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October 2009
| Porter Airlines opens new lounge in Ottawa offering passengers complimentary amenities |
 OTTAWA — Porter Airlines is opening a new dedicated lounge in Ottawa International Airport. All passengers have complimentary access to the airline’s modern lounge, the first located outside of the airline’s main hub at Toronto City Centre Airport.
Features and furnishings emulate the existing Toronto lounge, including comfortable seating, computer workstations, Wi-Fi access, a meeting room and business centre as well as snacks, cold beverages and espresso in heated cups. From the lounge, it’s only a few steps to board Porter’s Canadian-built Bombardier Q400 aircraft featuring leather seats and extra legroom.
“Porter is known for creating an exceptional travel experience and the new lounge enhances this in Ottawa,” said Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines. “Passengers can now relax in a familiar location and easily complete any last-minute business tasks before their flight.”
“We are very pleased that Porter chose Ottawa for the first lounge away from its home base, and we know that clients will enjoy an end-to-end Porter experience when their travels take them to Toronto,” said Paul Benoit, Ottawa Airport Authority President and CEO. |
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| AIR CANADA FIRST NORTH AMERICAN AIRLINE TO RELEASE BLACKBERRY APPLICATION OFFERING MORE AND MORE CUSTOMERS INCREASED REAL-TIME MOBILE OPTIONS |
 MONTRÉAL, October 15, 2009 – Air Canada became today the first North American airline to release a free BlackBerry® application providing travellers with BlackBerry devices convenient and easy real-time access to a wide-range of flight information including; retrieving electronic boarding passes, tracking flight information in real-time, receiving notification of itinerary changes and obtaining other details about Air Canada flights.
“With the release of our new Blackberry App, Air Canada continues to be an industry leader now offering more and more customers innovative mobile and wireless services that provide real-time information and convenient functions tailored for people on the move. This Blackberry App significantly expands these options enabling travellers to check-in, board and obtain other details about Air Canada flights,” said Ben Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. “In addition, we have revamped our mobile portal http://mobile.aircanada.com to mirror the features of the Air Canada BlackBerry App. This is another step in introducing more cutting-edge technical innovations that will enhance and simplify our self-service and mobile options for customers who like the freedom of managing their own travel. We will continue to add new features in response to customer demand.”
Available free on-line from BlackBerry App World™ (www.blackberry.com/appworld) or on Air Canada’s mobile site (http://mobile.aircanada.com) the new application was developed for Air Canada by IBM Canada. It will among other things enable users to: keep track of and update all of their Air Canada and Jazz flights from a single location; receive messages and link to their electronic boarding passes; access Air Canada Mobile check-in to select a seat and retrieve an electronic boarding pass; book flights using an Air Canada Flight Pass; rent a car or access other convenient travel links; and find and track any Air Canada or Jazz flight; subscribe to flight notification informing them of flight delays.
Air Canada, recognized as an industry leader in self-service and mobile technology – it was the first airline in the world to introduce 2-D Electronic Boarding Passes in 2007 – is also refining and expanding its existing products to better meet the needs of customers. Among other things Air Canada is:
• Adding new functions to airport kiosks, offering customers the option to purchase an upgrade, reprint boarding passes, and obtain an electronic boarding pass, including at international airports
• Enhancing its boarding passes to provide more and new travel information such as check-in and baggage drop-off times
• Offering easy-to-use, personalized flight notification so customers can be automatically updated through their mobile devices about changes to their itinerary. For greater ease, customers can receive all Air Canada wireless communications in a single, convenient easy to access location called “My Message” in-box on computers and mobile devices.
• Providing additional mobile detail about the status of Air Canada flights, including gate information, flight status, diversions, arrivals and local weather conditions |
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| Another Value-Add from Vision 2000 - Plaza Premium Lounge |
 Plaza Premium Lounge is the world's first "Pay-In Lounge" open to all classes of travelers. Entering a new era of traveling, economy class passengers can also enjoy first class lounge facilities at a very reasonable price.
In Toronto Pearson International Airport, there are five locations strategically located in Terminal 1 and 3, both International and Domestic Departures as well as US Transborder, occupying a total space of 1,800 sq.m. providing over 400 seats.
Vision 2000 has an exclusive 20% savings for our clients - click here to download and print the coupon
Together with the two lounges in Vancouver International Airport, they now operate a total of seven airport lounges in Canada. They are committed to providing consistent quality service to all the travelers so that they can have a pleasurable stay in the airport!
The Plaza Premium Lounge network spans the globe with 10 lounges across Asia and India including
- Hong Kong Int'l Airport
- Guangzhou Balyun Int'l Airport
- Beijiing Capital Int'l Airport
- Shanghai Pudong Int'l Airport
- Kuala Lumpur Int'l Airport
- Senai Int'l Airport, Johore
- Singapore Changi Airport
- Muscat Int'l Airport
- Rajiv Gandhi Int'l Airport, Hyderabad
- Indira Grandhi Int'l Airport, New Delhi
You can learn more about Plaza Premium Lounge at www.plazapremiumlounge.com
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| Double Aeroplan Miles with Air Canada on international flights! |
 Between October 15, 2009 and January 31, 2010, earn Double Aeroplan Miles when you register* above and fly roundtrip between Canada and international destinations on the following
Air Canada flights†:
Double Aeroplan Miles in Executive First:
Earn Double Aeroplan Miles when completing a roundtrip, or two one-ways, in Executive First® on flights operated by Air Canada between Canada and:
- Europe (Frankfurt, Munich, London, Zurich, Geneva, Paris, Madrid, Rome)
- Israel (Tel Aviv)
- Asia (Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul)
- South America (Lima, Bogotá, Sao Paulo, Santiago, Buenos Aires, Caracas**)
- Australia (Sydney)
Offer is valid for bookings made with the following Executive First® fare types: Executive Flexible and Executive Lowest.
Double Aeroplan Miles in Economy Class to select international destinations:
Earn Double Aeroplan Miles when completing a roundtrip, or two one-ways, in Economy Class on flights operated by Air Canada between Canada and:
- Europe (Geneva)
- Asia (Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai)
- South America (Santiago, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo)
Offer is valid for bookings made with the following Economy Class fare types: Latitude, Tango Plus and Tango.
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| Vision 2000 is on Facebook and Twitter! |
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| SoHo Metropolitan Hotel RECIPE FEATURE |
 Every month we will be featuring a different recipe from a renowned restaurant and chef.
This months feature is kicked-off by Metropolitan Hotels, with a gourmet beef dish by Patrick Lin, Executive Chef, Senses Restaurant and Bakery, SoHo Metropolitan Hotel, Toronto. Chef Lin is the current Ontario Golden Plate Award winner, whose culinary creations fuse eastern & western cuisine with a modern flare. In addition to being the resident Chef of Senses Restaurant, Chef Lin is Executive Chef to Metropolitan Hotels; Metropolitan Toronto, SoHo Metropolitan and Metropolitan Vancouver.
In the true gourmet flavor of Metropolitan Hotels, Clients of Vision 2000 will all receive a 15% discount in the award winning restaurants, Hemispheres Bistro & Lai Wah Heen located at Metropolitan Toronto Hotel. To obtain your savings, please print and present a copy of this page of our newsletter to the restaurant server. This offer is valid until Dec 30, 2009 - so make sure you take advantage of it over the holidays! (discount applies to food & non-alcoholic beverages only) Located at the Metropolitan Toronto Hotel, 108 Chestnut Street, Toronto, ON. For Reservations in Hemispheres or Lai Wah Heen call: 416-977-5000
Without further ado - here is our first recipe...
POACHED BEEF TENDERLOIN
By Metropolitan Hotels / Senses Restaurant Executive Chef Patrick Lin
Serves 10
Ingredients:
Canadian AAA beef tenderloin, well trimmed – 20 pieces (approximately 85 –90 grams per piece)
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Canola oil – 1 tablespoon
Poached beef broth:
Vodka – 4 cups
Cognac or brandy – 3 cups
Beef bouillon – 7 cups
Dried bay leaf – 1 piece
Fresh rosemary – 1 sprig
Fresh thyme – 4 sprigs
White peppercorns – 10 pieces
Bordelaise sauce:
Cabernet Sauvignon red wine – 2 cups
Sliced shallots – 1/3 cup
Sliced carrots – 1/3 cup
Sliced onion – 1/3 cup
Sliced leek – 1/3 cup
Sliced celery root – ¼ cup
Italian parsley – 10 sprigs
Fresh thyme – 2 sprigs
Dried bay leaf – 1 piece
Sliced garlic – 2 tablespoons
Black peppercorns – 6 pieces
Dried cloves – 1 piece
Veal stock – 2 cups
Green peppercorn – 1 tablespoon
Kosher and freshly ground black peppercorn
Button mushroom creamy sauce:
Unsalted butter – 1 tablespoon
Button mushrooms, cut into quarters – 1 generous cup
Minced shallot – 1 tablespoon
Minced garlic – ½ tablespoon
Dry white wine – ¼ cup
Chicken stock – 2 tablespoon
35% cream – 1 cup
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Freshly chopped chives as garnish
Equipment:
Medium saucepan
Fine-mesh Strainer
Small saucepan
Preparation and cooking:
In a medium saucepan, bring the wine, vegetables, parsley, thyme, bay leaf and garlic to a simmer until almost all the liquid has evaporated. Add the peppercorns and veal stock and simmer the sauce for another 25 – 30 minutes. Strain the sauce through a fine-mesh strainer into a small saucepan. Boil the poached beef liquid with the herbal ingredients. Place the filet mignons into the hot liquid, cover them with a lid and bake them at 325F. Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Cook them for 5 minutes or until mushrooms are tender and slightly toasty around the edges and all liquid has evaporated. Pour in the white wine and cream. Reduce to a very thick creamy sauce. Remove the filet mignons from poaching liquid. Arrange the creamed mushrooms on top and spoon red wine sauce over the top.
Wine pairing: Senses sommelier recommends
Neyers Merlot, Napa California
This dish needs a smooth wine, with a hint of white peppercorns in order to let the full flavour of the sauce come through. A merlot that has been aged in French oak would serve this dish very well.
A now for a little bit about the chef...
PATRICK LIN
SENIOR CORPORATE EXECUTIVE CHEF, METROPOLITAN HOTELS
EXECUTIVE CHEF, SENSES RESTAURANT AND BAKERY
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Chef Patrick Lin has embodied an East-meets-West culinary style that has become his signature,  having shifted from Hong Kong and Canada for much of his highly regarded career.
In early 2007, Canada and the Metropolitan Hotels’ family of restaurants beckoned his return after previously being Executive Chef of the Metropolitan Hotel Toronto and Hemispheres Restaurant & Bistro from 1999-2002 after which time headed back to Hong Kong. Now, Chef Lin as Executive Chef of Senses Restaurant, located at the SoHo Metropolitan Hotel in Toronto, works his culinary delights. Chef Lin is highly acclaimed, most recently is the winning 2008 Ontario Golden Plate Recipient.
Senses Restaurant
SoHo Metropolitan Hotel
318 Wellington Street West
Toronto, ON M5G 1R3
Senses Ph: 416-935-0400
SoHo Met Hotel Ph: 416-599-8800 |
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| Going to be in Toronto on Halloween weekend? Come and see us at the Zoomershow! |
 Vision 2000 Cruises & Vacations will be at booth 3515 at the Zoomershow October 31 and November 1, 2009 in the Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place.
The show runs Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 5pm and we will be featuring some exciting offrers from our top travel supplier partners such as Scenic Tours River Cruises, Holland America Line, Barbados Tourism Authority and Collette Vacations.
For more information on the Zoomershow go to their website www.zoomershow.com |
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| BALCONY SPOOKTACULAR |
 Don't wait to book - the pumpkin bursts November first!
Eastern Caribbean
10 nights roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale
Departs Nov 30/09 aboard the MSC Poesia
Balcony cabin $599 pp + taxes $66.69
Western Caribbean
7 nights roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale
Departs Jan 16/10 aboard the MSC Poesia
Balcony cabin $699 pp + taxes $66.48
*Rates are USD, per person, double occupancy, cruise-only and valid for new retail bookings on select sailings and stateroom types for residents of U.S. and Canada. Offer cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion and may be withdrawn without notice. Offer is capacity controlled, subject to availability and restrictions apply. Government taxes and fees for all guests are additional as stated above. Offer expires Nov. 1, 2009. Ships' registry: Panama
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