Trends - May 18, 2007

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New Web Scraping tool: TripConsole

With this new product, we can be sure that we are offering our clients the best possible price on their air travel.

TripConsole is a web scraping tool that enables agents to search multiple vendor websites in one entry for the lowest available fares. It saves time, ensures consistency of information, and gives a reliable snapshot of the lowest webfares that are available.

ATCO Travel will begin training our counsellors on this new product next week.


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Conservatives to streamline passport applications

The federal government will introduce legislation soon designed to shorten the long lines and lengthy waiting times that have become part of the passport application process.

The new Passport Canada Act would, in particular, simplify the process for passport renewals, says Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay. A spokesman for Mr. MacKay couldn't say when the government will bring the bill before Parliament for debate, adding that the legislation was still in the “talking stages.”

Canadian passports are typically good for five years after being issued. But the application process for a renewal is just as cumbersome as it is for getting a new passport.

There have been long lineups at many passport application centres across the country since late last year, just before new U.S. travel document requirements came into effect. Anyone flying into the United States now needs a passport. They won't be required at land crossings until next January.

There have been mixed messages about whether passports will actually be needed to drive across the border, but Canadians shouldn't wait to get their passports.

more >

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Harmony Airways Restructures, Ends Scheduled Flights
Harmony Airways and its packaged vacation company, Harmony Vacations, ended their scheduled service to and from Toronto on March 30, 2007, and all other scheduled flights on April 9, 2007.

David Ho, Harmony's owner, said increasing operating costs, overcapacity in the market and aggressive price competition from larger carriers prompted Harmony to end its scheduled service and look at other possible business models. Meanwhile, the airline, which began flying in November, 2002, has terminated most of its 350 staff.

- Travel Press, Baxter Media

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WestJet to provide daily flights from Vancouver to several destinations to fill gap left by Harmony

WestJet Airlines is adding daily flights from Vancouver to several destinations in response to increased demand for additional flights after Harmony Airways’ decision to cease operations to Las Vegas, Toronto, Honolulu, Maui and Palm Springs.

Daily nonstop service from Vancouver will commence on the following dates to the following destinations:
• April 28 to Las Vegas
• May 14 to Toronto (totalling six flights every business day)
• Nov. 4 to Honolulu
• Nov. 4 to Maui (Kahului)
• Nov. 4 to Palm Springs, California

According to Bob Cummings, executive vice-president, guest experience and marketing, WestJet, “we recognize travellers’ flight choices and flexibility were compromised after Harmony Airways announced ceasing their operations and flights to these locations. We are pleased to be able to provide additional frequencies to these specific destinations to ensure guests have more options when booking their trips. As we grow our fleet from 65 to 70 aircraft by year end 2007, we are continually assessing where to put this capacity to meet the needs of Canadian travellers.”

- Travel Press, Baxter Media

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Enterprise Rent-A-Car to acquire Vanguard Car Rental

Enterprise Rent-A-Car has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Vanguard Car Rental Group Inc. This transaction between two privately held companies is expected to close in the third or fourth quarter of 2007, contingent upon clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Anti-Trust Improvements Act and other customary closing conditions.

The acquisition will join two rental car companies with very complementary businesses. St. Louis-based Enterprise’s primary strength lies in the in-town and insurance replacement segments of the industry. Vanguard, based in Tulsa, operates the National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands, which serve the airport segment of the market. Capitalizing on the companies’ assets in these different segments will allow for more efficient fleet utilization and enhance the combined companies’ ability to offer low prices and quality service to all customers.
more >

- www.enterprise.com

 
 



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Articles of interest:

AIR CANADA LAUNCHES SERVICE BETWEEN LONDON AND ST. JOHN'S
Air Canada marks the return of seasonal non-stop service between London, England and St. John's, Nfld.

Flights will operate until the end of October. Air Canada's service to London will operate five times weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays in June, with daily service from July 1 through the end of September.

The carrier will operate the route using newly refurbished 120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft in a two-cabin configuration offering a choice of Executive Class and Economy service.

- Canadian Tourism Commission: Tourism Daily


AIR CANADA CELEBRATES ARRIVAL OF FIRST NEW BOEING 777 AIRCRAFT
Air Canada introduced a new generation of aircraft into its fleet with the arrival of its first Boeing 777 in Montreal. The airline's 777 fleet started operating on key long-haul routes to Europe, Asia and the South Pacific in April.


DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE BETWEEN EDMONTON AND HALIFAX
Air Canada begins new daily nonstop seasonal service between Edmonton and Halifax on June 15, 2007. Register and fly between Edmonton and Halifax and you’ll earn Double Aeroplan® Miles for every flight** between June 15 and July 15, 2007. Register to double your pleasure!

You must register online at the Aeroplan website, and then call your ATCO Travel Counsellor to book.
- www.aeroplan.com


COAST HOTELS & RESORTS SELECTED TO MANAGE NEW VANCOUVER HOTEL
Coast Hotels & Resorts announced it has been selected to manage a new 20-storey, 220-room full-service hotel in downtown Vancouver, which is being constructed by its parent company Okabe North America Inc., a subsidiary of Japan's Okabe Co., Ltd.

The new hotel will be located at 1180 West Hastings St., approximately two blocks south of Vancouver's expanded convention centre and within walking distance from the city's business district and cruise ship terminal.

Construction of the new hotel is scheduled to get underway later this month. The property will be branded the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel and is scheduled to open in the fall of 2009.

Coast Hotels & Resorts has been aggressively adding new properties to its portfolio in western Canada. In the last year, Coast Hotel & Resorts added 749 rooms to the chain's inventory increasing its Canadian room count by 28 per cent. The hotel chain recently opened hotels in Sun Peaks Resort and Osoyoos, BC, Yellowknife, NWT and Medicine Hat, Jasper, and Edmonton, Alberta.

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