04 SEP 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
Sunwing is returning to St. Maarten with year-round, weekly direct flight services from both Montreal and Toronto. The first flights from both cities will depart Thursday Feb. 28, 2019. Click here for the full story: Sunwing back to St. Maarten
Sunwing also announced that it will be back in Bonaire this winter with weekly flights from Toronto beginning Dec. 16 through to April 14. Click here for the full story: Sunwing back to Bonaire
A fee hike by JetBlue for checked bags started a domino effect amongst other airlines that included Air Canada and WestJet, which each raised fees by $5 and $20 for first and second bags respectively on domestic, US, Caribbean and Mexico flights. The new fees kick in in October. Click here for the full story: Ancillary fee increases
WestJet has taken the AI plunge, introducing “Juliet,” an artificial intelligence powered chatbot to engage customers and enable them to manager many details of their tip through Facebook Messenger. Click here for the full story: Meet Juliet
BC residents keen on getting to Columbus will be able to do so with less fuss starting March 7, 2019, when Alaska Airlines begins daily service to the Ohio city from Seattle.
TOURS
Avalon Waterways and Cosmos, sister companies in the Globus family of brands, have introduced new apps designed to provide insider info on sightseeing, shopping, dining and getting around the host destination. The apps – which are free – are available for all itineraries except Avalon cruises in Southeast Asia and India and four Cosmos itineraries to remote areas.
With the imminent arrival of colourful fall foliage, VIA Rail has partnered with Train de Charlevoix in a pilot project that allows customers to reserve seats on board both trains in a single transaction, thus enabling a seamless trip from Ottawa or Montréal to Québec City, Côte-de-Beaupré, or the coastal cities and towns of Charlevoix, or vice versa. A shuttle provides ground transportation between Gare du Palais in Québec City and the Train de Charlevoix station at the base of Montmorency Falls. The Charlevoix trains runs until Oct. 21.
DEALS & DISCOUNTS
Free sked air on flights from Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa (and other gateway rates from $299) plus $1,200 saving per couple savings on fall European river cruises with Avalon Waterways has been extended to Sept. 11.
Air Transat’s Find Your Seat promo invites Canadians to fly for less with its best deals to several destinations in Europe, the South, Florida and Canada when booking by Sept. 10 for travel Nov. 1 to April 30, 2019. For details go to airtransat.com or Get Connected.
ACTA
ACTA has tied one on with the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, entering into a corporate partnership with the tourist board, which will introduce tools to ACTA members to help educate on the destination’s culture, attractions and history. ACTA and Taiwan Tourism Bureau “will support each other through a mutual commitment to work in the best interest of the travel agency community,” including “connecting our members with contacts, information, and resources,” says ACTA president Wendy Paradis, with association director of marketing Marco Pozzobon telling Travel Industry Today that a destination podcast and webinar are just a couple of projects that are “in the works.”
HOTELS
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, whose iconic hotels have a rich history in cinema, is launching a film event series comprised of pop-up events and a retrospective photo exhibit. Premiering at Fairmont Royal York during the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and later travelling to London and Shanghai, the Fairmont Loves Film programme will feature acclaimed film director and screenwriter Gia Coppola as Film Ambassador and Curator.
Visitors to Bangkok can now get an authentic Waldorf salad in the Thai capital with the opening of the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok. The iconic luxury hotel is located on levels 57 to 59 of the 60-storey Magnolias Ratchadamri Boulevard building in the heart of the city.
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts has announced the signing of The St. Regis Melbourne, marking the first hotel in Australia for the luxury brand. The new-build hotel is slated to open in 2022 and will be located in the heart of Melbourne at Spencer and Flinders streets.
W Hotels Worldwide, part of Marriott International, Inc., has opened W Kuala Lumpur, marking the brand’s first-ever hotel in Malaysia.
RESORTS
Saint Lucia’s Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa is closed this month (September) to undergo $5 million in refurbishments, re-opening on Oct. 1.
Hard Rock Hotels in Mexico and the Dominican Republic are going all-in on the all-inclusive concept, announcing that resort credits will be officially replaced with “limitless all-inclusive.” For a 25 percent service fee, guests will be able to take advantage of experiences like golf, spa treatments, tours and excursions, and salon and barber shop services.
The change is in effect for bookings from Sept. 15 for travel beginning Jan. 6, 2019, at the four properties (and Hard Rock Cabos coming later in 2019).
AMResorts is the latest company to announce that it is eliminating the use of plastic straws. The change will extend across AMR’s seven luxury resort brands totalling 55 properties as part of its continued responsible travel efforts.
THEME PARKS
Being Canadian has its privileges. Walt Disney World’s Canadian resident special is now available for purchase through March 3, 2019, for use at all four parks (one per day). The offer is in effect Dec. 23-Sept. 27, 2019 (excluding Christmas week) and costs US$316 plus tax p.p. A park hopper option can also be added. Meanwhile, a similar three-day version of the ticket offer is also available for Disneyland, California, for pre-purchase by April 11 and use through May 23, 2019.
Visitors to Canada’s Wonderland theme park will have a new hotel option in 2020. A dual-branded Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotel will be located on site featuring 203 rooms. Located in Vaughan, just north of Toronto, the property will also cater to business travellers and other guests.
EVENTS
Goway’s 9th annual Africa event is returning to Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver in September. More than 25 suppliers from 11 countries will be on hand to meet agents in Toronto (Sept. 18), Edmonton (Sept. 19) and Vancouver (Sept. 20). The agents-only evening sessions will include presentation, trade show, refreshments and prizes. E-mail wendygriffin@goway.com for details.
FAMS
The Jamaica Tourist Board Canada is inviting its retail travel partners to a new series of destination familiarization (fam) trips to Jamaica. Starting this fall, travel agents will have the opportunity to learn more about the island’s offerings through customized tours. The itineraries will feature trips to the resort towns of Montego Bay, Falmouth, Ocho Rios, Runaway Bay and Negril. Toronto fam trip departures are $499 and all other Canadian departures are $599. The fam fees include return airfare, accommodations, meals, ground transportation and sightseeing. Tour dates run from Sept. 19 to Dec. 8. To register, go to www.visitjamaica.com/canada
Cuba’s Gaviota S.A Tourism Group is inviting its “important travel trade partners” to the Gaviota Destinations 2018 Tourism Trade Fair in Jardines del Rey, Oct. 3-6. The fair will update participants on present and future developments of the group, from new product to hotels, along with awards gala, sightseeing and a visit to Havana. For registration details and programme, go to www.gaviotahotels.com
Toronto-based NARAT is hosting a Japan fam for travel counsellors March 19-29, 2019. The 11-day Ultimate Japan – Cherry Blossom educational programme is designed to introduce agents to the essence of Japan in midst of the spectacular Sakura – cherry blossom – season in Tokyo, Kyoto, Kobe, Nagoya and Osaka, among other locations. Highlights will include a Kimono fashion show, tea ceremony, opera at the famous Kabukiza Theatre, Sumo wrestling match, and cherry blossom celebrations. Cost is US$2,850 p.p. plus $650 flight taxes and includes international flights from Canada. Single supplement is available subject to availability and one companion per agent is allowed. For details email fams@narat.org.
INCENTIVES
For the month of September, Sunwing is encouraging agents to Learn, Earn and WIN by featuring Jamaica as its destination of the month. Until Sept. 30, agents can earn 4X the STAR Agent Reward Points that convert into cash on all new bookings to select hotels in Jamaica. Plus, each time an agent makes a booking to any participating resort, they’ll be entered into a weekly contest for a chance to win an all-inclusive vacation for two to Jamaica.
Agents booking Carnival Cruise Lines with Air Canada Vacations through Sept. 16 for sailing by March 31, 2019, will automatically be entered for a chance to win a cruise and flight package for two.
TravelBrands is giving agents a million reasons to make online bookings: Through Dec. 10, each online reservation with the tour company will earn agents a chance to win one million loyalty rewards points plus three subsidiary prizes. Winners will be drawn at random.
PEOPLE
Air Canada 8th annual amazing Race took in place in Kissimmee, Fla., last week prompting five days of friendly rivalry amongst 45 travel agents from across Canada and trade partners, including hosts Experience Kissimmee. Among the activities were tree top trekking at Orlando Tree Trek, a footgolf tournament at Reunion Resort and scavenger hunts in Universal Orlando Resort, Universal’s Island of Adventure and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Participants enjoyed a gala ceremony at Discovery Cove to honour the week’s champions, Team Federico, whose members won a return trip for two to Orlando (MCO), a vacation home rental courtesy of Global Vacation Homes and theme parks tickets. The same prize was also awarded to the social media star of the week. For more, check out #ACRaceKissimmee.
WestJet’s new chief operating officer is Captain Jeffrey Martin. The former pilot at Southwest makes the move from JetBlue, where he most recently served as executive VP of Operations.
Tanya Idzan has joined the Disney Destinations sales team as District Sales Manager, Western Canada, covering a one-year maternity leave for Angela (Stecca) Cain. She can be reached at Tanya.W.Idzan@Disney.com.
Meet the new members of Unique Vacations Canada (Sandals & Beaches resorts) sales team: Evan Chicheluk – Business Development Manager, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northern Ontario & Nunavut, and Donné Nixon: Business Development Manager, Alberta and NWT. They can be reached at echicheluk@uvisandals.ca and dnixon@uvisandals.ca.
Contiki has introduced a new sales and business development manager for the Greater Toronto Area and Northeastern Ontario. Brad Weiler comes to the new role with extensive knowledge of the travel trade business from his time based in Australia at Unleashed Grad Trips. Reach him at brad.weiler@contiki.com.
BY THE NUMBERS
2017 was another record for international tourism with the World Tourism Organization reporting a seven percent increase to 1.323 billion visitors – 84 million more than the year before. It was the eighth straight year of growth. France remained the most visited destination while China produced the most travellers. The record won’t likely last for long, as internationals were up six percent in the first half of 2018.
Despite what has been called “an aggressive campaign by the US White House to discourage travel to Cuba,” the Caribbean country has surpassed three million visitors to date this year. Canada remains the leader in arrivals to Cuba, followed by Europe (France, Germany, the U.K. Kingdom, Russia and Spain), Mexico, Argentina and Chile.
DESTINATIONS
Booming Los Cabos will see at least six new and notable hotels open in 2019, bringing nearly 2,500 more rooms to the Mexican resort destination. They include: Ritz Carlton Reserve (Q1), Nobu Los Cabos (Q2), Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos (Q2), Vidanta East Cape (Q4), Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos (Q4), and Villa Valencia (TBD). 2018 openings still to come include Solaz, A Luxury Collection Resort in September, followed by the Garza Blanca Resort & Spa in November and the Riu Palace Baja California in December.
A new show celebrating the Hawaiian canoe has debuted at the Polynesian Culture Center on Oahu. Huki replaces Rainbows of Paradise, which has been a staple at the centre for the past 16 years. The canoe celebration, staged at the state’s only water performance venue, explores Polynesian myths and customs, history, and beloved island songs.
Dallas might now rightfully be called the official home of the Frozen Margarita. The city has launched the “Margarita Mile,” a collection of the city’s best and most brazen margaritas, conveniently located in a colourful (and free) app. Dallas’ history with the frozen concoction is a storied one, dating to 1971 when restaurateur Mariano Martinez invented the frozen margarita machine – a contraption so significant that it is now in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.