TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

AWARDS OF MERIT: FINAL WEEK FOR NOMINATIONS!

Send us your choices for Western Canada's agent of the year, personality of the year and more; deadline February 3

After hearing from several travel professionals who missed the Sunday nomination deadline for the Awards of Merit 2007, we've decided to extend the deadline. After all, TRAVELHotNews Western Edition is still new, and we're getting more and more new readers each week. But don't delay! You have until February 3 to tell us who you think deserves special recognition for their contribution to the travel industry in Western Canada. Click here to learn more about the Awards of Merit 2007. To submit your nominations, click here.

TRANSAT’S THE HEIGHT OF FASHION IN VANCOUVER

Unique product launch features Parisian style & substance
Hilary Genders
Travel agents, industry movers and shakers, foreign dignitaries, local celebrities and the media were invited to “take off for a different sort of runway” Monday night as Transat Holidays celebrated the launch of its 2008 Europe product with an upscale fashion show at Holt Renfrew in downtown Vancouver. Guests enjoyed Veuve Clicquot champagne and amuses bouches before taking their places along the runway as emcee Scott Roberts, Transat’s director of sales for Western Canada took to the mike and outlined the company’s news, including the new service from Vancouver and Calgary to Paris. Read on for more exciting details. [Full text and pictures]

TOKYO & BEIJING AGENCY FAM FROM SILK

10-day/8-night trip April 13-22 for $998, or travel free if you book a 15-person group to Japan or China in 2008

Mt. Fuji

Silk Holidays, with Japan Airlines, is offering a Tokyo & Beijing Agency fam this April. The 10-day itinerary, departing Vancouver April 13, includes two full-day walking tours of Tokyo, taking in the Tsukiji fish market, Imperial Palace, Asakusa Kannon temple, Nakamise shopping arcade, Meiji Shinto shrine and more; a full-day tour to Beijing’s Tian An Man Square, Forbidden City and Summer Palace; and a full day tour to Bodaling Great Wall, Temple of Heaven and Hutong Tour. There are also optional tours in each city. Read on for details. [Full text and pictures]

Awards of merit 2007

Who will be the personality of the year 2007?
You have until February 3rd, 2008
to submit your candidates.

NEW BROCHURES, AGENT EVENTS FROM ANDERSON

Independent Travel & Fully Escorted brochures hot off the press; rsvp for upcoming appreciation event nearest you
Anderson Vacations has launched two new brochures for 2008. Now available for download from andersonvacations.ca (where you can also request hard copies) are the new Independent Travel Packages brochure, which features a host of itineraries throughout Canada and the Fully Escorted Tours brochure, which offers a variety of tours throughout Canada, the U.S. and around the world. The company has also announced it will host a series of agent appreciation and product launch events throughout Canada. Read on for details. [Full text and pictures]

TPI EXPANDS MANAGEMENT TEAM

David Wass, manager of business development, TPI

David Wass named manager of business development
Travel Professionals International (TPI), has announced the appointment of David Wass to the position of manager of business development. Wass will be located at TPI’s Winnipeg head office where he will oversee associate recruitment for TPI’s agent programs. He comes to TPI with more than 21 years of experience in the travel industry, including 10 years at Signature Vacations and most recently, four years as a director at Great Canadian Travel. “David brings a great wealth of experience to TPI,” said Morris Chia, TPI President & CEO. “We’re honoured that he has chosen to join our team to further develop the growth of our Associate programs.”

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