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 travellers must be temperature checked before boarding flights; ACTA has a new re-start toolkit for agencies and Transat prepares for lift-off July 23.
NEWS
Air travellers leaving or coming to Canada will soon need to have their temperatures checked before boarding as a means of preventing the spread of COVID-19. The federal order will take effect for inbound passengers later this month and will expand to airports in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary by the end of July, and then 11 more airports serving mostly domestic travellers at the end of September.
With provincial and federal government introducing phased re-opening strategies, ACTA is launching the Ready to Travel – Your Travel Agency Re-opening Tool Kit, including general information plus the latest updates from each province, health and safety guidelines for employees and customers, templates, etc. Look for it on the acta.ca web site.
A free online interactive world map to provide travellers with the latest COVID-19 entry regulations by country is now available from IATA. The colour-coded (dark blue for no-go countries) uses IATA’s Timatic database, which contains comprehensive information on documentation required for international travel. Information is updated 200 time per day to provide accurate travel restrictions specific to the current pandemic, based on one’s citizenship and country of residence. Access it HERE.
July 23 is the day Transat AT says it will resume flights and tour operator activities including a new (limited) flight schedule to 22 destinations in Europe, the South, the US, and Canada until the end of the summer season on Oct. 31. The company will also offer South and Europe packages during this period and will gradually reopen travel agencies in its network starting June 15. In addition, Transat has unveiled a Traveller Care program, rolling out new health measures to ensure the safety of its customers and employees.
TravelBrands’ expanded partnership with point-of-sale financing company Uplift allows travel agents and their clients to offer monthly payment options to their clients for cruise vacations, vacation packages, Exotik Journeys product, Sunquest packages and more (air-only not included). Uplift’s payment platform determines a loan decision for clients within seconds.
A second level in Luxury Gold’s eLearning Masterclass program is now available. Ruby follows the Sapphire level launched last fall and is designed to enhance agent’s ability to small group journeys, as well as becoming eligible for FAM trips and discounts. The program is available through The Travel Corporation’s Travel Agent Academy.
RE-OPENING
International air service for visitors to Bermuda will resume July 1. Health and safety protocols are being finalized that will enable travellers who test negative 72 hours in advance and who also test negative upon arrival in Bermuda to have freedom of movement one the island.
SeaWorld San Antonio will reopen on June 19. The reopening of the park will include capacity limitations, enhanced health and safety protocols for cleaning and sanitizing, physical distancing, face covering requirements, and temperature screening. A new online reservation system will also help manage capacity. Aquatica San Antonio opened to the public on June 6.
El Cid Resorts will re-open its hotels in Cancún-Riviera Maya and Cozumel on July 1 under strict adherence to federal and state health and safety guidelines.
With no reported cases of COVID-19 since May 29, French Polynesia will re-open borders to international tourism effective July 15.
BY THE NUMBERS
IATA’s newly released financial outlook for the global air transport industry forecasts that airlines are expected to lose $84.3 billion in 2020 for a net profit margin of -20.1%. Revenues will fall 50% to $419 billion from $838 billion in 2019. In 2021, losses are expected to be cut to $15.8 billion as revenues rise to $598 billion. “Financially, 2020 will go down as the worst year in the history of aviation,” says IATA’s Director General, Alexandre de Juniac.
AIR
On June 22, Lufthansa will resume three weekly flights between Munich and Montreal, followed by three weekly flights to and from Vancouver via its hub in Frankfurt starting July 2. Edelweiss – a leisure-focused air carrier and SWISS subsidiary – is planning to resume service to and from both Calgary and Vancouver to Zurich in early July. The carrier began offering three weekly, non-stop flights from Toronto to Frankfurt and back the week of June 1.
After a false start last year, Aeroplan’s global network of airline partners now officially includes Etihad Airways, bringing the total number of Aeroplan airline partners to 35.
DEALS
Greater Fort Lauderdale’s annual LauderDeals will run through September offering discounted room rates, offers for third or fourth nights free, resort and dining credits as well as free or discounted parking, free cancellations, complimentary upgrades and more at participating hotels. Things To Do Deals include 2-for-1 admission or discounted rates at attractions. New to the incentive program is the addition of Dine Out Lauderdale, a collection of three course prix fixe menus priced at $35 and $45; and Spa Days, signature treatments at resort and day spas with prices starting at $99. Details are listed on sunny.org.
TOURS
In 2021, Globus and Cosmos are unveiling a new series of nine “Undiscovered North America” tours, ranging from eight to 14 days. They include Globus tours “Bourbon, Bridles & Bluegrass” (8 days), “Lost Canyons of the Southwest” (9 days), “New England & The Hudson Valley” (10 days), “Southern California Charms” (10 days), and Cosmos’ “Exploring the Pacific Northwest (9 days)”. Clients can save 10% p.p. on select 2021 Globus North America vacations or save $100 p.p. on select Cosmos North America itineraries.
New safety procedures are being implemented across all G Adventures tours, says the company, which has launched the new “Travel with Confidence” policy, designed to ensure the safety and well-being of both travellers and employees.
HOTELS
Napa Valley is readying to welcome its first Four Seasons later this year. The Calistoga, Ca.-based hotel will have an on-site vineyard and tasting room – a rarity in Napa Valley – and 85 rooms, all with private outdoor spaces. As a nod to Calistoga’s wellness roots, the property will offer an eight-room spa with steam pods in which hammocks will be suspended above geo-thermal pools for guests to absorb the heated vapor.
RESORTS
Sunscape Splash Montego Bay and Sunscape Cove Montego Bay resorts are changing management from AMResorts to Sunset Resorts and will upon re-opening after the pandemic, return to the market as Sunset Beach Resort, Spa & Waterpark and the Oasis at Sunset. Also at AMR, the previously scheduled reopening date for Now Natura Riviera Cancun of July 1 has been moved to Sept. 15, at which time it will rebranded as Dreams Natura Resort & Spa.
CRUISE
Bookings are now open for Crystal Cruises’ 2023 season aboard the luxury vessel Crystal Serenity. The ship will sail individual voyages of seven to 23 nights, as well as a full World Cruise offered with 140-, 128- and 119-night options, and combination sailings of up to 100 nights without repeating ports. The Easy Book program offers reduced deposits and waived admin fees for all new bookings made through June 30.
FAMS & INCENTIVES
Agents can now earn bonus Loyalty Rewards points using a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) with TravelBrands. Available through June 30, the incentive includes 10X Loyalty Rewards points for new 2020 cruise sailings and 5X Loyalty Rewards points for any other sailing date. The offer is combinable with all cruise line promotions that are currently in the market.
DESTINATIONS
That’s how to social distance! Fish Tales, a restaurant in Ocean City, Maryland, has come up with a novel way to welcome patio customers while the indoor venue is closed: bumper tables. Set up in roped off section of the parking lot for adults only, the tables are for adults only and for a limited time use. After each use, each table will be sanitized. To get into the bumper tables, patrons enter by going under the table or the bumper and the tabletop can be removed to easier access.
Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com
* Future dates and events listed here are up to date at time of printing, although obviously subject to changes due to ever-involving pandemic information. Travel Industry Today accepts no responsibility for sudden or unreported inaccuracies.