In case you missed it, and even if you didn’t, here’s a quick look at some of last week’s need-to-know travel news

AIR

Transat has unveiled a revamped “Group Zone” website for travel agents designed to centralize all the information about the group travel options offered by the airline in a more user-friendly fashion. The site enables agents to “advise their customers, request quotes and make reservations in an efficient and informed manner.”

Air Canada will increase service to Paris from Montreal and next summer. Between July 2 and Aug. 28, the airline will operate three additional flights per week from Montreal and four additional flights from Toronto to Paris-Charles De Gaulle Airport. The airline has also announced new daily, non-stop services linking Montreal and Nashville, and Calgary and Boston, as well as the addition of a second daily flight between Vancouver and Newark, all starting next June.

United Airlines has committed US$40 million toward a new investment vehicle focused on accelerating the development of sustainable aviation fuels and other decarbonization technologies.

DEALS

For a limited time, clients booking a two-night cruises from Palm Beach, Fla., to Grand Bahama on Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, can do so for $99 for sailings through May 31. Additional perks include five drinks; $10 casino play; 15% off spa or shore excursion; interior, oceanview staterooms, and suites; and children ages 12 and under sail free.

Call it a holiday bonus: Paul Gauguin Cruises is offering up to $400 Shipboard Credit on balcony staterooms on select 2020 and 2021 voyages when booked by Dec. 31. As an additional holiday gift, deposits on those sailings have been reduced to $250 p.p. Additionally, the cruise line is offering savings of 50% off standard all-inclusive cruise fares on all voyages, plus included airfare from Los Angeles.

TOURS

Citing a growth in food tourism, TravCorp’s small groups brand Luxury Gold has introduced a trio of Culinary & Cultural Discoveries-themed journeys for 2020 focussing on the “how to eat” aspect of culinary travel, including immersive experiences and learning in unique settings. Options include the eight-day “Peru Culinary Experience,” “Chile & Argentina Wine Experience” and “Culinary & Cultural Greece.”

The 32-day “Natural Selection: In the Footsteps of Legends in Machu Picchu & the Galapagos Islands” tour highlights Goway’s new 2020/21 Central & South America Travel Planner. The “Journey of Lifetime” includes 5-star luxury and boutique properties throughout, a private charter on board the 5-star cruiser Infinity, and culinary and historical tours, including one conducted by writer-photographer and Andes expert Peter Frost. Other new offerings include Argentina haciendas and wineries, Chilean wineries, small group Wonders of Mayan Mexico, Costa Rica long stays, Buenos Aires apartment rentals, Ecuadorian hacienda stays, and new themed day tours in Quito, Ecuador.

Porter Escapes vacation packages are now available on the Porter Airlines website, flyporter.com. This new integration provides a seamless approach to combining Porter flights with hotels and local attractions

RESORTS

Island Routes has unveiled its newest addition to its fleet of catamarans, Sol Mate, the first double-decker catamaran in Nassau, Bahamas. The catamaran is available exclusively to guests staying at Sandals Royal Bahamian. Sol Mate is the ninth addition to Island Routes’ fleet of custom-designed, premium catamarans and the first of its kind to be launched in The Bahamas. At 20 metres, and with two levels that provide added space and luxury, the state-of-the-art vessel comfortably accommodates 150 passengers and is equipped with an open bar, DJ station, snorkeling equipment and a water slide.

Open:

Club Med Miches Esmeralda, the chain’s first-ever Exclusive Collection resort in the Americas, is now open. Nestled on an unspoiled beach in Miches in the Dominican Republic, the 37-hectare resort is the first major site to open within the region and features an eco-chic and four-boutique-village concept.

In Mexico, Riu Vallarata has re-opened following extensive renovations and modernizations. Featuring a contemporary and elegant style, the property now offers three new dining venues and a refurbished pool area. The resort is situated on the shores of Playa de Flamingos in Riviera Nayarit.

HOTELS

This month, the Eden au Lac hotel in Zurich will open under the La Réserve brand (with properties in Geneva, Paris, and outside St. Tropez) following a top-to-bottom, two-year renovation by French designer Philippe Starck. The 100-year-old landmark building is being carefully restored and many of the historic design elements will stay intact. The property’s 40 rooms and suites will be designed in a contemporary style, true to Starck’s signature aesthetic and to top it off each room will have a lake view.

Marriott has signed on to partner with St. Vincent and the Grenadines for a 250-room hotel project located on a stretch of the main island’s beautiful black sand beaches. Once completed it will be the first internationally branded first-class hotel on St. Vincent. Also in SVG, a Holiday Inn Express will soon break ground near Argyle International Airport.

Open:

The Riu Plaza Fisherman’s Wharf is located at 2500 Mason St., in the heart of San Francisco, and a short stroll from Pier 39, North beach, China Town and where the ferries depart for Alcatraz Island. The completely renovated 4-star hotel has 531 rooms and is the latest entry in Riu Plaza brand of urban hotels.

CRUISE

Popular television hostess Vanna White (“Wheel of Fortune) was introduced last week as godmother for Carnival Panorama at a ceremony in Long Beach, Ca. (photo).

MSC Cruises has celebrated the float out of MSC Virtuosa, the second Meraviglia Plus class ship, to be delivered in October 2020. The event marked the company’s third major milestone in the past month, following the christening of MSC Grandiosa and the first steel cutting of MSC Cruises’ first world Class ship, MSC Europa.

With 22% of its bridge teams comprised of women (well ahead of the industry average), Celebrity Cruises says it will make another bold initiative for gender balance when its conducts the first-ever sailing of a major cruise ship with an entirely female bridge and officer team on March 8, 2020 – International Women’s Day – aboard the Celebrity Edge. American captain Kate McCue will be at the helm, accompanied by 26 other women representing 17 different countries.

ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS

With its popular Halloween Horror Nights now in the books for 2019, Universal Orlando Resort has revealed the dates for next year’s annual (and 30th anniversary) spookfest: Sept. 10 – Oct. 31, 2020.

EVENTS

Ireland has been announced as the location for Trafalgar’s 2020 Acclaim rewards trip for top-producing agent partners. At the same time, Costsaver’s 2020 Crew Top Achievers trip will be to Costa Rica. For details, go to the Costsaver website or agent portal; for info on how to qualify with Trafalgar, go HERE.

FAMS/INCENTIVES

TravelBrands is looking to rev car bookings up this holiday season with its latest travel agent incentive. Travel agents can get a $50 gift card for every third car booking made through Dec. 29 and earn 3X Loyalty Rewards points on every booking made. Plus, each agent who makes an applicable booking will be entered to win one of three seven-day car rentals. Participating car suppliers include Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty, Avis, Budget, Alamo, Enterprise and National. TravelBrands’ offer is valid on all destinations serviced by the participating car suppliers.

PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS

The Travel Agent Next Door has been named the top producer for 2019 for the Globus Family of Brands. The award is presented to Globus agency partners who are recognized as top producers in each BDM territory.

Josiane Gagnon has been appointed Business Development Representative for the Air Transat commercial team, replacing Elysia OHayon during her maternity leave. She can be reached at josiane.gagnon@transat.com or by phone at 514-987-1616, ext. 4010.

BY THE NUMBERS

The Cuba Tourist Board reports that Cuba has officially welcomed over a million Canadian visitors over the course of the 2019 travel season. Following a very strong 2018, the accomplishment was reached on Dec. 4 – the exact day as last year’s Canadian million mark was met.

The state of Israel will welcome over 4.5 million visitors this year – including 100,000 Canadians. It is the third consecutive year of record-breaking visitations.

NEWS

Royal Irish Tours (RIT) has been accepted into Virtuoso’s portfolio of luxury travel partners as the first supplier designated solely for the Canadian market. According to RIT VP Conor Duffy (photo, third from r, shown with Ian Duffy and RIT’s Dublin team), inclusion in Virtuoso will open up new sales and marketing opportunities to the network’s 2,200 Canadian luxury travel advisors and their highly desirable clientele.

DESTINATIONS

Havana will play host to a classic car rally on Jan. 5. Organized by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts Cuba as a tribute to one of the city’s most iconic sights, the cars will parade along the city’s Malecón seafront avenue and will take in Iberostar hotel locations – the Habana Riviera by Iberostar, Iberostar Parque Central, and Iberostar Grand Packard, the hotel that takes its name from the emblematic classic Packard cars. More than 120 cars took part in the first edition of the Classic Cuban Car Rally.

Among the hottest London theatre productions this winter are The Phantom of the Opera, at Her Majesty’s Theatre, and now in its 33rd year, while an acclaimed new production of Les Misérables will play this month at the Sondheim Theatre (formally the Queen’s Theatre). Meanwhile, Mary Poppins has returned to its original West End home at the Prince Edward Theatre.

“Pride of the Americas” is an inaugural LGBT+ event set for its debut in the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., April 21-26. Bringing two continents and 35 countries together to draw attention to shared LGBT+ issues, and “welcoming everyone under the sun,” the event will feature six days of events, including beach festival, fireworks display, parade, arts fest, A-list entertainment, sunset concerts, top DJs, drag brunches, fashion show, and much more. “We are looking forward to welcoming hundreds of thousands of LGBT+ visitors and allies to our destination, where diversity shines brightly,” says Richard Gray, Sr. VP of Diversity & Inclusion at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau.