I’ve been covering events for more than a decade, creating quick-turnaround stories that highlight the most important takeaways, complete with expert quotes.
Air Canada Vacations (ACV) hosted 200 agents at its winter product launch in Vancouver last night, an event that included announcements, prizes and special appearances by Elmo and Cookie Monster.
Kristin Erz, area sales manager for ACV and Colin Skerritt, global account manager, the evening's MCs, kicked things off by thanking agents for their support…
Destination Hotels, the largest operator of independent hotels in the United States, has unveiled a rebrand that includes a new name (formerly Destination Hotels and Resorts), programs, partnerships and a more unified visual identity. PAXnewsWest.com sat down with Carrie Drost, Destination's director of public relations, to find out what the rebranding effort means for travel professionals and their clients…
Boomerang and Exotik Tours invited travel agents to the TravelBrands offices in Vancouver yesterday to announce new technology improvements that will change the way agents quote and book travel through the companies as of Sept. 7. These backend changes will enhance the functionality of the revamped website launched in May, which brought the Exotik and Boomerang product offerings together on one site…
Representatives of Choose Chicago wrapped up four days in Vancouver on Thursday with local travel agents during a sunny soiree on the patio of the Shangri-La Hotel.
"There's great interest in Chicago,†Cathy Domanico, Choose Chicago's vice-president of tourism and leisure sales, told PAXnewsWest.com. "Chicago is a new product offering for Western Canada, which provides a good opportunity for travel professionals…”
The booming entertainment district in Scottsdale, Arizona is growing fast. Nine new restaurants and bars have opened in the last two years, giving the area the highest concentration of bars and lounges in downtown Scottsdale. The 230-room W Scottsdale hotel is located in a prime position for visitors looking to experience the area's nightlife, including three lounges within the hotel. PAXnewsWest.com sat down with Rich Gonzalez, the hotel's director of sales and marketing, to learn about the latest developments in the entertainment district, and what guests should know about this 230-room Starwood property…
The sun obliged yesterday, shining on guests as they arrived at the Transat Holidays 2015–2016 sun product launch in Vancouver, presented at an intimate lunch for 20 agents at Blue Water Café.
Transat's new 2015–2016 sun brochure features 35 destinations. For the first time, all vacation destinations are offered as Transat Holidays packages, including those previously available only under the Nolitours banner…
"I could have lived anywhere, but I chose to live on Kauai.†It was a refrain heard over and over again on a recent PAXnewsWest.com visit to the destination.
"Kauai has a feeling, a spirit,†said Sabra Kauka, a Kauai cultural representative. "It has a way of embracing you and saying ‘Aloha.'â€
Ninety-seven per cent of Kauai's land is undeveloped, with many pristine areas accessible only by boat or foot, and some only by helicopter (a quirky piece of legislation prevents the construction of buildings that exceed the height of a mature coconut tree)…
The Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2015 wrapped up Friday after three days of connecting Thailand tourism operators and service providers with buyers and media.
The 2015 Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) campaign encourages visitors to "Discover Thainess,†a theme much discussed at the event. What exactly is "Thainessâ€? It's that unique aspect of Thailand that keeps visitors returning to the country…
PAXnewsWest.com is on location in Thailand this week for the Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2015.
Before attending the TTM+ opening reception last night, media guests (including PAXnewsWest.com) spent the day exploring Bangkok with Tourism Authority of Thailand representatives. First was the Pak-Klong Market, the largest wholesale and retail flower market in Bangkok, which also does a brisk business in produce. After a quick peek at the rows of stalls selling garlands, roses, herbs, and fruits and vegetables, it was off to the Amita Thai Cooking School for a lesson in Thai cuisine…
Read the rest at PAXnewsWest.com
Representatives from Visit West Hollywood are in Vancouver this week to highlight the best of the 4.9 square kilometre city which Communications Manager Chris Arboleda calls "geographically and culturally the centre of L.A.†PAXnewsWest.com sat down with Arboleda to learn more about this "hip, trendy and diverse†neighbourhood with "an authentic Hollywood feel.”