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
Air Canada has suspended its direct flights to Beijing and Shanghai following the Government of Canada’s advisory to avoid non-essential travel to mainland China due to the coronavirus outbreak centred in Wuhan. The airline says it will monitor “this evolving situation closely,” but expects the ban to last at least through February. Air Canada currently operates direct flights to the two cities from Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
Unifor Local 2245 members who work as Canadian air traffic specialists have reached a tentative agreement with Nav Canada, after what union president Jerry Dias called “complex and difficult negotiations.” Ratification voting will take place this week. Unifor Local 2245 represents more than 650 air traffic specialists across Canada.
WestJet will introduce new non-stop seasonal service between Charlottetown, P.E.I., and Calgary beginning June 25. Service will be four times weekly with 737 aircraft.
DEALS
Through Feb. 5, travellers can book seven-night all-inclusive stays at top Club Med beach resorts for up to 55% off. Resorts include Miches Playa Esmeralda, Columbus Isle, Punta Cana, Cancun Yucatan, Ixtapa Pacific, Sandpiper Bay, Bucaneer’s Creek, La Caravelle and Turkoise.
MSC Cruises is kicking off the 2020 “Wave Season” early with its “ALL-IN Plus” deal that includes up to $689 in added value fleetwide sailings to destinations around the world. Available through March 31 and based on a seven-night cruise, cruisers will receive an beverage and WiFi packages, and up to $100 in shipboard credit, depending on category booked.
Visitors to Baden-Baden, can stay in selected hotels and apartments for three nights but only pay for two when visiting the famous German spa town through Feb. 29. Those taking advantage of the “3 for 2” promotion will also receive a discount voucher booklet for the local attractions and shops in the city. Bookings can be made online or directly with participating hotels, which can be found HERE.
TOURS
Encore has launched a travel and tourism industry partnership with multi-award-winning musical “Hamilton” (photo) in London enabling, for the first time, tickets to be distributed via the travel trade. The initiative gives pre-approved sales partners the ability to include the show in their clients’ London itineraries with instant confirmation for both prices and seat locations in a secure purchasing environment and working with FIT and group packageable rates provided by Encore. Partners can currently book tickets through to Sept. 5 for performances at the Victoria Palace Theatre. For details, email travelandtourism@encore.co.uk.
Following the re-launch of its eLearning program in the fall with the introduction of the Bronze level, Insight Vacations is now releasing the silver level of its Insight Specialist eLearning Program, focussing on “what makes the brand unique in the market.” Agents can save 7.5% when enrolling by Feb. 27. The course consists of six short segments taking about 15 minutes each and successful participants be eligible for FAM trips and advisor discounts on their trips. The gold level will be released at a later date.
Collette has teamed up with Uber to provide $20 e-vouchers on all US tours within their Spotlights line starting in May. Use of the voucher on tour is meant to provide added flexibility for travellers and allow for independent exploration. Guests will receive the e-voucher prior to departure.
RESORTS
During February, Sunwing is featuring Palladium Hotels & Resorts with 3x STAR reward bonus for bookings for clients travelling by Dec. 15. Every time an agent makes a booking, they’ll also be entered to win a trip. Consumer incentives are also on offer and agents can take part in Sunwing-hosted webinars throughout the month.
Four new family-friendly AMResorts properties in the Caribbean are set to open doors in the coming weeks and months: Feb. – Dreams Vista Cancun Resort & Spa, in the gated community of Puerta del Mar, Mexico; March – Dreams Macao Beach in Dominican Republic, Now Natura Riviera Cancun in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, and Secrets St. Martin Resort & Spa, the collection’s first resort in the French Caribbean.
Now open:
Meliá Koh Samui is the company’s first in Thailand. The luxury 159-room and 41-suite beachfront resort on Koh Samui island in southern Thailand (is located on Choeng Mon Beach, 15 minutes from Samui International Airport (photo) and marks the start of a strategic roll-out of the Meliá brand in Thailand with at least two more hotels to be opened in key destinations across the country, including INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit and Meliá Chiang Mai.
HOTELS
The new 208-room Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel “The Ben” is will open its doors in February in West Palm Beach, Fla. Blending elements of Florida history with modern lifestyle, guests can take advantage of an “inspiring library,” plus luxuries like 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness centre, rooftop pool with private cabanas, and outdoor fire pit. There two on-site restaurant options that allow for both fine dining and outdoor dining.
Steps from the beach, Greystone Miami Beach relaunches this month. The historic 1930s hotel embraces Miami’s energy with Art Deco glamour across 91 guestrooms, a stunning rooftop pool, and a whiskey and dark spirits lounge. The property is a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts.
Now Open:
In Porto, Portugal, the Maison Albar Le Monumental Palace has re-opened after four decades of neglect. Located in the heart of the city’s historic centre, the classic neoclassical and art deco hotel from the 1920s has been meticulously renovated, retaining its façade, some interior elements and has restored its famous café, which lends its name to the hotel.
CRUISE
Disney Cruise Line’s Star Wars Day at Sea will return in 2021 on seven-night Disney Fantasy cruises to the Caribbean from January through March. The special day-long celebration is filled with character encounters (photo), live shows and Star Wars-themed activities designed for the entire family, such as costume celebrations, movie screenings, trivia sessions, the Star Wars Drawing Academy and a ship-wide Porg-themed adventure. Weekly departures alternate between the eastern and western Caribbean.
Citing the safety and health of guests, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), reports that in response to coronavirus outbreak in China and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) subsequent declaration of a global health emergency, its members are modifying procedures, including altering itineraries, increasing passengers and staff screening protocols, and suspending crew movements from mainland China. Ships will also deny boarding to any individual, whether guest or crew, who has travelled from or through mainland China within the previous 14 days.
Fans of Jann Arden can meet the Canadian singer on a special sailing of Avalon Waterways’ “Active & Discovery on the Rhine” cruise departing May 25, 2021. As well as mingling with passengers, Arden will perform a private concert on board and participate in a photo op and CD signing. Arden acted as Godmother of the Avalon ship Tranquility II in 2015 and has hosted cruises in 2017 and 2019.
ATTRACTIONS/THEME PARKS
Universal Studios Hollywood will host its next “Running Universal” race featuring DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls on April 26 with a 5K, a Kids’ 1K and a 10K run. For information go HERE.
EVENTS
The 35th annual Seatrade Cruise Global, will return to the Miami Beach Convention Centre April 21-23. The industry’s leading B2B event features executive leaders from the world’s top cruise lines discussing state of global cruising at panel discussions, round tables, and a keynote address. Flexible attendee registration options are available and those who register by Feb. 21 can take advantage of early bird pricing – saving as much as $400.
FAMS/INCENTIVES
To help celebrate its 50th anniversary in the industry, Goway is giving agents a chance to win one of 14 one-ounce commemorative gold bars, or one of 50 FAM spots bound for Sydney, Australia. To enter the draw for one of the Golden Ticket commemorative gold bars, simply make a booking to any of Goway’s destinations in any of its divisions by March 31 – bookings will automatically place you in the draw. In addition, all group bookings deposited by Oct. 31 will also go into the draw.
Until Feb. 28, TravelBrands will reward travel counsellors and their clients for Exotik Journeys bookings. Agents who book any destination with the exception of Europe will receive 5,000 bonus Loyalty Rewards points, while clients’ prices will be discounted by 2%. To qualify, travellers must spend $1,000 p.p. before taxes.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
Nancy Drolet has been named Sr. Director, Travel Trade at Jesson & Co. Communications, which counts Anguilla, Cuba and Los Cabos among clients. Drolet, formerly the Canadian representative for the Caribbean Tourism Organization, will be responsible for all trade activities for destination clients including education, attendance at trade events, as well as other general administrative responsibilities. She can be reached at ndrolet@jessonco.com.
Royal Irish Tours (RIT) has promoted Orla Killeen from their reservations department to the position of sales executive. Growing up in the rural West of Ireland, Killeen worked in many tourist attractions and hotels in her home county, Co. Clare, including three years at the Cliffs of Moher. She can be reached at orla@ritvacations.com.
NEWS
Sunwing has received another Consumer Choice Award: Best Tour Operator in Quebec. The travel company has previously received numerous awards in the categories of Best Charter Airline and Vacation Provider across Toronto, London, Hamilton/Niagara, Halifax, St. John’s, Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Vancouver. However, this was the first time Sunwing has received this recognition in Quebec. Consumer Choice Award, which is based independent market research, was established in 1987.
BY THE NUMBERS
Transat has recently ranked by Forbes magazine among Canada’s top 10 employers in 2020, placing eighth – up 43 positions from last year. In Quebec, the company jumped 10 spots to third. Forbes surveyed 8,000 people who work at private or public companies that have 500 employees or more. WestJet placed 60th nationally, Air Canada 168th and Porter 294th.
DESTINATIONS
Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra has launched a campaign to reforest the Machu Picchu archaeological site in order to protect it from mud slides and forest fires. Vizcarra has pledged to plant one million trees in the 35,000-hectare protected archaeological complex that features the popular Inca citadel. Environment specialists suggested planting trees to protect not only the sanctuary but also the local flora and fauna.
It’s the “Year of Festivals” in the Caribbean, or more precisely, year two of the ongoing marketing theme in which the Caribbean Tourism Organization and its members are promoting and integrating festivals and other cultural events into the tourism product. “We recognize that not only do these aspects of our individual countries distinguish us from each other, but they also hold significant potential in the quest to attract even more visitors to our shores,” says the CTO.
Arizona’s spring training baseball season has its earliest start in the league’s history with the first games scheduled to start on Feb. 22, ending on March 24. The Cactus League features 15 MLB teams: Arizona, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Colorado, Kansas City, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Texas. The 228 schedule games will be played throughout the 10 Phoenix-area ballparks.