Transat Deals, TL Network Canada Appointment and More JimBits

Air Transat presents its seat sale, inviting Canadians to fly for less with its best deals when booking by January 22, 2020. This promotion applies to several destinations in Europe, the South, the United States and within Canada.

Great destinations include Montego Bay (from $485 roundtrip from Toronto), Puerto Plata (from $516), and other sun spots. European destinations include Dublin ($539) and Paris ($648).

The Transat sale also is valid for cities in the United States and Canada. Deals from Toronto include Orlando ($340) and Fort Lauderdale (from $319). In Canada, you can fly Transat to Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, Vancouver and other cities at certain times of the year.

TL Network Canada, one of the travel industry's largest travel agency organization, has announced that Melissa Wheaton has joined the company as Business Solutions Manager, Eastern Canada. In this new position, Wheaton will work closely with the company's leadership team to establish new relationships, cultivate partnerships and expand the network in the region.

Wheaton comes to TL Network Canada from Rocky Mountaineer where she served as Regional Business Development Manager. Previously, Wheaton spent more than 10 years with WestJet and WestJet Vacations overseeing the development and execution of sales, marketing, promotional and incentive plans for key strategic partners.

"I am fortunate to have had TL Network Canada as one of my key accounts in my previous job," Wheaton said. "The team in Canada is so well respected and being part of an evolving company that prides itself on quality service aligns perfectly with my career goals. I am confident that I will be able to leverage past industry experience and strong relationships with Canada's top suppliers to bring new opportunities to the company."

Wheaton joined the TL Network Canada team in December and reports directly to Christine James, Vice President, TL Network Canada.

"Melissa's knowledge and past involvement with TL Network, along with her extensive experience and industry knowledge in all areas of travel, including leisure and business travel as well as vacation packages, makes her a valuable addition to the TL Network Canada family," said James. "We view her appointment as a sign of our commitment to being an industry leader, and we are very fortunate that we were able to find someone of Melissa's calibre to fulfill this role and propel us towards further growth."

Wheaton is based in the Toronto area and can be reached at [email protected] or 1-800-940-2122, ext. 3537 or 519-421-5927.

KAYAK has released its annual Travel Hacker guide and has listed some of the top places Canadians are looking for information about. Nationally, the top trending destinations are Osaka (searches up 145%), Kailua-Kona Hawaii (89%), Rome (23), Milan (19), Athens (19), Istanbul (15), Miami (13), Mexico City (13), Tokyo (12) and Hanoi (11).

On a regional basis, Vancouverites are all over the map with Japan, South Africa, Turkey, Vietnam, Netherlands, Indonesia and Fiji making the top 10, with 30 to 180 per cent search increases. Calgarians are looking for remote and distant destinations with Rarotonga, Cook Islands claiming the top trending destination with a 399% search increase from last year, and Japan and Hawaii also making appearances. Torontonians are looking to take in European culture and history with Milan (up 35%), Rome (up 26%) and Athens (up 26%) trending for 2020. Montreal residents are all sun, no shade. Top trending destinations include Martinique, Saint Maarten, Aruba, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Brazil and Colombia.

Rocky Mountaineer is kicking off its 30th Anniversary with a month-long promotion. Now through February 7, 2020, guests will receive free perks with the 30th Anniversary Promotion to enhance rail journeys and join the celebrations.

The 30th Anniversary Promotion offers travelers who book rail packages of eight days or more up to three free perks, including: one additional hotel night, one airport transfer, and one dinner, worth up to $800 CAD in added value, per couple.

With the extra hotel night, there's no better time for guests to extend their stay and explore more of Western Canada. One of the packages eligible for this offer is the First Passage to the West at Leisure, where two days onboard Rocky Mountaineer are combined with overnight stays in Lake Louise, Banff and Calgary.

Guests will experience breathtaking service, nature's wonder, and gourmet dishes as they weave through majestic mountains and turquoise lakes, and gaze through the glass-domed windows.

The 30th Anniversary Promotion is available on qualifying 2020 packages of eight days or more. The offer must be requested at the time of booking and has no cash value and other restrictions may apply. Go to https://www.rockymountaineer.com/promotions/30th-anniversary for full terms and conditions. For more information on booking a journey, please contact Rocky Mountaineer at 1-877-460-3200 or www.rockymountaineer.com.

Karisma has announced Marilyn Cairo's promotion to Associate Vice President of Sales for Premier Worldwide Marketing, the exclusive worldwide representatives for Karisma Hotels & Resorts, the award-winning luxury hotel collection which owns and manages properties in Mexico, Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe.

Cairo made a substantial and lasting impact during her past two years as Senior Director of Retail Sales for North America, where she revamped the sales team to focus on a brand strategy and brought in more than $1 million in sales.

In her new position, Cairo manages a team of 20 representative focused on driving bookings from the United States and Canada.

Bermuda's annual Pink Sale has kicked off for 2020, with savings of up to 50% off select hotels. Located less than three hours from Toronto,

Bermuda is the perfect island escape with flights from both Air Canada and WestJet. Time for some pink sand beaches, stunning accommodations, fresh seafood (it's lobster season right now) and beautiful outdoor explorations.

The booking window is January 7 to 21, 2020, for travel between January 8 and April 30, 202o or September 1 to December 31, 2020.

Rates start as low as $129.50 USD. Participating hotels include the Fairmont Southampton and the Hamilton Princess and Beach Club.

In November 2019, NYC & Company, New York City's official destination marketing organization, announced the return of NYC Winter Outing, which will run from January 21 to February 9, 2020. NYC Winter Outing combines NYC & Company's three signature promotional programs-NYC Broadway Week,

NYC Restaurant Week and NYC Must-See Week, creating ultimate value across the five boroughs. During the three-week period, select Broadway shows, attractions, museums, tours and performing arts will offer 2-for-1 tickets and nearly 400 restaurants will feature prix-fixe menus for lunch and dinner.

Additionally, the City's hotels offer the most attractive rates of the year.

Reservations are being taken now for NYC Restaurant Week.

Rich in history and culture, Augusta Georgia is the place to venture to this February for an enriching and educational walk down memory lane. As the birthplace/residence to several African American icons, Augusta is the true southeastern city of soul.

The Godfather of Soul, James Brown:

Considering Augusta played such a huge role in James Brown's life, it is only fitting that the artist is remembered throughout the city. At the Augusta Museum of History, the one-of-a-kind James Brown Exhibit features rare memorabilia and personal artifacts that vividly tell the story of The Godfather of Soul's life. An array of costumes, artifacts, interviews with Brown, records, images and audio-visual stations which highlight concert performances, albums, studio recordings and more are on display in this impressive exhibit.

Pioneer for Education, Lucy Craft Laney:

Lucy Craft Laney was an African American educator who opened the first school for African American children in 1883.The Lucy Craft Laney Museum is the only African American Museum in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA, Augusta and its Surrounding Areas). The museum, which opened in 1991, is a small house museum that was the former home of Miss Lucy Craft Laney. Tucked away on a quiet side street off of Laney Walker Boulevard and across the street from Lucy Craft Laney High School, the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History is a trove of knowledge, historical lessons, and community offerings, carrying on the storied legacy of Ms. Laney for this generation and beyond.

Whether your client is one of the approximate 850,000 vegans living in Canada, or is simply curious about switching up their holiday diet, Contiki, the original travel company providing epic adventures for 18-35 year-olds, has unveiled a new vegan friendly adventure around Europe, in response to growing demand from travellers seeking animal-free alternatives.

Guided by experts on all things plant-based, the one-off, eight-day trip, Vegan Food Europe Explorer hosted by @thelittlelondonvegan and @laurafruitfairy, will take clients on a vegan food odyssey around some of Europe's coolest cities. Rising to fame as world-renowned vegan hotspots, the trip covers Berlin, Prague, Vienna and Budapest, with extra stops along the way.

"Food and travel go hand in hand, and it can be a challenge for individuals practicing veganism to have the chance to experience local delicacies in certain parts of the world," said Sheralyn Berry, president of Contiki Canada. "As a result, we've seen a big increase in queries about where to find the best vegan eateries. With this itinerary, your clients can experience the best of Europe while taking their taste buds on an epic plant-based culinary adventure as well."

Starting in Berlin on August 16th, 2020 and ending in Budapest on August 23rd, 2020, your clients are guaranteed an authentic discovery of vegan cuisine with like-minded travellers. Top foodie experiences include a vegan cooking class in Budapest run by @laurafruitfairy, a private, plant-based EatWith dining experience with locals in Berlin, a dreamy dinner cruise along the Danube river and the chance to sample a wide range of vegan delicacies on an interactive food tour in Berlin.