The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday August 4, 2007 - 27 Sam talks travel with Teamwork! dogs or business Dear Sam: I know you usually talk about holidays, but I wonder if you can help me with a travel problem I have at work. I have just been promoted and will be asked to do a fair amount of travelling in Canada and the U.S. I'm told I can travel business class and stay in the executive floors of the hotels I stay in. Sam, I'm used to travelling like regular people, and staying in economy hotels. I feel I'd be setting a good example by saving the company money. What do you think? Undecided Dear Undecided: Your company realizes that travelling for business can be exhausting, and they've budgeted to make your trip as easy as possible so you're at your best, when you do your job. And what may seem like luxury to you, will make your trip much more effective. I'm staying at the Fairmont Winnipeg this week, on the Gold floor. This meant I checked in on the 19th. floor lounge. They were expecting me; everything was ready, even though it was early for the usual check-in. When I said I'd made a huge mistake in renting a car right away for a three-hour drive, (instead of having a short nap which I badly needed), the response was, "We'll call them, and tell them you'll be a bit late, then we'll drive you over to pick up the car. Have a nice nap." The lounge that is dedicated to Gold customers makes a great living room. Breakfast is complimentary, cocktail Canapés are served nightly; there is coffee, tea and snacks all day and evening and an honour bar. My room includes free wireless and free local and calling card calls. If the little board room isn't occupied, I can book it gratis for meetings. The meetings I've held with just one or two people are easily held in the comfy lounge itself. This means I don't have to meet with them in my room with the bed front and centre, or in the busy lobby or a restaurant. I've chatted with other guests, used the work station in the lounge, borrowed CDs for my room, and a book. Three newspapers are available. The best part of the Gold service is that there are concierges to help make your stay easier. They map out my walking routes for me, check to find information that I need, and just plain make my life on the road simpler. They're also a cheery face at the end of the day to chat to. The Fairmont has always been a favorite hotel, but their Gold service is over the top. Ask your company which hotels it has negotiated rates with, I think you'll find it got better rates, even upgraded, than you could get on your own. Have you thought about how your colleagues will feel, if you insist on economy? You won't find much support I expect. Dear Sam: I know you travel with your dog, but how will you do it now that Air Canada won't allow dogs? I had planned a trip with my precious little poodle, but now will have to cancel it. Dog Nut Dear Dog Nut: I'm assuming that Fiffi will fit under the seat on an aircraft. My dog McDuff is weighing in at 90 pounds these days, so would need to go in the hold. I would not fly him and take that risk unless I was moving permanently. It would be different if he could be with me, in the cabin. Air Canada is still flying pets; they simply fly on cargo planes rather than on the one you're on. You didn't say where you're going; you might want to look at other airlines. There was a pooch on an Air Transat flight I made to France last year. He arrived first on the luggage carousel, and we could hear his outrage a long way off. Air France doesn't seem to have a problem with animals small enough to fit under the seat. I counted eight dogs and one cat on a flight I was on. The dogs seemed used to this method of travel and wagged their way into the crate when it was time to board. The cat was outraged, and explained this throughout the entire trip. Here's an idea for you if you're travelling in Canada. VIA welcomes dogs in their baggage department, and when the train stops for a short time, you can walk and feed him. And finally there is always the car. This is McDuff's method of transportation. He rules the back seat on his travels. I wish he was with me on this trip, the Fairmont welcomes their doggy guests. -- Sam Ion can be reached at sion10@cogeco.ca. MICHAEL IVANIN / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER GOOD SERVICE: Homewood Suites by Hilton, the national brand of upscale allsuite, residential-style hotels, has recognized and awarded Homewood Suites by Hilton, Oakville's, Front Desk Team, Team of the Quarter. The Oakville Team, pictured here, from left, Ramires Diaz, Daniel Schmid, Melissa Sukoo, Holly Doering, Rey Aguhob (the late Maureen Henry would also have been included), received the highest Front Desk scorecard, from among the 200 Homewood Suites by Hilton hotels in the entire brand throughout the U.S. and Canada. CRUISE NEWS FROM MCTAVISH TRAVEL Royal Caribbean expands no smoking policy Royal Caribbean will introduce a new smoking policy onboard its ships, effective January 2008. To bolster the cruise line's new "Vitality" wellness program, recently debuted on Liberty of the Seas, Royal Caribbean is increasing smoke-free zones by designating all staterooms and one lounge on each ship in its fleet as non-smoking areas. The new policy will go into effect aboard 18 of the line's 21 ships initially, with Legend of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas following suit with the 2008 summer season. Currently, smoking is prohibited in guest hallways and corridors, restaurants, entertainment venues and most of the ship's interior public spaces except for designated areas in bars and lounges. The new policy will add all guest staterooms and suites, and one bar or lounge on every Royal Caribbean ship on to the roster of smoke-free spaces. Guests wishing to smoke may still do so from starboard outer decks, in designated areas in bars and lounges, and on stateroom and suite balconies. HAL introduces `As You Wish' dining Holland America Line has launched "As You Wish" dining, a new program that allows passengers to choose from either traditional pre-set seating and dining times, or a flexible dining schedule. One level of the two-tiered restaurant will offer a flexible/open dining service from 5:15 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily, and the other will host two seatings, an early and main seating. Prior to their cruise, during the booking phase, guests will choose flexible/ open dining or Holland America's traditional pre-set dining time. Guests with flexible seating may make reservations daily during a cruise up to 4 p.m. or simply walk up anytime during dining hours. Contact us for details! Visit McTavish At: www.mctavishtravel.com oakville@selloffvacations.com 146 Lakeshore Road, East Oakville, On L6J 1H4 Voted Best Travel Agency Best Cruise Company Best Travel Agent Thanks Oakville! Hopedale Shopping Centre 1515 Rebecca Street, Oakville Relax... you're with us 221 Lakeshore Road E. 905-842-4999 (905) 827-1100 fax: (905) 827-4982 e-mail: travel@mctavish.com 905-337-2228 www.hookedoncruising.com