www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday October 20, 2007 - 31 McTavish Travel wins prestigious award By Mandi Hargrave SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER SILVERSEA TEES UP `SILVER LINKS' THEME CRUISES FOR 2008 Silversea Cruises will once again host its popular "Silver Links" golf program on 12 diverse itineraries aboard Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper in 2008. The program offers golf enthusiasts a chance to perfect their swing on 35 of the most challenging courses in 16 countries and island destinations throughout the South Pacific, Mediterranean, Caribbean and Mexico. The Silver Links voyages offer optional golfing excursions in multiple ports arranged and escorted by the ship's golf professional from Kauri Cliffs Golf Club in New Zealand's Bay of Islands to the elegant Monte Carlo Golf Club. The escorted, optional golfing excursions vary in price from course to course and include transfers to and from the courses, pull or power-drive carts (where available), green and any applicable caddy fees. Golf clubs can also be rented for as little as US$45 per day with multipleday and equipment packages available. Call us for details. Ultimate Ski expands Tremblant options Skiers seeking ski packages to eastern Canada have a new option this year as both Ultimate Ski Vacations and Porter Airlines will offer winter flights from Toronto to Mont Tremblant International Airport. Ultimate Ski is now in its sixth year of a charter program featuring direct flights from Pearson International Airport's Executive Terminal to Tremblant. This year marks the first for a series of holiday season flights, plus Thursday and Sunday flights throughout ski season. Canada's ski vacation specialist is also featuring flights from the Region of Waterloo International Airport. Mid-week and weekend packages, frequent skier flight passes and group discounts are all available. And, new this year, Porter Airlines, which makes its home at Toronto City Centre Airport, will offer seasonal flights to Tremblant with air-inclusive packaged ski holidays, air-only tickets and land-only packages. Porter flights to Mont Tremblant include Monday, Wednesday and weekend flights over the holidays and continue with regular weekend service into the spring. From Dec. 22 to Jan. 6, 2008 Porter is offering a total of eight TCCA-Mont Tremblant round-trips. Regular weekend service begins Jan. 7, with one Toronto-Mont Tremblant round-trip on Saturday mornings and another round-trip on Sunday evenings. Call us for reservations! A local travel company is now the proud recipient of a coveted award that's described by the Wall Street Journal as the travel industry's Oscar. McTavish Travel has been in business in Oakville for 35 years and recently won the North American Leading Business Travel Agency award from the World Travel Awards. The awards were presented on Sept. 17 at the Jumeirah Essex House in New York. Surprised at the win, Vice President Trish McTavish says winning the prestigious award is an honour. "We were quite pleased to even be nominated," she says. Growing from a small business with just one employee to one of the largest independently owned and operated travel agencies in Canada with nearly 30 employees, the company specializes in corporate, group and vacation travel. McTavish attributes the company's success to continuing their focus on being the best travel agency instead of the biggest. "We've spent the last 35 years consistently working on one thing and that's providing service excellence," she says. She's noticed a number of companies shifting focus from customer service to the bottom line over the years, while McTavish Travel has prided itself on sustaining its level of service. While many companies have opted to have customers do more of the work online, McTavish says they like to handle as much of the work as possible for all clients. Although they do offer service via the Internet, she says it's for emergencies only. "Service is not dead," says President Ross McTavish, "it's nice to be recognized for it." Working as husband and wife for nearly four decades hasn't been as hard as some may think. Since their individual roles in the company are well defined, they can run the company together smoothly. The business was also the only Canadian travel agency to be nominated in two categories. After receiving the original nomination, the World Travel Awards conducted standard research into the company and decided the company should be nominated for another award; North America's Leading Travel Agency. They are now competing against all continents across the globe for the leading travel agency in the world, which is to be announced on Dec. 12, 2007. For more information on the agency visit www.mctavishtravel.com. PRESTIGIOUS AWARD: Ross and Trish McTavish are presented with the North American Leading Business Travel Agency award by Graham Cooke, co-founder and president of the World Travel Awards. Visit McTavish At: www.mctavishtravel.com SAVE $150* on your next dream holiday! St. Martin Mercure Simson Beach EUROPE 2008 AIR INCLUSIVE PROGRAM Regent seven seas cruises, a six-star voyage aboard Seven Seas Navigator or Seven Seas Voyager means impeccable service thanks to some of the highest service ratios at sea, choice of world class restaurants and the friendly congeniality only smaller ships can provide. Gina Cheng For Hamilton Departures Punta Cana, DR $1,579+ $313 tax Cancun, MX $1,097+ $240 tax Hotel Room, Sun. Jan. 6-27 Le Mirage at EdeNH Real Arena + Mirage Deluxe Room, Mon. Feb. 4 & 11 Special Ensemble Select offers: Punta Cana, DR $1,319+ $313 tax July 27, 2008 - Seven Seas Navigator 7 days from Venice to Athens US$4995.00 plus Taxes and fees US$230.00 per person based on 2 shared Price includes · 25% savings · Return airfare from Toronto · US$250.00 per person ship board credit for first time guest · Additional Ensemble/Total Travel US$100.00 per person ship board credit · Compliment spirits, wine and beer throughout the ship Regency Club at Punta Cana Princess All Suites + Regency Club Deluxe Suite, Mon. Jan. 7-14 Barcelo Costa Cancun + $1,199 + $272 tax Deluxe Room, Sat. Jan. 19 Mayan Riviera, MX $1,399 + $272 tax H10 Punta Turquesa + Deluxe Suite Partial Oceanview, Sat. Jan. 12-26 Mayan Riviera, MX $1,559 + $272 tax Prestige Class at Barcelo Maya Colonial Beach Deluxe Room, Sat. Jan. 12-26 August 09, 2008 Seven Seas Voyager 7 days from Stockholm to Copenhagen US$4795.00 plus taxes and fees US$230.00 per person based on 2 shared Price includes · 25% savings · Return airfare from Toronto · US$250.00 per person ship board credit for first time guest · Ensemble host on board · Private cocktail party · Special private tour in St. Petersburg city highlights, boat ride, and lunch · Compliment spirits, wine and beer throughout the ship. · Prices quoted are based on category H deluxe suite with balcony Click www.caasco.com/travel After hours or Sundays: 1-866-286-9323 *Not valid with any other promotion. Applicable for new bookings only with participating suppliers from Aug. 15 to Nov. 15, 2007 for departures between Nov.1, 2007 and April 30, 2008. $150 discount is based on a minimum booking value of $1250 per person, based on double occupancy per room before taxes and insurance. Savings will be awarded in Canadian dollars and will be applied at time of final payment when your trip has been paid in full. All bookings must be made more than 21 days in advance. All prices are per person, based on double occupancy in Canadian dollars unless stated otherwise, available at press time, subject to change and apply to new bookings only. Departure tax paid locally. Some restrictions apply, ask your CAA Travel Consultant for full details. ®CAA and CAA logo trademarks owned by and use is granted by the Canadian Automobile Association. Ontario Registration #50014517 CAA South Central Ontario, 60 Commerce Valley Dr. E., Thornhill, Ontario L3T 7P9. CAA Travel Store to book today! Call 1-800-992-8143 or visit a Call us at 905 849 0333 for more details on Regent Seven Seas Cruises Oakville Town Centre I 300 North Service Road, W. Oakville 905.849.0333 www.totaltravel-oakville.com Ont Reg No 2766538 Voted Best Travel Agency Best Cruise Company Best Travel Agent Thanks Oakville! Hopedale Shopping Centre 1515 Rebecca Street, Oakville Ont Reg No 2766538 Relax... you're with us (905) 827-1100 fax: (905) 827-4982 e-mail: travel@mctavish.com Oakville Town Centre I 300 North Service Road, W. Oakville 905.849.0333 www.totaltravel-oakville.com 221 Lakeshore Road E. 905-337-2228 www.hookedoncruising.com