TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

TRANSAT LAUNCHES YVR/YYC TO PARIS

Passengers on inaugural flight welcomed with special touches at YVR
Hilary Genders

Air Transat kicked off its new Vancouver/Calgary/Paris flight yesterday afternoon with French flair. Passengers on the inaugural flight were treated to the strains of French music as they checked in at Vancouver International Airport, followed by a buffet of refreshments at the gate before boarding. They also received a copy of the France Guide Prestige, Maison de la France�s glossy magazine filled with information on several French attractions; and a package from upscale Parisian shopping centre Galeries Lafayette � complete with a coupon for 10 per cent off any purchase. �We�re very excited about our inaugural flight; we�re having a bit of a party,� Rod Ramage, Air Transat�s regional manager, Western Canada, told TRAVELHotNews West. [Full text and pictures]

TOURISM, FOOD NATURAL PARTNERS AT EAT! VANCOUVER SHOW

Record numbers attend consumer show combining travel and tasty treats

Freddie Marsh, Real Resorts; Alison Theodore, St Lucia Tourist Board; Wade Menard, Carnival Cruise Lines; Edna Ray, Air Canada Vacations

�Cooking up a storm� at the Eat! Vancouver: The Everything Food and Cooking show were Air Canada Vacations, Real Resorts, the Mexico Tourism Board, Carnival Cruise Lines and the St Lucia Tourist Board. The show, held May 23-25 at Vancouver�s B.C. Place Stadium, drew a record crowd of almost 30,000 attendees, who gathered to celebrate all things food. A major part of the event was the World Culinary Travel Expo, where attendees sampled tasty creations from a variety of world cuisines and picked up information to help them plan their next vacation � so they could try the dishes again, in their natural environments. Among the offerings were several traditional Mexican dishes prepared by a Mexican chef, sponsored by the Mexico Tourism Board; and Barbadian dishes prepared by a Toronto-based �Bajan� chef flown in for the event by the Barbados Tourism Authority.

ABBOTSFORD, YOUR VEGAS IS SHOWING

WestJet launches twice-weekly Las Vegas service from Abbotsford International

Residents of B.C.�s Fraser Valley will soon have a new, more convenient route to Las Vegas: WestJet announced new seasonal non-stop service to the city from Abbotsford International Airport yesterday. Twice weekly flights are set to begin September 8, 2008.The new service will operate on Mondays and Fridays. WestJet flight WS1512 will depart Abbotsford at 3:20 p.m., arriving in Las Vegas at 5:59 p.m. The return flight, WS959, departs Las Vegas at 11:05 a.m., arriving in Abbotsford at 1:54 p.m. WestJet is offering special introductory fares from $119 each way (taxes, fees and surcharges are extra). [Full text and pictures]

NEW PARKING SERVICE AT YYC

Park 2 Go now open; special rates, commission program for agents

Calgary-area travellers have a new parking option. Park 2 Go, which bills itself as �Calgary's only off-site airport valet and shuttle service�, is now open for business at Calgary International Airport. The compamy promises customers fast, efficient and affordable service, and boasts a nine-minute guarantee on door-to-door shuttle service to the airport. Park 2 Go is located just north of the airport, at Barlow Trail and 100th Avenue NE. Rates are $11.95 per day and $69.95 per week, plus GST. The company offers travel agents with a valid IATA card a discount on all stays at Park 2 Go, as well as a commission-based referral program. [Full text and pictures]

SUNWING ADDS L.A. FROM VANCOUVER

Seasonal non-stops to launch November 15; $99 round-trip introductory fare

Sunwing Airlines announced its newest route, Vancouver-Los Angeles, yesterday. The twice-weekly service is slated to start November 15, 2008, and run through to May 2009, on Saturdays and Tuesdays. To celebrate the launch, the airline is offering an introductory fare of $99 round trip (plus taxes). Coming soon from Sunwing Vacations: a wide array of hotels to choose from in the Los Angeles area, and affordable rental cars.

KOREA TOURISM RIDES TRANSIT

Spring �metro� destination promotion offers consumers chance to win trip for 2 to Korea

Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has announced a new national promotional campaign targeting public transit users. In Western Canada, the campaign will run in Vancouver and Calgary. The metro promotion, which will launch June 3 and run for four weeks, is designed to let transit riders experience Korea through articles in the cities� metro newspapers. Each Tuesday from June 3-30, under Korea's brand, Korea, Sparkling, a different article focusing on the many regions and activities Korea can offer Canadian travellers will run in Calgary and Vancouver metro newspapers. Readers can enter online for prizes to be drawn each week during the promotion; at the end of the campaign, KTO will draw winners for a Samsung 40� LCD HDTV (three awarded nationally) and the Grand Prize: a trip for two to Korea care of Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations. There will be one Grand Prize Winner in Western Canada, and one in Eastern Canada (Ottawa and Toronto). [Full text and pictures]