REVIEWS YOU CAN TRUST

02 FEB 2012: TripAdvisor has been told it can no longer claim to offer "trusted and honest reviews" after an investigation by advertising watchdogs in the UK, found the site could not guarantee customer feedback was genuine. And to whom does this come as a surprise? Read more...

EXPECT A CONSISTENT PATTERN

02 FEB 2012: Singapore Airlines said this week, it had found examples of recently identified wing cracks in all six of the Airbus A380s on which it carried out mandatory inspections. The discovery of more instances of cracked wing components was not unexpected after Airbus admitted last week it had found the problem, and predicted that until it had time to conduct repairs, a consistent pattern would emerge in further tests. Read more...

PASSENGER DEMAND UP

02 Feb 2012: The International Air Transport Association says passenger demand grew 5.9 per cent last year but lagged behind capacity increases. The group, which represents some 240 major airlines, says the airlines increased their available seats by 6.3 per cent meaning average loads declined slightly in 2011. Read more...

SPROUL STEPS DOWN

02 FEB 2012:   Travel Professionals International (TPI), has announced that Phil Sproul is stepping down as president of TPI effective 29 February 2012, following four successful years at the helm of the company. TPI Founder, chairman and CEO, Morris Chia, will become president effective 1 March. Read more...

INDIA

02 FEB 2012: “Who else can serve up a private rooftop dinner at an Indian palace?”  The question was posed by Cris David, president of Insight Vacations Canada as he welcomed 35 agents and trade journalists to Toronto’s Bazaar Global Food Bar for the launch of “A journey of the senses.”  That was just one of the many lifetime experiences offered in the India and Nepal packages. Read more...

OIL AND WATER

02 FEB 2012: A thin film of oil spread has begun to spread from the Costa Concordia cruise ship as waves battered the wreckage off Italy's coast Wednesday, adding to fears of an environmental disaster in the area's sensitive, pristine waters. Authorities were trying to assess how serious and extensive the spill is.   Read more...

IT WAS SUCH A BIG DEAL

02 FEB 2012: Most of Ontario Place on Toronto's waterfront will be closed for years while the government reviews ways to revitalize the provincially-owned park. Finance Minister Dwight Duncan says the government can't afford to keep spending $20 million a year to keep Ontario Place open when attendance is steadily declining. Read more...

JESUS NO. Cross that idea off the list

02 FEB 2012:  That idea of putting up a giant Jesus statue in a London park to promote the 2016 Olympic Games is not going over well. Brazil's tourist board has floated the notion of erecting a 30-foot (9-meter) replica of Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer statue - a symbol of peace and a well-known landmark of the city - on Primrose Hill. Residents weren't receptive to the idea. Read more...

A LAGNIAPPE A DAY

02 FEB 2012: I spent last weekend, well actually Thursday through Sunday, at a Silver Sticks hockey tournament in Port Huron Michigan with my 14-year-old goalie son.  While I was looking forward to the tournament, I must confess that I was loathing the thought of the trip itself. Read more...

WHO ARE YOU

01 FEB 2012:  By definition, documentation you use as identification must identify you. However, the transgendered community in Canada has fears that they may be grounded by rules prohibiting airlines from allowing someone carry a passenger if they do not resemble their photograph, or if their age or gender do not match the age or gender identity listed on their passport or other identification. Aside for the obvious jokes about terrible “passport pictures” surely this it is just common sense that one should resemble the identification being utilized. Read more...

SEARCH CALLED OFF

01 FEB 2012: Italian emergency officials are ending the search for the 16 missing people in the submerged part of the Costa Concordia cruise ship because of  the danger to rescue workers.  Italy's Civil Protection agency said Tuesday that technical studies indicated the deformed hull of the ship created too many safety concerns to continue the search within it. Read more...

NOT SO FAST

01 FEB 2012: While US online leisure/unmanaged business travel market growth continues to outpace the total travel market, the days of lightning-fast online growth are gone for good, says a global travel market research company. , Read more...

THREE MAGICAL ISLANDS

01 FEB 2012: “Captivating”, “Enlightening”, “Embracing”.  The Maui, Moloka’i and Lana’i Visitors and Convention Bureau has been on a search for adjectives - adjectives that visitors thought best described these heavenly islands.  And anyone who has ever been to one, two or all three of these islands is sure to agree: they captivate like nowhere else on earth, their rich and unique culture is enlightening, and all visitors are embraced by the warm people who call this paradise home. Read more...

ALOHA

01 FEB 2011: It’s not just Maui, Moloka’i and Lana’i that are a hit with visitors (see above story), Hawaii in general is seeing a solid recovery in tourism with increases in both arrivals and spending by tourists. State tourism officials on Monday said Hawaii welcomed 7,284,069 visitors last year, a 3.8 per cent increase over 2010. Read more...

ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR

01 FEB 2012:  Goway founder Bruce Hodge emigrated from Australia in 1970, and after building a spectacularly successful company wanted to celebrate Australia Day on January 26 to give his staff in Canada a taste of his home country, and celebrate the company’s close ties to Australia. Read more...

TAMING THE WEST

01 FEB 2012:  Purists may cringe, but when it comes to dude ranches, hosts are adopting John Wayne's, ``A man's got to do what a man's got to do,'' and are offering options unheard of just a few years ago in order to attract guests. Read more...

SPANAIR INFORMATION

01 FEB 2012: Having suspended operations on January 28 Spanair the airline has put out the following information regarding its cancelled flights. Read more...

WALK A MILE IN HIS SHOES

01 FEB 2012: American daredevil Nik Wallenda will make another presentation to the Niagara Parks Commission on Thursday in a bid to walk over Niagara Falls on a tightrope. The performer's dream to inch along a tightrope above the Horseshoe Falls has been rejected by the commission board, citing its anti-stunting rule. Read more...

SAM ION

Read more...