YYZ TRAVEL HOT DEALS

WINTER IN ITALY
Winter is the best time for travel to Europe, with lower airfare, fewer crowds and mild weather, and Italy can certainly be one of the ideal holiday destinations during the winter season. Thanks to the sunshine and the warm climate, it is the perfect season for those,  who are interested in cultural events, shows and performances, shopping and entertainment, festivals and exhibitions. Streets and shops are less crowded and the incredible winter bargains are an additional bonus impossible to resist. Now you can save a fortune on your stay, thanks to amazing rates offered by the wide selection of hotels across Italy. Only from $56 CAD in Milan, from $63 in Rome, from $96 in Venice, per person per night, including breakfast and taxes if you stay between Nov. 1st , 2008 and March 31st, 2009! Great hotel rates for other cities are available as well.
Call your agent at YYZ TRAVEL AMERICAN EXPRESS for information and reservation.

LA DOLCE VITA
Costa, Europe’s # 1 Cruise Line, is now offering special low fares on Mediterranean cruises for this winter. If you are ready to embark on a journey of a lifetime, prepare to set sail on board one of the newest flagships and experience the Mediterranean the way it is meant to be experienced. You will enjoy your destination-rich itinerary, luxury ship with world-famous Samsara Spa, fine dining with amazing Italian cuisine, will make it a luxury voyage with all the traditional comforts of home. Your 10-night voyage along ancient European sea routes will cost you only from $749 (inside stateroom, cruise only, taxes extra, per person).

KIDS SAIL FREE
MSC Cruises. Beautiful and Passionate. Sail across the world’s most beautiful seas and discover a perfect blend of European charm and modern elegance, experience the genuine warmth and truly Italian hospitality. Now children under 17 sail free on every MSC cruise, making MSC Cruises the ideal choice for a family vacation.
7 night Western Caribbean cruise - from $609,
7 night Greek Isles cruise – from $1345.
Wide selection of other fabulous itineraries, various departure dates from Jan. 10 till Oct. 25, 2009. Certain conditions apply. For further details, please contact your agent at YYZ TRAVEL AMERICAN EXPRESS

BREAKING NEWS

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Southwest To Offer Dedicated Priority Passenger Screening

This month Southwest Airlines at some of the most active airports will roll out dedicated security-screening lanes for its highest-tier frequent flyer members and buyers of high-yield fares. The Fly By Priority Security Lane Access give A-List loyalty program members and holders of Business Select tickets front-of-the-line access at Dallas Love Field, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Denver International, San Francisco International, Los Angeles International and John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California.
Southwest said customers must present their A-List card or a Business Select boarding pass at the security checkpoint, once the lanes become active. American Airlines last month also rolled out a similar program, giving elite status members, First and Business Class passengers and travelers on full-fare Economy Class tickets with "dedicated PriorityAAccess check-in, security screening lanes (where available) and exclusive boarding lanes at the gate." American said Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago O'Hare, Miami, Los Angeles, New York JFK, New York La Guardia and San Francisco, among others, will offer the expedited services.

BRIEFLY

2nd Bag Free!
Air Canada has eliminated the $25 fee for a second checked bag for North American travel with Tango and Tango Plus fares.
In addition, the excess fee for oversize/overweight bags have been simplified:
•    Within the free checked allowance, a single fee of $75 for North America ($100 for International) applies whether the bag is oversized, overweight, or both
•    Outside the free checked allowance, a single fee of $100 for North America ($225 for international) applies whether the bag is oversized, overweight, or both

Travel with Sports Equipment on AIR CANADA Flgihts
When your customers pre-register their sporting equipment at aircanada.com, they will be exempt from:
•    Oversize fee for ski, snowboards, hockey sticks/bags (if part of the two free checked pieces)
•    Excess piece fee for hockey sticks or ski/snowboard boots (if carried with related sports equipment)
Excess fees apply to all other items if over and above the free baggage allowance.

Continental Airlines Offers Complimentary Helicopter Flights for First-Class and Full-Fare Economy Class Customers in Manhattan Continental Airlines announced a promotional $45 one-way fare for US Helicopter service between its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and Manhattan.

NEWS FROM AIRLINES

AIR CANADA codeshares with TAM
Air Canada, a founding member of Star Alliance, and TAM, Brazil’s largest airline, have concluded an agreement to expand their networks on a codeshare basis, offering customers more choice of destinations and transfers to major cities throughout Brazil and Canada.
This bilateral agreement also provides for reciprocal travel reward benefits for the members of the carriers’ frequent flyer programs, Aeroplan and TAM Fidelidade. The introduction of codeshare services and reciprocal travel reward benefits is planned to take effect in November, subject to government approval.
Separately, Star Alliance announced that following the successful conclusion of membership talks with TAM, the Chief Executive Board of Star Alliance has voted to accept Latin America’s largest air carrier as a future member.
With the implementation of this new bilateral partnership agreement between Air Canada and TAM, customers of both airlines will benefit from simplified bookings, seamless connections on a single ticket and baggage check-through to final destination, said the carriers.
Through connections at Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport, Air Canada’s network will expand to serve six major Brazilian cities on a codeshare basis operated by TAM: Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Recife, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba and Porto Alegre.
TAM customers in turn, will benefit from an expanded network including daily codeshare service operated by Air Canada between Sao Paulo and Toronto with connections in Toronto to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal and Quebec City.
Between Toronto and Sao Paulo, Air Canada operates year-round daily nonstop service with 211-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, replaced with a larger 349-seat Boeing 777-300ER during the peak travel months December to March.
Air Canada and TAM will expand their networks on a codeshare basis, offering your clients more choice of destinations, convenient transfers to major cities throughout Brazil and Canada, and reciprocal travel reward benefits.

Air Canada to launch direct Halifax-Orlando service
Air Canada will launch bi-weekly non-stop seasonal service between Halifax and Orlando, Fla., beginning Feb. 6, 2009. Flights will be offered until May 10, 2009. AC’s Halifax-Orlando flights offer convenient departures on Fridays and Sundays, with flight AC1218 departing Halifax at 3 p.m., arriving in Orlando at 6 p.m. Air Canada flight AC1219 will depart Orlando at 6:40 p.m., arriving back in Halifax at 11 p.m. Flights will be operated aboard 120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft on Fridays and 93-seat Embraer E190 aircraft on Sundays.

Brussels Airlines adds Toronto
Brussels Airlines’ passengers can now travel easily between Toronto and Brussels. Thanks to a new codeshare agreement between Brussels Airlines and Jet Airways, a direct daily flight is now available. Flights are operated with a schedule that guarantees excellent connections to/from more than 50 destinations in Europe, including Barcelona, Athens or Rome, and 14 destinations in Africa. The route is flown on Airbus A330-200 aircraft in a two-class configuration (Economy and Business).

CARIBBEAN ENHANCES SERVICE
Caribbean Airlines adds an additional Boeing 737-800 aircraft to its operating fleet and enhances Toronto-Trinidad service and additional Caribbean schedules starting from effective November 15, 2008. Increasing flight frequency allows the airline to meet market demands and deliver more flying options for the upcoming peak travel periods. This is a very good example of positive growth during a time when other carriers are pulling service back.
With the enhanced fleet, Caribbean Airlines will offer two daily non-stop flights between Trinidad and Toronto. Number of flights to other key destination in USA, Jamaica and Guyana will be increased as well.
The additional aircraft will bring Caribbean Airlines’ fleet to a total of 13 aircraft: eight Boeing 737-800 and five Dash-8 300 aircraft.
Porter has Chicago on the horizon
Porter Airlines is preparing for arrival at Chicago Midway International Airport from its Toronto City Centre Airport (TCCA) base, with the first flights departing Nov. 12. The full schedule includes six roundtrip flights every weekday, plus two Saturday and three Sunday. An initial schedule of three daily roundtrip flights per weekday and two each on Saturday and Sunday will be in effect until Jan. 7, 2009. The full schedule will be implemented on Jan. 8., 2009

PORTER RETURNS TO MT. TREMBLANT THIS WINTER
Porter Airlines is returning to the slopes of Mont Tremblant, Que., with a more frequent winter schedule from Toronto City Centre Airport.  Flights from downtown Toronto begin Dec. 19, as often as five times per week. Flights are available Thursday, Friday, Saturday and twice Sunday, depending on time of year. This schedule is based on the strong demand experienced last year, when passengers wanted more weekday flights. Porter is partnering with Ultimate Ski Vacations this season, to provide air-inclusive packages including flights, transfers, lifts and accommodation. The winter schedule ends March 22.

US pre-clearance in Halifax makes way for increased traffic
The convenience of passing through US customs prior to boarding a non-stop flight to the United States has helped increase air travel from Halifax to American destinations by 27 per cent in the last two years, say officials at Halifax Robert L. Stanfield International Airport. In the period before the opening of the pre-clearance facility (October 2005 to August 2006) 136,889 passengers flew from Halifax non-stop to the US. In the same period (October 2007 to August 2008) that number climbed to 174,740. The US pre-clearance facility at Halifax Stanfield will mark its second anniversary on Oct. 4.
“US pre-clearance has exceeded our expectations, surpassing the growth in its first full year of operation that we predicted for the end of year three and it continues to drive air service growth into the United States,” says Jerry Staples, vice-president marketing and business development for Halifax International Airport Authority. US pre-clearance in Halifax offers easy access to dozens of American destinations with year-round connections through major cities such as New York, Boston, Washington and Chicago.

ON A RED CARPET

Hamilton International Airport Wins Major International Award
Hamilton International Airport is proud to announce that it has captured a major international prize for airport marketing, the OAG - Routes Airport Marketing Award for the Americas.
The award was presented at the 14th Annual World Route Development Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia before delegates representing nearly 500 airlines and 1000 airports.
This honour recognizes excellence in air service development as voted by industry partners, who nominated airports based on market research and marketing communications activities.
In its first two years, flyglobespan has experienced tremendous growth due, in-part, to leveraging cooperative marketing initiatives with Hamilton International airport. In 2008, the partners offered more same-plane destinations to the U.K. than any other North American airport. This award is a particularly proud honour for the airport as it is the result of a nomination by our partner airlines. Airport is extremely happy to receive the award amongst very difficult competition.

PLACES TO STAY

Hyatt Regency Toronto to Open in January
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts will operate and manage the 394-room Hyatt Regency Toronto in the former Holiday Inn on King, currently undergoing renovation and expected to open in January, 2009, in Toronto’s downtown entertainment district.
The multi-million-dollar renovation will refurbish all guestrooms and suites, outfitting them with Hyatt Grand Beds, 42-inch LG flatscreen TVs, updated furniture and fixtures, iHome clock radios, multimedia AV connection access ports and fully updated bathrooms. The reconfigured lobby will offer check-in kiosks and a reflecting water-fire feature. On the food front, the property plans a contemporary restaurant and a lobby-level wine bar.
Also offered are more than 30,000 sq. ft. of newly renovated meeting space and wireless high-speed Internet access throughout. A StayFit Hyatt gym and a Regency Club, of approximately 4,700-sq.-ft. and featuring an outdoor patio, are planned.

New Hyatt Regency set to debut in Toronto’s entertainment district
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts will operate and manage the new 394-room Hyatt Regency Toronto on behalf of King Street Enterprises. The hotel will open in January in the city’s entertainment district -- within walking distance of such major attractions as the CN Tower, Rogers Centre, Air Canada Centre, Princess of Wales Theatre, Royal Alexandra Theatre and Roy Thomson Hall. Currently undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation that includes entirely new guest rooms, lobby and meeting space, Hyatt Regency Toronto will become the second Hyatt property in the city, joining Park Hyatt Toronto. (http://www.hyattregencytoronto.com)

PLACES TO GO

Toronto's ROM to Display Dead Sea Scrolls
Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) will present the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls ever assembled in Canada, beginning June 27, 2009 and running until Jan. 3, 2010.
A collaboration between the Israel Antiquities Authority and the ROM, the six-month exhibition will display 16 authentic scrolls, including fragments from the books of Genesis, Deuteronomy and Psalms, and the sectarian Community Rule, War Scroll and Messianic Apocalypse.
Five fragments, never before publicly displayed, are being conserved especially for the ROM. All scrolls will be presented with full interpretations, translations and background information.
Discovered between 1947 and 1956 in caves on the Dead Sea’s northwestern shore, the scrolls, written between 250 BC and 68 AD, contain the earliest known texts of the Hebrew Bible (Christian Old Testament).
Visit http://www.rom.on.ca/news/releases/public.php?mediakey=f1jvbwy3s4

Rare historical documents on display at Israel Museum
In collaboration with Israel’s State Archives and in celebration of Israel’s 60th anniversary, a new exhibition entitled “Blue and White Pages: Documenting the History of Israel” opens this week at the Israel Museum, displaying approximately 100 original documents from the history of the people and State of Israel, most on display for the first time. Blue and White Pages is culled from millions of documents housed in the State Archives’ collection, with the goal of exploring major themes related to the founding of Israel and its national identity. Exhibition highlights include: Israel’s original Declaration of Independence, together with related documents; peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan; and also, in its first public display, two pages of Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon’s diary, which survived the Columbia Space Shuttle disaster in 2003 and underwent years of restoration in the Israel Museum’s laboratories and forensic work by Israel Police. (http://www.goisrael.com)