26 AUG 2018: 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’s on-and-off-again romance with Aimia Inc. is back on again. A consortia led by the carrier has announced that it has agreed to pay $450 million for the Aeroplan loyalty programme, ensuring, as it told members last week, that, “If [the deal is] successfully completed, as expected in fall 2018, it would safeguard Aeroplan Members’ miles, permit you to earn and redeem with confidence and allow for a smooth transition to Air Canada’s new loyalty programme launching in 2020. The full story is here. See: Back to the beginning
WestJet has reaffirmed that it will maintain non-stop service between Edmonton and Las Vegas with four weekly flights starting Oct. 11. Flights will operate Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Alipay and WeChat Pay are now payment options available when booking on Air Canada‘s North American and Hong Kong websites. Air Canada is the first Canadian airline to offer the secure payment options in North America.
TOURS
Aimed at over-40 travellers who want an African adventure without roughing it, Goway is touting its Transkalahari Adventure – a 22-day upscale Southern Africa overland covering territory from Cape Town to Victoria Falls in a custom-built vehicle with its own fridge and plug points. Group size maxes out at 16 and there is no supplement for singles, who can be paired with like-minded travellers of the same gender. For more information email: info@africaexperts.com.
DEALS & DISCOUNTS
Clients booking a Cosmos tour by Oct. 23 will save $50 p.p., while those booking air to coincide with tour start/end dates will also receive free airport transfers. Additionally, client can save 5% on 2019 Globus Africa, Asia and South Pacific vacations and save 10% on 2019 Globus South and Central America vacations when booking by Nov. 27. Globus has five new global itineraries featured in its 2019 programme, including China, New Zealand, South America and two in Africa.
HOTELS
Marriott International’s loyalty programmes, which include Marriott Rewards, Ritz-Carlton Rewards, and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), are now being operated under one set of unified benefits and one currency spanning the entire loyalty portfolio of 29 brands and more than 6,700 participating hotels in 130 countries and territories. Close to 110 million members can now seamlessly earn and redeem across the entire loyalty portfolio and achieve Elite status faster with new Elite tiers.
The three C’s of extended stay hotel hospitality – convenient, cost-effective and comfortable – will be the guiding principles behind HomeTowne Studios by Red Roof. Citing growing demand for extended stay properties, Red Roof’s new sub brand will see 30 properties in 20 markets phased in, with another dozen in the pipeline to add to the nearly 4,000 rooms coming on stream. HomeTowne Studios will feature top-of-the-line amenities and services in live-in studios and suites designed to have all the conveniences of home, including a kitchenette with full-size refrigerator, microwave, sink, kitchen table and chairs – all at “the best-value price points in the hotel industry.” Red Roof has over 550 properties in the US and has expanded internationally to Brazil and Japan.
AccorHotels has signed an agreement to acquire Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, bringing the brand, which was founded in Switzerland in 1973, to the Accor portfolio along with other notable names like Fairmont and Raffles. The deal is expected to close in September and will prompt the addition of 42 new properties by 2021 to the existing 84 hotels operating in 27 countries.
Budding musicians now have a chance to show their chops at select Aloft hotels in Europe. The chain, which fancies itself as Marriott International’s brand devoted to music lovers and music makers, is setting up state-of-the-art “shower” audio recording booths in its London, Brussels, Munich and Kiev locations for guests to step into and demonstrate their vocal talents
W Hotels Worldwide, part of Marriott International, Inc., has opened W Xi’an, the brand’s seventh hotel in Greater China and the largest W to open in Asia-Pacific. The property is located in the city’s Qujiang district, adjacent to Quijiang Pool Park.
RESORTS
Karisma Resorts has staunchly advocated and supported travel agents. This year, hopes are that the feeling towards the resort chain’s owners – affectionately known as Snr. Martinez and Sra. Dolores – will be reciprocated through a special SHOW THE LOVE campaign to be unveiled at the Karisma Hotels and Resorts’ 11th Annual Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Agent Sales & Marketing Forum Awards 2018 in Mexico. Karisma is asking agents to submit their memories and photos detailing their special relationships with the owners of El Dorado Spa Resorts, Generations Resorts and Hidden Beach Resort by Karisma – “whether a small act of kindness or a life changing gesture – which will be unveiled at the forum. Agents are asked to submit their photos/videos to showyourlove2018@gmail.com with the Subject line: SHOW YOUR LOVE / Agent Name. The e-mail should include contact information along with a photo caption and date/timeframe of when the image occurred. The campaign will continue through the end of November and will be revealed (as a surprise gesture) at the GIVC Awards where the Martinez’s will be honoured on stage.
CRUISE
Technical drawing of a new 180,000-ton LNG-powered ship to be based at Port Canaveral in 2020. It will be the largest Carnival Cruise Line ship ever constructed.
Executives from Carnival and the Canaveral Port Authority are shown here in the cruise line’s Miami headquarters following a meeting to discuss the deployment of a new 180,000-ton ship, Carnival’s largest, to Port Canaveral. From left: Carnival Corporation VP Port and Destination Development David Candib, Carnival Cruise Line EVP Professional Services James Heaney, Canaveral Port Authority Port Director and CEO Capt. John Murray, Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy, and Carnival Cruise Line COO Gus Antorcha.
Carnival Cruise Line and Canaveral Port Authority are planning to build a new state-of-the-art terminal to accommodate the cruise line’s newest (but unnamed) vessel, which begins construction in November. When finalized, the deal to build the terminal will clear the way for the 180,000-ton ship – Carnival’s largest ever – to homeport at Port Canaveral on Florida’s Space Coast in 2020. Full details on the ship’s launch are expected next year. See: Carnival boosts presence at Port Canaveral.
BY THE NUMBERS
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), has crossed the milestone of 100 Holiday Inn Express hotels in Canada, with the opening of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Trois-Rivières in Quebec. The milestone didn’t last long as three additional openings – Holiday Inn Express & Suites Brantford, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Kelowna – East, and Holiday Inn Express & Suites Moncton – took the tally even higher.
Nearly 30% growth in arrivals from Canada in 2018 is a key contributor to a tourism turnaround in The Bahamas, according to tourism officials in the Caribbean islands. Overall, The Bahamas has posted a 10.2% gain this year, continuing a positive trend that started in October 2017.
DESTINATIONS
The Florida Keys tourism council has launched a value-added ValuCation program for travellers to the Florida Keys and Key West. Valid through Oct. 21, the incentive includes offerings of value-added hotel and bed and breakfast stays, complimentary visits to Keys signature attractions for children and adults, and special offers on popular activities such as sportfishing, snorkel, scuba and sunset sailing trips. Check out the offers at fla-keys.com/ValuCation.
Man-dy, you came and you stayed until February: Pop superstar Barry Manilow has extended his Las Vegas residency at the Westgate International Theatre until February. Tickets for new dates went on sale Aug. 24