CIT
TOURS, the New York branch of
Italian company Compagnia Italiana Turismo (CIT), appears to have
ceased U.S. operations. Inquiries to the company by TravelWeekly.com about reports from agents have not
been returned and the companys Web site is not functioning. ASTA
reported that it expelled CIT, effective Jan. 11, for noncompliance
with bylaws requiring members to respond to ASTAs mediation
attempts. Meanwhile, Italian vacation packager Italiatour said the
suspension of operations of its sister company CIT Tours will not
affect Italiatour. According to Federico Santisilia, general
manager of Italiatour, the company is financially, legally and
operationally separate from CIT Tours, though both are owned by the
Italian parent company CIT. We are still two different companies,
said Santisilia.
DELICIOSO: Barcelona,
Spain, kicks off its Year of Food, Cuisine and Gastronomy come
March, with the first of some 150 events celebrating all things
edible from the Catalonia region. Cooking demonstrations, tastings,
appearances by world-renowned chefs, street fairs, gastronomic
walking tours, fiestas and exhibitions are planned through March
2006. Why all the fuss? Some 600 years ago, Catalan cooks were the
first Europeans to publish a cookbook in a Latin language. And
today, 30% of tourism revenues come from Barcleonas 10,000
restaurants and specialty food shops and markets. For more, visit
www.barcelonaturisme.com, or contact the Tourist
Office of Spain at (212) 265-8822 or www.okspain.org.
GOOD
EATS: Although it lacks a
world-renowned native cuisine on the order of Spains, England today
is a horn of plenty for the gourmet traveler. In fact, officials in
ever-more-hip Gloucestershire published a new fold-out pamphlet,
Food and Drink in Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds, a guide to
dining, imbibing and fresh-produce shopping in the region. Local
Michelin-acclaimed chef Robert Rees is also featured in the
leaflet, along with a map guide to 44 food producers and retail
outlets in the area, second-home to increasing numbers of British
celebrities. For more information, or copies of the pamphlet, call
(011) 44 145 242-5657, e-mail to [email protected] or visit www.glos-cotswolds.com.
FAIRYTALE
BEGINNING: Denmark will mark the
200th birthday of native-born author Hans Christian Andersen on
April 2 with a gala celebration at Parken, Copenhagens main
stadium. About 300 world-famous artists will perform for a live
audience of 40,000, plus millions more via worldwide satellite
broadcast. The event will the official kick-off for Denmarks HCA
2005 tribute to the famous fairytale author. For more, go to www.visitdenmark.com/hca2005.
DRIVE
BUY: Renault Eurodrive discounted
prices on its unique short-term car-leasing program in nine
European countries with an Early Bird Special on reservations made
from Feb. 15 to March 31 for rental pick-ups all year. Eleven
vehicles in the Renault line are discounted by as much as $120; for
example, a 17-day lease on a Megane Classic 1.6 sedan is $1,019,
down from $1,119. The leasing program is designed for travelers
staying from 17 days to six months; the minimum age for leasing the
vehicles is 18. Every lease is tax-free and includes a full factory
warranty, unlimited mileage and comprehensive insurance policy.
Renault Eurodrive pays agents 10% on all bookings. For more, call
(800) 221-1052 or visit www.renaultusa.com.
YOUNGER=CHEAPER: Rail Europe and DER said prices on Eurail Youth Passes
for rail travel by vacationers under age 26 are 3% to 8% less
expensive this year than last, unlike prices for all adult passes,
which stayed flat or rose a bit. Prices dropped for all validities
of the 17-country Eurailpass Youth, which now starts at $382 for a
15-consecutive-day pass, down from $414; the 17-country Eurailpass
Youth Flexi, now $451 for 10 days in two months, down from $488;
and Eurail Selectpass Youth for three, four or five neighboring
countries, now $241 for five days within two months, down from
$249. Agent commission is 4% to 9%, depending on method of booking.
Contact Rail Europe at
http://agent.raileurope.com or (888) 382-7245,
and DER at
www.der.com or (800) 838-3903.