TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

UNIGLOBE GEO INTEGRATES & EXPANDS

Edmonton franchise partners with 14 others in Alberta & B.C.

UNIGLOBE Geo's new website, geo.ca, is ready to launch tomorrow

UNIGLOBE Geo Travel, which started in Edmonton with a single employee in 1984, is about to grow to 15 locations in a move that will result in one of the largest full-service travel agencies in Western Canada, representing more than $100 million in annual sales and employing more than 130 people. Effective tomorrow, 14 UNIGLOBE franchises throughout Alberta and B.C. will be changing their names to UNIGLOBE Geo Travel. A new website, geo.ca, will also be launched tomorrow. “The past 12 months have been very exciting,” says UNIGLOBE Geo franchise owner William Hsu. “We’ve partnered with several other top-performing UNIGLOBE franchise offices, thus allowing us the opportunity to have a stronger presence in Western Canada.” [Full text and pictures]

NEW FLIGHTS BETWEEN CHINA AND VANCOUVER ANNOUNCED

Cathay Pacific to offer triple-daily service in 2008; China Southern to launch new direct flights from Guangzhou in 2009

B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, speaking in China about strengthened air service between B.C. and Asia Pacific

Air service between Vancouver and both Hong Kong and mainland China will be enhanced in the coming months as both Cathay Pacific and China Southern Airlines are introducing new flights to Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Cathay Pacific Airways today announced the addition of four new flights per week between Vancouver and Hong Kong, beginning March 30, 2008. The news follows an yesterday’s annoucement that China Southern Airlines that will introduce the first direct flights between Vancouver and Guangzhou in July 2009. The two announcements were made during B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell’s trade mission to China. [Full text and pictures]

AC’S EXECUTIVE FIRST SUITES MAKE YVR-SYDNEY DEBUT

Clients earn up to Triple Aeroplan Miles until Jan. 31, 2008

Mood lighting in Executive First cabin

Air Canada’s Vancouver-Sydney, Australia route is among the first to debut the airline's new premium class Executive First Suites. And to make the service even more tempting, passengers will earn up to triple Aeroplan Miles when flying Executive First until January 31, 2008. The service offers a host of new features. Every Executive First suite features aisle access, in-seat power, a fully adjustable seat with light massage that converts to a completely flat bed with duvet, personal touch-screen TVs with video on demand and more than 80 hours of in-flight entertainment to choose from, ambient mood lighting and more. [Full text and pictures]

SIGNATURE SLASHES PRICES

Prices “turned upside down” on packages to Cuba, DR, Mexico

Barcelo Huatulco Beach Resort

Signature Vacations is offering big discounts on packages to several of its top-selling resorts in Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Mexico. Among the highlights of the several Western Canadian departures: $1,098 plus taxes for January 9th departure from Saskatoon to the Barcelo Huatulco Beach Resort in Huatulco, Mexico; and $1,259 plus taxes for February 26th departure from Edmonton to the IFA Bavaro Ocean Village in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. For complete details on these and other Western Canada departures, visit signaturevacations.com.

KNITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD

Vancouver agent spins success with specialty tours

Judy Fawcett knitting on top of the world in New York

Vancouver travel professional Judy Fawcett, group and concierge leader for Lloyds Travel, has found success in the world of niche travel marketing. She’s organized tours of local gardens for green thumbs, German music halls for Bach aficionados, and of English costume museums and teahouses for bookworms. But her favourites: the knitters. “I try to fit into places where other people aren’t already doing things,” Fawcett tells TRAVELHotNews. “And that’s where the knitting came in." [Full text and pictures]