Not sure that's right. You "intend" to go isn't the same as definately going. I had heard "yotei suru" (to plan / to schedule / to arrange) is stronger.
Why is there no (not accepted) に particle after 今年?Is there a rule that says time expressions need no particle. Can you drop the 今年 in anywhere in the sentence?
Time expressions usually go first. Specific time expressions (like Tuesday) need the に particle, but I believe that に is optional for relative time expressions like today, yesterday, this year, last year, and so on.