While a border strike looms, a settlement by WestJet Encore pilots nullified another. Also last week, American Airlines reversed course on a controversial commission plan; Billy Bishop airport said it will introduce US customs pre-clearance next year; and UN Tourism projected that international arrivals would finally surpass pre-pandemic 2019 levels in 2024
NEWS
The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) representing WestJet Encore pilots voted to approve a full tentative agreement with management ending the possibility of a weekend strike. Meanwhile, the airline also announced that its load controllers, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), ratified the first collective bargaining agreement between the two parties.
ACTA applauded American Airlines decision rescind its scheduled policy to stop issuing loyalty points on travel agent bookings. ACTA maintained proposed policy change would have had an extremely detrimental impact on the retail travel community by limiting traveller loyalty points accrual to bookings made by “preferred” agencies and direct bookings only.
Travellers heading south of the border via Toronto’s Billy Bishop airport can look forward to pre-clearing U.S. customs at the island/city facility next year, with plans now underway to introduce the fast-track system by late 2025. Construction is set to begin in July with implementation notably scheduled to begin before the start of FIFA 2026, which will see some games played in Toronto.
BY THE NUMBERS
UN Tourism’s projection for 2024 points to a full recovery of international tourism with arrivals growing 2% above 2019 levels. The agency says more than 285 million tourists travelled internationally in January-March, about 20% more than the first quarter of 2023 and 97% of 2019 levels. In 2023 international tourist arrivals reached 89%.
AIR
Porter Airlines inaugurated its second Alberta route from Montréal, with daily roundtrip service between Calgary International Airport (YYC) and Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL).
WestJet has announced enhancements to its winter 787 schedule, including expanded year-round service between Calgary and Tokyo, as well as increased daily flights between Calgary and Paris Charles-de-Gaulle International (CDG) and London Heathrow International (LHR) Airports. The airline is also enhancing its 787 presence on popular leisure routes with service between Canada, Mexico, and Hawaii.
Now on both domestic and international flights with Avianca, ticket sales and boarding passengers aged 14 or younger will only be allowed if they are accompanied by their parents or a responsible adult over 18 years old, duly authorized.
DEALS
Through June 27, Air Transat is offering a seat sale on flights to Europe, Florida, and the South. Travellers can save up to 20% on their next trip when taken before Dec. 15, 2024. Terms and conditions apply.
For a limited time, clients booking Oceania Cruises can receive more luxury for less with up to a 4 Category Upgrade on select sailings, along with two-for-one cruise fares; free roundtrip airfare with free airport transfers; free shore excursions; free champagne, wine and more; free gourmet specialty dining; and free unlimited WiFi. Offer ends June 30.
TOURS
Railbookers has unveiled a selection of Italian itineraries which feature the debut of the new La Dolce Vita Orient Express train (rendering above), launching in 2025. Each itinerary features the train, including one or two nights onboard in luxury accommodations along with food, beverage and offboard experiences throughout Italy. In addition, Railbookers includes all transfers from airport, hotel, and train stations, along with sightseeing and tours in key destinations for a complete, one-call solution. Departures begin April 4, 2025.
Air Canada Vacations has launched its first Travel Agent Toolkit highlighting Asia and Australia. The comprehensive companion joins Europe and Sun versions and provides key resources to help agents navigate ACV’s new Asia and Australia portfolio and includes planning guides and a “Flying at a Glance” overview, as well as products and offers, including car rentals, Aeroplan, travel protection, Vacation and Cruise Promises, the ACV&ME Rewards program, and more. The tour company will also be supporting the launch with a series of informative seminars designed to equip travel agents with essential insights and updates to better serve their clients, with additional details to come. To view the digital version of the Travel Agent Toolkit, click HERE.
HOTELS
An extensive, multi-million dollar guest room renovation is now complete at the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto. With a focus on elevating comfort, functionality, and aesthetic appeal, the redesign encompasses all 259 guest rooms including 42 suites within the hotel.
Villatel Orlando Resort, situated within the International Drive area of the Florida city, began a phased opening in late 2023, offering private villa rentals with hotel-style standards and amenities. The property will eventually include an adventure waterpark with multi-storey slides and a lazy river, a fully equipped fitness centre, full-service restaurant and children’s playgrounds. Upon full completion in 2025, the entire resort will have 526 units with apartment-style suites and single-family homes.
RESORTS
Secrets St. Martin Resort & Spa has temporarily suspended operations in order to undergo an extensive enhancement project designed to elevate the adults-only luxury property’s amenities, common spaces, and guestrooms. A reopening date will be announced at a later time.
Located on Great Harbour Cay, Bahamas, within the Berry Islands chain – once the meeting place and playground for celebrities such as Cary Grant, Jack Nicklaus, The Rockefellers, Ingrid Bergman, and Douglas Fairbanks – The OSPREY will be a beachfront property abundant with thatch berry palms and other indigenous trees. Guests will have direct beach access to part of a 9-km stretch of sandy white beach. A talented Bahamian architect has amplified the ocean views and transformed Osprey villa and cottages into a tropical elegance display, enhanced by vaulted ceilings, inviting porches and decks, and detailed roof lines.
CRUISE
European boat rental company Le Boat has announced the expansion of Canadian operations with a new cruising route and base on Ontario’s Severn- Trent Waterways. The company’s second base in the province is located at the Horseshoe Bay Marina & in Peterborough, giving guests easy access to the Trent-Severn rivers, including the company’s suggested self-guided routes. Available now, the fleet of fleet of eight premier Horizon Cruisers, are both family- and pet-friendly.
Two new river ships will be launched in AmaWaterwasy in 2026: AmaKaia joins AmaDara on the Mekong River and AmaSofia will sail Europe’s Rhine and Danube Rivers. The latter is expected to first sail on May 24, the former Aug. 03.
ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
In 2025, Universal Orlando Resort will unveil its next gamechanger for theme park entertainment with the debut of its most ambitious theme park yet: Universal Epic Universe; a level of theme park immersion and innovation that will transport guests to expansive worlds featuring more than 50 awe-inspiring attraction, entertainment, dining, and shopping experiences – and transforming the resort into a weeklong vacation destination filled with compelling experiences.
FAMS & INCENTIVES
Expedia TAAP (Travel Agent Affiliate Program) has announced the expansion of its reward program into Canada. Following its launch in the US in 2022, the program incentivizes travel advisors with redeemable points for booking travel through the Expedia TAAP platform. Travel advisors who sign up for TAAP Rewards will be able to earn one reward point for each Canadian dollar on eligible bookings, which they can then redeem for gift cards from a variety of popular retailers, including Amazon, H&M and Starbucks.
EVENTS
The Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) will return to Brisbane next year with Australia’s largest annual tourism trade event to be held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre from April 28 to May 1, 1 May 2025. ATE returns to Brisbane for the first time since 2007 and it will be the fourth time the city has held the event, having also hosted in 2001 and 2002.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
Goway GroupsOnly is growing its team with the addition of Elana Gindel as Group Sales & Reservations Manager. Based in Toronto, she will lead Goway GroupsOnly’s Europe and South Pacific teams and help grow the market in these foundational destinations for the tour company. Gindel comes to Goway from TTC Tour Brands as Groups Manager, Canada and has worked in group travel for 10 years.
Travel Agent Next Door, based in Toronto, has named Jeff Element Chief Operating Officer, overseeing Marketing & Training, Finance, Support & Operations. Element was president of The Travel Corporation for many years until recently, overseeing Contiki, Insight and Trafalgar brands as well as the call centre and accounting departments. He is a past chairman of CATO and a TICO board member for many years and holds both CMA and CTM credentials. Chris Senior also joins TTAND as CFO. Senior has been in the industry for many years with finance roles at TICO, TTI Travel as VP Finance and HRG North America as Director of Financial Analysis.
Travel Leaders Network reports that Roger Block will step down from his role as president at the end of the year but will remain with the organization as a Senior Advisor effective Jan. 1, 2025. Block has had a 45-year career in retail travel, with leadership positions at Travel Leaders Network, Carlson Wagonlit Travel and Travel Agent International, and has served in numerous capacities in the industry, including advisory boards and chairing the ASTA Board of Directors.
DESTINATIONS
A painting whose auction in Spain was halted in 2021 on suspicion that it might be a Caravaggio, has been confirmed as a work by the Italian Baroque master by Spain’s Prado Museum is available to be seen by the public for the first time in the museum. “Ecce Homo” (photo) or “Behold The Man” by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio has gone on display until October as a special one-piece exhibition and afterwards will be moved to the Prado’s permanent collection for a further four months.
The retired Concorde jet that belongs to New York’s Intrepid Museum has returned to its home on a Manhattan pier a seven-month restoration. The Concorde is the only supersonic commercial jet that ever flew. The Intrepid’s British Airways Concorde still holds the record for the fastest transatlantic crossing by a passenger aircraft – 2 hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds –from Heathrow to JFK.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
May 30 marked marks the 75th anniversary of the arrival in Montreal of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines‘ inaugural flight from Amsterdam. It was the first commercial connection between Canada and mainland Europe – a 20-hour journey that included refueling stops at Prestwick, Scotland, and Gander, Nfld. From Montreal, the plane continued to Curaçao in the Dutch West Indies, with a technical stopover in Havana.
In 1859, ground was broken for the Suez Canal. It was completed 10 years later. Today the waterway is a major thoroughfare for shipping of all kinds, notably cruise ships.
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