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SUNWING’S REVEALS 2023-24 ‘BEST OF THE BEST LIST’

Sunwing Vacations’ popular ‘Best of the Best List’ is back. Based on a combination of travel expert recommendations, star ratings and customer feedback, the list is meant to serve as an “MVP of vacation inspiration” for customers and agents, and returns for its third year.

DIGITAL DIGEST: Crafting engaging captions for social media

A picture is worth a thousand words but expecting that from all your social media creative would be unfair. Sometimes a smart caption is just what’s needed to amplify the creative or showcase useful links, insights, or additional information. Here are some tips for writing standout captions.

LISTENING IN: Fine Wine

I’m not sure how far the gospel of Iron & Wine has spread, but Sam Beam (aka I&W) is surely something special and if you haven’t had the pleasure, please accept this introduction. The American singer-songwriter, who hails from the Carolinas, has drawn comparisons to Simon and Garfunkel and Neil Young (at least his softer side), but strikes me more in the Jack Johnson/Ben Harper mold.

NOT AN ENDORSEMENT: UPDATED. Union and Poilievre differ on WestJet incident

The CEO of WestJet says the company is non-partisan and will revisit its policy after the airline faced backlash for allowing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to speak on the PA system on a recent flight. The union representing WestJet cabin crew demanded an apology from the airline over the incident. However, speaking in Vancouver Thursday,  Poilievre says he was asked multiple times by the cabin crew to speak and the Union should be the one apologizing.

GROUNDED IN GREENLAND: Ocean Explorer passengers calm as rescue unfolds

A fishing vessel owned by Greenland’s government was hoping to use a high tide to pull free the Ocean Explorer cruise ship, which ran aground in the world’s northernmost national park Monday. The ship is carrying 206 people, who were all reported fine and having a “lifetime experience,” according to Capt. Flemming Madsen of the Danish Joint Arctic Command.

SWISS TO ADD TORONTO IN 2024

SWISS is set to expand its route network in its 2024 summer schedules, adding two new long-haul destinations – including Toronto – to be served from Zurich. Its intercontinental network will also see the addition of Washington, DC, while its European network will feature new services to Košice in Slovakia and Cluj-Napoca in Romania.

MONEY TALKS:TICO tees up consultation process over funding review

The Travel Industry Council of Ontario says it will launch a broad and comprehensive consultation process with registrants and stakeholders in the coming weeks about its funding framework and fee model proposals, including the Compensation Fund.

JAMAICA JAZZED AT JAPEX

Jamaica is having its best year ever in visitors arrivals, according to Jamaica’s tourism minister. Edmund Bartlett’s enthusiasm was shared as the island’s tourism sector celebrated the return of JAPEX, its first major travel tradeshow post-pandemic.

BRIGHTLINE ORLANDO SERVICE STARTS SEPT. 22

South Florida rail service Brightline has announced that its extension to Orlando International Airport will begin on Sept.  22. Passengers will be able to connect from/to Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach.

TORONTO’S LOSS IS SAN FRANCISCO’S GAIN

Scott Beck leaving his post as President and CEO of Destination Toronto and heading south to take over a similar role with the San Francisco Travel Association. The move takes effect Oct. 28.

UNDER PRESSURE: Pilot drain ‘a big deal’ for Canadian airlines

Canadian pilots are demanding better wages and benefits from their employers, raising financial pressure on airlines that are just starting to recover from the pandemic and creating “really tricky” conditions to keep them flying south for more lucrative jobs.

VEGAS SERVICE IN THE CARDS FOR KELOWNA

Beginning Dec. 15, WestJet, will again connect Kelowna, BC, and Las Vegas, reintroducing a popular transborder connection from the Okanagan, for the first time since 2020. The non-stop service will operate twice weekly.

BERMUDA AIMS TO MAKE ‘BIG SPLASH’ IN CANADA

With COVID-19 largely in the rearview mirror, Bermuda tourism is back in Canada, rectifying a state of enforced neglect caused by the global pandemic. To that end, a delegation of representatives from the island, led by newly appointed Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) CEO Tracy Berkeley and VP of Sales and Development Devin Lewis, visited Toronto recently for a series of meetings with the trade, including a gala industry event at the Hotel X.

AIR CANADA REDUCES DEBT, PAYS BACK FEDS

Air Canada says it has repaid about $589 million in debt that it used to buy aircraft. The company says it repaid a $462-million loan from Canada’s Export Development Corp. that it used to pay for the purchase of 14 Airbus A220-300 aircraft.

NEW TRADE GUIDES HELP AGENTS SELL U.K.

Two new travel guides have been released by British tourism travel organizations with the aim of helping the trade plan and book travel to the UK by receiving information from and directly connecting with local suppliers. The guides – from England’s Historic Cities and the Great West Way – are excellent resources to destinations across Britain and can be accessed online.

MAGIC MILLION: Canada poised to set all-time arrivals record in Britain

Canadian arrivals into Britain are poised to set an all-time record this year. And with an expected 944,000 visitors from this country forecast to find their way to Old Blighty – significantly more than not only 2019 (874k), but also the previous high-water mark in 2017 (911k) – VisitBritain officials are eyeing the magic million mark in 2024.

WILD CARD: Cybersecurity issue causes big problems at MGM Resorts

MGM Resorts said in a statement Monday that it had “recently identified a cybersecurity issue affecting some of the Company’s systems.” The issue was not described, but the statement said efforts to protect data included “shutting down certain systems.” It said the investigation was continuing. By Monday evening, the websites for all MGM Resorts International were offline with only a post offering telephone contacts for the various resorts’ locations.

TRIPPING UP: Trip cancellation, trip Interruption and the traveller

Last month, an alarming prospect dawned on Ben Birstonas ahead of a $14,000 all-inclusive getaway planned with his family for Bermuda. “As we’re approaching the departure date, we hear about hurricane Franklin,” recalled the 58-year-old information technology consultant in a phone interview.

PASSENGER WARNING: YUL car traffic causing chaos

A post-pandemic surge in car traffic at Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport this summer has led to frustration, confusion, and desperation. The city’s public transit authority has scrambled to find detours for the airport shuttle, and the company that manages the site has opened more free parking and added traffic-control staff. So far, it appears nothing has worked to ease the bottlenecks.

TRAVEL LEADERS HOSTS FALL MIXER EVENTS

North America’s largest retail travel agency network amps up education, training and network opportunities this Fall with eleven more mixers across Canada. The Travel Leaders Network events which sold out across the country throughout the year offer a platform where top suppliers can personally interact with owners and managers, free of charge to the members.

GREEK TRAGEDY: Drowned passenger prompts ferry strike action

Travellers to Greece’s popular island destinations will face disruptions on Wednesday because of a 24-hour strike by ferry crews who cite safety and labour concerns after a tardy passenger was pushed into the sea by a ferry crew member and drowned – a scandal that led to the resignation of Greece’s shipping minister on Monday.

THE STAGE IS SET FOR A SHOWDOWN: Airline competition in Canada ramps up

Passengers aren’t the only ones feeling cramped these days. Though Canadian flights have long been dominated by Air Canada and WestJet, the emergence of newer carriers including Flair Airlines and Lynx Air has shaken up the sector, injecting fresh competition to a once-complacent market.

MOROCCO MOURNS: Over 300,000 affected by earthquake and aftershock

An aftershock rattled Moroccans on Sunday as they mourned victims of the nation’s strongest earthquake in more than a century and sought to rescue survivors while soldiers and aid workers raced to reach ruined mountain villages. The disaster killed more than 2,100 people – a number that is expected to rise.

ENSEMBLE ANNOUNCES 2024 FAM SCHEDULE

Following the success of its inaugural ‘Further Your World; Exclusive Educational Trip’ last month, Ensemble, has announced an initial schedule of FAM trips for 2024, with destinations ranging from the Maldives and South America to the Middle East.

FLYING HIGH: Nunavut tourism bounces back, sees growth ahead

Nunavut’s tourism industry is quickly recovering from the pandemic, according to the territorial government’s Director of Tourism and Culture Industries, David Boyle who contends that the industry is recovering faster locally than it is nationally, with cruise ship visits to the territory actually surpassing pre-pandemic levels last year.

CARNIVAL ON A ROLL: Popular coaster on track for Jubilee

Carnival Cruise Line is preparing to welcome its third BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster as it takes shape atop its next new ship Carnival Jubilee. The roller coaster’s 245-metre track is being installed on Deck 19 at Meyer Werft in Germany where the ship is under construction, a process expected to be complete this month with test runs are scheduled for October.

IHG LAUNCHES NEW MIDSCALE BRAND

IHG Hotels & Resorts has launched its new midscale conversion brand, Garner. The brand is aimed at guests wanting great value stays at high-quality properties, and for owners seeking higher returns in the midscale segment.

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