Travel Industry Today

AGENTS PAY PRICE FOR SKIPLAGGING
And it’s unfair, says WTAAA

As airfares continue to surge, travellers are increasingly turn to “skiplagging” for more affordable options – a practice frowned upon by airlines. But it’s travel advisors who often pay the price, says the World Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAAA), which is urging airlines to stop penalizing agents when clients break the rules. MORE

VEGAS TO L.A.
Construction begins on first U.S. bullet train

A US$12-billion passenger bullet train linking Sin City to the City of Angels is now under construction with the Las Vegas-Los Angeles line dubbed the first true high-speed rail service in the US. The private company building it is predicting millions of ticket-buyers will be boarding trains by 2028. MORE

SPORTS TOURISM HIGH ON THE SCORECARD FOR CANADIANS

With the hockey playoffs and baseball season now in session – and the Summer Olympics and EURO 2024 only a few calendar page flips off – Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) says its research show that nearly one out of every two Canadians say they are likely to plan a trip focused on attending sporting events. MORE

TRAVEL TALK
TDC hosts Leaders Forum in B.C.

Transat Distribution Canada (TDC) recently invited its English Canada owners, managers, preferred partners, and leadership team to a strategic retreat at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, BC – this following a similar session for Quebec members earlier in the month in Charlevoix. MORE

MORE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS IN THE PIPELINE

Flight simulator maker CAE Inc. says it has signed an agreement with Nav Canada to help train flight service specialists and air traffic controllers beginning this fall. In July, IATA called out air traffic control organizations in North America, which include Nav Canada, for staffing shortages that "continue to produce unacceptable delays and disruptions." MORE

BROWN-ALCE NAMED NEW DDG OF BAHAMAS TOURISM

Valery Brown-Alce, a veteran in the Bahamas tourism sector, has been appointed as the newest Deputy Director General (DDG) of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation. Her appointment is effective immediately and responsibilities include oversight of the Bahamas Tourist Offices in the US, Canada, and Europe. MORE

FOUL BALL
FAA to probe baseball coach in cockpit during Toronto flight

US authorities are investigating after a video that surfaced on social media showing a man who appears to be Colorado Rockies hitting coach Hensley Meulens sitting in the pilot's seat "at cruise altitude" while bound for Toronto. The Instagram post, which has been taken down, included a caption that said "the captain and the first officer" of a United Airlines charter flight had allowed the poster to sit in the cockpit during the flight from Denver. MORE

GET USED TO IT
Annoying or flexible, airlines ‘love’ ancillary fees

Jay Sorensen flies both business class and economy. While the differences between the two have always been stark – priority boarding and free alcohol are decades-old features of first-class travel – lately the gulf seems to have widened, says the consulting firm president. Economy-class trips are defined by shrinking legroom, narrower cushion space, diminishing rewards for frequent fliers and, especially, the myriad fees that can pile up like thunderclouds as airlines increasingly offer top-up options on their tickets. MORE

SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL SENTIMENT WANING
Good intentions, complicated follow-through

New research related to sustainable travel suggest that eight in 10 (78%) Canadian travellers confirm that sustainable travel is important to them, though new insights show a sense of weariness could be emerging, fueled by the ongoing challenges experienced to make more sustainable travel choices.  MORE

THE SWEET SOUNDS OF ‘UNEXPECTED’ PHILADELPHIA

It was only fitting that last week’s trade mission to Toronto by the Philadelphia Visitors and Convention Bureau culminated in an evening at the Royal Conservatory with the Philadelphia Orchestra, which also performed its first international concert in the city 100 years ago. PHLCVB President and CEO Gregg Caren said the event symbolized the long history of cultural connections between the two cities and noted that Canada is Philadelphia’s top partner in both trade and tourism. MORE

QUEEN ANNE SET TO SAIL AFTER DELIVERY

Cunard’s newest ship, the Queen Anne officially joined the luxury cruise line's iconic fleet during a historic handover ceremony in Italy on April 19 and is now sailing to Southampton ahead of her seven-night maiden voyage to Lisbon on May 3. MORE

RETAIL ROUND-UP
Ensemble, TTAND, Travel Edge and TRAVELSAVERS

Tis the season for travel advisors to be on the road, whether its on a FAM or for organizational sessions and summits – or heading to the bank! Here’s a glimpse of a few recent rendezvous, ranging from The Travel Agent Next Door hopping down to South Africa with G Adventures (banner photo), plus on tour with Travel Edge’s top dog, dining and discovering with TRAVELSAVERS, and cashing cheques from Ensemble. MORE

MORE ASIA WITH WESTJET VIA KOREAN AIR CODESHARE

WestJet guests will gain access to six additional cities across four Asian countries from Incheon International Airport (ICN) through an expansion of WestJet's codeshare agreement with Korean Air, one of the world's only 5-star airlines as awarded by Skytrax. The new service will begin on May 17, corresponding with the previously announced launch of seasonal service between YYC and ICN. MORE

THAI TOURIST TOWN AIMS TO CONTAIN MONKEY MAYHEM

Thai wildlife officials have laid out a plan to bring peace to a central Thai city after at least a decade of human-monkey conflict. The macaques that roam Lopburi are a symbol of local culture, and a major tourist draw. MORE