Hotels & Resorts
Fairmont revs things up for agents
With Montreal gearing up for the F1 Grand Prix race that will take place there at the beginning of June, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is helping agents -- who are members of its Famous Agents program -- rev up their engines with a special cash-back offer when they book their clients at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth during the race weekend. Montreal's Fairmont Queen Elizabeth is the official caterer to the race's VIP and corporate reception lounges, not to mention being centrally located for race enthusiasts who want to be part of the festivities. This year, Famous Agents who book their clients at...
AMG signs deal with Biggest Losers
American Marketing Group has signed a preferred vendor agreement with The Biggest Loser Resorts -- which have locations in Utah and California and opening soon in western New York. Each of the resorts provides a comprehensive program that focuses on fitness, nutrition, education and relaxation. The preferred relationship will give travel professionals of TRAVELSAVERS Canada the ability to provide exciting perks and benefits for this life-changing experience to their clients. The relationship is also available to TRAVELSAVERS and NEST travel professionals in the US. Nicole Mazza, chief...
Save with the Sheraton Nassau
As its fifth anniversary approaches, the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort & Casino is celebrating with the launch of its Sunsational Savings package. Guests booking a minimum four-night stay at the resort from now through Dec. 31, 2012 will receive the fourth night free; $100 food and beverage credit for stays up to five nights; a $200 food and beverage credit for stays of six nights or longer; and complimentary upgrade based on availability at check-in. The resort's director of sales & marketing, Manny Corral said that "With the resort's five-year anniversary approaching, we want to thank...
New site, new page for Days Inns
Days Inns-Canada has relaunched its web site -- http://www.daysinn.ca -- with a new design, enhanced functionality and user-friendly tools to search for hotels and read guest reviews. The update of the web site is all part of Days Inns-Canada strategy to drive more direct bookings. Melissa Kenney, senior director, marketing, Realstar Hospitality, said: "Enhancing our web site is an important step in attracting the busy modern guest. Today's travellers have high expectations for their online shopping experience -- they expect a fresh look, current Canadian content and a booking method that is...
Days Inns opens in Chetwynd
There's a new Days Inn in Chetwynd, British Columbia. It's also the second Days Inn to open in B.C. during the spring of 2012. The 53-room conversion property offers free Daybreak Cafe breakfast, free high-speed Internet access, free guest parking, meeting and banquet facilities, business place rooms as well as Wyndham Rewards for every qualified stay. Irwin Prince, president and COO of Realstar Hospitality, said: "Days Inn - Chetwynd is another great addition to our growing portfolio of hotels. This hotel reflects our continued commitment to providing travellers with excellent value, great...
Canadian tourism: an industry in crisis
In a letter to its members, Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) president, Tony Pollard says that "plain and simple," Canada's tourism industry is in crisis. HAC's president points out that funding for the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) has declined from $100 million in 2001 to $72 million in 2012 and will drop further in 2013 to $58.5 million. Observes Pollard: "The cuts come when Canada faces increasing competition from international competitors including the new $200 million [Brand USA] program - $20 million of which is being spent in Canada." The result, says HAC's boss is that a decade...
Breezes Trelawny sale completed
Blue Diamond Hotels & Resorts has completed its purchase of the Breezes Trelawny Resort & Spa in Jamaica. Earlier this year, SuperClubs announced that the property was going to be sold. Blue Diamond Hotels & Resorts is a subsidiary of the Sunwing Travel Group. Plans -- details of which will be released shortly -- call for the resort to temporarily close on June 1, 2012, and undergo a $40 million renovation. It will reopen to guests as a 4 star plus resort on Nov. 1, 2012, under the new name of Memories White Sands Beach Resort & Spa. The purchase signals the increasing importance of Jamaica...
Radisson giving away a big night
Radisson has unveiled its Big Night Giveaway, where the first 100,000 people to register for the offer will be eligible to receive 50,000 bonus Gold Points, which is enough for a free night at any Radisson or Radisson Blu hotel worldwide. Heather Passe, vice president, marketing, loyalty and e-commerce, said: "This year marks many global landmark achievements for the brand, including introducing Radisson Blu in the U.S., the conversion of 13 Radisson Edwardian Hotels in the United Kingdom to Radisson Blu and continuous growth in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and in Asia Pacific. We are...