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
High-speed satellite-based connectivity provided by Gogo is now available across the entire Air Canada Rouge fleet of 65 aircraft. Prices start at $8.50.
Sunwing has lifted off for Mazatlan, Mexico, from Quebec City. The new weekly service continues until April 14.
WestJet will begin new seasonal daily non-stop service between Calgary and Boston, Mass., starting May 14.
DEALS
Transat’s Boxing Week Sale is valid on bookings made before Jan. 6. Travellers can enjoy discounts on flights and packages to the South, Europe and the United States, as well as on cruise packages, for travel between Jan. 6 and April 30.
From Dec. 30 to Jan. 8, clients booking with Collette can save up to 15% on an extensive range of tours and departures, including Oberammergau. The New Year’s sale includes tours like the Shades of Ireland, Discover Croatia, Treasures of Egypt, Spotlight on Tuscany, The Complete South Pacific, and more, though some tours are excluded. Use offer code NYSALE20 when booking.
The winter version of Los Angeles’ twice-yearly 15-day dineL.A Restaurant Week kicks off Jan. 17, featuring over 400 restaurants across the city and showcasing L.A.’s city’s diverse culinary scene. The event offers value-driven menus for lunch (from $15 to $35) and dinner ($29-$99+), along with over 20 elaborate tasting menus from top L.A. restaurants.
TOURS
Grand Cayman is Sunwing’s newest destination in the Caribbean. Accessible to residents of Southern Ontario and beyond via direct Sunwing seasonal flights on Sundays from Feb. 2 to May 3, the destination is known for its breathtaking white-sand beaches, picturesque tropical landscapes and a gourmet culinary scene. Vacationers can spend their days soaking up the sun on Seven Mile Beach, snorkelling or scuba diving amongst colourful coral reefs and dining at five-star restaurants. Accommodation options include the Margaritaville Beach Resort Grand Cayman on Seven Mile Beach.
Natural Habitat Adventures will offset a year’s worth of carbon output for anyone who joins a 2020 trip from the company’s new 35th anniversary series, Climate Change & the Wild World.
Intrepid now has a 40% stake in Australian-owned RAW Travel, which specializes in tailor-made and self-guided walking adventures. RAW will remain independent of the multi-brand Intrepid Group, with co-founders Dave and Mel Reynolds continuing to have complete autonomy in the day-to-day operations of the business. Intrepid co-founder Darrell Wade will join the RAW Travel board.
HOTELS
Today (Dec. 30) marks the opening of Sonesta Suites New Orleans, the brand’s second property in the city. The extended-stay property has 190 guest suites, including one- and two-bedroom, studio and efficiency suites, plus two presidential suites. Each room has a fully equipped kitchen and a communal outdoor terrace sits on the building’s third floor with barbecue and lounge chairs. The hotel has a fitness facility, 24-hour convenience store and laundry room. Rates start at US$199/night.
The upscale Cambria Hotels brand has broken ground on its first hotel in Orlando – the Cambria Hotel Orlando International Airport, slated to open in early 2021.
Now Open:
Virgin Hotels, the lifestyle hotel brand by Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson, has officially opened its third property, Virgin Hotels Dallas. Located in the Design District at 1445 Turtle Creek Blvd, the new-build hotel has 268 rooms and two penthouse suites.
RESORTS
Sofitel Calablanca, a new luxury resort in Barú, Colombia, will open in 2021, accommodating 400 guests and featuring an architectural design that will seek to achieve a balance between the natural ecosystem and the surrounding community. The resort will be located 20 minutes by boat from Cartagena de Indias and 40 minutes by land.
A new type of outdoor-luxe experience is coming to the Acadia National Park area next summer with the opening of Terramor Outdoor Resort in Bar Harbor, Maine, a first-of-its kind glamping resort located on the west side of Mount Desert Island. The 9.3-hectare property will have 64 luxury canvas tents set among the trees and oriented around a lodge featuring a bar and restaurant, store and equipment rentals. The property will also feature a nature-inspired pool and outdoor recreation areas.
Now Open:
Located on Antigua’s northeast coast adjacent to Devil’s Bridge National Park, five-star Hammock Cove Resort & Spa is the newest boutique hotel on the island. The property’s three pillars are gastronomy, personalized service and “uninterrupted luxury.” It is located 25 minutes from the airport.
CRUISE
Seven trends for 2020 have been highlighted by CLIA in the association’s annual State of the Cruise Industry Outlook Report. They include environmental sustainability, destination stewardship, reduce single-use plastic use, cruise and stay, micro travel (quick trips), lone cruisers (single-friendly cruising), and generation cruise positive (more interest from younger travellers).
Following the recent devastating eruption on White Island in New Zealand that killed at least 16 people and injured others, Royal Caribbean has announced that it will no longer sell shore excursions to active volcanoes. Credit will be issued to passengers who have existing bookings.
Actor, author and activist George Takei will boldly go with the Queen Mary 2 as part of the luxury cruise line’s Insights program, Dec. 22-Jan 3, 2020. Best known as Star Trek’s Sulu, Takei will make two presentations and take part in a Q&A and book signing for guests. His talks will focus on American history and his childhood spent in a Japanese American internment camp during WWII and his favourite Hollywood moments and behind-the-scenes anecdotes.
ATTACTIONS & THEME PARKS
Theatre-goers in London are “part of the story” in Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of the War of the Worlds, billed as “110 minutes of ground-breaking multi-sensory entertainment.” Virtual actors lead groups of 12 through the classic H.G. Wells story of a Martian invasion of earth using “layered reality,” which combines the newest digital advances (virtual reality, projection mapping and volumetric holograms) together with theatrical features (sets, live actors and pyrotechnics) and physical elements (taste, temperature, touch, smell and sound) to bring to life 12 separate sets spread across a 2,300-sq.-m. space.
EVENTS
Jan. 10 is the registration deadline for Showcase Antigua and Barbuda 2020, taking place June 10-11. Hosted by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority and the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourist Association, the annual event serves as the destination’s leading travel trade show. Subject to availability, the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority will provide complimentary ground and air transportation, as well as the arrangement of accommodations, including an all-inclusive stay at the host hotel. For details, email abtatourismca@visitAandB.com.
FAMS/INCENTIVES
A group of Maritime Travel advisors visited Croatia with Insight Vacations in November (photo). Hosted by Carla Brake, Insight’s VP of Sales, the group took part in a nine-day version of the tour company’s 14-day “Country Roads of Croatia” tour, visiting such destination as Zagreb, the Dalmatian Coast and Dubrovnik.
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line has launched the ‘Accelerate Groups’ program to help travel advisors grow their group business. Through this program, advisors can offer clients the chance to get away to Grand Bahama Island or Nassau with a menu of ‘Perk Points’ incentives and a 10% group discount. Advisors who block group space receive several benefits, including up to 20% commission and no non-commissionable fares.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
For the past 15 years, Transat Distribution Canada (TDC) has rewarded its most successful travel agency owners by inviting them to participate in dream trips around the world. This year’s Bravo Excellence Club members (photo), who will travel to Alaska on the Norwegian Bliss in May, were recognized at Transat’s recent biennial National Leadership Conference, held at the Marival Armony Luxury Resort & Suites in Punta de Mita, Mexico.
NEWS
Citing its commitment to sustainable tourism, Costa Rica has launched a campaign to stop cruel or improper selfies with wild animals, and the negative impact associated with the risks. The #stopanimalselfies campaign is designed to raise awareness and educate people on how to act and reduce the harmful impact of these cruel practices on the conservation of wild species, and to better respect and value wildlife. Key platforms include encouraging responsible photography of wild animals and respecting their habitats and natural behaviors at a safe distance. Tourism execs note that it is illegal in Costa Rica to have direct contact between wild animals and humans, including hugging, petting, or offering food in order to obtain photographs.
BY THE NUMBERS
Toronto Pearson experienced the busiest day of the holiday season on Dec. 20 with an estimated 138,000 passengers travelling through the airport.
For the first time, YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport welcomed a record 20 million passengers in a single year. The occasion was marked with a full day of festivities for travellers on Dec. 20.
DESTINATIONS
Expo 2020 will take place in Dubai next year, the first time the world’s fair will have been held in the Middle East, Africa, or South Asia. About 25 million visitors are expected to take in the event between the Oct. 20 opening date and April 10, 2021. In addition to exhibits from 190 countries including Canada, the world’s largest dome (photo) will be unveiled at Al Wasl Plaza. When the event is finished, the expo site will become an extension of the city of Dubai (although also close to Abu Dhabi).
The Guinness Storehouse in Dublin – by some measures Europe’s top tourist attraction – will launch a new Premium Guinness Brewery Tour Experience on Jan. 17, conducted by beer specialists who will take visitors through the history of brewing Guinness. Tickets cost €95 p.p. for the two-hour tour, including beer and food tasting. Also in Dublin, the city’s 15th annual TradFest music festival will take place Jan. 22-26 at venues across the city, featuring top-shelf live performances by the cream of Irish traditional musicians. It also hosts talks, workshops, classes “and no small amount of craic.” Info HERE.
Hop in the Spa, located in Central Oregon in the charming town of Sisters, is the first beer spa in North America. Based on the beer spas found in Europe, the venue offers three microbrew soaks in solid cedar tubs using a combination of hops, herbs and minerals to provide a relaxing, therapeutic treatment. Seasonal packages including a catered dinner are also available. Also on site is Spa is “Hop in the Cup,” a coffee bar serving products from surf legend and local resident Laird Hamilton.