Travel Industry Today

THURSDAY 02, JULY 2009- Daily Monday to Thursday!

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NOT SOON ENOUGH

Airbus could be forced to ground long range airliners

02 JUN 2009: Airbus could be forced to ground its worldwide fleet of long-range airliners today when French accident bureau issue their first account of what caused Air France Flight 447 to crash off Brazil on June 1. It is believed investigators will report that stormy weather was a factor but faulty speed data and electronics were the main problem in the disaster that killed 228 people.

MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND

Thomas Cook opens new office and new service
Jen Savedra


Michael Friisdahl, Manny Fontenla-Novoa, Kevin McAdam

02 JUL 2009: After years of being synonymous with “Merton”, the new home of Thomas Cook and its various brands was opened at 75 Eglinton Avenue East in Toronto. The ribbon cutting ceremony saw Group CEO Manny Fontenla-Novoa in town for the honours, and along with Michael Friisdahl, CEO for Thomas Cook North America they welcomed over 600 employees, into the one new location.

THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY

Jonathan Carroll is “beyond jazzed”
Jen Savedra

02 JUL 2009: We caught up with Jonathan Carroll last week – and things had certainly changed since the last time we talked. The president of itravel2000, had just been named CEO of Travelzest plc and was back in Canada after a tumultuous but exhilarating sojourn in the UK.

THE HOUSE BY THE SEA

BC’s Tigh-Na-Mara Soothes the Body & Soul
Chris Ryall

02 JUL 2009: Let’s face it – it’s been a tough year in the travel industry and the need for a retreat beckons - not that I really need an excuse to feed my spa addiction. Picturesque oceanfront setting. Twenty-two acres of lush green forest. Awarding-winning Grotto Spa. Dining in the “Fluff”. Okay I’m sold as thousands of guests have been who have visited the Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort & Conference Centre located in Parksville, British Columbia – a short 45 minute drive north of Nanaimo.

A TWENTY-FIVE YEAR OLD VIRGIN

And a bizarre notion that flying should be fun
David Tait

02 JUL 2009: Okay, let’s get the obvious yucks out of the way. A twenty five year old Virgin is probably a rarity these days, but last week I got to spend a couple of days with one. Exactly quarter of a century earlier, on June 22nd 1984, Virgin Atlantic Airways operated its first ever flight. “On a wing and a prayer”, the upstart airline flew its one and only Boeing 747-200 from Gatwick to Newark with a few brave fare-paying passengers and a host of press and celebrities such as David Frost and fork bending Yuri Geller.

29 JUN 2009

GLOBUS SAYS THANKS, ITALIAN STYLE

Globus’ New Team Ready to Sell
Chris Ryall


Patrice Geske, Kim Clarke, Antonella Santia, Stephanie Bishop, Jennifer Laforge, Kathryn Hennessy

29 JUN 2009: The Globus family of brands recently hosted a luncheon for industry partners at Il Mulino restaurant in Toronto to say thank you and show their appreciation. Managing director, Canada Stephanie Bishop expressed a sense of relief and pride in surviving such a tumultuous first year after taking over the reins for Globus in Canada just over a year ago.

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

United Airlines foists credit card costs on some travel agencies

29 JUN 2009: United Airlines’ notice to an undetermined number of US travel agencies that they can no longer utilize the carrier’s merchant account when booking any United product is concerning on several levels. The notice to selected agencies effective July 20, means that the agents that when accepting any credit cards for payment, would have to use their own merchant accounts and settle with United with cash.

HOME SWEET HOME

6 in 10 Canadians will vacation – close to home

29 JUN 2009: Despite tough economic times, six in 10 Canadians are still planning to pack their bags for a summer vacation, but the majority of those travellers will be spending their holiday close to home. While 59% of Canadians plan to take a holiday, 61% are making their summer vacation more of a staycation.

HARD LANDING?

Billy Mays dies after hitting head on flight

29 JUN 2009: US television pitchman Billy Mays apparently bumped his head during a hard landing on a US Airways flight on Saturday night. Mays' wife, Deborah, said her husband wasn't feeling well before he went to bed later that night, and she found him unresponsive on Sunday morning when he was pronounced dead. The flight from Philadelphia landed hard at Tampa International Airport after the front tire under the nose of the plane blew out.