ADVENTURE World has just released a “Spring Bonus Offer” from Rocky Mountaineer, where you receive a $265 credit per adult when you book a five nights or more “Goldleaf Service” package.

The credit can be used on a range of product from Rocky Mountaineer including pre and post package accommodation, sight seeing tours, car rental, meal plans and Whistler Mountaineer day trips.

An example of a tour that qualifies from the offer is the six day “Canadian Rockies Highlights” from $2999 per person twin share. This tour begins in Vancouver and travels through Kamloops, Banff, Lake Louise with the journey finishing in Calgary.

The package includes two days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, five nights hotel accommodation, some meals, sightseeing such as glacier helicopter tour, ranch tours, national parks pass, fuel surcharge and luggage handling fees.

The offer is valid for new bookings made before March 16, for travel from April 15 to 25 and conditions apply.

Source Link: Travel Blackboard

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Railway Map Guide: British Columbia & Canadian Rockies

The award-winning British Columbia and Canadian Rockies Railway Map Guide is the definitive reference to the spectacular passenger railway routes across British Columbia and western Alberta. This full-colour souvenir map guide follows the present and historic mileposts of the legendary passenger railway routes of Canada’s rugged, mountainous far west. These are the historic railways that opened Canada’s west to settlement. In this map you’ll find:

• Rocky Mountaineer, and VIA Rail routes;
• Realistic 3-D perspective maps for instant orientation;
• Extensive charts of cities and towns along the way, highlighting distances between communities and other important information;
• A speed table to help you determine the speed of the train.

The Railway Map Guide covers everything you’ll need to know along the way, including railway signals and signs. It identifies 300 points of interest and over 200 majestic mountains (some visible from the train). Find rivers and their tributaries, tunnels, bridges, snowfields, glaciers, and much more!

The British Columbia and Canadian Rockies Railway Map Guide truly captures the essence of the enchanted landscape of Canada’s far west. Whether you travel by train, by car, or in your armchair, whether you are a visitor or a local commuter, this souvenir map guide will bring local geography to life.

Expectations of a slow winter prompted layoffs of nine workers

Gray Line West has cut back its tour schedule and laid off nine of its 119 Victoria staff, citing a challenging tourist season and expectations for a slow winter.

The company, which operates year-round sight-seeing tours and charter coach services in Victoria, Calgary and Banff, said the prospects of a lean winter forced its hand.

“We have put into effect a reduced business model in Victoria. The tourism industry is facing some challenging times and the forecast is for tourism revenue to decline in Victoria,” said Ian Robertson, executive director of corporate communications for the Armstrong Group, which owns Gray Line West and other operations such as the Rocky Mountaineer train.

“For us, at winter season it’s a particularly challenging time for tourism, and to continue with a full operation is not financially viable.”

The result is a reduction in the number of coaches on the road and tours the company will run through the city on any given day.

Robertson said they won’t be eliminating any particular tours — they offer grand city driving tours, attraction loop tours and trips to Butchart Gardens, among others — instead opting to reduce the number of options and times people can take them.

The layoffs affect management and maintenance positions. There will be no reductions or layoffs at any of Gray Line’s other operations.

Robertson also quashed rumours Armstrong Group was putting the Gray Line West division up for sale.

“We are always looking at opportunities, but the mandate we have given to Victoria and our operations in Banff is to develop a strong business plan for growth, and we continue on that track,” he said.

Armstrong Group bought Gray Line in 2005 as a complement to its other tourism businesses.

“We saw it as a fit with the Rocky Mountaineer train and Whistler Mountaineer, so it was a natural fit for our overall tourism strategy,” he said, noting the Victoria operation could expand again if the need arises.

“Certainly if the indications are that we are going to have a strong tourism season in summer, we would look at increasing our workforce and offering more tour options,” he said.

aduffy@tc.canwest.com

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – Experiencing a world-class train trip is more attractive now than ever before. With the recent decline of the Canadian dollar, Rocky Mountaineer Vacations’ spectacular rail journeys are even more appealing to U.S. visitors. Guests experience the beauty of the Canadian Rockies while traveling by train between the coastal city of Vancouver, British Columbia and the Rocky Mountain destinations of Jasper, Banff and Calgary, Alberta.

In addition to taking advantage of savings up to 20% in the exchange rate by booking in Canadian currency, U.S. travelers could get even more bang for their buck if they book the Rocky Mountaineer Vacations’ Early Booking Bonus before January 15, 2009. The Early Booking Bonus rewards couples with a Fairmont Hotel & Resorts gift card of up to $600 in value when booking a qualifying vacation package of six nights or more departing during the 2009 season.

Great vacation options for the 2009 season include the new Escorted Rail Tours packages. Onboard the exclusive Escorted Tours Lounge, guests have the opportunity to mingle, browse our library and enjoy onboard entertainment features such as wine tastings, photography, natural history and storytelling. All Escorted Rail Tours packages include delicious hot breakfast and lunch selections, transportation, accommodations and welcome and farewell dinners. For food and wine lovers, the Taste of the West package offers a gastronomic odyssey. This seven-night/eight-day journey features sumptuous Western Canadian cuisine along with wine pairings in world-class destinations such as Victoria, Vancouver and Banff. This exclusive culinary experience continues onboard the Rocky Mountaineer train, where travellers dine on regional dishes that celebrate the distinctive character of Western Canada.

The Rocky Mountaineer operates on three different routes between Vancouver or Whistler, British Columbia and the beautiful destinations of Jasper, Banff and Calgary, Alberta. There are more than 70 different vacation packages built around the Rocky Mountaineer two-day, all daylight train trip such as classic rail vacations, full circle journeys and escorted tours through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.

For additional information or to book your 2009 Rocky Mountaineer vacation and save, contact your local travel professional or Rocky Mountaineer Vacations directly at (800) 665-7245, or visit www.rockymountaineer.com

Rocky Mountaineer Vacations offers unique Canadian vacation packages and four spectacular rail routes through British Columbia and Alberta. Best known for the world-acclaimed Rocky Mountaineer train, a two-day, all daylight rail journey through Canada’s West and the Canadian Rockies, the company also offers trips onboard the Whistler Mountaineer train, a daily three-hour experience between North Vancouver and Whistler, BC.

Since its inception in 1990, the company has grown to be the largest privately owned passenger rail service in North America and welcomed its one millionth guest in 2008. In 2007, RMV was honoured with the World Travel Award as “World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train” for the third consecutive year and named by National Geographic as one of the World’s Greatest Trips.