Super Thailand!

So it has been just over a year since my trip to Thailand. It is on rainy Vancouver days like these that I miss the warm weather, spicy food, sun kissed beaches and the non-stop Thai massages.


This winter I am on a mission to pack away the winter clothes and head back to the tropical paradise of Thailand on our new Super Thailand Tour. Super Thailand will include Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi and the River Kwai with optional Phuket Island extension.

Thailand’s hidden treasures are uncovered during a drive through the city of Bangkok, via the Indian Market, the wholesale Flower market, China town and the Royal Avenue where the Palace of the King is located. This city tour is sure to be an amazing introduction to the diverse Thai culture.



On the banks of the River Kwai, Kanchanaburi is famous for the River Kwai Bridge built during World War II. Here, participants will visit the Allied Forces cemetery and spend time in the fascinating Thailand-Burma Railway Center Museum. Guests will ride a train across the famous bridge to Wang Po Station and Hellfire Pass Memorial. This memorial is part of the Death Railway that cuts through the mountains; it details the life of the Allied prisoners and Asian laborers who helped build, and subsequently suffered or died at Hellfire Pass.

The final city of the tour is the ancient capital of Siam, Ayutthaya. Here, participants will visit the ruins and temples of Bang Pa In, built in the 18th century as a summer residence for the Kings of Ayutthaya, as well as Wat Phra Srisan Phet and Wat Mongkol (the Giant seated Buddha image).

Scheduled departure dates for the 10 Day Super Thailand are November 26, 2012, February 11, 2013 and March 11, 2013. Packages begin at $1499. The 4 day Phuket Island extension is only $699 per person and includes 3 nights accommodation.

Best regards,

Otis Ashby

Sales & Operations

Twice as fast as the Concorde

HyperMach Aerospace is currently developing a supersonic jet that will fly from London to New York in TWO HOURS. Dubbed the SonicStar plane, it will have a top speed of Mach 4.0 and is capable of carrying 10-20 passengers at heights of 60,000 ft.


With relatively low fuel consumption, the Sonic Star 'overcomes the economic and environmental challenges of supersonic flight to revolutionize the way we travel and drive air transportation forward into the future,' claims HyperMach. By using electromagnetic currents across the fuselage to suppress the sonic boom, the plane is able to overcome the noise regulations that constrict supersonic travel.

Unfortunately it will take at least 10 years for this jet to fly the skies so my hopes of flying to Beijing in fewer than 3 hours will still be a dream.

Best regards,

Otis Ashby

Sales & Operations

Beijing sets '2-fly rule' for public toilets

First Beijing introduced the 5-star toilet for the Olympics. Now public toilets in Beijing will soon be cleaner after a new rule says Beijing's public toilets should have no more than two flies. Yes you read correct. Two flies.


The Beijing Municipal Commission of City Administration and Environment (BMCCAE) issued the new standard for public toilet management, with criteria to offer a better environment for public toilets in parks, tourist areas, subway and train stations, hospitals, shopping centres and supermarkets, the paper said.

According to the rule, the number of flies should be no more than two, and discarded objects should also be less than two pieces and left uncollected for no longer than half an hour.

The new requirements are not compulsory and only aim to improve the environment of public toilets, Xie Guomin, head of the sanitation management division of BMCCAE told the paper.

Best regards,

Otis Ashby

Sales & Operations

Travelling to Tibet. Change in Policy

Earlier this month, the Tibet Tourism Bureau announced changes to their Tibet Permit policy. Travelers that now wish to visit Tibet need to consist of a minimum of 5 group members and that have the same nationality. The Tibet Permit itself is free but you do need to possess a China Visa. Furthermore you need to be travelling with a reputable China tour operator such as Chinapac International.

Unfortunately this new policy had affected some of our upcoming FIT and small group tours to Tibet. If you have found yourself in a similar situation, drop us a line and we will try to send your clients to Tibet as part of a larger group as well as apply for a Tibet Permit on their behalf.

Best regards,

Otis Ashby

Sales & Operations

It's a bird! It's a plane! No! It's a restaurant???

It's a bird! It's a plane! No! It's a restaurant???




There is a themed restaurant that recently opened in the Yangtze River City of Chongqing. I guess in a city of 20 million people, one needs to come up with fresh and innovative ideas to attract customers and stand out from the competition. Well mission accomplished.



DC Super Class Restaurant is a themed restaurant built around the idea of an A380 airbus. Windows, carpets, lighting, and even the waitress uniforms all adhere to the ambience of this popular flying air taxi. This 28-table, 100-seat restaurant is known for Chongqing's most popular dish, hotpot, a spicy dish cooked right at the table.



And yes, there is a call flight attendant button to flag down your waitress. Interested in adding this new restaurant to your client’s next trip to China, feel free to let us know.



Happy long weekend,



Otis Ashby

Sales & Operations

JetBlue. Best of the worst?

JetBlue is one of those carriers that you always read about in the paper but usually for the wrong reasons. The stories sound unbelievable and have the makings of a bad Seinfeld episode. I have never flown with JetBlue but based on what I read about in the media, I think it will be in my best interest not to fly with them based on some of the following stories.

• 8 month toddler removed from plane because she was on the no fly list - May 10, 2012
• Passenger put pilot in chokehold when he started acting strangely - March 28, 2012
• A passenger accused of punching a flight attendant and trying to bite his face - Nov 30, 2011
• Passengers stuck on tarmac for 7 hours on a plane - Nov 7, 2011
• JetBlue flight attendant flips out, grabs beer, quits job & gets arrested - Aug 10, 2010

You would think that these incidents would deter most people from flying with this discount carrier. Well you are wrong.  JetBlue actually surpassed their profit expectations last quarter and banked thirty million dollars. Yikes! And surprisingly, Skytrax has designated them as the highest rated airline in the United States, and the country's only four-star airline.

As Canadians, we are pretty much stuck with two airline carriers. And although they have both let me down from time to time, I would rather fly with these guys than have my next flight incident uploaded to YouTube. Now if the government could only fix those taxes…

Regards,

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

Language is a Bridge Not a Barrier

Well, here I am in YVR airport getting ready for my flight to Shanghai. As with every overseas trip, I have a set ritual before boarding my 10 hour plus flight.

1. Peruse the duty free merchandise hoping to find a deal and then walking out empty handed because I know I can find it for cheaper.
2. Order a burger and fries and admire the larger than life Native Art in the terminal.
3. Buy the biggest coldest bottle of water I can find.
4. Pick up a bag of sour Rainbow coloured Skittles.
5. Review my phrase book of popular Mandarin phrases.

Considering the amount of times I have been to China, most would think I would have a pretty good control of the language. Well, I don't. Unfortunately, foreign languages is something I have always struggled with. So my work around it is to load up my Blackberry with an audible Chinese dictionary and phrase book. It allows me to roam the streets of China carefree knowing that if I find myself in a jam, I always have my dictionary handy.

As a tourist in China, here are some of my favourite phrases that I have also been able to commit to memory.

1. Ni hao (knee how) - Hello! If you must learn one expression this is the one to know. On the flip side, hello is also one of the few words the local vendors know.

2. Xie xie (shay-shay) - Thanks! As Canadians, this is another must word for us.

3. Pi jiu (peejo) - Beer. Chinese beer has little alcohol so ordering a beer or two is refreshing but not intoxicating. Have too many peejos and you might be asking for the...

4. Ce suo (che sow) - The happy room aka the toilet. If you have a small bladder you may want to ask this question ahead of time as some bathrooms are quite far from where you are eating.

5. Wo jie hun le (wo gee hu-when la) - When a pretty lady asks you if you would like massagee (not a massage) Quickly state this phrase, point at your wedding band and quickly walk away. If you are not married or interested you could always use the other phrase...

6. Tai gui le (tai gwey la) - Too expensive. Be careful though as this this can sometimes backfire as you may now find yourself in a bidding war over a massagee you do not really want.

Zai jian! (Goodbye)

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

The Messy Side of Chinese Banquet

So here I am, getting ready for another trip to Asia with a bit of anxiety bubbling underneath. This time the destination is Shanghai! I have been there lots of times and it is a cool city. It has ultra futuristic architecture with traces of the older European influence. There are plenty of shopping options from the one time use Fauxlex to über-nice Rolex. Shanghai is also home to over 1 million foreigners so you never feel that out of place and Shanghai has the best food in China. Not just Chinese food but all kinds of cuisines. So why is a seasoned Shanghai vet like myself a bit nervous about his upcoming Shanghai stopover?

Well it is the formal banquet business dinners that get me on edge. The actual business part is fine; talking shop with my partners is easy-peasy. I also love the food, some of the best Chinese food I have had were at Chinese dinner banquets. It is the drinking and in particular the multiple gambeis that gets me nervous.

Back in my university days, one of claims to fame was my high tolerance for alcohol but that was with beer. That ability goes out the door when a China gambei (gum-bay) is calling. Gambei translated in Mandarin means “down the hatch”, and there are a few, but important guidelines about how this drinking celebration works.

• Everybody drinks. The banquet dinner is being held in your honor so it is imperative that you do not offend your hosts.
• No one drinks alone. If you want to have a sip of your drink, you must toast someone first.
• The drink of choice is Baijiu (bye-geo). It is an incredibly strong clear alcohol reminiscent of sake with an alcohol level 40-60%
• Baijiu is shot, not sipped.
• Every time you do a shot, you look into the eyes of the person you are toasting. Say or shout “gambei” and finish your shot. You then need to show your empty cup to your partner.
• You are only allowed to stop drinking when a) the host stops drinking b) you leave the banquet.

So now you are starting to see my predicament, as I was never good with peer pressure but never fear, here are a few tips/tricks I have picked up along the way if you ever find yourself behind the gambei 8-ball.

1. Don’t start the gambei game. It is best to opt out at the very beginning. Once you have committed to just one shot of baijiu, you are in for the long haul. It looks very bad if you quit halfway. If you are with a group of people from the same company, elect someone from your team to be the gambei delegate.
2. Lie. If you are uneasy about the festivities tell the host you are pregnant or are taking medication that cannot mix with alcohol.
3. Cheat. When no one is looking, dilute your baijiu with water.
4. Avoid eye contact with the gambei drinkers. If the baijiu is starting to take its toll on you, do not make eye contact with anyone at your table because if you do, you will find yourself receiving another gambei.
5. If you are a female, ask if you can have wine, beer or less baijiu. This is a common practice in China, however, ladies, you cannot flip-flop. Once you do a full shot of baijiu, it is expected of you to always do a full shot of baijiu.
6. Pace yourself. A Chinese banquet consists of 8 -10 dishes and will last at least two hours. There will be a lot of different foods swishing around in your stomach so make sure you do not go overboard. This is a business dinner after all.
7. At the end of the night drink lots of water and take some aspirin. Your body will thank you for it in the morning.

Gambei!

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

What's in my Carry-on?

When it comes to packing, I would consider myself a pro. Averaging 4-5 trips a year, I am able to pack with confidence the morning of a 12 day trip and still manage to not forget anything. I think part of this is luck, but most importantly, planning.

Here are 5 items that, you can guarantee, are in my carry-on each and every time.

1. iPod. My 120 gigabyte gadget has helped me kill countless hours in planes and airports. Having access to all my favourite music is a great but where it really shines is the amount of movies and TV shows it can hold. On my last trip to China I was able to enjoy all three seasons of Arrested Development as well as some of last year’s Oscar winners. An iPod also allows you to block out a lot of the noise pollution found in airports and planes.
   



2. Change of clothes. A change of clothes (and a toiletry kit) is always recommended. One may never know when their bag will pull a disappearing act on them. I try to pack clothes that are compact but also soft on the skin in case I need to use a shirt as a pillow in an airport lounge.
   



3. Local currency. I always like to have a little bit of local currency for when I arrive in a new country. Having local currency accessible allows me to hit the ground running instead of heading straight to the foreign exchange counter in the airport. Local currency also comes in handy for when I get hungry or thirsty before I have reached my local hotel.
   



4. Aspirin, allergy, cold medicine and Pepto pills. These little guys have saved me time and time again. It is no fun being sick. It is even less fun being sick, looking for a drug store in a new city and trying to decipher the medicines’ packaging at the local pharmacy. Just remember when even travelling with any medicine, that it is in pill form or under 100mL.
   



5. Insurance. As travel professionals, we all understand the importance of insurance. But it is also important to ensure you have the correct type of coverage. For me, I always go with the deluxe options. Full medical coverage as well as trip interruption. I always have a copy of my policy number in my suitcase, wallet and local smart phone.
   
   

Having the above five items with me always makes my flight and first 24 hours in a new city much more comfortable. And do remember to make sure your carry on suitcase is small, light and has good wheels. Your back will thank you for it.

Regards,

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

Pummeled in LAS

So last week I had the fortunate opportunity to go to Las Vegas with 10 of my good guy friends. Our trip was nothing like the Hang Over but it was an adventure. As I mentioned last week, the last time I was there was 14 years ago. So hotels such as Aladdin and Sahara had been imploded and replaced by much bigger hotels which are coined with the term resorts.

The Good
• Weather was perfect. Not too hot or cold so walking the strip was a breeze
• Aria Hotel. This was home for 3 nights. It was one of the few hotels that actually let in natural light in the main lobby
• The food. There was no shortage of food. My only regret was I didn’t have time for the $45 buffet pass which allows you to eat at select premium buffets as often as you want within a 24 hour window.

The Bad
• This is why most people go to Vegas so use your imagination...

The Ugly
• We flew discount carrier Allegiant out of Bellingham. This is the second time I have flown with them. Their boarding process is the most confusing one out there. With Allegiant, it is a free for all to get a good seat on the flight unless you have pre purchased a seat. The in-flight service is adequate; however, the seats do not recline nor is anything free on board, including water.
• Customs. The border line up returning to Canada was brutal. It took us about 70 minutes to cross and after a 3 night bender in Vegas the conversation in the car was at a minimum.

All in all I am glad I went but I do not think I need to return to Vegas for another 14 years.

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

Waaaaariors, come out to plaaaay

Funcouver and the neighboring cities have added another piece of flavour to our west coast mountain town. The Terracotta Warriors have been chosen for B.C. Lions charity statue theme.

Past campaigns have featured orcas (2003), bears (2006) and eagles (2009) brightly painted and displayed around the province. This year, there will be 35 warriors painted in conservative tones painted by a local artist. Like the 6 foot soldier in our office, I am sure they were shipped from China.

The original story about the Terra Cotta Warriors dates back when local farmers discovered the Terra Cotta Warriors in 1974 while digging a well. Little did they know that their discovery would turn out to be one of the most astounding archaeological finds of the 20th century. The site is even widely acclaimed as the 8th Wonder of the World and includes 4 pits of various features, the first one being the largest and the last one being empty. The underground battle formation in Pit 1 is comprised of 6,000 life-size clay warriors and horses; the soldiers stand in military formation in infantry battle order facing east with some armour, but no helmets. Made of local clay, no two faces are alike, each weighs over 300 kilograms and stands about 1.86 metres tall.

BTW if you haven’t entered our contest yet, make sure to visit us on Facebook and win of three vacation packages before the end of March.

Find Chinapac on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ChinapacInternational

Regards,

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

Facebook March Madness Contest

As the year enters its third month, we decided what better way to start off the first stretch of the busy season than by giving away three 5-star South East Asia tours to three lucky Facebook followers.

I am very excited to be doing another Facebook contest because the support we continue to receive from our customers has been tremendous and we would like to show our appreciation by the announcement of another Chinapac Facebook giveaway.

Chinapac March Madness, as it is rightfully called, gives away not one, but three exciting China tour and South East Asia tour prizes to three lucky Facebook followers.

To enter, simply ‘like’ Chinapac’s Facebook page and you will earn the opportunity for an entry for a chance to win one of the popular South East Asia Stopover programs offered by Chinapac:

• Win 4 Day Bangkok tour and experience the fascinating, vibrant world of this Thai capital. With accommodation at the 5-star Majestic Grande Hotel, see gleaming skyscrapers alongside dazzling, historic temples.


• Win 4 Day Shanghai tour and explore China’s thriving metropolis with accommodation at the 5-star Jin Jiang Hotel. Enjoy Shanghai’s bright lights in this China tour stopover.


• Or, win 4 Day Beijing tour and discover the history of China in this captivating capital. Stay at the 5-star New Otani Changfu Gong Hotel and visit the city landmarks in this China tour.

All prizes include 5-star hotel accommodation, daily breakfast, round trip transfers and an exciting city tour.

People who had previously ‘liked’ Chinapac may double their entry by sharing Chinapac’s Facebook page on their status. No purchase is necessary to enter.

This will be a fun promotion and we’re really, really excited. I wish everyone good luck.

Find Chinapac on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ChinapacInternational

Regards,

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

Cirque du Soleil Calls Curtains in Macau

Another of one Canada's superstars has been struggling to make it big in China. First Blackberry struggles with growth in China and now Cirque du Soleil has called it quits only 3 and a half years into its 10 year contract. Cirque has pulled its show 'Zaia' out of Macau due to disappointing ticket sales.

The key reason for its failure is Cirque did not quite understand their market. Visitors to Macau, who are mainly from China, focus on gambling and stay for an average of 1.5 nights. The sole purpose of their trip is to gamble. Quite the contrast from the mature Vegas market where people stay for 3.5 days and gamble, shop, eat, catch a fight and watch the Vegas shows. Despite the short stays, the gambling revenue in Macau surpasses Las Vegas by leaps and bounds.

Another reason why I think Cirque did not do well is that there are so many similar type large production shows in Mainland China. Lots of high caliber shows in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guilin, Xian and Beijing are offered for a fraction of the price. Many of these shows are also featured in our popular China tours.

That being said, is Macau still a destination worth visiting? The answer is most definitely! Macau, which was colonized by the Portuguese and recently handed back to the Chinese, is accented with Portuguese architecture, food and culture. Something quite unique for the nation of China.

So if you are bound for Hong Kong, I suggest a day trip to Macau by ferry. Participants will leave their Hong Kong hotel in the morning, enjoy a city tour of Macau, take pleasure in a seafood lunch and return to Hong Kong just in time for dinner. Pricing starts from only $121 per person.

Happy Thursday,

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

Happy Family Day!

What better way to celebrate with the family than with a vacation!

We have quite a few specials this year but my two family favourites are:
12 Day Super China
• 2 for 1 from $2999 air & land
The perfect introduction for travelers looking for a taste of China

13 Day Super Yangtze
• 2 for 1 from $3999 air & land
Featuring a 5 day cruise on the biggest and newest 5-star ship on the Yangtze, the MS Yangtze 2 with outside cabins

The price indeed is a bargain! These tours include international and domestic flights, 4-star hotel accommodation, sightseeing, cultural shows and most meals. Space is limited so pass this on to your friends.

Best regards,

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

Hello Busy Season!

One of my favourite seasons is spring. As an avid gardener, I already see the daffodils pushing through the thawed soil and this means tulips are shortly behind! I get to start planning this years' flower bed and deciding what is going in the Ashby veggie pad in the backyard. I also enjoy spring because it is the start of Chinapac's busy season!

After sowing the seeds of marketing and training during winter's dark months, the fruits of our labour are almost ripe to be picked. Over the next few months we will be sending hundreds of Canadian and American tourists to China and South East Asia. For many of our clients, this will be their first time visiting Asia and I am honoured that their travel agent decided to book with Chinapac.

Maybe the agent picked Chinapac because we have been in business for 27 years! Maybe they picked us because they love our service in Canada and overseas. Maybe they like the fact that we are a Canadian owned company and understand the needs of our fellow citizens. Or perhaps it was one of our Amazing China specials that got their attention.

Whatever the reason, thank you for supporting us. We still have space on a lot of our spring South East Asia tours because we offer more tours to South East Asia than any other Canadian tour operator. So if you are looking to provide something a little different to your client, give us a call!

Best regards,

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

Two amazing China cultural & shopping tours from $299

Now that business is starting to resume back to normal in China, I thought I would introduce our new amazing tours fusing sightseeing and shopping into two great value tours for your buck. At just $299, participants can enjoy an exciting 8 day tour including accommodations, meals, transportation, tour and guide.

These new China tours are designed to accommodate plenty of shopping opportunities alongside sightseeing and exciting cultural activities around the country at a very affordable price.

The shopping and cultural tours are offered in two exciting programs: 8 Day East China covers Shanghai and nearby cities Suzhou, Wuxi, Nanjing and Hangzhou. It highlights the serene lakes and scenic views of these eastern cities while visiting local shops including silk, jade, pearl, porcelain and Shanghai medicine store. Only $299 per person land package.

9 Day Beijing visits the famous Great Wall, Forbidden City and the ancient towns of Chengde and Tianjin with shopping stops at the cloisonné factory, jade, silk, pearl and tea shops. It also includes a tour of the Hutong, taking guests through the narrow alleys of old Beijing on traditional Chinese pedicab. Only $349 per person land package.

The tours are also replete with tasty, special dinners at no extra cost including delicious local cuisines, Beijing duck dinner, Chengde hot pot, dumpling dinner, and more.

Departures are April 6, May 7, July 7, September 1, October 27 and November 24, 2012. Travelers can easily extend their stay with one of Chinapac’s pre/post tours. International air fares and visa services are also offered.

Warm regards,

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

Gong Xi Fa Cai! Gong Hey Fat Choy!

I hope everyone has been enjoying their Chinese New Year Celebration. Mine so far has not been too bad. On Sunday I met up with the family for some good Chinese food and I even managed to score some licee (lucky money) from generous relatives.

Last night I was invited by Air Canada to the Fairmont Pacific Rim to ring in the new year and celebrate. Sadly I did not win any business class tickets this time.
And this Sunday I will be joining 50,000 other people in Chinatown for the annual Chinese New Year Parade. Forecast, as usual, calls for rain.

And to cheer in the year of the Dragon I am happy to announce two new specials.

13 Day Super Yangtze
• 2 for 1 from $3999 air & land
http://www.chinapac.ca/PackageInformation.aspx?SGID=1049
Featuring a 5 day cruise on the biggest and newest 5-star ship on the Yangtze, the MS Yangtze 2 with outside cabins

12 Day Super China
• 2 for 1 from $2999 air & land
http://www.chinapac.ca/PackageInformation.aspx?SGID=1046
The perfect introduction for travelers looking for a taste of China.

In our 27 years of business, never before has such an SUPER value tour been available!

Gong Xi Fa Cai! Gong Hey Fat Choy!

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

Gong Hey Fat Choy!

Chinapac International has MICE!

Not the squeak squeak ones but the other kind of MICE that is meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions!

This year we are responsible for coordinating over 30 MICE events in South East Asia.
For more than 25 years that we've been facilitating business in China and most of South East Asia, we've witnessed international trade shows and events develop. This segment of travel has continued to increase proving success and effectiveness to many businesses and their respective trades.

As most of you know, Chinapac is a Canadian company and South East Asia industry leader with 27 years of experience who appreciates Western corporate culture. In addition to our traditional leisure travel products, we have been offering the following corporate services for clients visiting South East Asia:

• Organize meetings and trade delegations with local governments and/or businesses


• Visa processing & invitation letters


• Airplane & cruise charters


• Personal interpreters for sightseeing, business meetings and trade shows


• Private car service for business appointments or just sightseeing


• Theme parties & gala dinners at exclusive locations

We have successfully managed delegations in the past, arranging trips from small groups of 4 to contingents made up of 120 persons. Our strong international ties guarantee the best rates and quality for the suitable five- or four-star accommodations, personal interpreters and other additional services necessary. Despite the swift nature of corporate trips, we provide business travelers the same attention and intendance as leisure clients. Through the mature network of relationships Chinapac has across South East Asia, we can ensure clients will get the most out of their visit.

Further, easily transform business trips into a productive vacation by attaching one of the pre or post tour packages we offer.

For more information about Chinapac MICE events, please e-mail mice@chinpac.com, or visit http://www.chinapac.com/newsrelease/ta/mice/mice.jpg to see some of the shows we are coordinating.

Get ready for the year of the Dragon. It is going to be a fun one!

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

Happy New Year!

Like many of you, 2011 was a fun, sometimes challenging but exciting year for us.

The Fun
In 2011 we hosted many FAMS to our preferred agents. This year we invited our agents to Thailand, Bali, China & the Yangtze River and Japan. Our participants and staff had a great time and have requested new destinations. For 2012 we will be offering FAM tours to most of the above destinations plus we have just added a 16 Day Vietnam and Cambodia FAM tour in November! This tour will be escorted by our president Jenny Soares so this trip should be a blast. Full details will be released next week.

The Challenging
Some of our favourite destinations had faced issues over the past year. Egypt had become politically unstable. Japan was rocked by an earthquake. Thailand had experienced severe flooding in Bangkok and surrounding areas. Both Thailand and Japan seem to be en route to making a fast recovery and Egypt is in the midst of their elections so I hope things will settle down soon.

As with many companies in the travel industry, hiring experienced staff has been challenge. If you know of someone looking for a new opportunity tell them to contact me or visit or career page for more information.
http://www.chinapac.ca/AboutUs/Careers/TQID1358/LG-EN/Content.aspx

The Exciting
This year we have sent travellers to more countries outside Asia than in past years. In addition to our existing South East Asia products, we have sent special interest groups to France, Spain, Hawaii, Las Vegas and Mexican Cruise.

Within Asia we made travel arrangements for a popular culinary TV show, organized a unique Pyramid expedition in Xian, escorted a group of doctors on a Traditional Chinese Medicine tour in China. We also had the opportunity to show 41 travel college students the beauty of China. With the success of the above programs we have now expanded our MICE products and will be offering arrangements for over 30 travel shows in Asia for 2012.

Last but not least our new website www.chinapac.ca! I am quite pleased with this new website and the content that is offered. Chinapac now has more Asia tours online than any other Canadian tour operator.

Wishing everyone a fun and prosperous 2012!

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations