Author name: Michael Baginski

THE WORLD’S BEST AIRLINES IN 2024: And how Canadian carriers measure up

Canadian airlines typically don’t get no respect from many Canadians, as Rodney Dangerfield would say. But how do others see our airlines? Well, they’re not as bad as you might think, at least according to the Skytrax, which recently revealed its annual World Airlines Awards for 2024, otherwise known as the “Oscars of the aviation industry.” So, who are the best this year, and how did we (Canada) do? Read on, you’ll be surprised – and impressed.

LISTENING IN: That wasn’t all right – the sad but familiar story of Arthur Crudup

Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup helped invent rock ‘n’ roll. His 1946 song “That’s All Right,” would become the first single Elvis Presley ever released. Rod Stewart would sing it on a chart-topping album and Led Zeppelin would play it live. But despite being dubbed “the father of rock ‘n’ roll,” Crudup received scant songwriting royalties in his lifetime because of a recording contract that funneled the money to his original manager.

LISTENING IN: Give it up for Bonnie Raitt

Bonnie Raitt has been turning out tunes for over 50 years and earned enough plaudits to warrant a long Wikipedia page. There’s been 13 Grammys – most recently in 2022 – induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and chart-topping success, which didn’t materialize until well into her career.

TO ‘THE BEACH’ AND BEYOND: Why Canadians love Myrtle Beach

Canadians love the beach. And “The Beach” – the nickname adopted by Myrtle Beach, is a huge favourite. This popular destination has been attracting snowbirds and winter escape artists for decades. They love its fine weather, southern hospitality, year-round world-class golf (and mini golf), low-country cuisine, shopping, and, of course, the famed Can-Am Days in March, an annual celebration of the connection between Canada and the South Carolina city.

LISTENING IN: Name that band – U-’ll never guess!

Even the biggest rock bands in the world had to start somewhere and, in this case, the year was 1978 and a first-ever appearance on Irish TV captured a teenage Paul David Hewson and David Howell Evans in their formative years, showing their chops, if not the style, that soon took them to the top of the pops.

THE VARIETY OF VEGAS: What happens there… is different than before

If there was only one takeaway for travel advisors from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) event in Burlington, Ont., this week, it was to recognize the overwhelming variety of the destination – a sentiment stated succinctly by Sarah Chensky of MGM Resorts, who said, “There’s a different Vegas for different people.”

LIVIN’ LA PURA VIDA: For Goway, Costa Rica is only natural

Land of the “pura vida,” natural Costa Rica is a consistently top destination for Goway, with the popular Central American country favoured by clients alongside Peru in Latin America, as well as ranking in the tour company’s top 10 globally.

LISTENING IN: Love reigns o’er Debo Ray

Sometimes all there is to say is “wow.” It’s hard to match powerhouse vocalist Roger Daltrey, but Debo Ray makes it a conversation on this rendition of The Who classic “Love Reign O’er Me” in a performance from just last September.

TAHITI SET TO ENJOY ITS MOMENT IN THE SUN

Tahiti is preparing for its moment in the sun, when the eyes of the world will be on the French Polynesian paradise as it hosts the surfing competition for this summer’s Olympic Games. An overseas territory of France, the island seemed like a more natural setting for the competition than landlocked Paris.

TUCSON TIME: Arizona’s other city is calling Canadians

While the communities of Greater Phoenix attract much of the attention in Arizona, nearby Tuscon has its own unique allure, not least over 300 days of sunshine a year and winter temperatures that are guaranteed to appeal to Canadian snowbirds and vacationers eager to escape the cold up north.

SANTA MONICA: California enclave has something for everyone

With Santa Monica having been a key partner at the recent IPW travel trade show – the destination dubbed LA’s “beach city” was the site of after-show festivities for delegates, including Canadian attendees, over the course of two nights – the timing was right last week for Team Santa Monica to follow up with their annual Canadian mission to engage and update the trade in this country on the latest happenings in the SoCal destination.

LISTENING IN: Classic Cars just what we needed

In his gargantuan task of attempting to consume and playlist the classic rock cannon in its entirely – from AC/DC to ZZ Top – my 20-something son has created a discerning category for some of his discoveries: albums where, in his estimation, every single song is great. A small list, his special first entry was Boston (by Boston). I agreed and offered another: The Cars (by The Cars).

BRAND POWER: U.S. fosters relationships with Canadian trade

Brand USA, the face of US Travel abroad, came calling in Canada this week, continuing its commitment to the US’s top international market and the trade that fuels it. Events were planned for Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary, with the centrepiece being a day-long event designed to connect tour operators and the media from this country with a delegation comprised fully of 30 destination reps from across the US.

DOUBLETREE’S ICONIC COOKIE IS OUT OF THIS WORLD

DoubleTree is a well-respected hotel chain, but let’s face it, it’s really famous because of its chocolate chip cookies. A once unexpected and inconvenient overnight stay in Miami due to a missed connection is still remembered years later by my kids as a highlight of our trip on account of the warm, gooey, chocolatey confections they scored that night when we checked in. 

LISTENING IN: A new take on a cherished Irish classic

With the stunning backdrop of the Cliffs of Moher, new talents Meadhbh (Maeve) Walsh and Sina Theil combine on the cherished Irish ballad “Grace.” They’re believed to be the first female duo to do the song, which is best known by Irish band the Wolfetones, though even Rod Stewart once gave it a go.

THE POWER OF TRAVEL: Brand USA boss Chris Thompson reflects on the past, present and future of travel and tourism.

Chris Thompson has seen a lot during his 41 years in travel – wars, terrorist attacks, a once-in-a-generation depression, and – worst of all – a pandemic that shook the foundations of the travel industry, each in their own way resulting in profound changes in the way people see – and want to see – the world. And how they get there. But one thing the outgoing president and CEO of Brand USA knows hasn’t changed: the power of travel to transform lives, and how it might just save the world we live in.

RESILIENCE, RAPID GROWTH, (AND REGGAE): The Caribbean celebrates at ‘most important’ Marketplace

With a colourful Jamaican vibe and a reggae beat – not least at the Sandals closing night gala beach party – the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) held its 42nd annual Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Montego Bay last week, attracting approximately 1,200 international delegates from 25 countries (including many Canadians) to the region’s “most important” event, which proved to be the largest since 2007, and similarly the biggest in the region since the pandemic, eclipsing last year’s gathering in Barbados.

LISTENING IN: Boom boom boom boom

The Blues Brothers movie from 1980 is one of my favourite movies, not least for its stellar list of iconic musical guests – Aretha Franklin, Cab Calloway, James Brown, and Ray Charles amongst them. And, of course, blues great John Lee Hooker, whose appearance qualifies as more of a cameo than a performance.

JAMAICA CRUISING TO ARRIVALS MILESTONE

As the global travel industry (including Travel Industry Today) gathers in Montego Bay this week for Caribbean Travel Marketplace, host country Jamaica reports that it has recorded an impressive 1.7 million visitors as of May 7 of this year – nearly five percent ahead of last year and putting the island on track to reach its goal of welcoming a whopping five million visitors by 2025.

COLLETTE COMES CALLING: Tour op in Toronto for gala trade event

Having operated for 106 years, Collette has stuck it’s toe into Canadian waters on plenty of occasions. But Wednesday’s visit seemed special as the Rhode Island-based tour operator gathered with close to 100 key members of the travel trade members in Toronto for the first time since the pandemic, and to be formally introduced to the company’s new CEO Jaclyn Leibl-Cote.

LISTENING IN: ‘Love Shack’ with an terrific Ted Lasso twist

Of all the covers of “Love Shack” one might expect, a version by Brendan Hunt and Hannah Waddingham wouldn’t be among them. That’s because (for the uninitiated) the duo are better known as the beloved characters Coach Beard and Rebecca from the Ted Lasso TV show. But don’t be dissuaded, the talented pair absolutely nail the B52s’ classic.

SUNWING LAUNCHES VACANCES WESTJET IN QUEBEC

In a move that resonates on many levels, the Sunwing Vacations Group has launched WestJet Vacations/Vacances WestJet Quebec (WVQ) in La Belle Province as a “new tour operator with new destinations” for Quebec consumers, starting next winter. It also represents the latest step Sunwing’s integration into the WestJet fold, though as a standalone division that will also operate WestJet’s overall tour operations.

BUMMED ABOUT BAGS: But IATA says things are getting better

We wouldn’t have known it while waiting over an hour for our bags to arrive at LAX on a recent visit – even with the 15-minute head start afforded by having to trek from gate to carousel – but at least they did arrive (and in one piece), which is an occurrence that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) says is steadily becoming more common.

WAKE UP AND SMELL THE TRAVELLERS: U.S. seeks to regain place in the sun

While the US Travel Association revelled in its 55th annual IPW trade show in Los Angeles last week that welcomed 5,700 attendees from 70 countries (among them close to 150 Canadians and a 20% increase over 2023), the tourism organization nevertheless bristled at current tourism metrics for international travel to the US it says are caused in part by self-inflicted wounds – ones that can and should be overcome.

‘MAKING HISTORY’: Canada posts record-breaking Orlando visits

Canada “made history” in Orlando in 2023, sending more than 1.2 million visitors to the theme park capital, according to Visit Orlando, which revealed the “big announcement” at the IPW US travel trade show in Los Angeles this week. The record-breaking numbers also ensured that Canada remained the destination’s No. 1 market ahead of the UK (877,000) and Brazil (696,000).

LISTENING IN: Ziggy Marley irie at IPW

Sorry, Diana Ross. You too, Keanu Reeves (who sidelines as a bass player in the band Dogstar when not cracking skulls as John Wick). The star performer at this year’s edition of the US travel trade show IPW, held in Los Angeles this week, was Ziggy Marley.

AT IPW: Los Angeles welcomes the world at ‘watershed’ moment

IPW kicked off on the weekend with Los Angeles welcoming 5,700 delegates at the California city’s latest incarnation of US Travel’s largest inbound travel show, though first in 12 years. A delegation of over 100 Canadian trade and media (including Travel Industry Today) began trickling in late last week for weekend events and Saturday’s opening night gala at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

LISTENING IN: Any friend of Leonid is a friend of mine

One of the things I most love is receiving recommendations from readers, often introducing bands I’ve never heard of. This week I offer we-are-not-worthy plaudits to Visit Fort Lauderdale’s Paul Mason, who urged me by to check out Leonid & Friends, an amazing band he was going to see.

THE LOWDOWN ON LOUISVILLE: A day at the races and more in Kentucky’s Derby city

It’s Derby week and the eyes of avid horse racing fans – and even many who aren’t – will be on Louisville, home of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, this Saturday (May 4) when the race celebrates its historic 150th running. Yet there’s more to Louisville than horses, from bourbon to boxing and bluegrass to baseball and Hot Browns, helping make Kentucky’s biggest city a diverse and largely undiscovered gem – and guaranteeing that visitors will be off to the races no matter when they go.

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