant investment in our facilities and our people. Through an unprecedented string of awards, Sheraton on the Park has firmly positioned itself as the hotel of choice in the highly competitive 5-star Sydney market. All kudos to our talented team of associates, who go above and beyond to deliver exceptional services to our guests", he said.


SHERATON ON THE PARK 
161 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000

Great Keppel Island Resort is one step closer

GKI Resort tourism proposal now open for public comment

The Great Keppel Island Revitalisation plan is now one BIG step closer to achieving its end goal of building a world class eco-tourism resort on the island just off Queensland's Capricorn Coast. Queensland's Coordinator General, has today released the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), of the proposed development, for public comment.

The proposed development is a $600 million low-rise, eco-tourism resort to be constructed over a 12 year period. This project would supply the region with more than 400 building jobs annualised over the 12 year construction and 1,000 additional jobs for the operation of a resort.

Chairman of Capricorn Enterprise (The Region's peak Tourism and Development Organisation), Grant Cassidy, said, "Great Keppel Island is an iconic Australian destination and this development is a critical step in helping to achieve the goals set by state government and the tourism industry at its recent DestinationQ forum. When the original resort on Great Keppel Island closed over 4 years ago, the Capricorn region's visitation dropped by approximately 200,000 visitors per year. Local business operators want to see the island returned to its former glory and it is critical that this happens not only from a local tourism perspective but also for the whole of state Tourism portfolio".

The first stage of the development is the establishment of a new 250 suite hotel on the old resort site, with accompanying restaurants and conference facilities. This resort proposal will ensure about 40 per cent of the island (575 hectares), would be an environmental protection area to be rehabilitated and protected in perpetuity.

Mary Carroll, CEO of Capricorn Enterprise said, "This is an extremely exciting day for tourism, not just in our Capricorn Coast and Southern Great Barrier Reef region, but the entire state. The Great Keppel Island revitalization has been one of our organisation's seven priority projects for the past two years and I say bravo to Tower Holdings for having the commitment and perseverance to get this major project to this point".

Mary Carroll said, "I urge anyone who wants to see this development happen to submit their views during the next 30 days because it is critical that if we and the broader business community want a resort on Great Keppel Island, they must voice their support".

The GKI Revitalisation Plan will only go ahead if the current Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is approved. This could be 30 of the most important days that the Capricorn region will ever see!

To find out more information and to support the plan visit www.gkiresort.com.au

   http://www.capricornenterprise.com.au

Want to Attend Industry Biggest Convention on Growth Markets? Here's Information about Travel Exchange (Jan 2013) in Orlando, FL U.S.A.

Our organization (NTA) is hosting this January 2013 "Travel Exchange" in Orlando, Florida USA.

Travel Exchange is an annual convention (formerly NTA Convention) with several thousand tourism attendees including tour operators, tourist offices and suppliers.

Growth Markets are a key component of Travel Exchange. At Travel Exchange you'll meet with tour operators, destinations, and attractions involved in various Growth Markets such as:

Adventure, Agritourism, Culinary, Cultural, Cruising, Ecotourism, Faith-based, Family, Fairs & Festivals, Health/Wellness, Sports, Student/Youth, Voluntourism and more.

Travel Exchange will also host a "Faith-based Tourism Leaders Forum" and a "Adventure Travel and Family Tourism Leaders Forum."

1) How can you learn more and register today? Visit http://businessbuilder.ntaonline.com/convention/Home.aspx

2) Here's the full schedule of events http://businessbuilder.ntaonline.com/convention/ScheduleEvents.aspx

3) How can you register?

To register as a Seller visit http://businessbuilder.ntaonline.com/convention/RegistrationHousing/RegisterasaSeller.aspx

To register as a Buyer (tour operator) visit
http://businessbuilder.ntaonline.com/convention/RegistrationHousing/RegisterasaBuyer.aspx

4) When should you register?
In order to secure th Early-Bird rate and save money - the deadline is just a few weeeks away on Aug 24. 

In addition, the sooner you register - you increase your chances for best possible business appointments. So register today if you can!

5) How can you obtain more information about registering or sponsoring? You can email me. My contact information is listed on this webpage: http://www.ntaonline.com/for-members/leadership/headquarters-staff/

Adventure Travel - Current News Stories

Check out some of the latest news stories in adventure travel making the rounds:

STORY #1

Lake George New York—Adventure Getaways

Who to contact for more information?
1) Lake George Area in New York's Adirondacks
2) The Georgian Resort
3) Lake George Steamboat Company


STORY #2

Overseas Visitors Seeking Manitoba Adventures Behind Tourism Boost

Who to contact for more information?
1) Travel Manitoba
2) Frontiers North, Inc.


STORY #3

Summertime Adventures in Durango, Colorado

Who to contact for more information?
1) Durango Area Tourism Office
2) Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

Is Australia’s Gold Coast ready for Megaliners. Mayor says ‘yes’.



Compiled from news sources by Roderick Eime

Gold Coast (Queensland, Australia) mayor, Tom Tate, is in Florida on a self-funded tour of inspiration which included cruise ship mega-port, Miami, and gambling metropolis, Las Vegas.

While his city development plans include the slightly oxymoronic-sounding Gold Coast culture precinct that would require another casino to underwrite it, the most interesting point to come out of his pilgrimage was further visions for a super terminal, one with three cruise ship berths, a superyacht marina, casino, surf club and underwater observatory.

Tate says that one suggestion involves a AU$200 million complex at Tugun, commissioned by billionaire developer and chairman of Leda Group, Bob Ell.

Mr Ell proposes to finance the project through a public-private partnership arrangement.

Another proposal uses Broadwater Parklands as a site for a $35 million cruise ship facility, while two other locations are along the Spit: one north of Sea World and the other at the Seaway entrance.

"We'll narrow it right down and you know what?" Tate said on local ABC radio, "Why not let the Gold Coast people also give an input and when I start hearing about the preferred option for our residents, I'll be listening and I'll say why don't we go this way?"

Mayor Tate hopes to have one of the terminals in operation for the 2018 Commonwealth Games and be large enough to accommodate the world’s biggest cruise liners, like QM2.

Sources: Gold Coast Bulletin, ABC Radio




Outback Survival



OUTBACK SURVIVAL is a timeless practical run down on everything you need to know to survive in the outback.

Bob Cooper's incredible bushcraft skills have been developed through more than 25 years of experience in the outback. He has picked up tools of survival from the experiences of living with traditional Aboriginal communities, instructing with Special Forces Units, lecturing with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Service on desert survival in the Mexican Desert, delivering wilderness lessons in the UK and learning the skills of the bushmen of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana.

Bob has put his own lessons to the test, dropping himself off in the 42C heat of the Australian desert with only a map and soap box sized survival kit, no food, water or sleeping gear, and a 10 day walk across 160km of rough terrain back to safety. He did this alone and showed that with the right knowledge of the land, you can survive.

The outback of Australia is one of the most unforgiving regions of the world, but Bob is committed to protecting and enhancing the experience people have when venturing out into the bush.

About the Author
Bob Cooper - 25 years
surviving in the outback

Bob Cooper is the go-to survival man for ABC radio and TV. He has delivered outback safety and survival courses since 1990 and is considered the leading desert survival instructor in Australia. He has also featured in several major television documentaries produced for National Geographic America, the BBC, Discover Channel, The World Around Us and 60 Minutes.

He is now based in Perth, Western Australia, and conducts a variety of bush survival skills courses.

For more information visit: http://www.bobcoopersurvival.com/index.asp
Other titles by Bob Cooper || Read a chapter

Hachette Australia
9780733628313
$24.99 Paperback - B Format
August 2012 256 pages

New Adelaide hotel to showcase "premium economy" accommodation


City to get first purpose-built economy hotel for two decades

Accor will launch its pioneering economy hotel brand, Ibis, in Adelaide following the signing of an agreement with hotel developer and investor, Hines Property, who will develop a new hotel in the heart of the Adelaide CBD.

The $65 million hotel development, which received planning approval in March this year, will be located in a prime location on Grenfell Street which houses many of the major corporate institutions and also enjoys immediate access to the shopping precinct of Rundle Mall and leisure based attractions in the city. The new hotel will reach 17 levels to the Adelaide skyline with panoramic views over Hindmarsh Square and to the Adelaide Hills.

Timing of the development will coincide with the opening of the expanded Adelaide Convention Centre and redevelopment of Adelaide Oval with construction planned to commence later this year with a scheduled opening early in 2014.

With 307 guest rooms, Ibis Adelaide will be the largest Ibis Hotel in Australia and will be a major boost for Adelaide's tourism sector which is dominated by 4 and 5 star hotels. The hotel will also be the first purpose-built economy hotel in the CBD for over two decades and the first internationally branded hotel of its type to open its doors in Adelaide.

The Ibis Adelaide will join a network of Ibis Hotels across every other mainland state capital in Australia and will join a network of over 900 Ibis hotels worldwide. The announcement of the new Ibis in Adelaide follows Accor's decision earlier this year to give its Ibis brand "megabrand" status, creating three tiers for the brand – Ibis Budget, Ibis Hotels and Ibis Styles.

The Ibis brand is the biggest economy hotel brand in the world, with Ibis Adelaide joining a global network that includes cities like London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Dubai, Bangkok, Shanghai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Jakarta and Auckland.

"This will be a key development for Adelaide," said Chief Operating Officer Accor Pacific, Simon McGrath.

"The economy hotel sector is the fastest growing market in global travel, and is set to grow even faster with the rapid expansion of low-cost carriers. Many other hotel groups have talked about developing economy hotels in Australia, but only Accor has delivered the product. We expect to announce another major new Ibis project later in the year.

"What is different about Ibis is that it has invested extensively in giving a premium economy experience. Ibis hotels are quite different from 3-star hotels of just a decade ago, with the brand offering premium bedding, very contemporary design and outstanding use of space, so that we can offer a quality product but at a genuine 3-star price.

"The hotel's launch will stimulate travel from a range of sectors, but particularly business and leisure travel. The brand is known around the world and particularly in Australia's key Asian markets such as China, Indonesia, Singapore and India. A state of the art Ibis will open in a few months in Hong Kong and this will give the brand even greater visibility in the burgeoning Asian market, added Mr. McGrath.

Hines Property is no stranger to hotel development having recently completed the award winning $100m Crowne Plaza Adelaide hotel. The company has also developed numerous other apartment projects and hotel projects in Adelaide.

"The Adelaide Hotel market has a predominance of older style properties operated at the four and five star level and there is an evident gap in the market for both new hotels and those which are operated at the premium economy level. Traditional hotels have so many underutilised guest services and facilities which ultimately increase room rates charged to guests. At Ibis Adelaide we won't be offering shoe shine services and room turn downs but we will be offering a hotel of high quality and design. By limiting services to those which are essential to our guests we will be able to offer extremely competitive and compelling room rates in an excellent location which is ideal for both corporate and leisure travellers.

"We have been through a rigorous hotel operator selection process and we have appointed Accor to operate this hotel as they are widely regarded as one of the global leaders in managing economy hotels,

"We expect Ibis Adelaide to set the standards for premium economy hotel accommodation in Australia," said Hines Property Managing Director, James Hines.

Ibis Adelaide will offer guests restaurant and bar facilities, a fitness centre, business centre, guest lounge, conference and meeting space and comprehensive Wi-Fi coverage throughout the hotel.

The launch of Ibis Adelaide will build on Accor's already substantial presence in South Australia, complementing hotels such as Mercure Grosvenor, Sebel Playford, Rockford Adelaide, Grand Mercure Mount Lofty House and Novotel Barossa Valley Resort.

For more information visit www.hinesproperty.com.au

www.accor.com | www.facebook.com/Accor | www.accorhotels.com

 

 

New Growth Market: Traveling in Small Group Tours

One of the latest trends we're seeing among tour operators is the debut of escorted "small group tours".

Among two of the latest companies to debut programs and itineraries specific to this trend are Brendan Worldwide Vacations and Gate 1 Travel.  Here are the stories:


STORY #1

Gate 1 Travel Unveils New Brand - Discovery Tours

New company offers "small groups for less;" promises unique itineraries and best value

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gate-1-travel-unveils-new-brand-discovery-tours-2012-07-16

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa., Jul 16, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Gate 1 Travel, a leader in international escorted and independent travel packages, recently launched a small-group tours company, Discovery Tours by Gate 1 Travel. The new company will limit its group sizes to 18 passengers, offering an advantage for small group seekers in a travel market that typically caps group sizes at 24.

Discovery Tours is premiering its small group line with nine itineraries for 2013 -China, Southeast Asia, Nepal, southern Africa, Morocco, Turkey, Italy, Peru and Ireland. Each trip features distinct cultural offerings and active outdoor experiences and includes visits to locales far from the typical tourist circuit.

Read the rest of the Gate 1 story by clicking link above.


STORY #2

Brendan Vacations rolls out small group tours for 2013

http://www.grouptravelleader.com/Article.aspx?id=950

In response to changing travel trends, Brendan Vacations is embracing a new style of travel with its 2013 offerings of small group tours called Boutique Journeys to exotic destinations such as Mexico, Vietnam, South Africa, India and Columbia.

Originally focused on traditional tours and packages to Ireland, Brendan Vacations began to explore new types of itineraries when the tour operator introduced Boutique Journeys to Ireland. These guaranteed departures with a maximum of 24 passengers featured upscale Irish hotels, castles and manor homes, as well as more immersive activities.
Read the rest of the Brendan Vacations story by clicking link above.

The Rees Hotel Queenstown Wins US Wine Spectator Excellence Award

True South Dining Room is one of only seven top tier New Zealand restaurants to be awarded the 2012 Award of Excellence by US wine and hospitality magazine, Wine Spectator.

The internationally acclaimed Wine Spectator's annual Excellence Awards recognise a wine list of 100 or more quality wine selections that thematically match a restaurant's cuisine.

True South Dining Room has an exclusive library of Bordeaux wines with vintages selected from all the great houses of Bordeaux.  Wines from world-renown chateaux such as Latour, Margaux, Mouton Rothschild, Gruaud Larose, Malescot St Exupery and Lynch Bages nestle with the best wines of Central Otago and New Zealand in the professionally-managed, temperature-controlled wine cellar servicing the hotel and restaurant's Bordeau Wine Lounge.

Candice Chow, The Rees Hotel and True South Dining Room Food & Beverage Operations Manager says it's the restaurants ability to match exquisite wine with fresh local dishes in addition to an entire wine programme - which includes tastings, wine pairing and the True South Culinary Series – that sets the restaurant apart for this award.

A great supporter of local vineyards, True South hosts the Culinary Series in conjunction with prestigious New Zealand wineries throughout the year - John Buck of Te Mata Estate Winery will present the next event, September 12th.

True South Dining Room is the only New Zealand new entrant to pick up the international Wine Spectator accolade. The Rees CEO Mark Rose says it's recognition of the effort they have put into building a world-class cellar while confirming their place as one of New Zealand's elite dining experiences.

"Wine Spectator is known as an industry bible so to have this tribute from such a widely-read and esteemed reviewer is huge kudos."

It's not the first time the Queenstown restaurant has received accolades for its fine dining and wine list.  The restaurant was named as a Premier Award winner in the inaugural Taste of New Zealand Awards (TONZA) programme last year and Head Chef Ben Batterbury was selected as an Ambassador Chef in the 2012 Beef & Lamb Excellence Awards - a first for the tourism capital of Queenstown.

All Wine Spectator award winners are featured in Wine Spectator's August issue which hits newsstands on July 24.


Background

The Rees Hotel, Queenstown, New Zealand

The Rees Hotel blends chic five star accommodation with all the comforts of home and the service and facilities of an elite international hotel.

Situated on the absolute lakefront, The Rees' terraced construction delivers complete privacy and showcases panoramic views overlooking Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables Mountains in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Its landmark restaurant is the True South Dining Room.

http://www.therees.co.nz
http://www.facebook.com/therees  
http://twitter.com/thereeshotel
http://www.facebook.com/truesouthdining
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thereeshotel
http://www.youtube.com/TheReesHotel
http://thereeshotel.blogspot.com
http://thereeshotelconcierge.blogspot.com

Travel Industry Award Winners

The full list of winners:

Rookie of the Year - Agent: Rebecca Scaffidi, World Travel Professionals, WA

Best Travel Consultant - Retail: Sophie Fitzgerald, Flight Centre Mt Hawthorn, WA

Best Travel Agency Retail - Multi Location: Phil Hoffman Travel

Best Travel Agency Retail - Single Location: Harvey World Travel Winston Hills

Best Travel Consultant - Corporate: Daryl Dickson, Globetrotter Corporate Travel, WA

Best Travel Agency Corporate - Multi Location: Corporate Traveller

Best Travel Agency Corporate - Single Location: Spencer Travel

Best Business Events Travel Agency: ETM

Best National Travel Management Company: FCm Travel Solutions

Best Travel Agent Technology Innovation: Air Tickets

Best Travel Writer: Angela Saurine

Best Registered Travel Industry Training Institution: Victoria University

Best Hotel/Resort Group: Leading Hotels of the World

Best Hotel/Resort Australian Property: Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa

Rookie of the Year - Supplier: Erin Williams, U Tracks, NSW

Best Sales Executive - Industry Supplier: Stephen Farrelly, Insight Vacations, NSW

Best Agency Support Service: Air Tickets

Best Tourist Office - National: Tourism Queensland

Best Tourist Office - International: Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Tourism

Best Car/Campervan Rental Operator: Avis

Best Tour Operator - International: Trafalgar

Best Tour Operator - Domestic: APT

Best Cruise Operator - International Based Operation: Royal Caribbean International

Best Cruise Operator - Australian Based Operation: Princess Cruises

Best Wholesaler - International Product: Infinity Holidays

Best Wholesaler - Australian Product: Qantas Holidays & Viva Holidays

Best Domestic Airline: Qantas Airways

Best International Airline - Off-Line: Lufthansa German Airlines

Best International Airline - On-Line: Singapore Airlines

Best Travel Agency Group: Flight Centre Limited

Port Update: Not So Subtle Seattle

Proposed development of Seattle Waterfront

Port update by Roderick Eime | Cruise Weekly

I last visited Seattle in May 2009 when the city was on the verge of a major overhaul and it was interesting to see one of the world’s Top 50 most livable cities transform in this short time.

The new light rail was under test along the waterfront ahead of its official opening last December and I had the chance to test it on my trip to Hotel Five on Fifth Ave near the Seattle Center. Up until 2005, historic ex-Melbourne trams ran along the waterfront but plans for their return are unclear.

The biggest news from the home of Starbucks is the demolition of the unsightly Alaskan Way, a 60-year-old overpass that rang along the waterfront much like Sydney’s Cahill Expressway. The heavy machinery moved in last October and reduced the quake damaged roadway to rubble to make way for a massive rejuvenation project along the waterfront from Century Link Stadium, past the aquarium and Pike Place to the Bell Harbour cruise terminal.

According to the developers, www.waterfrontseattle.org, the waterfront program will include ‘continuous’ and ‘event-based’ activities. Strolling, jogging, biking, driving, and parking are supported along the entire length of the waterfront, whereas event-based programs will happen in strategic locations to maximize synergies with existing destinations. Pier 62/63 will be the focus of much activity including rollerskating, sun bathing, concerts, ice skating, swimming, events, market and views to the bay. See the website for comprehensive details of the development.

Heavy machinery demolishes the 60-year-old quake-damaged Alaskan Way
(Seattle Times)
All this refurbishment will hold the city in good stead as it continues to win more business from its nearby rival port, Vancouver, across the border.

Brad Jones, director of tourism development for SCVB, tells me Seattle now has more sailings than its Canadian rival and has essentially captured the market for Alaskan cruise departures. This is due, Jones says, because of the perception that it is easier for US citizens to use a domestic port and the relative cost of airfares to Seattle.

This year, the Port of Seattle expects in excess of 200 ship visits delivering more than 430,000 passengers, a number that seems set to rise. This year and next, new and returning ships to include Seattle in their itineraries are Celebrity Cruises' 2850-passenger Solstice, Oceania’s 684-passenger Regatta, Norwegian Cruise Line adds a third vessel while Disney returns to Seattle after two seasons in Vancouver. The famous Rocky Mountaineer railroad also begins routes to Seattle in 2013.

Light rail station in Seattle CBD delivers
passengers directly to Sea-Tac airport

Port of Seattle spokesman, Peter McGraw, added that “because the Port of Seattle also includes Sea-Tac International Airport, we are able to provide the added convenience of boarding passes for passengers disembarking from cruise vessels along with handling their baggage. Furthermore airfares into Sea-Tac (SEA) tend to be lower than at our competitor’s closest airports.”

Australians wishing to reach Seattle will need to fly into either Vancouver (eg Air Canada), San Francisco (eg United) or LAX (eg Virgin, Air NZ or Qantas) then connect with a local airline, probably Alaskan, which hubs out of Seattle.

Seattle, I’ve found, is an Aussie-friendly city with familiar transport systems, like-minded and enriching tourism attractions in, or close to the city centre and excellent quality accommodation at reasonable prices.

Stay: www.hotelfiveseattle.com More Info: www.VisitSeattle.org

Holy Echmiadzin Promotes Religious Tourism in Armenia (Armenian News Agency)

I had the wonderful honor of visiting and touring Armenia several years ago, as I worked together with Armenian tourism authories in regards to developing the faith-based tourism market.

As such, I was thrilled to come across the article below just this week. Armenia has so much to offer and is such a remarkable destination for religious tourism - especially with its incredible history and heritage of faith through the centuries. I believe it will be one of the great new destinations for people in faith.

After you read the article below, I encourage you to visit the official tourist office website for Armenia:
http://www.armeniainfo.am/


Holy Echmiadzin promotes religious tourism in Armenia

Article link:
http://armenpress.am/eng/news/687356/holy-echmiadzin-promotes-religious-tourism-in-armenia.html

 11 July, 2012
 
YEREVAN, JULY 11, ARMENPRESS: Gevorgyan Seminary Celebrations Hall of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin hosted discussions  entitled  ‘’ Holy Echmiadzin in the religious and cultural  crosswords’’ on July 10.
As information department briefed Armenpress, administrative department  head of the Holy See of Echmiadzin Bishop Edward Babayan came up with an opening speech.
Referring to the need for the development of religious tourism, the Bishop emphasized the launch of such seminaries stating they will be of continuous nature. The spiritual representative also presented the efforts of Holy See made  in that direction aimed at acquainting its pilgrims and tourists with Armenian people national and spiritual values.
Then Ara Petrosyan , Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia  expressed his gratitude to the Holy See for the development of such importance tourism industry branch, stating such meetings are also strengthening the cooperation between the companies involved in  this sector and the Holy See.
The meeting was concluded by the reception in newly opened ‘’Agape’’ pilgrimage hall.

Taiwan Tourism Bureau launches new travel info app


Providing one-tap access to a wealth of travel information on Taiwan, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau has made visiting this fascinating destination even easier with the launch of a new free app download.

Designed very much with the independent traveller in mind and available in both English and Chinese, the 'Tour Taiwan' app offers iOS and Android smartphone users direct access to a swag of information.

This includes attractions, key points of interest, accommodation ranging from five star luxury hotels to the country's huge choice of B&B's and homestays, dining, travel service centres, train and bus stations, - even information on police stations, hospitals, parking lots and where to buy petrol.

Making things even easier the app has been organized into six separate modules as follows:

Around Me which offers information on accommodation, shopping, restaurants, and public facilities (parking lots, MRT stations, gas stations, and train stations) all based on the user's current location.

Festivals which details major events taking place.

Traffic Information offering timetable and fare and timetable search options for both the Taiwan Railway and High-Speed Train systems.

Useful Information which includes facts and figures on travel and visitor centres around the country, hospitals and police stations.

National Scenic Areas providing information on Taiwan's 13 national scenic areas and nearby attractions.

A Location Search offering directions and other information on places of interest.

The app also features an augmented reality 'Goldfinger Direction Guide' to help visitors find their way to nearby attractions, in the process giving users their own personal virtual guide.

The app can be easily downloaded from in-phone App Stores or via the Taiwan Tourism Bureau website, visit http://eng.taiwan.net.tw.

China Eastern to Cairns

New services to Cairns announced by China Eastern Airlines today will help to reignite North Queensland’s tourism industry and shows Australia continues to be a highly desirable destination for Asian tourists.

The direct services announced today will bring Queensland directly to the door of the growing Chinese market and help to pave the way for the future of tourism businesses in Tropical North Queensland.

“With the announcement of China Eastern services to North Queensland today and additional Emirates services to Adelaide and Perth and additional Qantas flights to Tasmania earlier this week, we can really see that airlines are recognising the growth of Australia’s leisure destinations,” ATEC Managing Director, Felicia Mariani said today.

“This new China Eastern service will directly link Chinese visitors to one of Australia’s top destinations and shows Queensland is recognised as a highly desirable place to take a break.”

Ms Mariani said the Chinese market was key to the Australian tourism industry’s capacity to meet it growth targets through to 2020.

“There is no doubt about it, China is going to play an important part in the future of Australia’s tourism industry and we need to ensure these visitors have direct and easy access to our destinations.

“Additional capacity is crucial and ATEC welcomes this new direct service announced by China Eastern today.”

Best Adventure Travel Websites

It would be a good idea to refer to some of the best adventure travel websites if you wish to embark on an adventure tour. There are some adventure travel sites at our finger tips, which we could suggest for you to consider when you plan your trip.

Best travel directory has been nominated as the best adventure travel company by the National Geographic Adventurer Magazine. The top 10 best selling trips are to Antarctica, Egypt, Peru, Jordan, South Africa, Costa Rica, Thailand, China, Australia and India. There is a destination of the week and free trips to be won.

National Geographic is one of the best adventure travel sites. It presents the best in adventure travel and ecotourism, complete with descriptions of destinations and photos. Get acquainted with the researchers and their projects. Right now you can choose from the best of American adventures or 20 Family Adventure travels. It is often difficult to plan a vacation that pleases all the members of your family. With the help of experts, you can do just that and have a marvelous holiday, no matter what you're looking for - culture, wildlife, or just pure relaxation. You could check out the 50 best American adventures, or go on a hiking trail.

About.com lists 21 top adventure travel companies, which present an interesting collection of adventure trips like biking in Morocco or rafting through the Grand Canyon. The websites of each company has a list of its adventure trips, with its itineraries, prices and photos to give you a 'feel' of the adventure. They include geographic expeditions, mountain travel, ecotourism and nature trips, rafting and so on.

The organizers of Gap Adventures seem to promise a lot - they wish to take you off the beaten path to come face to face with the unexpected and meet the extraordinary. They intend to make your travel dreams come true, and their only aim is to do their best to give you the very best in every sphere of your journey. Gap Adventures does not believe that an adventure trip must be costly; they try their best to keep the prices competitive and concentrate on delivering tours that you remember for a lifetime. With 1000 trips in the seven continents, there's a Gap Adventure trip for everyone!

Horizons Unlimited is a site just for motor cyclists. This is a place where all the motorbike enthusiasts share their experiences and plan their trips. Horizon Unlimited has quite a few mad adventures lined up for these riders, who think nothing of whizzing off to seemingly impossible destinations on their two wheelers. This site wishes to share all your mad capers across the continents.

These are some of the best adventure travel websites; you'll find many more at the click of your mouse, ready to help you plan your special trip.

Cheap Travel Websites - Buyer Beware!

With the increasing numbers of people who are on a budget, cheap travel sites have been doing a lot more business. Everyone wants and needs a break every now and then but times are so that being thrifty is more in fashion so to speak.

As with any other trade for websites online, there has been a growing trend for those cheap travel sites that are a little less than ethical. There are varying degrees of this - from websites sending a load of spam to the email of a past purchaser to unexplained charges on their credit card to fake tickets - but whatever the case, these are unethical and fraudulent practices from sites that are supposed to keep information confidential.

It is of the utmost important that anyone looking for cheaper airfare, travel packages, or any other form of cheap travel option, that they do their fair share of research first. There are reviews that are written online about these websites and even those sites that are dedicated to uncovering these deceitful sites. It is worth the extra time spent to find out if the site can be trusted. One sure way is to check out the security signs on the website and to check with the Better Business Bureau or other trusted business sites.

In the case that there is even a slight bit of suspicion or doubt in mind about a site, it is always a wise idea to skip the eagerness that arises when a good deal is discovered and watch for the next good deal that comes from a site that is reputable. This may just prevent a person from becoming another one of the twenty percent of individuals who have already had one of these unfortunate experiences.

The Best Travel Websites For Cheap Airfares

Finding cheap airfares is easy to do if you follow some basic guidelines and use the best travel sites. With the internet anyone can be their own travel agent and save themselves a lot of money in the process. Before I touch on the best websites to use I will first go over the most important guidelines to be thinking about before you start doing your online searches for the cheapest airfares.
The first thing to think about is how far in advance should you try to book your ticket. If you will be flying in high season then the earlier the better, probably at least three or four months in advance if at all possible. If it will not be high season then typically you can get your best deals somewhere between six to eight weeks in advance. At a minimum you should try to buy your ticket at least three weeks in advance, because this is often a requirement by the airlines to get their best fares.
The next thing to be aware of is that you should be as flexible as you possibly can. Do searches for different dates if your schedule allows it, and know that it generally tends to be more expensive to fly on Mondays, Fridays, or Sundays which are typically heavily traveled days for business people. Likewise try to be open to different departure times. And if possible be open to flying from and/or to different airports, especially those that are served by budget airlines.
The last thing to keep in mind is what day of the week you make your purchase. Several experts believe that on average you get the best prices right after midnight on Tuesday nights. The reasoning is that this is when the airlines put back on the market all of the un-purchased reservations for sale priced tickets from the previous weekend.
Armed with these basic guidelines you can now start using the best travel sites to find the best fares. First try searching the best aggregator sites which are search engines that search multiple travel websites at the same time. The best aggregators for airfares as of now are Kayak.com, Mobissimo.com and Momondo.com.
After you have found a great fare with an aggregator you should also check directly with the airline's website to see if you can get it even cheaper there. And you could also do a search on Google for 'promotion codes' along with the name of the airline. Sometimes you can find a special running for the itinerary that you want, and you can only use this code on the airline's website.
Now it is time to check to see if the aggregator sites missed a budget airline due to the fact that many budget airlines do not allow themselves to be searched by the aggregators. Southwest Airlines is a prime example. You can do this by using Whichbudget.com. If you discover that a budget airline that wasn't covered by the aggregator sites flies the route you need, then go to that airline's website and get a price. Sometimes it will be lower than anything that you found in your other searches.
If you follow these simple steps and use the recommended best travel sites you can easily save yourself a lot of money booking your own airline tickets. And in these difficult economic times, who doesn't want to save money whenever they can? Good luck!

Air Canada Named 'Best International Airline in North America'



Global Industry Survey of More than 18 Million Travellers

Third consecutive year Air Canada named a winner at Skytrax World Airline Awards

Air Canada has been named the 'Best International Airline in North America' in a worldwide survey of air travelers for the Skytrax World Airline Awards. In what Skytrax termed "a remarkable repeat success", it is the third consecutive year Air Canada has ranked among the top global carriers in the awards, which surveyed more than 18 million passengers worldwide. The annual survey, whose findings were announced today at the Farnborough International Airshow, is regarded in the air transport industry as a key benchmarking tool for airline passenger satisfaction levels.

"We are delighted that the Skytrax World Airline Awards has again recognised Air Canada as the Best International Airline in North America. It affirms Air Canada's ranking among the world's best airlines and underscores the success of our strategy to transform Air Canada into an international powerhouse," said Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer.

"This top rating by air travellers for three consecutive years demonstrates that passengers appreciate the Air Canada travel experience including our recently expanded, award-winning seatback entertainment system offering, concierge service, enhanced mobile and online services and the evolution of our Maple Leaf lounge product. The award also recognizes the dedication and professionalism of Air Canada employees in delivering our world class products and services and taking care of our customers."

"For the third consecutive year, Air Canada customers have ensured that the airline achieves its deserved recognition by winning the award for the Best International Airline in North America. This hat-trick result is an excellent achievement and Air Canada must be proud of this customer recognition of quality consistency. Air Canada is clearly a favourite airline amongst passengers and it is noteworthy that it has also maintained its place in the top-25 global airlines," said Edward Plaisted of Skytrax.

The survey was conducted by the independent research firm Skytrax during a ten-month period using over 38 different aspects of passenger satisfaction to rank airlines' product and service standards. Skytrax World Airline Awards is the established, global barometer of passenger opinions about more than 200 airlines around the world. Free of outside or financial influences, it comprised 100 different respondent nationalities in the 2011-2012 survey.   Further information on the Skytrax survey and awards is available at www.worldairlineawards.com

In 2011, readers of Global Traveler magazine voted Air Canada "Best Airline in North America," and readers of Business Traveler voted Air Canada "Best North American Airline for International Travel" and "Best In-Flight Services in North America."  In the annual Ipsos Reid Business Traveller Survey, Air Canada was named "Canada's Favourite Airline for Business Travel."  Air Canada was preferred by 73 per cent of Canadian business travellers surveyed for 2011, the third consecutive year of improvement in Air Canada's ratings in the national survey.


Air Canada flies daily from Sydney to Vancouver and onto more than 175 destinations on five continents.  It Canada's largest domestic and international airline.  Canada's flag carrier is the 15th largest commercial airline in the world and in 2011 served more than 33 million customers. Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 59 Canadian cities, 56 destinations in the United States and 63 cities in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network serving 1,356 destinations in 193 countries. Air Canada customers can collect Aeroplan miles for future rewards through Canada's leading loyalty program, and Top Tier members enjoy reciprocal frequent flyer benefits including lounge and priority services.

Family Travel Magazine Reveals Top Five Summer Family Travel Destinations

Read full release at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/6/prweb9640299.htm

Top 5 Destinations Featured:
1. Canada
2. San Diego (San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau)
3. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
4. Colorado
5. Vermont Department of Tourism, Vermont Tourism Network

Family Travel Magazine reveals their top five summer family travel destinations for 2012.
June 27, 2012

With so many vacation destinations to choose from, it’s tough to narrow it down, but the experts at Family Travel Magazine are here to help. There is still time to book a last-minute vacation to any of the five hand-picked travel destinations profiled by Family Travel Magazine, revealing the top five summer family travel destinations for 2012:

1.    Canada. Canada is a unique nearby family vacation destination because the weather is generally warm but not too hot, with plenty of historical and cultural opportunities. From Vancover to Halifax, and Banff to Quebec City, there are many Canadian cities ideal for a family vacation. [Editor’s note: Jodi and family will be visiting Halifax and St. John this summer on the Carnival Glory, and will be posting full reviews in July.]

2.    San Diego. The weather is always sunny and beautiful at this oceanside destination and second largest city in California. Guests can enjoy a variety of family-friendly attractions, including Legoland, the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, and Disneyland, all in one vacation. Family Travel Magazine recommends finding a hotel on the beautiful waterfront of San Diego, or consider visiting a San Diego suburb, such as Carlsbad.

3.    Colonial Williamsburg. This city offers kids a chance to learn about history and a chance to have fun. Family Travel Magazine recommends the Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg complete with indoor waterparks and kid-friendly amenities; Busch Gardens and Virginia Beach are also a quick trip from the hotel.

4.    Colorado. From the Grand Canyon to dude ranches and national parks to outdoor adventure activities, Colorado offers mild temperatures, magnificent views, and a chance to spend family time outdoors in some of the nation’s most beautiful landscapes.

5.    Vermont. Vermont offers some of the nation’s best family resorts, including Stoweflake and Smugglers’ Notch, featuring outdoor activities, food tours, bus tours to Quebec and Montreal, and adventure sports to participate in.

For families with summer vacation plans still up in the air, these top five places are destinations loaded with family fun activities and are all geographically beautiful, and highly recommended by Family Travel Magazine. For more traveling tips, click to subscribe to the magazine’s monthly family travel newsletter.
About Family Travel Magazine: Passionate about promoting family vacations that help a family bond, Family Travel Magazine ( http://www.familytravelmagazine.com/) reviews hotels, destinations and attractions and reveals special deals and promotions at hotels across the U.S. Because mom and dad sometimes need to get away alone, the magazine also features destinations for parents only. Jodi Grundig, mom of two with an MBA and ten years in corporate finance, is a sought-after brand ambassador, travel writer, mom blogger (since 2007) and brand consultant. An avid traveler and travel blogger, Jodi has written about some of the nation’s best family hotspots, including Hawaii, Freeport, Maine, Lake George, NY, the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and Martha’s Vineyard. Jodi is a member of NATJA (North American Travel Journalists Association), and served two years on the popular Walt Disney World Moms Panel, and is a member of the Yahoo! Mother Board

Sapphire Coast oyster grower stars in Delicious awards

WINS MAJOR FOOD AWARD

A family-owned oyster business on the far south coast of NSW has taken out one of the most prestigious awards in the Australian food industry.

Locals and visitors to the Sapphire Coast have long enjoyed the Tathra Oysters produced by Gary and Jo Rodely but now all of Australia knows about them too, with the couple's business winning the
Primary Producer – From The Sea category of the 2012 ABC Delicious magazine Produce Awards.

This year, there were 2000 nominations in four categories – earth, dairy, paddock and sea, with a focus on quality and sustainability. Products were judged by a panel of leading chefs in each state
before going onto the finals. The winners were announced at a gala dinner in Brisbane on Monday night.

"It's one of Australia's most prestigious and high profile awards so we're obviously thrilled," says Gary Rodely.

"The credibility this award generates will help us take our business in new and exciting directions. But we can assure our loyal customers around the Sapphire Coast – and any tourists dropping into our
Tathra shop – that we won't be putting our prices up!"

Gary and Jo are no strangers to nail-biting finals in food judging, having taken out multiple awards over the years, but they say this time around was particularly challenging as they were facing off
against the entire Australian seafood industry and not just other oyster farmers.

The couple has been farming oysters in the pristine waters of Nelsons Lake in the Mimosa Rocks National Park for 24 years and has a large and loyal clientele. Aside from that, their stack of previous
awards has proved the quality of their product, but Gary admits being slightly overwhelmed by the result.

"The magazine reaches over half a million readers so the exposure is phenomenal – plus apparently all the winners will be featured in the Masterchef TV series next year, so that's huge too. And now
we have about a week before the President's Medal is announced – it's a very exciting time."

Established in 2005, the Delicious awards highlight small and artisan producers and a growing interest in sustainability. Some of the country's leading chefs, food writers and industry experts joined
forces over four days to decide on this year's winners.

Tathra Oysters is also one of six finalists in the President's Medal – the highest accolade of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW and arguably the highest produce accolade in Australia. The judging
process begins with the 5000 products that are submitted to the Sydney Royal Wine, Dairy and Fine Food Shows each year – but only six make it through. The Rodelys won the inaugural President's
Medal in 2006.

The Sapphire Coast (also part of Australia's Coastal Wilderness) is the most southerly region of the far south coast of NSW, stretching from the towns of Cobargo and Bermagui, to the Victorian border.
A favourite with tourists from both NSW and Victoria, it is a six-seven hour drive from Sydney and Melbourne as well as being accessible through flights operated into Merimbula by Regional Express
(REX) Airlines.

More information is available on the website, <http://www.sapphirecoast.com.au>

The full list of winners of the 2012 Produce Awards is announced in the August issue of Delicious, on sale this week (July 18).



PIC: Gary and Jo Rodely with Masterchef star Matt Preston, who was MC for the Delicious Produce Awards presentation.

"Phuket Declared 'Best Place in the World for Expats' as Royal Phuket Marina Launches New Family Condo Development'

 as Royal Phuket Marina Launches New Family Condo Development'


Mediterranean-style Royal Phuket Marina has received unreserved endorsement for its new 'La Reserve Residences' tailored especially for families – with Asia's most popular holiday island declared 'best place in the world for expats to live'.

The accolade for Phuket is in a new survey by HSBC Expat Explorer, based on a poll of over 4,000 expats in more than 100 countries.

Phuket and Thailand ranked high in all categories from ease of setting up finances and work-life balance to entertainment and ease of integration with local culture. Thailand also ranked most popular among retired expatriates.

Phuket is meanwhile emerging as the uncontested yachting playground and gateway to Asia for the world's rich and famous, with more than 200 direct international flights weekly from major tourist markets in both Asia and Europe – plus 19 daily flights from Bangkok.

The island's astounding resilience against economic downturns is also reflected in a 30% increase in visitors last year with 4.2 million arrivals at the international airport.

Amid Phuket's acclaim and boom, Royal Phuket Marina is internationally renowned as one of Asia's most desirable yachting and lifestyle hubs, reminiscent of world-class marinas in Monte Carlo or St.Tropez in the South of France.

Phuket's latest accolade coincides with Royal Phuket Marina's recent launch of the branded 'La Reserve Residences' – 40 one and two-bedroom apartments each with their own infinity-edged rooftop 'Sky Pools' with stunning views over Phang Nga Bay.

Also available are a limited number of luxury villas and unique 'Aquaminium' condos with their own private boat berths.

As Phuket has become an increasingly popular investment choice among expats for homes, second homes, investment properties and retirement villas, Royal Phuket Marina is a premium choice – not only for its state-of-the-art boating facilities and Mediterranean-style community, but also its proximity to international hospitals, schools and golf courses.

Royal Phuket Marina is the island's premier haven for owners of luxury yachts and cruisers. It was recently voted one of Asia's Top 5 Marinas, as Phuket was voted favourite sailing venue and best regatta location in Asia in a survey of sailors at the last 2011 Phuket King's Cup Regatta, Thailand's signature annual international yachting event.

Maintenance facilities are internationally recognised as world-class and a cut-above anywhere else in South-east Asia, with the prestigious "Five Gold Anchor" accolade from the Yacht Harbour Association.

The community's appeal continues to grow among expats in Hong Kong and China, where air pollution continues to be a problem.

Founder and developer Gulu Lalvani, a retired Hong Kong telecom tycoon, said: "Expat residents of Phuket have never needed a survey to tell them why they have found the best place in the world to live – especially if you love boating and golfing.

"Phuket is blessed with a beautiful year-round climate providing idyllic cruising and yachting in a true tropical paradise of deserted tropical islands in the Andaman Sea. You can leave the waiting lists for berths in Hong Kong behind."

Royal Phuket Marina's world-class facilities extend to a Fisherman's Wharf of restaurants and bars, floodlit tennis courts, exercise classes and 'new generation' personal training at Phuket's largest and best health and fitness centre, beauty and wellness spa treatments, Thailand's leading holistic healthcare center and Phuket's largest Convention and Banquet centre.

 "It is the 'paradise' island's premier lifestyle destination for sailing, sports and leisure, luxury residences and stylish shopping," added Mr. Lalvani.

For more information about Royal Phuket Marina, please visit www.royalphuketmarina.com

Web: www.royalphuketmarina.com

 

Air Canada Named 'Best International Airline in North America'



Global Industry Survey of More than 18 Million Travellers

Third consecutive year Air Canada named a winner at Skytrax World Airline Awards

Air Canada has been named the 'Best International Airline in North America' in a worldwide survey of air travelers for the Skytrax World Airline Awards. In what Skytrax termed "a remarkable repeat success", it is the third consecutive year Air Canada has ranked among the top global carriers in the awards, which surveyed more than 18 million passengers worldwide. The annual survey, whose findings were announced today at the Farnborough International Airshow, is regarded in the air transport industry as a key benchmarking tool for airline passenger satisfaction levels.

"We are delighted that the Skytrax World Airline Awards has again recognised Air Canada as the Best International Airline in North America. It affirms Air Canada's ranking among the world's best airlines and underscores the success of our strategy to transform Air Canada into an international powerhouse," said Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer.

"This top rating by air travellers for three consecutive years demonstrates that passengers appreciate the Air Canada travel experience including our recently expanded, award-winning seatback entertainment system offering, concierge service, enhanced mobile and online services and the evolution of our Maple Leaf lounge product. The award also recognizes the dedication and professionalism of Air Canada employees in delivering our world class products and services and taking care of our customers."

"For the third consecutive year, Air Canada customers have ensured that the airline achieves its deserved recognition by winning the award for the Best International Airline in North America. This hat-trick result is an excellent achievement and Air Canada must be proud of this customer recognition of quality consistency. Air Canada is clearly a favourite airline amongst passengers and it is noteworthy that it has also maintained its place in the top-25 global airlines," said Edward Plaisted of Skytrax.

The survey was conducted by the independent research firm Skytrax during a ten-month period using over 38 different aspects of passenger satisfaction to rank airlines' product and service standards. Skytrax World Airline Awards is the established, global barometer of passenger opinions about more than 200 airlines around the world. Free of outside or financial influences, it comprised 100 different respondent nationalities in the 2011-2012 survey.   Further information on the Skytrax survey and awards is available at www.worldairlineawards.com

In 2011, readers of Global Traveler magazine voted Air Canada "Best Airline in North America," and readers of Business Traveler voted Air Canada "Best North American Airline for International Travel" and "Best In-Flight Services in North America."  In the annual Ipsos Reid Business Traveller Survey, Air Canada was named "Canada's Favourite Airline for Business Travel."  Air Canada was preferred by 73 per cent of Canadian business travellers surveyed for 2011, the third consecutive year of improvement in Air Canada's ratings in the national survey.

Air Canada ACN B777-300ER Olympics Livery
Air Canada flies daily from Sydney to Vancouver and onto more than 175 destinations on five continents.  It Canada's largest domestic and international airline.  Canada's flag carrier is the 15th largest commercial airline in the world and in 2011 served more than 33 million customers. Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 59 Canadian cities, 56 destinations in the United States and 63 cities in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network serving 1,356 destinations in 193 countries. Air Canada customers can collect Aeroplan miles for future rewards through Canada's leading loyalty program, and Top Tier members enjoy reciprocal frequent flyer benefits including lounge and priority services.

Growth Market Extraordinaire: Space Tourism and Virgin Galactic

Space tourism is truly one of the  most fitting topics regarding "Growth Markets in Travel".

You may have seen stories appear in the national news from time to time on space tourism. So what's the latest now regarding this "last frontier" of tourism? Here's some brief info on Virgin Galactic, one of the leaders at the forefront of space travel and tourism:

+ Company: Virgin Galactic
+ Company website: http://www.virgingalactic.com/
+ Company overview: Virgin Galactic is at forefront of bringing tourists into space in 2013 and with commercial flights by 2016.
+ Article from this past week (see excerpt and hyperlink to full article below):

Virgin Galactic a GO! Branson tells crowd at Farnborough Air Show that passenger space flights on SpaceShipTwo will launch in 2013 
By Victoria Cavaliere / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS July 12, 2012

Richard Branson's space company Virgin Galactic will begin shuttling passengers into the cosmos beginning in December 2013, the British entrepreneur announced.

Branson also announced the development of "LauncherOne," a new air-launched rocket specifically designed to deliver small satellites into orbit. Commercial flights of the vehicle are expected to begin by 2016.

Read full article at:

Vacation Travel Tips and Hints

The developments in the travel industry are rife with contests of all sorts which are resulting in decrease in the prices and countless discounts offers to suit every type of traveler. No one is welcoming the changes more than the persons who only had dreams of visiting far away countries and can now turn it into a reality. Yes, it is possible for travelers to find Jamaica international airline deals, packages, discount tickets and much more encouraging tropical vacation experiences for the sick, young, seniors or just about anyone who want to take advantage.

It is a well known fact that traveling to international locations for vacation will put a big dent in most people's pocket; this means that everyone is looking for deals that would get them to travel at the cheapest rate possible. This is not only pertaining to the airline tickets, as finding affordable accommodations, restaurants, shopping, tours and more would definitely make it easier for everyone. However, a great way to start would be to find the discount flights that would keep you in budget for the rest of the vacation.

There are a number of options available to travel outside of one's country these days without dipping too much into the savings. Some of the offers that are out there are due to the high influx of travelers that are seeking or searching vigorously for discounts. Some people still visit the local travel agents, while others make use of the opportunities to save online. If you can spend a couple of minutes each day to examine and compare the different deals on the travel sites, you would be surprised of the wonderful vacation package or discount tickets that you can discover.

For this reason, some travel companies don't even bother to contend with the attractive offers online. Almost every detail for traveling is now provided on the travel sites ranging from, newsletters, tourist information, tour guides, vacation planners and a number of other promotions. However, if you are planning to book your airline tickets online, it will be best to do your research before, especially if you are traveling to the island for the first time.

The travel sites are now considered the best and most effective way to get the right Jamaica international airline tickets. One of the biggest reasons for this is the number of times that the information is updated daily with new travel details. But, you should be prepared to do some monitoring as the rates fluctuate daily and you have to be ready to book as soon as you spot the right price for you.

Another contributing factor to online booking is the deals that are available for business or vacation travelers alike. Most people are aware of such offerings and will look out for them on each trip. It is also possible to find great deals for frequent travelers or persons who are booking in advance, which enable them to save a lot on the traveling costs.

While you are searching for your discounts, there are certain things to consider as they will determine if you are successful or not. This includes the airlines that you select, whether the route is busy or slow, the season you are traveling and also the time of day when you want to depart or arrive. All of these are part of the deciding factor which will determine if you pay the discounted or regular price for airline tickets.

Book Air Travel and Cheap Flights Online

The internet is fast replacing the travel agents as more and more people tend to search for deals and even book Air Jamaica flights online. This is not really shocking as they can save more money if they know where and how to look for the specials.

You will find that there is a lot tricks involved in this trade and when you want to find the cheap flights it is important that one get accustom to the happenings in the industry, as well as the travel sites. Nevertheless, there are some helpful tips, suggestions and information that are provided for travelers to save on air travel. So, it is possible to get to any destination you want to go to these days and pay the lowest prices for tickets.

When you have familiarize yourself with all the prices offered by the different airlines and discover the ones that will travel the routes that you desire, then it would be easier for you to plan. Some people find the details on the airlines on the travel site and then compare the prices and offers on the airlines websites. But, some airlines don't provide options for purchasing tickets and you might have to call to inquire about the flights. So, the better option is to examine all the options on the travel site carefully and save the money that you would use to call the different places.

When it comes to online booking it is about doing price comparisons, it is similar to when you are shopping for any other product. This is if you are looking to save of course, but in any case everyone should be doing this in order to spend money wisely in these times. One thing you have to understand about the prices online is that they change very quickly.

Most people think this is a strategy by the airlines and the travel sites, but you have to understand that the sites will have a definite amount of tickets to sell and if you don't move quickly once you see a deal, it will be gone the next day. Although, some might have the deals available the next day, but the price could increase. Therefore, it would be best to book your flights as soon as you find one that is suitable.

I am sure you are always hearing that if you are flexible when you are planning for your business trips or vacations, it would work to your advantage. In fact, whether you are booking offline or online, this is usually a way to save money on flights especially on the days when there is not much people traveling. There are different deals that can be accessible this way and you can save a significant sum if you can leave at any time of the day or night.

When you are looking for deals and special offers online, you should be aware of some of them as they might not be what they seem. In general, to book Air Jamaica flights online or even any other type of flights is really a simple task; as long as you research carefully the savings would be possible.

Naval base to be opened to cruise ships

Source: ABC News

The Queen Mary 2
 Photo: The Queen Mary 2 edges into her berth at at the
Garden Island naval base in 2009 (James Morgan: AAP)
Tourism lobby groups say moves to open Sydney's Garden Island naval base to big cruise ships will help boost one of the city's fast-growing industries.

During a speech at the New South Wales Labor conference this morning, Prime Minister Julia Gillard promised to expand the number of guaranteed berths at Garden Island for visiting cruise ships which cannot fit under the Harbour Bridge.

She also said a plan would be prepared to meet the long-term needs of the cruise industry.

Ms Gillard said in the short term, the Navy would allow three visits by superliners this coming season and another three the next.

Hopes in the tourism industry were initially dashed when calls to use Garden Island were declared to be in conflict with naval requirements.

The Tourism Transport Forum's John Lee says a compromise has now been found for the expanding cruise industry.

"The Government has listened and therefore they are now going to amend those arrangements to allow those big ships ... to actually access Garden Island for berthing purposes," he said.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore says the announcement is great news for local businesses.

She says the cruise ship industry is a big contributor to the national economy, contributing around $3 billion a year, with much of that activity centred on Sydney.

New sites inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List

Palau's Rock Islands Southern Lagoon covers 100,200-hectare
and numbers 445 uninhabited limestone islands of volcanic origin.
The World Heritage Committee closed its 36th session on 6 July after almost two weeks of work under the chair of Eleonora Mitrofanova, the Ambassador of Russia to UNESCO.

The Committee added 26 new sites to UNESCO’s World Heritage List during the session. It marked the 40th anniversary of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

The new properties include five natural, twenty cultural and one mixed – i.e. natural and cultural site. UNESCO’s World Heritage List now numbers a total of 962 properties. The number of countries with sites on the List grew to 157, with the inscription of sites in Chad, Congo, Palau and Palestine.

Two conservation success stories were recognized by the Committee. It removed the Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (Pakistan) and the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (Philippines) from the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Meanwhile, the World Heritage Committee added five sites to the Danger List because of concern for their conservation: Timbuktu and the Tomb of Askia (Mali), Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Palestine), Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Panama); and Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City (UK).

The 21 members of the Committee were particularly concerned for the fate of Timbuktu. During the session, armed groups stepped up their attacks on the World Heritage site and destroyed sacred tombs. The Committee adopted a decision condemning the destruction and outlining measures to be taken for Timbuktu when conservation becomes possible.

Tip: Fly to Palau from Australia with United Airlines

Fodor's Announces Best New Culinary Cruise Experiences!

Among winners of Fodor's Best New Culinary Cruise Experiences include tour operator TAUCK WORLD DISCOVERY and NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE.

Read full story here:
Best New Culinary Cruise Experiences: Tauck and Norwegian Cruise Line (Fodor's)

How to contact the winners?
Tauck World Discovery
Norwegian Cruise Line

Here's excerpts from above article:

Tauck's new "A Taste of France" cruises on the Rhône River showcase the best of the French culinary tradition, with 9-night itineraries—crafted in partnership with culinary tour specialists Churchill & Turen, Ltd.—that incorporate cooking demos, market visits, wine tastings, guest lecturers, and more.

Norwegian Cruise Line debuted a high-end onboard gourmet "Chef's Table" experience in March, with one such exclusive dining experience available to discerning guests on each and every Norwegian cruise. Being billed as a nine-course "culinary adventure," the intimate 12-person, two-and-a-half-hour dinners start with champagne and continue with a menu that features dishes like vodka and jalapeno ravioli and plantain-crusted pan-seared sea bass. Meals are accompanied by fine wines selected by the line's master sommelier. The cover charge for the Chef's Table dining experience is $75 per person, which also includes a galley tour, commemorative photos, and gratuities. Starting sample fares for 7-night Norwegian Cruise Line sailings to Europe and the Caribbean start from $399 per person.

Visitors Reach new heights at Carnarvon Gorge

Inline images 1

One of Queensland's most sought after natural attractions, Carnarvon Gorge in Queensland's Capricorn Region, has been captivating visitors for years, with its towering sandstone escarpments and rich indigenous history. Visitors can now reach new heights over the gorge thanks to the team at Heli-Central, who have recently launched their new product, specialising in joy flights over the Carnarvon Gorge area.

Chief Executive Officer of Capricorn Enterprise, Mary Carroll, said, "It is always very exciting to welcome a new tourism product to the Capricorn Region, especially one that has never previously been available. To now be able to offer visitors to the Central Highlands such an exhilarating experience over one of the most picturesque sandstone belts in the country, is something for which we are very proud".

Heli-Central's Pilot, Shane Swanson, said, "Our tours offer an interesting insight into the flora and fauna, geological history, and European settlement of the area. There is a range of flights available, with varying durations and routes giving visitors the opportunity to view the landscape from a unique perspective".  

Carnarvon Gorge is situated within the Central Queensland Sandstone Belt and straddles the Great Dividing Range. Visitors can access Carnarvon Gorge section from either Rolleston or Injune along Queensland's Great Inland Way Touring Route. Flights depart from the airstrip on 'Bandana', a rural cattle property, which is located 7km from the base of the gorge.

For more information about Heli-Central visit their Facebook page www.facebook.com/HeliCentral
                                                                                                                 
Copyright © Travel and Tourism. All Rights Reserved.
Blogger Template designed by Click Bank Engine.