ROUND-UP:June 28-July 2, 2021

Canadians have been given the green light to travel to Europe by the European Union; cruise lines start sailing again from the US and Bahamas, Porter Airlines is now offering refunds; a Canadian milestone for Qatar Airways; and an AmaWaterways fam reveals the art of ancestry…

NEWS

Canadians have been given the green light to travel to Europe without restrictions, according to an agreement by European Union members states on Wednesday. Canada was one of 11 countries deemed epidemiologically safe by the EU council.

Porter Aviation Holdings Inc. has reached an agreement with the Government of Canada for loans valued at up to $270.5 million. Included in this amount is $20.5 million dollars dedicated to issuing additional passenger refunds for Porter Airlines flights cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic. All flights booked by June 30, 2021, for travel as of Feb. 1, 2020, are eligible for refunds. Submissions must be made online by Aug. 29, 2021.

Air Canada has launched a trial of a new digital solution available through its mobile app for customers to securely scan, upload and verify their COVID-19 test results. The feature, developed with the support of Amadeus, is designed to help travellers conveniently validate compliance with government health travel requirements prior to arriving at the airport. The trial is taking place on Frankfurt flights to Toronto and Montreal and the airline plans to roll-out the solution across its network later this summer pending results of the trial and adding proof of vaccination capabilities.

RE-OPENING/RE-START

Cruising from US ports resumed for a couple of cruise lines this weekend, including Royal Caribbean, whose ‘Freedom of the Seas’ embarked from Miami with 93% vaccinated passengers, beginning a summer-long series of three-night weekend and four-night weekday getaways to CocoCay and Nassau, The Bahamas; and Carnival, which kicked off its return with the ‘Vista’ departed Galveston, Texas, for a week-long cruise with stops in Mahogany Bay (Isla Roatan), Cozumel and Belize City, and the ‘Horizon’ from Miami. Meanwhile, Crystal resumed ocean cruising with the ‘Serenity’ setting sail from Nassau, where it will homeport until November.

The launch of cruises in Iceland last weekend continues Viking’s return to operations; the cruise line will offer 19 sailings around the North Atlantic island through September, exclusive to vaccinated passengers. Viking has been sailing in England with British guests since May 22 and from Bermuda since June 15. This month, Mediterranean sailings will re-start out of Malta and European river operations begin with select itineraries in Portugal, France and along the Rhine.

DELAYED/ CANCELLED

Baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, is moving this year’s induction ceremony for Derek Jeter, (Canadian) Larry Walker, Ted Simmons, and the late Marvin Miller from July 25 to Sept. 8 so a crowd may attend as coronavirus restrictions ease. The ceremony will take place outdoors on the Hall’s lawn as a ticketed event with a limit on crowd size and tickets will be available starting July 12. The inductions were to have taken place in July 2020 but were postponed due to the pandemic.

BY THE NUMBERS

Yellowstone National Park had its busiest May as tourism continued to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic. The park had over 483,000 recreation visits in the month, up 11% from May 2019. So far, Yellowstone is having its busiest year in recent memory recording over 658,000 visits from January through May, the most since 594,000 visits during that time in 2016.

AIR

Qatar Airways marked a milestone in its history with Canada, celebrating 10 successful years since its inaugural flight between Doha and Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL). The airline’s journey in Canada began in June 2011 with three weekly flights to Montréal, later expanding to four weekly in December 2018, and then reaching a daily service in February 2021.

Ultra low-cost carrier Flair has begun service with the first of 13 new Boeing 737-8 aircraft joining the fleet as the airline continues to expand. The carrier flies to 19 Canadian destinations.

A new seven-part “Travel Ready” video series from WestJet has been launched on the company’s website. The video series aims to welcome back guests, while informing and preparing them for what they can expect throughout their entire journey, covering everything from booking, preparing before their flight, to the airport and inflight experience, through to landing in their preferred destination.

DEALS

Hurtigruten Expeditions is offering almost all its 2021-22 itineraries at a discount of up to 50%. The Canada Day sale, ending July 8, includes Alaska, Norway, Iceland, the Galapagos, and a 19-day tour of Antarctica and the Chilean fjords aboard the MS Fram, departing Oct. 15, for US$7,248 p.p.

Aeroplan members can exclusively purchase an Air Canada Coast-to-Coast Flight Pass through July 27. The pre-paid packages available in four-, eight- or 20-credit passes valid for one, two or five travellers, respectively.

HOTELS

Le Capitole Hotel

Now open in the heart of Old Quebec City, the new 108-room Le Capitole Hotel – built just north of the original building – offers breathtaking views of the Old City and the Laurentians and boasts such upscale amenities as an indoor pool on the 9th floor decorated with glass and a terrace, roof terrace overlooking the Carré des spectacles; fully equipped gym, Clé d’or Concierge, in-room massage therapy, gourmet restaurant, renovated theatre, and more.

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), South Asia’s largest hospitality company, reports that its iconic brand, Taj, has been rated the “Strongest Hotel Brand” in the World by Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy in its annual ‘Hotels 50 2021’ report. The report recognizes the most valuable and strongest hotel brands across the globe.

RESORTS

Resorts World Las Vegas, the first resort built on the Las Vegas Strip in more than a decade, officially swung open its doors to the public on June 24.

Sandals Resorts International (SRI) has announced an expansion of the existing multi-million-dollar renovation of Sandals Royal Bahamian in Nassau, Bahamas, with plans to reopen Jan. 27, 2022. The resort had been scheduled to re-open Nov. 4.

TOURS

More flexible booking conditions for travellers are being offered by G Adventures with rebooking of itineraries now possible up to just 14 days before a tour’s departure date. The new ‘Book with Confidence; policy also notably includes Inca Trail bookings for trips that resume on the Trail Aug. 7.

After announcing the restart of select tours and cruises in recent weeks, Tauck reports that it plans to resume full operations of all remaining 2021 itineraries during August and September, including Danube and Rhine river cruises, land tours in Italy and elsewhere across Europe, and its explorations of far-flung destinations ranging from Morocco to Machu Picchu. In all, Tauck expects to operate more than 80% of its pre-pandemic portfolio of tours and cruises this year, with a full return of all itineraries slated for 2022.

CRUISE

Celestyal Experience

Celestyal Cruises, which plies the waters of the Aegean Sea and eastern Mediterranean will introduces its new flagship, the Celestyal Experience, on March 5, 2022, a year later than expected due to the pandemic. The vessel will depart on a seven-night “Three Continents” itinerary, calling in Greece (Athens and Rhodes), Turkey (Kusadasi), Israel (Ashdod), Egypt (Port Said) and Cyprus (Limassol), to be followed by a new “Eclectic Aegean” cruise on April 9. Check the web site for the full roster of departures. All Celestyal 2022 and 2023 sailings are now open for booking.

Australia’s Coral Expeditions small ship cruise line has unveiled a fully domestic 2022 sailing schedule including extended sailing dates in the Kimberley due to popular demand. Also released are new additions to the Australia’s Coastal Wilderness Series of itineraries to replace international voyages which remain uncertain with ongoing border restrictions. To facilitate planning, the company has also made available for booking the April to September Kimberley season in 2023.

ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS

Beginning Oct. 1, 2021, the ‘mouses’ Mickey and Minnie and friends will kick off the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort, which opened in Orlando on the same day in 1971. For the following 18 months the epic extravaganza, dubbed “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” promises a host of new experiences at the resort’s four theme parks and beyond.

FAMS & INCENTIVES

As part of the official launch of its new partnership with Ancestry, travel advisors are being invited to join an exclusive AmaWaterways FAM on Aug. 12 on board AmaMora travelling the Rhine River from Basel to Amsterdam. Advisors will be hosted by AmaWaterways VP of Operations Jon Burrows with onboard sessions designed to educate travel advisors on how new trends in genetic genealogy can help generate new travel business leads. Apply via Ama’s travel advisor portal.

EVENTS

July 20: Agents from coast to coast are invited to join the Jamaica Tourist Board’s inaugural Virtual Product Showcase on July 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. On tap will be timely destination updates, the opportunity to connect with travel suppliers, “some unique island fun,” plus games and giveaways. To register for the Zoom event, click HERE.

PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS

Following the Travel Industry Council of Ontario’s (TICO) Annual General Meeting (AGM) on June 29, the Board of Directors re-elected Scott Stewart as Vice-Chair. Robert Townshend was the successful candidate for the two-year elected position on the Board and Joanne Dhue was named by the Canadian Association of Tour Operators to serve for a two-year term.

DESTINATIONS

As of July 1, fully vaccinated travellers are welcome in Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands – no PCR tests required. Visitors simply have to show proof of vaccination at least 14 days before arrival at the point of entry in the islands. Travellers not fully vaccinated are required to show proof of a negative PCR test taken up to 72 hours before travelling.

The entrance fee for a popular Hawaii snorkeling spot more than doubled for tourists. Non-local visitors to the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve in east Oahu now have to pay US$25, up from $12.

Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com