Press Release

Canadian Trade Press Releases

Archive for August, 2006

Goway’s AFRICAExperts Unveil New Travel Experiences

Aug 31

Posted by PressRelease in Africa, Brochure, Goway, New Package, Product Updates | No Comments

Africa 0607AFRICAExperts by Goway has recently released their expanded 48-page brochure for 2007, which is one of the most comprehensive African Travel Planners in North America. “We’ve focused on expanding the destinations and memorable experiences available in Africa,” commented founder and President, Bruce Hodge, “recognizing the diverse needs of North American travellers, we offer safari excursions, small group escorted tours, wildlife encounters, winter escapes, self-drives and Indian Ocean island resorts. AFRICAExperts now offers the most wide-ranging African travel options for North Americans.”

New travel experiences introduced for 2007 include:
Travel Africa in Style, two exclusive VIP itineraries to enjoy South Africa that include icons such as the Kruger National Park and Victoria Falls. The 12-day “Route of the African Sun” ($5410CAD) and 15-day “Heartbeat of Africa” ($6530CAD) are both planned to incorporate a number of Stays of Distinctions, a selection of unique accommodations that cater to the discerning traveler.

The legendary 8-day “Zambian Walking Safari”, starting from $4570CAD, is a truly unique journey to explore the Zambian landscape, a profusion of birds and abundant wildlife. The safari includes accommodation at three bush camps, day walks and game drives, a professional guide, and flights from Livingstone to Lusaka. Highly recommended is a visit to Victoria Falls before of after the safari.

Two Namibian flying safaris (one from Windhoek and the other from Sossusvlei) for 7 days starting from $4892CAD, offer visitors the maximum time to see the country’s highlights by flying in light aircraft in between and over some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.

On the 8-day “Best of Uganda” journey, travellers will see the Mountain Gorillas in Uganda, enjoy game viewing and bird watching in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and visit the Ngamba Island chimp sanctuary. Starting from $3434CAD, departures are available from September 2006.

The ultimate luxury tenting experience, “Colonial Glory of Kenya” is an 7-day journey starting at $2654CAD. This memorable tour travels from Nairobi to Samburu, Lake Naivasha to Kenya’s finest reserve, the Masai Mara.

AFRICAExperts has also a variety of islands and resorts available in the Indian Ocean, including the Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zanzibar and Mombasa. 3-day packages start from $283CAD.

Goway Adds More Ways to Sell Getaways to Exotic Destinations

Aug 16

Posted by PressRelease in Getaways, Goway, New Package, Product Updates | No Comments

The range of air/land-inclusive Goway Getaways to Downunder, Africa and Asia keeps growing. These easy to sell packages are a collection of the company’s most popular itineraries, and are priced to sell! Goway also structures the pricing so that agents can quote for various levels of accommodation and add optional elements for a client, without even picking up the phone!

Although a few classic Getaways are featured in Goway’s award-winning brochures, many more are published on the website (www.goway.com/getaways) to ensure up-to-the-minute prices are posted, using the most competitive fares available.

“Our Getaways are simply pre-packaged popular itineraries,” commented Bruce Hodge, founder and owner of Goway Travel. “Of course, we still customize them as required, but it gives our agent partners a starting place for selling our long-haul destinations.”

For Downunder, new to the program is “Two Countries for the price of one” starting at just $1970 for 11-days. This great value vacation includes airfare from Vancouver, and 4 nights accommodation in each of Sydney, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand. Day tour ideas are also available to customize the trip.

In Asia, vacations include a 12-day “Classic Thailand”, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the beaches of Phuket. Starting from as little as $2219 from Vancouver, this vacation offers the best of Thailand, incorporating culture, cities and relaxation; perfect for the first time visitor to Asia.

Gorillas Up Close with AfricaExperts

Aug 16

Posted by PressRelease in Africa, Goway, New Package | No Comments

“Before I saw my first mountain gorilla he brushed my shoulder as he bounded from the canopy above and went somersaulting down the track behind me,” says Bruce Hodge, President of 35-year-old Goway. “There was another gorilla in the undergrowth to the left and one to the right and even more in the bamboo canopy above. Wow…were we ever close!” That was last March. The place was Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, East Africa the region where Dian Fossey became famous.

Today, Goway’s AFRICAExperts offer travellers two programs where they can encounter gorillas up close. One is for 3 or 4 days and another for 6 days. “I feel privileged to be one of the very few travellers who have ever encountered mountain gorillas in their own habitat. In fact they don’t live in captivity and there are less than 700 left,” said Hodge.

In Rwanda, only 8 permits costing US$375 are issued each day to visit each of five families habituated for tourists. This means prospective visitors should book well in advance to be able to go on the day of their preference.

The trek into the volcanic slopes through bamboo and rainforest is moderately strenuous and varies in length. You spend an hour with a group of wild gorillas going about their daily social activities.

AFRICAExperts’ 4-day Mountain Gorilla Encounter features meet and greet and transfers from Kigali Airport (which is 1 ½ hours flying time from Nairobi). A city tour of Kigali includes the very moving Genocide Memorial & Education Center. Accommodation in the capital is at the first class Intercontinental Hotel or similar. Morning gorilla treks occur on days two and three and you overnight at the Gorilla Nest Lodge. Travel through the beautiful Rwandan countryside is by luxury 4WD.The per person cost is from CAD$2189 pp/twin, permits not included.

The 6 day Best of Rwanda program costs CAD$3771 pp/twin, permits not included.

Goway Expands Product and Marketing Team

Aug 8

Posted by PressRelease in Goway, New Hire | No Comments

IslandsEscapes by Goway, has recently appointed Kim Friedrich (left) to the role of Product Manager. This newly created position was developed to help support the growth of the Islands program.

Kim FriederichKim brings more than 7 years of experience to this position, most recently as Product Manager for a mass market tour operator where her responsibilities included the overall management of the Caribbean Islands and Mexican product lines. She brings broad industry knowledge and expertise as well as fresh insight to the company.

Kim’s main responsibilities will be overall contract and product management, product development, marketing and sales of Cook Islands, Fiji, Tahiti, Western Samoa, the Kingdom of Tonga, Islands of Asia, and Islands of the Indian Ocean. Kim is familiar with many of the IslandsEscapes destinations, having spent time in Fiji, Tahiti and the Cook Islands, and has excellent product knowledge to help support the growth and development of IslandsEscapes.

Leia marvinAlso joining Goway’s Product & Marketing team is Leia Marvin (right), who has been appointed to the role of Product & Sales Co-ordinator for Goway’s Downunder product line and brings 8 years experience in South Pacific product, sales and marketing.

Leia spent 5 years in Goway’s reservations team as a Senior Travel Consultant, and brings a wealth of knowledge to the position. In addition, Leia has traveled extensively throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Leia is involved in all aspects of training for the Goway South Pacific reservation teams. She is also responsible for email communications and assisting in producing Goway’s award winning “Downunder” brochure.

Introducing KIAH, Goway’s Adopted Koala!

Aug 3

Posted by PressRelease in Australia, Contest, Goway | No Comments

Kiah and MotherGoway’s “Name the Koala” contest is now complete, and the winner will be off to Australia to visit the company’s newest adopted marsupial.

The name “Kiah” was selected from thousands of entries and is an aboriginal term meaning “from a beautiful place”. The winner of the contest, Tonya Froemel, of Wisconsin, has won a trip for two to Cairns, including round trip airfare with Qantas Airways, 5 nights accommodation and a daytour to Rainforestation to meet the koalas.

“We thought the name was appropriate for our beautiful new female joey. It also reflected the Aboriginal culture of Australia” commented Bruce Hodge, President and founder of Goway Travel, “Australia is fortunate in that it offers a great diversity for visitors, from our indigenous culture to our numerous National Parks and unique wildlife.”

Goway offers a wide range of vacations to Australia that include the opportunity to spend time in Cairns, including their 9-Day “Sydney & the Great Barrier Reef, starting from $1599USD. Goway also offers their unique range of “Holidays of a Lifetime” escorted tours, as well as customized vacation offers. More information on these offers is available at www.goway.com.

Rainforestation is a 40 hectare tourist attraction set amidst World Heritage Rainforest only five minutes drive from Kuranda Village and half an hour from Cairns in Tropical North Queensland. At Rainforestation, visitors can wander through the Koala and Wildlife Park or join in one of the complimentary guided walks to see cassowaries, dingoes, crocodiles, kangaroos, koalas, snakes and wombats. Also at this 40 hectare tourist attraction are Army Duck tours of the rainforest, and the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience.

Downunder Hosts the 2007 World Police and Fire Games

Aug 1

Posted by PressRelease in Goway, Packages, Product Updates | No Comments

Goway Travel has been appointed the official agent in North America for the World Police & Fire games in March 2007 in Adelaide, Australia.

Held every two years, the World Police & Fire Games are a spectacular international sporting event, offering law enforcement agencies, fire fighters, customs and correction officers from over 60 countries an opportunity to showcase their athletic talents.

As the official agent in North America, Goway has prepared packages for athletes and travelling companions to visit Australia during the Games.

“We are delighted to have been selected as the official agent for such a prestigious event for our national heroes” commented Bruce Hodge, President and founder of Goway Travel, “the Games are the third largest mass participation event in the World, showcasing 79 sports across a dynamic 10-day program.”

Starting from as little as $2939, the package includes Roundtrip economy class airfare from Vancouver (special add-on fares available from other cities), meet & greet at Adelaide airport, roundtrip airport to hotel transfers, 10 nights accommodation, airport/hotel porterage, plus a comprehensive Adelaide arrival pack for registered participants.

A group of 6 senior executives from Goway recently spent a week in Adelaide, ensuring the quality of selected accommodations and contracting for optional extension packages for the athletes. These include a chance to encounter the wildlife on a 2-night Kangaroo Island Getaway starting at $598 and a 4-night Outback Explorer tour from $2745.