CANADA

From our friends in Canada comes this innovative adventure trip: Spirit Bear of the Great Bear Rainforest. The journey, organized by British Columbia-based Aurelia Adventures, is part of that company’s “Destinations at Risk” program, which highlights ecologically sensitive areas. The Spirit Bear in question is the elusive Kermode, a species of white-colored black bear of which only 300 remain. They live on the land of the Gitga’ at First Nation, situated in B.C.’s midcoast section. Travelers will have the opportunity to meet elders of the Gitga’ at Nation in the course of their journey by 65-foot wooden sailboat into the region, and will explore it further by zodiac, sea kayak, and on foot. They’ll meet biologists, environmentalists, and natives who are fighting to save the wilderness from loggers. A portion of the cost of the trip, which is $2,416, will be donated to a local conservation program. The trip departs from picturesque Prince Rupert, which is easily accessed from Vancouver, and is set for September 1-8.

For more information, call 866-352-5781 or visit www.aureliaadventures.com.

NICE, FRANCE

Have you been so busy polishing that marketing spec that you forgot to book a room for the Cannes Film Festival? Despair not, for the Palais de la Mediterranee in Nice – just seven minutes by helicopter from Cannes – has two packages with the likes of you in mind. The International Film Package, from $530 a night (single or double), includes a superior room, breakfast, unlimited pool and fitness room access, unlimited in-room Internet use and, best of all, daily round-trip transfer from Nice to Cannes by helicopter. The same package is available, minus the chopper transfers, for $359 a night. Both packages are available through May 19 (the festival ends May 22).

For more information, call the hotel at 011-33-4-92-14-77-00 or visit www.lepalaisdelamediterranee.com.

SPA WEB SITE

American consumers now spend $52 billion a year on online travel, and fully a third of all leisure travelers cite access to a spa as a primary consideration while making their travel plans. A new addition to the Spa Finder Web site addresses the increasing demand for vacation packages with a spa component. It’s called the Spa Distribution Network, and it allows Web surfers to book complete spa vacations at resort and destination spas worldwide, including spa packages, airline tickets, and rental car reservations, through an easy-to-use spa search engine. The new booking platform allows spa properties to present all-inclusive, discounted packages and promotions as part of in-depth property overviews.

For more information, visit www.spafinder.com.