Clearwater to St. Augustine, with beer ... World Golf Hall of Fame ... Jaunt Deal

CLEARWATER to ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA – It started with a glorious sunrise. And ended with a party at the World Golf Hall of Fame. Not a bad way to spend a day in Florida.

If you’ve never had the chance, you should check out the Sheraton Sand Key Resort/Hotel in Clearwater Beach. The rooms are what’d you’d expect from a Sheraton, which means a decent sized room with a good TV and all that and a pretty small but perfectly adequate bathroom (the sink is just outside the room with the bath/shower and toilet). It’s the grounds and the beach that’ll keep you coming back, though.

The pool sits out back, alongside the white sand beach, with a couple hot tubs and a poolside bar and beautiful landscaping. The beach here is enormously wide, but you can get to the water in a couple minutes and do some people-watching along the way.

The Sheraton is on the north end of Sand Key, just over the bridge to Clearwater Beach proper. Which means it’s quiet but close to the shops, restaurants and activities of Clearwater Beach, including the aquarium/marine research center where you’ll find Winter the Dolphin, the dolphin who was found with a damaged tail and had a prosthetic tail built for it and was featured in a recent movie that did pretty well at the box office. They also have sea turtles and manta rays you can feed and touch, and it’s a great, educational spot for kids and adults both.

Dunedin is just over the bridge to the mainland and up the road a couple miles, so we went back for drinks and dinner. I highly recommend the margaritas at Casa Tina, a standby on Main St. in Dunedin with lots of Mexican dolls and photos and crazy stuff on the wall. Splurge and spend an extra buck for the top margarita on the menu, called a Tina Rita. I always find it’s better to spend a bit more on a margarita and get the better juice mix and better tequila.

For dinner it was The Living Room, on the far east end of Main St. It’s got a fun atmosphere, with orangey-red walls and a large room out back with drapes hanging off to one side and bookcases with books and old photos and mementoes. A tad eclectic in both style and menu, but the food was pretty good. We sampled Kobe beef sliders with brie and caramelized onions that were pretty good, and the shrimp on the jambalaya skewers were fat and perfectly cooked with peppers and onions. We also had sautéed green beans just to up the veggie quotient a bit.

The wait staff served us rather too quickly but the waitress was charming, so we didn’t mind. It’s mostly a sharing/large tapas style place, so you get a good variety for reasonable prices, and there’s a very good wine list. It was about 12 degrees Celsius at dinner time outside but one hardy group opted to eat al fresco while the rest of us stayed warm.

We made the drive up to St. Augustine in about four hours, stopping – of course – at the outlet mall in Orlando. Much to my surprise, I spotted a food/drinks cart outside one of the stores that sold not only juice and pop but also bottles of beer. A godsend for overshopped guys, no doubt. And God Bless America for selling beer openly off a food cart.

I’m at a convention called Florida Huddle from Thursday to Saturday, with tourism/travel reps from all over the Sunshine State and some 54 media from around the world. So that should be great. They had an opening reception Thursday night at the World Golf Hall of Fame, next to the Renaissance Hotel/Convention Center. As the Star’s former golf writer and golf magazine editor, I got quite the charge out of seeing things like the Claret Jug, given to the winner of the British Open each year (Sorry, THE OPEN, as they call it) and old photos of Bob Hope and Bobby Jones and crazy, old clubs and gutta percha golf balls and featherie golf balls, old-time balls fashioned from feathers and sewn up together. Light as, well, a feather, those balls were.

I didn’t have a lot of time to browse but I was happy to see the bust/likeness of legendary Canadian golfer Marlene Stewart Streit, inducted a few years back after a stellar amateur career in which she won dozens of titles, often beating women half her age.

Good stuff. Congrats, Marlene, for being the first Canadian inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

CANADIAN HOTELS HONOURED

Congrats to two new members of the Canadian Automobile Association’s prestigious five-diamond hotel group. The CAA on Wednesday announced that four Canadian properties were awarded five-diamond (like five-star) status for 2013; holdovers The Four Seasons Whistler and the Ritz Carlton Toronto and, now, the Shangri-La Vancouver and the new Ritz Carlton Montreal (see photo)

Pretty impressive that the Ritz has two of the four highest-rated properties. I haven’t got a final answer, but the Shangri-La in Toronto wasn’t rated for the 2013 awards, perhaps because it opened too late in the year (pretty much September). Ditto for the Four Seasons new hotel in Yorkville, which opened even later.

So perhaps next year we’ll get more five-diamond properties in Toronto.

I also feel compelled to note that the Trump International Hotel on Bay St. downtown failed to get the five-diamond status it had hoped for. I don’t much like the lobby but the spa looks tremendous and I hear good things from guests who’ve stayed.

I’d like another five-diamond property in Toronto, but I gotta say it doesn’t make me sad to see a blowhard like Trump fall short and have to settle for four diamonds instead of five. Better luck next year, Donald.

Not that I put much stock in it, but the CAA report surely indicates what a crock the recent Trip Advisor ratings were. As readers of this space may recall, I recently raised an eyebrow or two at how British Columbia hotels dominated the top 10 of the Trip Advisor ratings for Canadian hotels.

In the CAA report, they got two of the four five-diamond properties, but at least we got one in Quebec and one in Ontario. Which seems a little more logical to me.

SPEAKING OF RATINGS

Air Canada is the only international network carried in North America to get a four-star ranking from the U.K. research firm Skytrax.

The airline on Thursday said it was immensely chuffed at the award, calling it a “significant industry benchmark” that “reflects the professionalism and skll of Air Canada’s employees in taking care of our customers and delivering an award-winning product that continues to set industry standards.”

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a couple of Avalon river cruises on special. The two for one Tulip Time river cruise goes through the Netherlands and runs for $1,725 plus $133 in taxes.  There's also a two for one river cruise through Burgundy and Provence; both fabulously beautiful areas of France for $2,086 plus $133 in taxes.

Check both out at jaunt.ca or by clicking on the above links....

 

Trip Advisor awards: are B.C. hotels REALLY that much better than Ontario's?

So, I guess Ontario hotels really suck.

Trip Advisor this week announced its 2013 Travelers' Choice Hotel awards, and British Columbia again kicked some serious booty. Topping the charts for all Canadian hotels was L'Hermitage in Vancouver (see photo below) followed by the Rosewood Hotel Georgia in Vancouver and then Auberge Saint-Antoine in Quebec City.

The next seven in the top 10 were The Loden in Vancouver, the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver, Sonora Resort on Sonora Island in B.C., The James Hotel in Saskatoon, Long Beach Lodge Resort in Tofino, B.C., First Tracks Lodge in Whistler B.C. and the Wedgewood Hotel and Spa in Vancouver.

That's eight of the top ten spots for British Columbia, and, frankly, I'm at a loss. I've stayed at several of the properties on the list and they're deserving of mention. But eight of ten? Only one in Quebec, and none in Ontario? Nonsense. Utter nonsense.

Conde Nast Travel magazine readers recently named Langdon Hall in Cambridge as the best hotel in the country. It often makes lists of best hotels on the continent. But not a sniff did it get from Trip Advisor.

So what gives? I haven't a clue, to be honest. Maybe the voting is dominated by rich folks from Seattle and North Vancouver. I don't know. But it doesn't make sense to me. And, frankly, all kidding aside about B.C. kicking butt, it makes me wonder about the voting for these awards. And that makes me wonder about Trip Advisor's content in general.

A spokesperson for Trip Advisor wrote to tell me that winners are based on more than 75 million reviews and opinions covering more than 650,000 hotels on TripAdvisor and there's no breakdown by region available.

Anyway, one probably shouldn't expect these things to be scientific. Or really very accurate. And there WERE some properties from Ontario in the top 25. Hotel Le Germain Maple Leaf Square was #13, while the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Toronto grabbed the 17th spot and the Hazelton Hotel in Yorkville was #18.

St. Anne's Spa in Grafton, Ontario, a great spot, was named seventh best small hotel in the country. The WIndsor Arms in Toronto was named eighth best small hotel in Canada, while Woodland Echoes Resort in Magnetawan, Ontario was ninth and the Drake Hotel in Toronto was number 10 in small hotels. Tops in the small hotel category was Echo Valley Ranch and Spa in, wait for it, Jesmond, B.C. The next four also were B.C. properties: Abigail's Hotel in Victoria, Clayoquot Wilderness Resort in Tofino, Eagle Nook Resort and Spa in Barkley Sound and, in the fifth spot, Hastings House on Salt Spring Island. Really? All of the top five in B.C.?

At least things were better for Ontario in the B and B/Inns category. Tops was Chesterman Beach Bed and Breakfast in Tofino, B.C., but then came Greystone Manor in Niagara Falls, Cecile's House in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Historic Davy House in NOTL and, in the number five spot, Serenity Ranch B and B in Hamilton, and good for Hamilton I say! La Toscana di Carlotta in Niagara-on-the-Lake was eighth in the B and B/Inns category.

As for the U.S., Hawaii did awfully well in the general hotels category. Tops was the Four Seasons Hualalai on the Big Island of Hawaii (also named best in the world; see photo at left), followed by the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea and Bardessono in Yountville in the Napa Valley of California. Once again, both Delaware and North Dakota got shut out of the top 10 in the hotels category. So I guess Ontario folks shouldn't feel too badly.....

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has the following deal for a four-star stay in Venice. The deal goes for $1,912 ($1,379 plus $543 in taxes) and includes air fare on rouge, Air Canada's new airline.

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: Extend your stay for no additional charge (based on flight availability)
• BONUS: Includes a Venice Walking tour complete with a scenic Gondola ride and a St. Mark’s Square Highlights Tour with line skipping privileges!
  
• 7-nightstay at the 4-Star La Fenice et des Artistes Hotel (or similar), located in Venice, Italy
• Includes return airfare from multiple gateways within Canada (see below)  to Venice, Italy
• Accommodations in a standard quest room (Maximum occupancy: 2 adults)

• Enjoy flying on rouge, Air Canada's new leisure airline designed for comfortable, stylish and easy travel
• Enjoy 7 nights to explore Venice on your own, with a guided walking tour and Gondola ride included
• Beautiful Venetian-style accommodations are included

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departure dates:
  All Gateways: July 7 and 14, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person):
  
  Toronto:
  Double: $1379 plus tax
  Tax: $543
  
  Montreal:
  Double: $1931 plus tax
  Tax included
  
  Ottawa:
  Double: $1379 plus tax
  Tax: $545
  
  Calgary:
  Double: $1659 plus tax
  Tax: $550
  
  Edmonton:
  Double: $1659 plus tax
  Tax: $550
  
  Vancouver:
  Double: $1659 plus tax
  Tax: $546
  
  Halifax:
  Double: $1509 plus tax
  Tax: $552
  
  St. John's:
  Double: $1509 plus tax
  Tax: $545
  
  Winnipeg:
  Double: $1549 plus tax
  Tax: $544
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

 

 

 

Canadians stuck in a rut for holiday spots? We dream of Oz but do the Caribbean

A very cool study was released today by the folks at Cheapflights.ca. The company surveyed more than 1,000 Canadians and found that more than 80 per cent of us are likely to return to the same place over and over again for a holiday. And eat the same dishes. At the same restaurants.

"We learned that, while travellers dream of trips to Australia, they find themselves in Florida, again and again," said Melisse Hinkle, site editor for Cheapflights.ca. "Another years means another trip to the same Disney Resort or the same beach condo."

Yeah, I bet the Florida tourism people hate that.

Forty four per cent of Canadians surveyed said they ate at the same restaurant on repeat visits, with 36 per cent visiting the same attractions. More than 32 per cent of us stay at the same hotel and almost 20 per cent eat the same meal over and over again.

I can see that being the case. There are a whack of restaurants on Main St. in Dunedin, Florida. But when I go I invariably end up on the patio at Sea Sea Rider's (see photo below) for a blackened fish sandwich at lunch. And I usually have dinner at Kelly's. They remind me of my days covering the Blue Jays in spring training and I like the ambience at both. And the food, of course.

The study found that, to no one's surprise, the Caribbean is our favourite spot for repeat visits, with 12.7 per cent of the vote. Next was Florida at 10.3 per cent, then Western Europe (7.3), Las Vegas/Southwest U.S. (6.9), Hawaii (6.7), the Maritimes (6.0), Mexico (5.9), the UK (5.5), Banff/Calgary/The Rockies (5.0), Toronto (4.5), California (4.4), Vancouver (3.8), Montreal/Quebec (3.1), New York (3.0) and Ottawa (1.9).

There was a bit of a difference between men and women on some of the destinations. The two sexes agreed mostly on the Caribbean and Florida. But men liked Western Europe more than women (8.3 per cent for men, 6.7 for women, which I find quite surprising). On the subject of Vegas/Southwest U.S., men named it their third favourite spot with a 9.2 per cent vote. Women had it number nine, with just 5.2 per cent support. Which probably isn't too surprising.

Men put a higher value on Hawaii (7.6 versus 6.0), while women liked the Maritimes more (7.1 versus 4.4 for men). Toronto? Women had us eighth at 5.4 per cent, while men put us in the 12th spot at 3.2 per cent. Montreal/Quebec I found strange. Men had the two cities ranked number nine at 4.4 per cent. Women had them down in 14th spot at just 2.3 per cent. Maybe men like the gentlemen's clubs in Montreal, who knows?

Asked where we'd go if we could travel to a new destination, the clear winner - by a country kilometer - was Australia and New Zealand. Those two countries garnered a whopping 31 per cent of the vote. Next was Eastern Europe, left in the dust at 7.0. Those two were followed by Costa Rica (6.7), the South Pacific (5.9), Alaska (5.4) and Belize (3.9). Then came, in order, Japan, Brazil, South Africa, China/Hong Kong, Thailand, India, Russia, Argentina and the Middle East.

Still, we seem to love going back to the same places an awful lot. Asked how likely they are to vacation at the same spot more than once, 20.8 per cent of us non-adventurous Canadians said it was "extremely likely." Another 32.7 per cent said it was very likely and 26.9 per cent said it was "moderately likely" and 11.5 said it was somewhat slightly likely. Meaning 80.4 per cent said it was slightly to extremely likely they'd go back. Only 8.2 per cent of us said it was not at all likely.

Asked why they would go or do go back to the same vacation spot, the top response was great weather, followed by value, "best holiday I've found," ease of access, peace of mind and safety.

Cheapflights.ca asked chartered psychologist Dr. Jane McCartney for some thoughts. The good doctor said the numbers can partly be explained because there's comfort in routine.

"Although it is widely accepted that a certain amount of structure and order is required for a healthy and productive life, having too much control can lead to boredom, tedium and being un-stimulated," she said.

WIKIMEDIA GOES TRAVEL

More on this tomorrow, but check out wikivoyage.org for the Wikimedia folks new foray into the travel biz. Interesting.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a deal on for a WestJet/Royal Caribbean cruise package. The deal is priced at $1,214, plus $253 in taxes, for a total of $1,467.

My family and I did a Royal Caribbean cruise to the same spots a few years ago and loved it. It's a wonderful family holiday, with something for everyone, and we were able to get off the ship a few times and do tours of the various islands, including St. Maarten/St. Martin and St. Thomas, which is beautiful and is an island I featured recently in Star Travel after a visit in October.

Here are the deal details:

Jaunt Highlights

• BONUS: Includes $50 Onboard Credit per cabin
• 7-night Eastern Caribbean Cruise sailing on the RCI Allure of the Seas
• Includes return airfare on WestJet from Toronto or Montreal to Fort Lauderdale 
• Departs and returns to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Other Ports of Call include: Nassau, Bahamas; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas & Philipsburg, St. Maarten
• Accommodations in an Inside Stateroom (March 3: Category N, March 17: Category Q)

Also included:

• The exciting DreamWorks Experience Character breakfast 
• Broadway calibre production of Chicago: The Musical
• Kids can't get enough of the Adventure Ocean Youth Program

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departure dates:
  Toronto: March 3 & 17, 2013
  Montreal: March 17, 2013
• Pricing (Rates are per person based on double occupancy):
  Toronto
  March 3: $1214 + $253 tax
  March 17: $1364 + $253 tax
  
  Montreal
  March 17: $1658 tax included
• Airport/port transfers are NOT included
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

 

 

Canada ranks 18th in world as tourism brand; USA takes home the gold medal

Earlier this year, a group called Future Brand released its annual "Country Brand Index" that rates countries according to their key attributes. They gave Canada the number two spot on the planet in terms of a tourism brand, putting behind only Switzerland.

The third, fourth and fifth spots in the Future Brand report went to Japan, Sweden and New Zealand.

It was a slight drop for Canada, as we finished tops in the Country Brand Index in 2010 and 2011.

But now there's a new report out by a compnay called Bloom Consulting, called the Country Branding Ranking. It would require a degree in something I don't understand to figure out how it's different from Future Brand's report, but one thing they say is that take a ton of factors into account and also that they're the only ones in this business (and I guess there is one) that takes tourist demand into account.

Readers of this blog will remember, perhaps, that Canada has slipped a fair bit in terms of international arrivals the last few years and is no longer in the top ten. Canada ranked seventh in international arrivals in 2007, but the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) recently stated we're now 18th.

And 18th is exactly where we stand in the world in the new Bloom Consulting report, which attempts to measure how much revenue a country could potentially add to its economy via trade and tourism.

Anyway, for what it's worth, here's the Bloom report's top 20:

1. United States 2. Spain 3. France 4. China 5. Turkey 6. Thailand 7. Germany 8. Macau 9. United Kingdom 10. Australia 11. Austria 12. Italy 13. Hong Kong 14. Malaysia 15. Netherlands 16. Mexico 17. Switzerland 18. Canada 19. Croatia 20. Russian Federation

So at least we finished ahead of Russia. Let's hope that continues at the World Junior Hockey Championships, eh?

Here are a few other notables: 21. Portugal, 233. India, 24. Greece 25. Republic of Korea 28. Japan 32. Ireland.

The bottom ten? Here ya go: 152. Tajikistan (there goes my holiday plan) 153. Swaziland 154. Federation States of Micronesia 155. Sao Tome and Principe 156. Djibouti 157. Tonga 158. Kiribati 159. Papua New Guinea 160. Burundi and, at the bottom: 161. Marshall Islands (see photo at left, which looks pretty damn good to me).

Asia had eight countries in the top 25. Japan wasn't in that group due to the residual effects of the tsunami.

I don't remember seeing this report last year, but I found a website that shows the 2011 Bloom rankings, and Canada was 23rd. So I guess we're moving in the right direction. The U.S. was first last year as well, followed by Spain, France, Germany and the UK.

Bloom on Thursday also released a U.S. state by state analysis (plus D.C., for 51 ranking spots). Tops was California, no surprise given the plethora of things to do, followed by Florida and New York. Illinois was fourth and then it went Texas, Michigan (good to see), Georgia, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Colorado.

The bottom five were: 47. Kansas 48. Vermont (a surprise to me) 49. West Virginia 50. Rhode Island and 51. Delaware. Poor Delaware. Makes me think I should do a trip there sometime and see for myself.

DO WE HATE OUR FAMILIES OR SOMETHING?

Geez. A study by Cheapflights.ca finds that more than 80 per cent of Canadians want to travel tos ee family this Christmas, but less than 30 per cent have actually made travel plans.

Given the economy that might not be surprising.

Based on answers from more than 400 Canadians, the survey also found that just over 18 per cent of us wish we could travel to ESCAPE our family, though only 3.2 per cent of us actually are doing so.

Parents and children topped the list of fave family members to see, while in-laws, shockingly, were at the bottom, with less than two per cent of folks having them on their holiday travel wish-list.

More than 12 per cent of survey respondents said they will avoid seeing their brother or sister. But, just to end this on a nice note, 23 per cent said there were NO relatives they wanted to avoid.

HOTEL OMNI MONT-ROYAL IMPROVEMENTS

The folks at the Hotel Omni Mont-Royal (in Montreal, of course) say they've undergone a "spectacular" $20 million transformation.

Officials said it involved a "complete re-design and refurbishment of its facilities, including all 200 guest rooms and suites" and a new lobby, which now features "an upscale lounge bar and restaurant."

Other amenities include an outdoor pool (for summer, naturally) and "state of the art" fitness centre. They also have added Italian marble bathrooms and 42-inch LCD flat screen TV's.

They say rooms have views of either Mont-Royal Park or the Montreal skyline.

AIR CANADA ADDS VIRTUAL HOLD

This oughta help a few folks. Air Canada sent me a note today to say that what they call "virtual hold" has now rolled out at their call centres in Canada and the U.S. and is currently offered for general reservations and web support services.

“"With this new product, customers are now given an estimated wait time and the option of a call-back rather than remaining on hold," officials said.

Here's what they said about it in an employee newsletter: "Virtual Hold certainly helps alleviate customer frustration from being on hold indefinitely.  The estimated wait time information and option to continue on hold or have a call-back is very much appreciated by our customers - especially during irregular operations. Our IT team worked tirelessly for several months upon months to overcome the multiple challenges of installing new technology on a legacy phone system. The next step is to add a service where customers can schedule a call back time. Call Centres continues to focus on reducing the amount of time customers wait with ongoing hiring and implementation of technology and process improvements."

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, has a two-for-one Avalon River Cruise special that's exclusive to Jaunt. It's a cruise through central Europe's capital cities on the Avalon Tranquility and it's going for $1,633 plus $133 in taxes for a total of $1,766.

Here are the highlights:

• BONUS: Two for One: for every one person (paid in full), the second traveller's cruise is FREE (reflected in the pricing)
• 12-day River Cruise and stay along the Danube River, starting in Budapest and ending in Prague
• Includes the following ports of call with daily sightseeing programs in: Budapest, Hungary; Bratislava, Slovakia; Vienna, Austria; Krems, Austria; Melk, Austria; Grein, Austria; Passau, Germany; and Prague, Czech Republic
• Accommodations in a Deluxe Outside Stateroom, located on the Indigo Deck (Category E) featuring twin windows. Upgraded cabin categories with French Balconies available at 1.855.GO.JAUNT
• Includes all meals on the ship, complimentary sparkling wine with breakfast, soft drinks with lunch, and wine, beer, or soft drinks with dinner
• 2 nights' accommodations in Prague at the InterContinental

More details:

• For every traveller paid in full another traveller's cruise is free
• The tour employs local guides so you have the best exposure to the places visited
• The cruise visits renowned capitals and lesser known destinations

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on April 11, 2013 sailing
• Pricing (per person, based on double occupancy, plus port charges)
  
  Deluxe Outside Stateroom (Category E)
  $1632.50 per person, double occupancy
  Tax: $133
  
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• This offer is 100% non-refundable at time of booking

 

 

 

 

Air Canada Rouge is new carrier/Porter Escapes launches/New airline ad rules

 

This might be the craziest day I've ever seen for airline travel in Canada.

At 11:15 a.m., Air Canada unveiled "Rouge" as the name of their new, low-cost airline that will start flying to Europe and the Caribbean/Central America next July 1. Fares appear quite competitive and, in the case of a roundtrip to Punta Cana I checked, strikingly lower than WestJet and Transat. More on that in a minute.

Around about noon, I got a press release from Porter Airlines saying that their new package program, called Porter Escapes, is now available online at www.porterescapes.com. It will allow folks to book flights and entertainment or ski or golf packages to places like New York City, Montreal, Burlington Vermont, Myrtle Beach, Halifax, Chicago and Quebec. And Toronto, of course.

Okay. That's a busy day. But then, right at 12:44, I got a note from the federal government saying that Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced that all-inclusive airfare advertising is now mandated under amendments to the Air Transportation Regulations.
This will ensure consumers can clearly see the total price of an airline ticket, with no hidden fees, officials said.

Most airlines in Canada have been following this rule for some time, either listing prices that include the taxes and fees and surcharges or advertising both together. Still, it will force all airlines doing business here to follow suit, and that's a good thing. So kudos to the Harper government for protecting consumers.

Vanessa Lu, the Star's hard-working airline/transport reporter in the Business section, has a full report at www.thestar.com/business.

Getting back to Rouge, the Air Canada folks held a splashy announcement in a movie theatre at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto and then went outside to give away "boarding passes" with discounts from 10 to 99 per cent for the new airline.

Not everyone likes the name, of course. One reporter turned to me at the press conference and said, "It's Red. Like Air Canada is in the red."

I was thinking more like it's a rouge from Canadian football, but then I'm again I'm a former sports reporter. It looks pretty good, I think, and certainly red is the colour in the Canadian flag and is Air Canada's primary colour, so it fits.

Officials said it was tested across the country and was far and away the best name they checked out.

The destinations and prices, of course, are what we really care about. They could call it "Let's beat West Jet's ass" or name it after their chief and call it "Rovinescu Air" for all I care. I just want cheaper rates and a good airline, and that's what they're promising.

Flights will go from Toronto to Venice and Edinburgh and from Toronto and Montreal to Athens for as little as $949 round-trip, including all fees and taxes. Flights to the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana, Samana and Puerto Plata) will go from as little as $538 round-trip, while those to Costa Rica (San Jose and Liberia) will go from $778 round-trip, while flights to Varadero, Cayo Coco, Holguin and Santa Clara, Cuba start at $538 round-trip.

They're only starting with four planes, which means they can't do flights every day to all destinations. Toronto to Athens will be four times a week for now, while Toronto to Punta Cana will be three times a week for now.

Ultimately Air Canada plans to hire 900 workers and will have 50 planes, both Boeing 767-300ER's and Airbus A319 aircraft.

Complimentary meals and non-alcoholic beverages will be served on flights to Europe and snacks, meals and beverages will be available at a "nominal fee" on flights to the Caribbean. Their press release also says in-flight entertainment, such as movies and TV and music, will be available for "an affordable fee," versus free on Air Canada.

I don't know what the difference is between a "nominal fee" for food and an "affordable" fee for entertainment.

Just for kicks, I went onto the Air Canada site - Rouge flights can be booked at aircanada.com and folks can collect Aeroplan points, which is an important factor for many consumers - and found a round-trip flight from Toronto to Punta Cana for July 6-13 for $502.68, which actually is LOWER than they said in their press release. A flight on the same days on WestJet was listed at westjet.com for $700.79, while Transat (www.transatholidays.com) had flights on July 7 and 14 for $991.

Vanessa Lu told she found flights next August from Toronto to Athens on Rouge for $949, as advertised. But she said Transat was costing out around $1,300. That's another ENORMOUS difference in Air Canada's favour, so it'll be interesting to see if Transat makes any adjustments.

Those might not be typical. But if they are, Rouge could be a VERY attractive airline for Canadians.

In addition to regular Rouge seats, Air Canada will offer a series of upgrades, including rouge Plus and Premium Rouge. Those will cost extra but rouge Plus is just $40 extra each way if you fly to the Caribbean and $90 each way to Europe. For that you get nicer seats with more pitch and reclining ability, plus other options.

Rouge flights will have Air Canada's checked and carry-on baggage allowance.

In addition, they're promising flight attendants trained for both safety and "warm, welcoming service."

It's clearly a nod at WestJet. I asked Air Canada folks if they'd give the same training for "warm, welcoming service" to their existing crew members if it works on Rouge. Naturally, they suggested Air Canada folks are just wonderful as things are and reminded me they've won the Skytrax award as best North American airline several years in a row.

True, and I think Air Canada's crew is getting better. But there's plenty of room for improvement.

I just hope they don't get carried away. Some folks like it, but I really hate it when the WestJet crew gets all silly with the jokes. I want courtesy and smiles but not David Letterman in the sky, thank you very much.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY - HIDDEN VALLEY HUNTSVILLE ONTARIO

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, is offering the following "embrace winter" package at Hidden Valley Resort in Huntsville:

• Enjoy 1 night accommodation in a Hillside Room for two
  • For $99 stay Sunday to Thursday night
  • For $109 stay Friday or Saturday night
  • For $169 stay Monday - Friday night - includes 2 adult 6-hour flex ski lift tickets
• Continental breakfast for two
• One bottle of wine to enjoy in your room or in the dining room
• 2 for 1 table d’hote dinner
• One $20.00 Algonquin Outfitters voucher - 2 stores to redeem in Huntsville
• Late checkout at 1pm (based on availability)

Offer Details

• Valid for travel for December 18, 2012 – March 31, 2013
• Blackout dates: December 23, 2012 – January 5, 11-12, February 1-3, 8-9, 16-18, 26-28, 2013

• Purchase one dinner and receive a second dinner free (of equal or lesser value from table d'hote menu only.)

• Ski hill closed on Tuesday's & Wednesday's
• Offer based on hotel availability

• No cash back. No cash value. Cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions
• Taxes and gratuities not included and payable directly to hotel

For more details on all jaunt deals, visit www.jaunt.ca.

 

 

What's old in Scotland ... new art centre for Montreal ... Jaunt.ca cruise deals

The tourism job is a tricky one.

On one hand, folks like to talk about what’s new. It’s a natural way to start a conversation, of course. But it also can be a dangerous game.

I get dozens of emails a week from tourism boards in Canada and the U.S. and Europe, all giving me thousands of words on a new hotel in this town or a new art festival in that one.

But sometimes I think everyone in the industry, myself included, gets too focused on what’s new that we forget about the stuff that makes a city or a tourism region popular in the first place. I mean, most tourists heading to Paris don’t care if there’s a new Shangri-La hotel opening. They want to know about the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame or the Louvre.

So when I met with Mike Cantlay of Visit Scotland yesterday, I jokingly started our chat by telling him, “I don’t care what’s new; tell me what’s old in Scotland.”

He laughed but he said he completely understood where I was coming from (a rarity in my life).

“Tourism is our biggest industry,” he said. “We want people to understand the unique features that make Scotland different.”

Cantlay, sporting a white shirt with a red and blue tartan tie for our coffee meeting, said Scotland has to make sure it keeps its iconic sights and activities front and centre as they’re what make Scotland Scotland. That means golf, castles, whisky, Robert Burns, tartans and bagpipes.

Plus, of course, a certain emphasis on other activities and, naturally, at least some focus on what’s coming up that’s different and might bring people back a second or third time.

Sports have been a big focus for Scotland, and it’s hosting the Ryder Cup golf tourney in 2014 at Gleneagles and also playing host to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow that year. The Commonwealth Games will bring some 6,500 athletes from 71 countries and they expect to sell a million tickets.

They’re bidding for the Youth Olympic Games in 2018 and are lobbying the Tour de France to start a future race in Scotland, which would be interesting to say the least.

The year 2014 also marks a Scotland Homecoming year, and there are plans for a new branch of the Victoria and Albert museum in Dundee for 2015 or 2016.

“Tourism is the easiest industry” to help Scotland stay on its feet, Cantlay said. “You invest one dollar and you’ll get 20 dollars back.”

The British pound has fallen mightily against the Canadian dollar over the past couple years, to the point where a visit now is probably one-third cheaper than two or three years ago.

“The whole country is one-third off,” Cantlay said with a laugh. “But it won’t stay that way forever.”

NEW MONTREAL CENTRE

I don’t recall hearing about it before, but the folks at Montreal Tourism tell me The Phi Centre opened up this summer as a new art spot. It’s a multi-disciplinary centre with films, music, a new exhibition space with “cutting edge interactive installations” and room for conferences, corporate events and more.

A restaurant is planned for late 2013 or early 2014, and the centre is located at 407 Saint-Pierre at the corner of St. Pierre and Rue St. Paul in Old Montreal.

JAUNT DEAL OF THE DAY

Jaunt.ca, a division of Torstar, still has a great deal on for cruises. Their exclusive Norwegian Cruise Lines Balcony Sale ends this coming Saturday evening and features three of NCL’s top ships, the Pride of America in Hawaii, the Norwegian Epic in the Western Mediterranean and also in the Eastern Caribbean and the Norwegian Breakaway out of New York City.

The deal includes added value such as paid gratuities, onboard credits and reduced rates.

Jaunt also has deals across Canada and other parts of the world, so check them out at jaunt.ca.

 

Star Travel writer honoured/Hazelton's $199,000 package/Jamaica Jaunt.ca deal

It’s quite the honour.

Long-time Toronto Star travel writer Heather Greenwood Davis has been named a “Traveler of the Year” by National Geographic Traveler magazine.

They’re the only family on the list and the only Canadians, Davis said. Davis and her husband, Ishmael, visited 29 countries during a full 12 months on the road with their two young boys, Ethan (10) and Cameron (8). The boys were 8 and 6 when they left home in June 2011.

They rode elephants in Thailand and India, toured the Galapagos Islands and visited the Eiffel Tower in France during what Davis describes as a life-changing experience and education of a lifetime for the whole family.

We're pretty excited," says Greenwood Davis. "We wanted to do this trip to live a dream and to show the kids that there was more to life than the neighbourhood they were growing up in. To be honoured by National Geographic Traveler in this way is incredible icing."

The trip, which started in June 2011 and wrapped earlier this year included  visits to orphanages in China and Mumbai, a harrowing moment outside a Chengdu China train station and moments of complete disbelief as they walked through Tahrir Square in Egypt.  The family says while they left home with some trepidation about some of the world's hot spots, meeting the people in cities like Cairo, Bogota and Sharm el Sheikh quickly changed their views.

Now that they're home and the boys are back in school, the family is readjusting to "normal" activities like making dinner and (soon) shoveling snow, but already planning their next world adventure.

"We figure we'll go again in about six years," Davis says. "The kids will be older then so there may be less movement but the goal will be the same: Time together as a family doing what we love."

It's a hugely impressive feat to undertake, let alone accomplish. I find it hard to organize MYSELF for a two-week trip; I can't imagine two adults and two kids around the freaking world over a year's time. Good on you, Heather. And welcome home.

Now, don't you have a story to file for me on Monday?

GOT A SPARE $199,000? THE HAZELTON HOTEL HAS A DEAL FOR YOU

The posh Hazelton Hotel isn't taking the invasion of the Trump, Four Seasons, Shangri-La and Ritz Carlton Toronto hotels lying down. The Yorkville property the other day introduced a $199,000 "bespoke holiday season shopping package."

Yes, lottery winners, you read that correctly. 199,000 shiny loonies for a deal at what's labelled as "Toronto's Most Exclusive Hotel," and it's not a bad label when you've got such heavyweight competition I think.

The deal, and I hate to use that word in this instance, is called "shopping at its very, bespoke finest," said GM David Mounteer.

The package includes private jet transportation from your home to Toronto, two nights accomodation in the Hazelton's Bellair Suite, which includes one of those wildly expensive Haastens beds), all meals catered in your suite's private dining room by ONE Restaurant at the hotel, a luxury sedan with drive at your disposal and added amenities. (I would hope so. I would also hope they'd expect you to take the shampoo from the bathroom. And maybe some of the furniture in the suite, too).

There's also three separate shopping trips. The man in the party (they're assuming something here) gets a private shopping experience at Louis Black, the watch store at the Hazelton that's billed as Toronto's most exclusive watch shop. (THey have one watch on-site called "Black Kite" that sells for $135,000).

The woman in the party (again, assuming something here) gets a stylist at her disposal for an afternoon of shopping in Yorkville, helping find unique items.

Both parties will get a personally escorted tour of Toronto's art galleries from the Hazelton's Art concierge. The concierge will "discuss their personal tastes in advance"  and select galleries that best reflect their wishes. Presumably this is the case even if, like me, you lean towards even if you like Elvis and Bob Marley and poker-playing dogs on velvet.

Oh, by the way. The Bespoke Holiday Season Shopping Package STARTS at $199,000. Plus tax. And the price is based upon factors such as watch selection and art purchases and the city you're flying in from. You might save a bit if you're coming from Oshawa, or it could cost a bit more if you're arriving from Australia.

For information on package and the hotel, go to www.thehazeltonhotel.com.

JAUNT.CA DEAL OF THE DAY

 

The folks at Jaunt.ca, a subsidiary of Torstar, have a good deal going for a four-star resort in Jamaica, wiith a savings $676 per couple. Here's what you get 

• BONUS: ACV Privileges offer exclusive check in/late check out (subject to availability), 4 guaranteed à la carte reservations per week, 20% spa discount, nightly turn down service and more!
• All-inclusive 7-night stay at the 4-Star Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica, located in Runaway Bay, Jamaica
• Includes return airfare from Toronto, Montreal or Ottawa to Montego Bay, and round-trip airport/hotel transfers in Jamaica
• Accommodations in a Junior Suite, featuring 1 king or 2 double beds and private balcony or terrace. Max. occupancy: 3 adults and 1 child or 2 adults and 2 children
• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, and unlimited domestic alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

Offer Details

• Valid for travel on the following departures:
  Toronto: Feb. 5, 6, 7, 8 & 12, 13, 14, 15, 2013
  Montreal: Feb. 2, 6, 9, 13, & 20, 2013
  Ottawa: Jan. 26 & Feb. 2, 2013
• This is an exclusive offer brought to you by Air Canada Vacations
• Valid passport required for travel from Canada
• Pricing (Rates are per person):
  
  Toronto
  Single: $1749 plus tax
  Double: $1299 plus tax
  Triple: $1239 plus tax
  1st Child: $849 plus tax
  2nd Child: $459 plus tax
  Tax: $377
  
  Montreal (+ $50 for Saturday departures/ Feb 2 & 9)
  Single: $2126 tax included
  Double: $1706 tax included
  Triple: $1656 tax included
  1st Child: $1256 tax included
  2nd Child: $866 tax included
  
  Ottawa
  Single: $1599 plus tax
  Double: $1199 plus tax
  Triple: $1139 plus tax
  1st Child: $849 plus tax
  2nd Child: $459 plus tax
  Tax:$371
• This offer is 100% non-refundable

View the terms that apply to all Jaunt offers

TRUMP TRUMPS THE COMPETITION?

Speaking of Toronto hotels (don't you just love a good segueway on a Friday morning?), the folks at TripAdvisor have included the Trump Toronto as one of the world's ten hot new hotels of 2012.

Here's what they had to say: "In the midst of Toronto's financial and entertainment districts stands this stunning 65-story hotel.

Travelers can unwind at the luxurious spa and wellness facility, take a dip in the indoor saltwater pool or enjoy a mouthwatering meal at the restaurant and lounge located on the 31st floor.

"Everything from the service to the rooms was just phenomenal," said one TripAdvisor traveler. Average nightly rate is $456 and up."

 

 

Club Med comes to Canada (minus the palm trees) ... Drag queens on Carnival

Travel Pulse reports that ClubMed and Le Groupe Massif in Quebec have signed a deal to jointly operate the first Club Med resort in Canada.

You won't see any palm trees, at least not outdoors, but plans call for the resort to be built at the renowned ski hill at Le Massif de Charlevoix, in Petite-Rivière-Saint-François.

Le Massif Chairman Daniel Gauthier (of Cirque du Soleil fame) made the announcement at a Chamber of Commerce and Industry conference in Quebec City.

Plans call for a 300-room hotel to be built by Dec. 2015. Gauthier said that represents 24 per cent of the total number of units in phase one of the development project at Le Massif.

“Club Med’s interest confirms Le Massif de Charlevoix’s vast tourism potential," Gauthier said in the Travel Pulse story. “It coincides perfectly with our aspiration to offer all-inclusive lodgings at the mountain. It is nevertheless important to mention that this hotel, which will be jointly operated with Club Med, represents only a portion of the mountain’s overall lodging offer.”

DRAG QUEENS BACK ON BOARD

Etravelblackboard reportsthat Carnival Cruise Lines "will now allow guests aboard what is being dubbed as the largest gathering of drag queens at sea to wear drag during the cruise, following outrage at a letter sent to passengers advising them that they will not be permitted to do so in public areas."

The letter, sent by Carnival Cruise Lines vice president of guest services Vicky Ray, told passengers sailing on the 2 December Carnival Glory voyage out of Miami that guests who violate the policy, “will be disembarked at their own expense and no refund will be given.”

Ms Ray attributed the decision to the amount of families and children that sail aboard the ship and expressed the line’s expectation that passengers “recognise that minors are onboard and refrain from engaging in inappropriate conduct in public areas.”

Carnival Cruise Lines president and CEO Gerry Cahill has taken to social media to explain what he says was a miscommunication between the cruise line and travel agency, Al and Chuck Travel, who booked the cruise.

“When the group was presented to us we were advised that only the performers would be dressed in drag during the private events,” Mr Cahill writes. 

“However, we are now aware that this was not clearly communicated to members of the group and therefore anyone who wishes to dress in drag may do so.

Mr Cahill goes on to express the importance of onboard safety and security procedures asking passengers to keep in mind that people must still be recognisable by their government-issued ID.

ZIP AROUND VEGAS

Tourists will soon have a new way to see the lights of Las Vegas: By being spit out of the mouth of an 11-story slot machine and zinged down a five-block zip line past some of the city's oldest casinos, says a story from Associated Press.

Officials on Tuesday unveiled plans for a permanent zip line on the downtown Las Vegas promenade known as the Fremont Street Experience.

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said the thrill ride dubbed SlotZilla was destined to become an iconic city landmark.

"This is going to be known around the world: Come ride our Slotzilla," she said, standing beside showgirls and a scale model at the unveiling.

The monster zip line will cost $11 million to build and between $20 and $30 to ride. Construction is expected to start in January.

The attraction, expected to open in June, is an expansion of a much smaller, temporary zip line that has for two years scooted families, newlyweds and Elvis impersonators beneath a long metal canopy that displays an hourly light show.

That ride was intended to be a 30-day novelty, but it proved such a crowd pleaser the business community began working to make it permanent.

Currently, riders launch four at a time from a 67-foot (20-meter) metal scaffolding and land 800 feet (244 metres) away near the Four Queens casino, halfway across the pedestrian mall that features the world's largest video screen.

The new tower will be twice as tall, feature twice as many lines, and will look like a giant slot machine spitting out disoriented tourists.

With each new batch of zip-liners, the handle will dip, the wheels will spin, and the doors will open, revealing the course to the tourists on top.

"If you're going to do something here, you have to do it bigger and better than anywhere else," said Fremont Street Experience marketing director Thomas Bruney.

Officials are betting the new attraction will lure more visitors the downtown area, which has struggled to compete with the flashier Strip three miles (less than five kilometres) away.

It is intended to reflect the "vintage Vegas" vibe that characterizes the promenade, nicknamed "Glitter Gulch" for the classic casino signs that glow amid the souvenir shops and buffet signs.

Riders will be able to stop halfway, or continue to the end of the 1,700 course, landing near the Golden Gate casino. They will have the option of flying along the lines in a horizontal "superman" position, and accelerating their ride using a new "power launch" system.

Bootleg Canyon Flightlines operates the current ride. The new structure will be built by the Hawaii-based company Skyline, better known for zip lines that span waterfalls and forests.

“However, we are now aware that this was not clearly communicated to members of the group and therefore anyone who wishes to dress in drag may do so.

 

Cyber Monday travel deals, plus Dubai's latest plan to rule the (tourism) world

Well, it's Cyber Monday. But my inbox isn't exactly overflowing with travel deals. I think there are a few to be had, so I'd advise sticking by your computer today.

The best deal I've seen so far today is from the terrific Kimpton hotell chain, a deal offering 30 per cent off on stays from Thursday to Sunday between now and Dec. 30. It's a pre-paid, non-refundable deal that's valid only at certain hotels and you need to use the word "CYBER" as your rate code.

I found a room for Dec. 21 and 22 at the Kimpton Palomar in downtown Phoenix for $139. Rooms at the outstanding Burnham Hotel in downtown Chicago, which I reviewed in the Star a few weeks ago, were going for just $140 on weekends in early December. It's a fabulous, historic hotel with a cool bar and a nice vibe in a good part of town and very much worth checking out.

I also spotted a series of deals at Expedia.ca, including rooms in Las Vegas for $16, hotels in Montreal from $66 and from Vancouver from $70 and Canmore/Banff from $84. Further afield, there were rooms in Punta Cana, D.R. from $90 and a three-star spot in Paris for $107, which is quite impressive. The deals must be booked today, Nov. 26 for travel by Dec. 31.

DUBAI ON THE RISE?

I had to shake my head at a Reuters report over the weekend, talking about Dubai's latest announcement for a monstrous tourism and retail development.

I don't particularly love Dubai as a destination but I guess it's a good sign for world tourism that Dubai thinks it's gotten over the corporate debt crisis that brought it (almost) to its knees three years ago. For those who missed it, the latest plan calls for the largest shopping mall in the world to be built on the outskirts of what passes for Dubai's current downtown area. There's also supposed to be a park that's 30 per cent bigger than Hyde Park in London.

A retail complex named the "Mall of the World" will be able to host 80 million visitors a year and include over 100 hotel facilities, officials said. A family entertainment centre linked to the mall, developed with Hollywood's Universal Studios would be designed for six million visitors each year.

It's all fine for Dubai, but just because a park is 30 per cent bigger than Hyde Park doesn't make it better. Ditto for the malls. I went to the big shopping mall in Dubai a couple years ago, the one with the indoor ski hill, and was utterly underwhelmed. Aside from the cosmpolitan group of customers, it may as well have been the Mall of America in Minneapolis with higher-end stores or the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta.

The historic centre of Dubai is fun and quite interesting, and there's a nicer beach than you might think to go with some sumptuous resorts. But the downtown feels like Houston without the southern charm and the majority of the developments that march ever onward make you feel like you're in Vegas, minus the crazy guys in costumes and the wedding chapels. Also without the girls and the gambling.

Still, folks seem to flock there and it is quite safe and there's a lot to do for kids, including a fun water park I tried out a couple years ago. They're clearly doing something right to warrant this kind of tourism plan....

 

 

 

You have to think they’re not hockey or basketball fans. Or soccer enthusiasts, for that matter.

The folks at Travelzoo Inc. released its 2012 Travelzoo Awards list on Thursday and there was a rather large surprise in the category of “Best Overall Provider of Entertainment Experiences in Canada.” The winner? Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.

I had to give my head a shake. At first I thought it was an award for “best condo builder.” But no. Then I thought it was “most outrageously profitable entertainment experiences where fans are continually hosed by owners who don’t care if their teams win.” But no. It was “best overall provider of entertainment experiences.” IN ALL OF CANADA!!

MLSE? The folks who struggle to put even a mediocre product on the ice and the basketball court and the soccer pitch? The laughingstock of North American sports? The organization that's part of a league that isn't even playing this fall?

You gotta be kidding me. Yes, Real Sports is a great sports bar. Yes, the Raptors dance pack features some pretty hot routines. And yes, the Raptor himself continues to dazzle (I think, I haven’t seen a game in a couple years).

But this is an organization that has run Toronto FC into the ground and can’t field a hockey playoff team and a basketball team that's consistently below average with a general manager that is riding on his success in Phoenix a century or two ago.

Good concerts at the ACC? Maybe that’s what did it, but not if you judge that category by the feedback from fans at this week’s mysterious Bob Dylan show.

The other Canadian categories in the Travelzoo awards were for best overall provider of Airfare (Porter), best overall provider of hotel deals (Sutton Place, Vancouver, which is often on sale on various websites) and best provider of vacation and cruise packaging (Cruise Connections, Inc.).

 

QUEBEC CITY HOTELS KICK BUTT

Congrats to Quebec City for having the highest rated hotels in the U.S. and Canada.

CheapHotels.org released a survey this week of 30 destinations north and south of the border. It was based on evaluations written by customers over the past 12 months following their stays.

To ensure proper comparisons, the study was based only on 3-star hotels (the kind most of us stay in most often) in the city centre. Two booking sites, Expedia and Priceline, served as the aggregator from which reviews were drawn.

The winner, with 75 per cent positive reviews, was Quebec City. Next was Washington D.C. at 73, followed by Chicago (72) and a tie between Boston and Montreal at 71. So, good on La Belle Province for a great showing.

The bottom five were Las Vegas (61), Honolulu (59), Ottawa (a terrible 57 score), Atlantic City (56) and, at the very bottom, Miami at 54.

Sounds like theirs food for thought down Florida way….

For the record, Toronto was pretty much in the middle (slightly above average) at 67, one spot behind Niagara Falls (68), although the study doesn’t say whether that’s the U.S. or Canadian side of the falls.

New York City was at 65.

 

THIS AND THAT

Fairmont is opening its first-ever property in the Philippines, which seem to be getting more and more travel press these days. The Fairmont Makati opens Dec. 3 in Metro Manila. Fairmont Makati will have 280 rooms and suites with a Filipino design. The tower housing the Makati also is home to the 32-room, all-suite Raffles Makati and to condos under the Raffles Residences brand. Raffles is a sister brand of Fairmont under the parent company Fairmont Raffles Hotels International … Kudos to Cabot Links on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia for being named best new golf course by SCOREGolf. It’s a no-brainer, really, as it’s by far the best new course opened in this country in some time. It’s a true links course, the only one in Canada, and it’s absolutely marvelous.