PASSPORT CANADA UPDATES

PASSPORT CANADA: SIMPLIFIED RENEWAL PROCESS

PASSPORT Canada has issued guidelines for Canadian citizens to confirm whether or not they qualify for the simplified renewal process.  Eligible citizens need only to provide a completed Simplified Renewal Passport Application (PPTC 054) accompanied by their most recent passport, the required fee and two recent photos.

PASSPORT CANADA: NEED TO TRAVEL IN A HURRY?

PASSPORT Canada has issued a reminder to travellers who need to travel in a hurry but who do not have a valid passport. They can apply for a passport in person at a Passport Canada office and for an extra fee they can expedite the processing. Proof of travel may, however, be required.

For more information   http://www.ppt.gc.ca/index.aspx

Canadian Passport Process for Children is changing October 1, 2012

All children and babies who travel need their own passport, and effective October 01, 2012 all applications for a child's Canadian passport will need to be accompanied by a detailed proof of parentage document. The goal is to standardize applications for Canadian families.

As of October 01, 2012 a passport application for a child under 16 must include one of the following proof of parentage documents (which demonstrates the child-parent relationship):

* A detailed birth certificate issued by a Canadian provincial or territorial vital statistics agency that indicates the name of the parent(s)

* A court-issued adoption order indicating the name of the adoptive parent(s), or

* A foreign birth certificate that indicates the name of the parent(s) (documents in a language other than English or French must be translated into English or French).

There is an exception: A proof of parentage document is not required with the passport application only if a Canadian passport has previously been issued to the child and it is the same parent(s)/legal guardian(s) who applied for the previous passport participating in the new application process.

These new requirements are intended to further enhance the security of children's passports.

The child's most recent passport must be submitted when using the exception (you must submit the passport if it's still valid).

Passport Canada recommends that you contact the embassy or consulate of all countries the child will be visiting to inquire about entry requirements.

TRAVEL ALA CARTE WITH PEPPERONI AND MUSHROOMS

Pizza is a favourite with business travellers..........

A survey of USA Today readers, who are some of the world's most-frequent business travellers, find that they apparently prefer pizza to other gourmet delights when on the road. Many are passionate about pizza, calling it a quick, satisfying, inexpensive meal thatsaves time during a hectic business schedule.

In a survey of 2,015 of its readers on the subject of pizza, Zagat found:

• New York-style thin-crust pizza is the most preferred style
• Next is brick-oven pizza
• Then Neapolitan pizzas
• Chicago-style deep-dish pizza ranks fourth.

When it comes to toppings, the top three are:

• pepperoni
• mushrooms
• sausage.

And the best cities for pizza according to business travellers – Chicago and New York.

PASSPORT CANADA WEBSITE & EPASSPORTS

NEW LOOK FOR PASSPORT CANADA’S WEBSITE

PASSPORT Canada has unveiled its new-look website, which has been reformatted to reflect the Government of Canada‟s latest design guidelines and accessibility standards.

The new website has a cleaner look and improved functionality for a more straight forward browsing experience and is organized so that it‟s easier for visitors to find all the information they need about Canadian passports, passport applications and renewals. Passport Canada has also placed its most requested information first, to ensure that visitors can find what they want with minimum navigation.

All key information is accessible from drop-down menus in the top menu bar and all material is fully bilingual.

EPASSPORT ROLL-OUT SLATED FOR SPRING 2013

PASSPORT Canada has confirmed on its website that, from spring 2013, all new Canadian passports will be electronic passports, or ePassports. The exact timelines will be announced at a later date but meanwhile the transition to ePassports will begin before the end of this year. The Canadian ePassport will have an electronic chip embedded in the back cover of the book. The chip adds an extra layer of security to the passport and makes it more tamper-proof. The chip in the ePassport stores the same personal information that is normally seen on page 2 of the passport (except for the holder‟s signature), the photo and a country specific digital security feature (or „signature‟) that proves the passport was issued by the Government of  Canada. No additional information about passport holders or their travels will be stored on the chip. The chip will only contain the personal information as seen on page 2, the holder‟s photo and a Government of Canada signature. ePassport readers will be installed in Passport Canada‟s 34 offices for people who would like to see the information stored on their chip to make sure it is accurate.

http://www.ppt.gc.ca/index.aspx

EUROPE’S TEN MOST FAVORED RAILWAY STATIONS

European railway stations are creatively and distinctively crafted in the name of art and passion. With the finest architecture and richest history combined, here are ten of travelers’ top picks for station destinations.

ANTWERP CENTRAL STATION (BELGIUM): For a country of fine architecture and vast kinds of talents, Belgium shows it all through its 107 year-old train station. It displayed the Belgian greatness both in
performing arts and architecture. The Antwerp Central Station definitely deserves its spot in the top ten.

GARE DU NORD (PARIS FRANCE): Located in the city of love, Gare du Nord, became Europes busiest railway station. For around 150 years now, the station designed by French architect Jaques Hittorff serves 190 million annual travelers. The station is also popularly mentioned and used from local French books to Hollywood movies including The Da Vinci Code, The Bourne Identity, Ocean’s Twelve and Mr Bean’s Holiday.

ATOCHA TRAIN STATION (MADRID SPAIN): Springing out from 1889’s inaugural building, Madrid’s major transport hub was refashioned by architect Rafael Moneo, into his calming vision of palm trees, exotic plants and turtle ponds. Cafés and other establishments, accompanied by an extraordinary 4,000 square meter tropical garden replaced the original building and makes passengers enjoy their travel.

LEIPZIG CENTRAL STATION (LEIPZIG, GERMANY): This train station is a large part of Germany because it has been serving the country for years. Leipzig Central Station survived the World War II. Europe’s largest railway station in the heart of Germany is a place of history and is worth a hop off your train. With its 24 platforms within 83,460 m² floor area and 293 metre-long façade, no wonder it can serve 100,000 daily, heavy passengers.

ROSSIO RAILWAY STATION (LISBON, PORTUGAL): No one can blame anyone for frequently mistaking this station for a palace or theatre. With its romantic inspired façade designed by architect José Luís Monteiro, the 125 year old station is considered one of the greatest works of Portuguese engineering in the 19th century. Located in Lisbon’s Rossio Square, Trains get to the station through a 2,600 metre-long tunnel, exhumed under the city.

COPENHAGEN CENTRAL STATION (DENMARK): Opening in the time of his royalty, King Christian X, Copenhagen Central Station invited over 800 VIPs just to witness the magnificent event.

CENTRAL STATION (HELSINKI, FINLAND): With the Kivimiehet (The Stone Men in Finnish), greeting you at the entrance, you know you are in Finland. This distinctive feature adds up to the station’s award winning design of local granite construction by Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen.

LIÈGE -GUILLEMINS TGV STATION (BELGIUM): Another Belgian pride is Spanish architects’ Santiago Calatrava’s Liège-Guillemins TGV Station. 13 years in the making, the station succeeded to exhibit the sleek futuristic design with the 32 meter high arch in glass and white concrete construction and concurrently serve 36,000 daily passengers riding to Brussels, Paris, Aachen, Cologne and Frankfurt.

CENTRAL STATION, AMSTERDAM (HOLLAND): Though controversial at the time it first opened, Amsterdam’s Central station continued to server its daily 250,000 passengers catering 1500 trains everday.

ZAGREB CENTRAL STATION (CROATIA): Built in just two years, this station spans a colossal 186.5 meters long making it Croatia’s largest station. Designed by Hungarian architect Ferenc Pfaff, the station
serves rides to cities Vienna, Budapest, Zurich, Munich, Salzburg, Ljubljana, Sarajevo and Belgrade for over 120 years.

Source:  YYZ Travel Group July 2012 Newsletter -  Business First

PLACES TO STAY - WHERE NEXT?

Dubai plans underwater hotels

Well, it’s certainly something new. Government-backed investment company Dubai World has signed a deal to develop undersea hotels. The hotel is to be a discus-shaped residential building 10 metres beneath the surface of the sea, composed of 21 hotel rooms adjacent to the underwater dive centre and a bar. It is connected to another discus above water.

The rooms will feature a special lighting system and miniature underwater vehicles that can be operated from inside allowing guests to take a closer look at the underwater creatures using macro photography.

The project will be funded by Swiss company, BIG InvestConsult, which holds the technology rights.

More info and pictures at
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/12/underwater-hotel-dubai_n_1511501.html

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

NOT GOOD ENOUGH -Looking for value
A new report says travellers are increasingly unhappy with online travel agents and supplier websites.     The reason for the dissatisfaction is that most OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) misread their customers, by concentrating primarily on price rather than value, The report, "Travel 2020: the Distribution Dilemma" reveals that fewer than half of leisure and business travellers believe they’re getting value for money when they book online.

Personalized service which is generally lacking in OTAs and at supplier sites is a major cause of the problem. A focus on these areas by traditional agents could tilt the scales in their favour - especially as travel spending continues to rebound. "While booking fees have declined over time, the disassembly of the travel agent model has also resulted in a decrease in customer services," wrote Steve Peterson, lead author of the report. The study says technology has hindered customer service at least as much as it has helped, because travel suppliers have turned increasingly to automation and away from human sales reps to fulfill travel orders. This is not the first report to suggest travellers are unhappy with OTAs.

Atmosphere Research Group's fourth-quarter 2011 survey of 5,058 online leisure travellers in the US found that 69% said they enjoyed online travel planning and booking, but just 54% believed that travel websites presented clear information.
 
Reprinted from Business First - YYZ Travel Group May Newsletter