Vancouver BC, June 2015 – Canada's Travel Expert, author and TV personality Claire Newell, has been named the godmother of Scenic's newest Space-Ship, the Scenic Opal. Claire will be Canada's first Scenic godparent. She is the owner and president of Travel Best Bets and is an expert on most travel topics - from family travel tips to current events affecting the industry. Claire will be joined by Scenic Chairman Glen Moroney at a special ship christening ceremony for media and travel industry leaders from Australia, New Zealand and North America in Cochem, Germany.

           “We are very pleased that Ms. Newell has agreed to be the Opal's godmother,” states Scenic Chairman Glen Moroney. “Canada is a great market for us and Ms. Newell's understanding of the luxury market and experiential travel makes her a perfect fit for us.”

            The twelfth of the renowned Scenic Space-Ship fleet and the newest to be sailing the waterways of Europe, the 85-cabin Scenic Opal features a heated vitality pool for guests to enjoy on the panoramic Sun Deck plus the largest suites on the rivers with the ultimate in private balcony accommodation - the 475 sq. ft. Royal Panorama Suites and the opulent Royal Suite which boasts 360 sq. ft. of space. 

             Claire is the co-host of the travel series Operation: Vacation, currently airing in the US and Canada on Travel + Escape. She has appeared on the Today Show multiple times, Fox & Friends, Good Day New York, ABC Morning News – Chicago and Martha Stewart Living Radio and CNN Radio. She is also the official travel consultant for Global BC and is the best-selling author of Travel Best Bets – An Insider's Guide to Taking Your Best Trips, Ever.

             Scenic Opal is the second of two Scenic Space-Ships to be launched this year as the sister ship Scenic Jasper joined the fleet in April, bringing the total to 12 - including the boutique small ship, Scenic Tsar, which sails exclusively in Russia. Five more Space-Ships are currently being built for launch in 2016: the Scenic Amber which will sail the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers; the Scenic Azure will launch on Portugal's Douro River; the Scenic Spirit and Scenic Zen will explore the Mekong; and the Scenic Explorer will cruise on Burma's Irrawaddy River.

              The christening coincides with the unveiling of the company's new name – Scenic. The rebrand comes after an extensive 12-month project when the name Scenic Tours was no longer perceived as an accurate description of the company's extensive product offering. The business, founded by Glen Moroney in 1986, has evolved from a domestic coach touring operator to a luxury global travel company and needed a name and positioning which better reflected the company's existing focus and resonated more strongly with guests and agents.

            Scenic offers award-winning, all-inclusive escorted tours in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Americas and elsewhere, while offering the same level of expertise and the only truly all-inclusive river cruises in Europe and in 2016, the Mekong, Irrawaddy and Douro. Additional information, brochures and reservations can be obtained via travel agents; the company's visitor-friendly website, www.scenic.ca, phone (844-788-7987); or e-mail: canada@scenic.ca. Brochures can also be downloaded directly from the website.

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Gillies and Zaiser
www.gilliesandzaiser.com
SC-08-June 2015