Current News

Toronto, ON—The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto is celebrating its first anniversary this month and to mark the occasion, Toronto's only AAA 5-diamond hotel is featuring a variety of luxury experiences including champagne check-ins, personalized farm-to-table Chef's tours and a Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams Spa experience.

From February 16th until February 18th, guests checking into the luxury Toronto hotel will be offered complimentary champagne or Canadian sparkling wine upon arrival.* Those staying on the anniversary night of February 16th will also be treated to a special commemorative in-room amenity.

For dining enthusiasts, the hotel's award-winning restaurant, TOCA by tom brodi will offer an exclusive one-on-one Chef experience. Guests who book the 5-Diamond Tastes Experience will enjoy a personalized farm-to-table guided tour by Chef Tom Brodi. This full-day adventure includes visits to local farms and markets to select ingredients to be prepared alongside Brodi at TOCA's Chef's Table. This exclusive experience is available starting from $3,000 per couple.

The ultimate indulgent experience occurs at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Toronto. The Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams retreat includes luxury transportation to the Spa and personal yoga sessions, plus diamond-inspired treatments such as the Diamond Glow full body polish, Diamond in the Rough rejuvenating facial and the Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend signature manicure and pedicure. To toast the experience, guests will enjoy lunch with champagne and caviar in the Spa's majestic Urban Sanctuary lounge. The package starts from $950++ per person.

Room rates from $495/night. For more information, please contact The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto at +1 416-585-2500 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com/toronto.
*Subject to local liquor laws.

About The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto
Toronto's only AAA 5-Diamond hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto welcomes guests to the heart of the city's bustling financial and performing arts districts. Located across from Roy Thomson Hall and only steps from the Toronto International Film Festival's Bell Lightbox, The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto features 267 elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites that offer magnificent city or lake views from floor to ceiling windows. Along with its legendary service, luxury amenities and offerings include the signature Ritz-Carlton Club Level, a 23,000 square foot Urban Sanctuary and Spa, the spacious outdoor terrace and lounge at DEQ, bespoke cocktails of TOCA Bar and the impeccable dining experience created at the award-winning TOCA by tom brodi restaurant.

Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.—PGA National Resort & Spa — home of the PGA TOUR Honda Classic and five award-winning championship courses — announces the hiring of Murrial Boulware as its new Director of National Accounts.

Boulware comes to PGA National from Rock Resorts Mountain and Coastal Collection where she was Senior Regional Sales Manager. Previously, she was a hospitality sales independent consultant focused on Caribbean properties; Director of Sales with historical Lancaster Hotel in Houston; Senior Sales Manager at St. Regis Houston Hotel; and Senior Sales Manager at Omni Houston Hotel. She graduated from the University of Houston.

“Murrial brings her vast experience and first-hand knowledge with world-class properties to our sales and marketing team,” says David Fine, Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Revenue. “Her expertise will help us continue to grow our west coast and association accounts as we solidify our reputation as an extraordinary golf and conference destination.”

For more information on PGA National Resort & Spa, please visit www.pgaresort.com, or call (800) 533.9386.

Time is Running Out! Register by February 15 for Complimentary Access to the GBTA Canada Conference, April 11-12 | Toronto, Ontario

GBTA Canada wants to see you at the GBTA Canada Conference 2012. From increased expo space to education sessions to essential networking opportunities, you are invited to experience all that the GBTA Canada Conference has to offer.

Don't miss this incredible value - receive complimentary registration until February 15!

This offer applies to Direct / Buyer Members only.

Do You Have a Colleague or Boss Who Should Also Attend the Conference?
Divide the education sessions to maximize your conference value! If they join before February 15 and register for conference their registration is complimentary.

Looking for Pre-Conference Education?
Registration is now open for the Travel Procurement Workshop, Fundamentals of Business Travel Management Canada, and Strategic Meetings Management Bootcamp classes held on April 10. Advance registration is required.

Learn More about Pre-Conference Education

How to Get Management Approval
Having trouble getting management approval for the GBTA Canada Conference or Pre-Conference Education? Use this letter to demonstrate the value of your attendance.

More Information
GBTA Canada looks forward to welcoming you in April. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Tanya Racz, Managing Director, GBTA Canada at +1 703 684 0836 ext.187.

Fort McMurray, AB—Atlific Hotels proudly announces the addition of the Radisson Hotel & Suites Fort McMurray to its ever-growing portfolio. At the forefront of the hotel market in the thriving oil region, Atlific now manages six hotels with a total of 767 hotel rooms in Fort McMurray, all owned by Temple Real Estate Investment Trust (TREIT).

“Fort McMurray hosts thousands of oil workers every year seeking comfortable, accommodations,” said Philippe Gadbois, senior vice-president sales and marketing, Atlific Hotels. “TREIT has established a network of quality hotel properties to provide superior accommodations to both business and leisure travellers.” Atlific has a long-standing relationship with TREIT, now managing eleven properties across western Canada

“We are thrilled to partner with TREIT again to manage the outstanding Radisson Hotel & Suites Fort McMurray,” Gadbois continued.

Providing a relaxing, convenient home away from home, the Radisson Fort McMurray features 134 spacious rooms and suites offering free local calling, mini refrigerators, coffee makers, on-demand movies, room service and Sleep Number Beds by Select Comfort^TM to ensure a restful sleep for business and leisure travellers alike. The hotel features the contemporary Aurora Bar & Grill, a fitness centre, business centre, complimentary high-speed Internet, extensive complimentary parking with winter plug-ins, a hot tub, an indoor pool with a spiral waterslide and much more. Guests also have access to coin laundry and three-hour express laundry service to make extended stays more comfortable. Hotel suites feature upgraded amenities including a double shower, sitting area with fireplace and Jacuzzi baths.

The Radisson Fort McMurray is conveniently located near the Fort McMurray Airport, the oil companies and a variety of local attractions including the Athabasca Oil Sands and Oil Sands Discovery Center, Heritage Park, Boomtown Casino, Majic Country Wilderness Adventures and much more. The Radisson Fort McMurray also features approximately 5,650 square feet of renovated meeting space ideal for any corporate event or celebration.

Radisson Hotel & Suites Fort McMurray has been recognized with a 4 Green Keys Eco Rating for demonstrating national industry leadership and a commitment to protecting the environment through wide-ranging policies and practices.  The hotel’s full team of employees and managers strive to provide the highest quality of service while minimizing the environmental impact.

For more information and reservations please visit www.radissonfortmcmurray.com

About Atlific Hotels
Atlific Hotels is one of the fastest growing hotel management companies in Canada operating over 40 hotels with offices in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Named Hotel Company of the Year in 2009 by Hotelier Magazine, Atlific Hotels has over 50 years of experience managing well known Canadian hotels, resorts, and extended stay properties and has built a reputation for best in business accounting reporting, exceptional sales and marketing programs and sound operational systems. For more information please visit www.atlific.com

With Your24™, a groundbreaking new benefit announced today, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT 54.41 (0.32%)) will abolish set check-in and checkout times for select Starwood Preferred Guest elite members – and introduce ‘round-the-clock’ check-in at all Starwood hotels and resorts.

“Your24 reflects very clearly that the preferences of our guests drive how we do business, and that’s another reason why Starwood and SPG have earned such intense loyalty with global travelers.”

While tradition has long held hotel check-in to 3 p.m., Starwood is bucking convention to give its most frequent travelers complete control of their check-in and checkout times. A member who chooses to check in at 10 p.m. won’t have to checkout until 10 p.m. on their day of departure, 24 hours later. Platinum SPG members who spend 75+ eligible nights at Starwood hotels can request Your24 service.

“We’re constantly striving to make travel as personalized as possible for Starwood Preferred Guest Members, and that means fresh thinking around long-standing industry practices,” said Mark Vondrasek, Senior Vice President for Distribution, Loyalty & Partnership Marketing at Starwood. “Your24 reflects very clearly that the preferences of our guests drive how we do business, and that’s another reason why Starwood and SPG have earned such intense loyalty with global travelers.”

Your24 is part of a suite of new elite benefits launching March 1, 2012, that make the award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest the richest elite program in the industry. With the new SPG enhancements, the more you stay, the richer it gets with more points, first of its kind benefits such as confirmable 24-hour check-in, the addition of lifetime status, access to a dedicated Starwood ambassador, confirmable upgrades and free breakfast.

Starwood recently reported that elite membership in Starwood Preferred Guest has doubled over the past five years. What’s more, they are spending 60% more than they did five years ago.

About Starwood Preferred Guest
The SPG program’s breakthrough policy of No Blackout Dates at the world’s most sought after collection of hotels, reinvented the hospitality loyalty program when it launched in 1999. By creating a program centered on its members, SPG has developed the most passionate and knowledgeable membership base in the hotel loyalty space. Through its use of new technologies and innovative channels such as SPG.com, SPG.com/stayconnected, SPG.com/flights and others, SPG continues to innovate and lead the industry. By offering No Blackouts on standard rooms at over 1,000 hotels and resorts in nearly 100 countries, No Blackouts on hundreds of airlines, and once in a lifetime experiences available through SPG Moments at spg.com/moments, the program has proven to be a big draw for the world’s most frequent travelers, and a significant competitive advantage for Starwood. For more information about Starwood Preferred Guest please visit SPG.com.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,071 properties in 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

Vancouver Career College announced that it recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the prestigious IMI University Centre of Luzern, Switzerland.

From now on, graduates who successfully complete the Hospitality Management diploma at Vancouver Career College have the unique opportunity to enhance their credentials at one of the leading hotel management schools in Europe. They’ll be able to transfer to either IMI’s International Tourism Management or International Hotel and Tourism Management programs and benefit from quality academic teaching, Swiss practical training and excellent international industry network. They’ll be joining students from all over the world.

"Renowned for its traditional hospitality, Switzerland is also recognized for offering the best quality hotel and tourism management education in the world,” says Larry Heinzlmeir, VP of Marketing for Vancouver Career College. “This agreement reflects the strong commitment by Vancouver Career College to provide our students with the best career training opportunities. Not only does IMI offer the tradition of excellent Swiss hospitality education, it also provides the most forward thinking ideas about the tourism business and hotel management.”

For more than 20 years, the prestigious IMI University Centre has put the emphasized on creating a unique atmosphere leading to educational and professional achievement. With a combination of first-rate faculty, small size classes and intensive courses, IMI allows students to reach for the highest standards and hone industry-specific skills.

IMI University Centre’s programs include strong practical training which allows students to gain the edge they need ahead of other graduates. This international experience at a Swiss hotel school also offers students a unique advantage when applying for a job in the competitive global hospitality and tourism fields, including increased opportunities in hotels, events management, leisure, food and beverage and more.

Learn more about Vancouver Career College at www.vccollege.ca. Follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

About Vancouver Career College | Vancouver Career College is dedicated to providing students with the highest standard of education and career training, with all programs granted approval by the provincial government of British Columbia. With small classes, industry-relevant programs and six convenient locations across BC, Vancouver Career College is one of the region’s leading career training schools with solid results in job placement for graduates.

Niagara Falls, ON—There’s a new ‘Chef’ in town and he likes what’s cookin’. Shaun Goswell joins the team at the Scotiabank Convention Centre, in Niagara Falls (SCCN) as the new Executive Chef. His passion for culinary excellence and his uncanny ability to balancing complex flavours assures him success at Niagara’s newest meetings and events facility.

Originally from Truro, Nova Scotia, Chef Goswell’s culinary career has taken him on a flavourful journey of discovery throughout Canada and Europe. With an infectious personality, and wrapped with an East Coast modesty, he has managed to grow and develop his food philosophy in many established restaurants. Now in Niagara, Shaun has partnered with the Centre’s celebrity endorsing Chef, Anna Olson (Food Network Canada) to infuse the region’s unique flavours and colourful ingredients to each and every menu selection.

“We are very thrilled to have Chef Goswell onboard with us,” says Kerry Painter, SCCN President & General Manager. “He has shown a great enthusiasm in exploring new culinary grounds with our lovely Ms. [Anna] Olson, whose mantra of regionality and seasonality has been our cornerstone to creating unconventional experiences for our guests and clients.”

As the Centre’s endorsing celebrity chef, Anna Olson adds the freshness and uniqueness of Niagara to all her dishes. Through its ‘Add a bit of Anna’ program, the SCCN gives clients and guests the opportunity to tap into the region’s abundance of locally grown and seasonal offerings.

“Niagara offers a wealth of locally grown produce and meat products that are both organic and sustainable,” says Chef Goswell “Anna [Olson] and I have enjoyed designing a selection of menus that are infused with Niagara’s distinctive culinary ingredients. All our dishes are paired with many of the region’s award winning wines.”

As Executive Chef, Shaun leads a team of culinary professionals from Centerplate, the Centre’s exclusive food and beverage supplier. Boasting an impressive portfolio of over 250 prominent sports, entertainment and convention venues across North America, Centerplate’s excellent team of food professionals craft and deliver “Craveable Experiences. Raveable Results.”

About the Scotiabank Convention Centre
The Scotiabank Convention Centre, in Niagara Falls, Canada (SCCN) is the region’s newest and largest meetings & events facility. Much more than any ordinary convention and meeting facility, the SCCN aims at becoming an innovator of the unconventional and a model of a new class of ‘green’ convention & meeting facilities committed to sustainability and community leadership. For more information, visit the SCCN Web site: www.fallsconventions.com

Toronto, ON—Every day Fairmont strives to not only be an outstanding, ethical employer, but also a community leader respectful of the extraordinary places where it operates. That’s why Fairmont has introduced the Meetings that Matter program to help not only the luxury brand’s associates and colleagues, but also its guests to become involved in making a difference. Meetings and conferences can have a positive impact beyond the meeting room, as companies and planners alike seek out ways to give back to the communities and destinations where they gather. Whether it’s cleaning up local waterways, assisting local shelters or building homes for Habitat for Humanity, every Fairmont now offers a powerful way for groups to give back. These activities are gaining a reputation for fostering stronger ties among colleagues and attendees, who can work together to leave a positive impression on their chosen destination, while also creating lasting memories.

Additionally, the Meetings That Matter charitable donation component has been extended through 2012. Planners booking a new meeting with a minimum of 50 room nights may donate 10 percent of the room revenue generated by the event to a charitable organization. Planners can determine the charity of choice, whether it is a cause that resonates most strongly with attendees, a local organization in need, or one of Fairmont’s corporate partners, which include the National Geographic Society, WWF and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. To learn more, planners can visit fairmont.com/meetingsthatmatter. Additional opportunities for groups to give back include:

Helping People
In every community there are people who need extra help performing simple tasks that others may take for granted. A number of Fairmont properties have found ways to lend a helping hand to people with daily challenges. Half-day Habitat for Humanity programs are also popular and are available at a number of Fairmont properties, with attendees completing landscaping, painting and other minor household projects to prepare homes for new families. For example, a half-day Habitat for Humanity program at The Fairmont Winnipeg tackles the final steps involved in turning a new house into a home.

Lending a Hand to the Environment
At The Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver groups can get involved with the Ivy Busters program, where attendees go to historic Stanley Park and help remove the rapidly spreading English Ivy that threatens to smother native vegetation and compromise natural shelter and food sources for wildlife. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise offers The Upper Corral Creek Basin Westslope Cutthroat Trout Restoration in Banff National Park, which helps recover this local species.

(More Property Examples Available Upon Request)

For a comprehensive look at Fairmont’s meeting offerings, visit fairmontmeetings.com or contact Global Events & Meetings Solutions, a dedicated resource for meeting planners available at meet@fairmont.com or 1-866-662-6060 from within North America, and 1-506-877-3162 internationally.

About Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Located in world-class destinations around the globe, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is a celebrated collection of hotels that includes landmark locations like London’s The Savoy, New York’s The Plaza, and Shanghai’s Fairmont Peace Hotel. For more information or reservations, please call 1-800-441-1414 or visit fairmont.com.

Toronto Skal International announced the appointment of the new 2012 Board at its Annual General Meeting held at Lambton Golf and Country Club on January 24^th, 2012.

President is Susan Webb; Vice President, Wolf Paunic; Treasurer, Diane Jackson; Secretary, Katrina Sagan; SICAN Representatives, Tim Booth and Stuart Morcombe; Auditors Susan Edwards and David McClung and Executive Secretary, Mike Hannah. 

Committee appointments include: Membership committee Craig Marsh, Scott Barker and Sohail; Special Events/Fund Raising, Val Saunders; Twinning Katrina Sagan and Sergeant of Arms will be shared by Paul Leon and Vanessa Lee.

Skal International is an International Association of Travel and Tourism Professionals.  Membership is voluntary and open to travel and tourism professionals in senior management positions who qualify according to the regulations of Skal International.  Skal International has over 20,000 members in 450 clubs in 90 countries.

Skal International Toronto has 117 active, associate and life members and is the largest Skal club in Canada.  To access information on becoming a member or for meeting information, visit www.torontoskal.org.

Vancouver, BC—Award-winning Rocky Mountaineer, known across the globe for providing luxury rail experiences through Western Canada, is pleased to announce the appointment of Karen Wiseman to the position of Director, Sales, USA based in Huntington Beach, California. Wiseman will lead the USA sales team in driving the development and execution of sales strategies across all channels within the American marketplace.

With over 20 years of professional experience primarily in the tourism and hospitality industries, Wiseman brings an impressive background to the company in general management, global business development, account management and has a solid reputation for developing new business. With in-depth industry knowledge, Wiseman is a welcomed addition to Rocky Mountaineer’s well established global sales force.

Prior to joining Rocky Mountaineer, Wiseman was the Vice-President of Sales for Stella Travel Services. She also held senior positions with Orion Expedition Cruises in California and Australia as well as St. Ives Travel (American Express and Virtuoso Agency) located in Sydney, Australia, and with leading PR agency, Burson-Marstellar in New York, London and Hong Kong.

For more information on Rocky Mountaineer, please contact your local travel professional or visit rockymountaineer.com. For the latest news and offers, follow us on Twitter@rmountaineer or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RockyMountaineerTrain.

About Rocky Mountaineer
Rocky Mountaineer offers 45 Canadian vacation packages and four unique rail routes, rich in history and natural wonders, through British Columbia and Alberta. This world renowned, luxurious train travels by daylight through the wild beauty of Canada’s West and is the best way to experience the majestic Canadian Rockies, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Over the past 22 years, Rocky Mountaineer has grown to become the largest privately owned passenger rail service in North America and has welcomed more than one million guests onboard from around the world.