June 2010

Route opens connections for customers and cargo flying to Scandinavia

TORONTO, June 24, 2010 – Air Canada today is launching non-stop service between Toronto and Copenhagen. It is the fourth new European city to be served from Air Canada’s Toronto hub this year as the carrier expands its international flying to offer customers a wider choice of routes and destinations.

“Air Canada is building its Toronto hub and this year we have launched long-haul service to four new, major European destinations. The addition of Copenhagen is important strategically as passengers and cargo will be able to conveniently connect with our Star Alliance partner Scandinavian Airlines to reach such cities as Oslo, Helsinki, Stockholm, Gothenburg and Warsaw. For connecting customers travelling between Copenhagen and U.S. cities, this new route will offer the fastest elapsed travel time,” said Ben Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.  “Toronto’s geographic position and the consolidation of our operations under one roof, where customers enjoy easy in-transit customs clearance and amenities such as our Maple Leaf Lounges, are enabling us to establish Lester B. Pearson International Airport as a major North American and global hub for the Star Alliance. Earlier this month, Air Canada launched new non-stop service to Athens and Barcelona from Toronto and to Brussels, via Montreal. At the same time, in conjunction with our international growth we have expanded our transborder network out of Toronto with seven new U.S. routes this spring.”

“We're once again pleased to see Air Canada’s continued growth and their dedication to their Toronto hub," said Pamela Griffith-Jones, Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer for the GTAA.  "Having this link to Copenhagen enhances the already excellent roster of international destinations available from Toronto.”

Air Canada will begin non-stop flights five days a week between Toronto and Copenhagen on June 24, 2010. The only non-stop service to Scandinavia from Canada will be operated with a 211-seat Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft featuring 24 lie flat bed suites in Executive First and a personal digital in-flight video system, a USB port and a power plug available at every seat throughout the aircraft. Flights will be timed to conveniently connect with Star Alliance partner Scandinavian Airlines, which offers more than 120 flights per day from Copenhagen to 52 destinations.

Approved Destination Status opens Canadian tourism sector to expanded business opportunities

OTTAWA, June 25 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada's airports today applauded the signing of a formal agreement for Canada to be one of the approved destinations for tourist travel for nationals of the People's Republic of China.

"Canada's airports, in partnership with the travel and tourism sector, have sought Approved Destination Status for many years," said CAC Air Policy & Facilitation Committee Chair Keith Medenblik, who also works in public affairs for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority. "We will work with our communities and partners in the tourism industry to take full advantage of this opportunity."

With a growing middle class and an increased propensity to travel, China is an ideal source of tourists for Canada. According to estimates from the World Tourism Organisation, China will become one of the top three outbound tourism markets in the world in less than 20 years. Approved Destination Status allows Canada to actively promote Canada in China as an approved leisure destination. The Chinese now will be able to book leisure tours to Canada, where previously Canadian trips were limited to family, business or study visits.

Canada joins more than 130 countries with ADS, which allows Chinese travel agents to promote Canada as a destination for group leisure travel. The Conference Board of Canada projects that the move, long supported by Canada's airports, is projected to grow the number of Chinese visiting Canada by 50 per cent by 2015. Last year, only 11,000 Chinese national overnight visits to Canada were recorded, making China a prime market for tourism growth.

About the Canadian Airports Council

The Canadian Airports Council (CAC) is the voice for Canada's airports. Its 50 members represent more than 200 airports, including all of the National Airports System (NAS) airports and most significant municipal airports in every province and territory. Together, CAC members handle virtually all of the nation's air cargo and international passenger traffic and 95% of domestic passenger traffic. They create in excess of $45 billion in economic activity in the communities they serve. And more than 200,000 jobs are directly associated with CAC member airports, generating a payroll of more than $8 billion annually.

For the first time in aviation history, an independent Swiss agency, "Air Ranking International", is providing a scientific ranking for commercial airlines in respect of safety. The aim is to enable airlines to improve passenger safety on the basis of a detailed study using scientific multi-criteria calculations.

Although the European Union publishes a "black list" of dangerous airlines, there are real differences in terms of safety among the other airlines belonging to the white list. The Swiss agency Air Ranking International has developed a scientific multi-criteria approach that takes into account the complexity of air safety in order to obtain results which are tangible, meaningful and that can be reproduced: the ARI ranking.

These rankings are based on a “multiple correspondence analysis”, which is a particular type of data analysis that can handle both quantitative and qualitative criteria. The specificity of this approach based on mathematical projections and matrix calculations, is that it does not use the somehow arbitrary weighting system generally used in rankings.

The result reveals, amongst other things, that although factors linked to the size of the airline (financial health, fleet size, headcount) have a major impact on the ranking, they cannot alone explain all the differences. Indeed, the analysis of air disasters very often shows an accumulation of technical, human and external causes. “Highly experienced pilots can handle technical problems very well; conversely flights without technical problems can go very well with very inexperienced pilots. However, the combination of technical problems and inexperienced pilots can be disastrous.” explains Jean-Pierre Otelli, Air Safety expert and Chief Technology Officer for Air Ranking International.

Air Ranking International commissioned a group of international experts specialist in air safety and risk assessment to validate eighteen relevant indicators significantly contributing to flight safety. These quantitative (such as the average age of the fleet) or qualitative (the company has or does not have flight simulators) indicators were subjected to a mathematical analysis in order to build an overall safety index and to present the detailed ARI airline safety ranking.

The main priority of the "ARI ranking" is to inform the general public, but more detailed data is available for professionals (airlines, insurance companies, financial analysts, etc.) from Air Ranking International, such as technical ranking calculation reports, sub-rankings by type of airlines or by geographical area, experts’ reports, etc.

“We want to make available to the general public rigorous and impartial information, based on reliable public sources. We hope our research will play a role in motivating the airlines belonging to the white list to further improve the factors contributing to the safety of their flights,” stated Laurent Niddam, Air Ranking International General Counsel.

The ARI ranking will be published every year in the second quarter, after collecting the data from the previous year and their mathematical processing.

VIA Rail Canada has announced that a tentative three-year agreement has been reached with the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) Union, and that there will be no work stoppage. The agreement must, however, first be ratified by union members.

This latest round of negotiations between VIA and the union began on June 21. 

VIA President and Chief Executive Officer, Marc Laliberté, said that VIA is pleased that the parties have come to an agreement and that there will be no service disruptions.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce the opening of Fairmont Zimbali Resort, an exclusive and elegant 154-room property, located along the sublime eastern coast of South Africa. Fairmont Zimbali Resort joins the Fairmont Zimbali Lodge, a 76-room property set nearby along the beach.

“Zimbali” is the Zulu word for “Valley of Flowers”.  Nestled between the pristine beauty of a 700-hectare forest reserve and the shimmering beaches of Kwa-Zulu Natal’s Dolphin Coast on the Indian Ocean, Fairmont Zimbali Resort is an oasis of unspoiled beauty. 
The resort is just 15 minutes from the brand new King Shaka International Airport (KSIA). Soccer fans will appreciate being just a short drive away from Durban, one of the nine host cities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup that kicks off in mid-June. 

Spectacular ocean views, tasteful architectural design and a plethora of dining options are the trademarks of Fairmont Zimbali Resort. With sweeping private verandas and luxurious soaking tubs, guest rooms are styled with stone, wood and the natural materials of the African environment. The range of dining rooms and lounges offer something for every palate, including an elegant steakhouse serving South Africa’s finest grain fed beef and seafood, a beach club offering wood-fired pizza and barbecue, a sensual wine and tapas bar, pool and beach side cocktail bars and a relaxing tea and coffee lounge featuring strong African roasts and Fairmont teas.

With ample space to relax and play and a stunning ballroom that can accommodate 180 guests, the resort is ideal for entertaining conferences, weddings and galas. Those planning to say “I do” have the option of taking their vows in a chapel among the birds and butterflies of the tropical forest, or at the edge of the Indian Ocean on one of the most exquisite beaches in the world.

The site is surrounded by an abundance of recreational sites and activities. Game-viewing expeditions, safari outings, animal and crocodile farm tours, horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, surfing, micro-light flying, boating, fishing, shark and dolphin tours are all within easy access. The rich heritage of KwaZulu-Natal is a cultural wonderland for learning and exploration, with historical Zulu battlefields and two UNESCO World Heritage sites nearby: the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the uKhahlamba/Drakensburg Park. 

For guests who prefer not to stray from the Resort, the Willow Stream Spa offers a perfect place to escape, with eight treatment and steam rooms. There are also five outdoor swimming pools onsite, including a freshwater pool and saltwater pools overlooking the Indian Ocean. For golf aficionados, an 18-hole golf course is currently under construction, designed by golf champion, Gary Player. At the nearby Zimbali Country Club, the Tom Weiskopf-designed course, one of the finest courses in South Africa, is already in play.

The property is equipped with high-speed Internet access and video-on-demand, ensuring that even along this unspoiled shoreline, guests never need be out of touch with the latest news, movies and games.

SEATTLE, June 24 /CNW/ -- The art and antiques on the 2,160-guest ms Nieuw Amsterdam -- Holland America Line's newest Signature-class ship -- celebrate the unique heritage of the Dutch in New York, or New Amsterdam, as it was named by explorer Henry Hudson in the 17th century.

Continuing the tradition of the rest of the fleet, Nieuw Amsterdam features art and antiques from traditional Dutch masters and works by renowned contemporary artists. Holland America Line worked with VFD Architects of the Netherlands and Yran & Storbraaten architects of Norway to create a collection to complement the ship's interior design.

"At a cost of more than $3 million, we've installed an array of works ranging from glass creations and oil paintings to detailed collages and unique hanging sculptures," said Richard D. Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. "Some pieces celebrate the Dutch Golden Age, while others, such as the spectacular centerpiece in the Atrium, express a contemporary curiosity."

For guests who wish to view the entire collection, a complimentary self-guided iPod art tour is available at the information desk. The iPod art tour will also be available to download at no charge on Holland America Line's website and on iTunes in early July.

Included in the new collection is a variation on a fleet favorite -- the Lido Pool sculpture. Designed by Bjorn Storbraaten, the piece is made of lightweight stone and functions as both a sculpture and an eight-foot-high waterfall that guests can walk through as they enter or leave the pool. Like its sister-sculpture aboard ms Eurodam, the word water is subtly engraved in the stone in 100 languages.

Nieuw Amsterdam showcases its Dutch connection to New York throughout the ship. A focal point on every Holland America Line vessel is the Atrium chandelier. Adorning the ceiling of Nieuw Amsterdam is a piece by husband and wife Italian artists Gilbert LeBigre and Corinne Roger. Famed for their theatrical stage sets and sculptural works, they created an eye-catching abstract sculpture of the New York skyline made from clear translucent blocks that hangs upside-down.

As he has done for the entire Holland America Line fleet, Stephen J. Card, a British artist regarded as one of the finest marine painters working today, created paintings of ships that bear the Nieuw Amsterdam name, both past and present.

Displayed in the mid-ship staircase are four paintings by Dutch artist Vincent Jansen that include symbols and elements related to the history and founding of New York by the Dutch.

Just outside the Pinnacle Grill is a contemporary sculpture by Dutch ceramic artist Paula Bastiaansen. Known throughout the world for its technical excellence and exquisite beauty, her art features porcelain worked into paper-thin, transparent shapes that seem to defy gravity.

In the aft staircase and lower Dining Room are a series of paintings by Wessel Huisman, who draws inspiration from old photographs of New York.

In the forward staircase are works by Peruvian artist Marcelo Wong, whose whimsical figures draw their inspiration from the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Although he usually works in stone, the pieces were created in resin to reduce their weight.

The wall opposite the Explorer's Lounge is decorated with a mural by Dutchman Harold Vlugt. This nearly 20-foot-long painting on aluminum depicts the modern skyline of New York with elements from past centuries. All of the buildings are made from small cardboard pictures.

On display in the Piano Bar is the work of famed photographer Ron Galella who worked in New York during the 1960s and '70s and captured a series of iconic memories of that cultural period. Also in the area of the Piano Bar is a contemporary ceramic sculpture by Belgian artist Daisy Boman titled "We Will Find a Way," as well as a wooden camera made by Italian artist Livio De Marchi.

In Club HAL, Nieuw Amsterdam's teens-only area, the New York theme continues with elements reflecting street life -- complete with a hotdog stand and an actual New York Checker Cab.

Near the Casino is a large 18th-century metal trionfi, or barbecue, with elaborate metalwork covering its surface.

More New York-themed art can be found in the Lido Restaurant and Crow's Nest. Artists Birgitta Ahlin and Sirkka Lehtonen -- who created glass panels for Eurodam -- also produced work for NieuwAmsterdam, and sculptor Rick van Rijswick created a piece out of stylized computer keys. There also are some large glass sculptures by Scandinavian artists Ole Lislerud and Lars Widenfalk.

Tamarind, the alternative pan-Asian restaurant, features an antique Asian chest with detailed craftsmanship and vintage slippers with extremely fine embroidery.

Elsewhere on the ship are contemporary works by celebrated artists such as Andy Warhol, Richard Estes and Roy Lichtenstein, whose pieces symbolizes the artistic vibrancy of New York in the 1960s, '70s and '80s.

Built at Fincantieri's Marghera yard near Venice, Italy, Nieuw Amsterdam will be named by Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands and then sail its maiden voyage on July 4, 2010. After a series of 12-day Mediterranean sailings, the ship embarks on a fall trans-Atlantic crossing to the Caribbean to sail seven-day eastern and western itineraries from November 2010 through March 2011.

Vision 2000 Travel Group is a Premium Preferred Dealer with Holland America, the highest accreditation that Holland America bestows on its travel agency partners.

We feature added value on many cruises and at times cost savings exclusive to Vision 2000 customers.  We are currently featuring a promotion on a South American cruise.  Details can be found here