TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

SIGNATURE'S FAM FIESTA

Western agents learn, party in Mazatlan

Fam participants pose with dancers from the Playa Mazatlan Fiesta

Signature Vacations’ Business Development team from Alberta and B.C. – Chris Macken, Judy Bunkall and Sandie Dexter -- recently escorted a group of agents from western Canada to Mazatlan. Participating agents are shown here on the stage of the Playa Mazatlan Fiesta at the Playa Mazatlan, along with the dancers who performed that evening. [Full text and pictures]

PREMIERE TOURS' ASIA FAM

Borneo, Kuala Lumpur & Hong Kong on menu for Alberta agents

Fam participants in Kuala Lumpur

Premiere Tours of Calgary recently hosted a group of AMA Travel agents from Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and Grande Prairie on a familiarization trip to Borneo, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong. Highlights of the tour included a visit with orphaned orangutans at the Shangri-la Rasa Ria outside of Kota Kinabalu; a trip to visit Rungus tribe villagers in their native longhouse in Kudat; a Wildlife River Cruise to see rare Proboscis monkeys; attendance at Tourism Malaysia's launch of the 2007 Year-End Sale, where the agents represented Canada; free time to explore Malaysia's cosmopolitan capital of Kuala Lumpur; and some hectic days exploring the bustling metropolis of Hong Kong. [Full text and pictures]

SUPERCLUBS DELIVERS “SUN, SAND & STORK” CONCEPTIONMOONS AT JAMAICAN RETREATS

Five-day Jamaican Procreation Getaways from US $1,792

Grand Lido Negril

SuperClubs is introducing a new travel concept it expects will become “the next big trend” – the “conceptionmoon.” The company is set to deliver its “Sun, Sand & Stork” package on January 1, 2008. The four-night/five-day package is designed to help “smooth the road to conception by providing a time-out retreat to get in the mood for procreation”. Starting at US $1,792 per couple, the package will be available for a beachfront suite at Grand Lido Negril Resort & Spa, a royal beachfront room at Grand Lido Braco Resort & Spa or a verandah suite with a private plunge pool at Breezes Runaway Bay Resort & Golf Club. [Full text and pictures]

SIGNATURE & KARISMA CALLING ALL GROUPS

Book five rooms, get free upgrade on sixth for Mayan Riviera stays Mar. 1-31, 2008

El Dorado Royale Spa Resort

Signature Vacations and Karisma Resorts and Spas are offering a special deal for groups visiting the Mayan Riviera in March 2008. For a limited time, groups booking five rooms through Signature Vacations at either the El Dorado Royale, a Spa Resort by Karisma or the El Dorado Seaside Suites by Karisma will receive an automatic free upgrade on the sixth room. Bookings must be made between December 3 and 20, 2007 for travel March 1-31, 2008. For details, call the Groups department at 1 800 653 4378 or e-mail groups@signature.ca.

ROYAL SCENIC CHINA FAM

Certified Asia Specialists take eight-day tour of Beijing, Xian

Fam participants in front of the Ming Tombs, outside Beijing

Royal Scenic Holidays recently hosted an eight-day educational fam trip to China on Cathay Pacific and Dragonair for CAS (Certified Asia Specialist) participants from across Canada. The trip included visits to Beijing, Xian and a short day excursion during the connection in Hong Kong. In Xian the group visited the monumental Terracotta warriors; in Beijing, they embarked on the Great Wall and many other famous attractions. The group also caught an early pre-Olympic glimpse of the new National Stadium "Bird’s Nest" & the Aquatic Centre "Water Cube". [Full text and pictures]

STRONG LOONIE MEANS BIG SAVINGS WITH SCENIC TOURS

Save up to $500 per couple on European river cruises

One of Scenic Tours' new European riverboats

Travellers can save as much as $500 per couple on a high end European river cruise with Scenic tours – simply by paying in US dollars. “Because of the very long lead time needed in brochure production, our brochures reflect a greater differential between the US and Canadian dollars than exists at the moment,” says Nicole DeWilde, Scenic's vice-president of sales and marketing for North America. “So we are very happy to let travellers know that we do accept payment in US funds from our Canadian passengers.” Scenic will be offering a series of two-week cruises aboard their new ships starting in June 2008. Cruises take passengers at a leisurely pace through some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe, from Amsterdam to Budapest. [Full text and pictures]