Ensemble Travel Group has announced details of its Aussie Specialist Program, an expansion of the organization's South Pacific Specialist Program launched in 2010. While Australia has always been part of the original destinations that make up the certification program (along with Fiji and Tahiti), Ensemble is further strengthening its partnership with Tourism Australia, Qantas Airways and Qantas Vacations for this single-destination focus by increasing the breadth and depth of tools and services provided for participating agents. Among the new initiatives for Canadian members: a dedicated web...
Transat A.T. Inc has confirmed that it has signed a deal that will see it acquire the assets of tour operator Vacances Tours Mont-Royal, which operates in Quebec under the TMR brand. Jean-Marc Eustache, president and CEO of Transat A.T. Inc., commented, "Transat, which already sells 180,000 seats a year to Vacances Tours Mont-Royal, is acquiring a longstanding partner and continuing the implementation of its vertical integration strategy." Founded in 1969, Vacances Tours Mont-Royal is a tour operator specializing in the sale of sun packages to destinations including Cuba, Dominican Republic...
The Globus family of brands has announced that for the first time in its 80-year history it will be offering European tours for French-speaking vacationers. There will be four departures offered, ranging from eight to 12 days. Like all Globus tours, they will include the services of an expert Tour Director; accommodation in First Class or Superior First Class hotels, all breakfasts and some dinners and extensive local sightseeing. The itineraries comprise the 11-day Essential Europe (departing July 8); the eight-day Normandy, Brittany and Château Country tour (departing Sept. 1); the...
Royal Scenic's Vancouver office has just moved to: Unit #750-5951 No 3 Road, Richmond, BC, V6X 2E3. The new telephone number is 604-270-1236, and the fax number is 604-270-1237. Unchanged is the company's e-mail address, its toll free phone number (1-877-736-6028) and its toll free fax number (1-866-736-6078)....
Encore Cruises has introduced a number of new enhancements to its online booking engine that will let agents dynamically package their clients' air and cruise components to create custom cruise vacations. Amr Younes, vice-president of Encore Cruises, said: "The system is now much more user friendly. These enhancements make the entire booking flow virtually seamless, enabling agents to book every aspect of their client's cruise vacation from start to finish." A key enhancement is that the system now offers the ability to book the air component alongside the cruise. "Agents booking through our...
Lufthansa will introduce its premium Lufthansa Private Jet service to the North American market on Feb. 1, 2012. The move has been made possible by an expanded relationship with NetJets Inc., and the new service builds upon the popular Lufthansa Private Jet product that is already operated in Europe in conjunction with NetJets Europe. Lufthansa Private Jet will provide flights tailored to the customer's itinerary throughout North America on a fleet of aircraft managed and operated by NetJets. Lufthansa Private Jet service in North America is available through an interchange program with...
Chinapac International has launched two new tours -- with prices starting at $299 -- that combine shopping and sightseeing in China. Just as China is known for such famous landmarks as the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terra Cotta Warriors, it is also well known for its exquisite goods and handicrafts. Many of these goods are traditional items dating back to the ancient era popularly used by the emperors and possessed by members of the affluent society. Silk, for one, was a staple trade merchandise and now a favourite souvenir. Chinapac president Jenny Soares observed: "Many of our clients...
Caribbean Marketplace 2012 was officially opened this week with much pomp and circumstance at Atlantis in The Bahamas with attendees including Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham. The annual travel show has attracted a total of 1,190 delegates from 18 countries, including Canada, the most in three years. Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Josef Forstmayr noted that 2010 was a record year for "stop-over" arrivals in the Caribbean with 23.1 million visitors and said the forecast for 2011 is a 4% increase on this. "There is no question that our buyers who are attending Caribbean Travel...
Consolidated Travel Activities Ltd. -- o/a Canadian Tours International -- has been convicted of one count of operating as a travel wholesaler without registration contrary to section 4(1)(b) of the Ontario Travel Industry Act, 2002. Consolidated Travel Activities Ltd. -- o/a Canadian Tours International -- operates in the greater Toronto Area. Consolidated Travel Activities Ltd. o/a Canadian Tours International was fined $1,000. Go to http://www.tico.ca for...
Encore Cruises has picked Sabrina Greca to take on the newly created role of director, products & retail partnerships. Greca's appointment was annouced by Encore's vice-president, Amr Younes. Greca joined Thomas Cook last fall as a project manager and will now focus on product development and supplier relations for the Encore brand, as well as working closely with the company's key accounts on various initiatives designed to further grow its cruise business. She will be based at Thomas Cook's Montreal office and can be reached at Sabrina.greca@thomascookgroup.ca...