In last week’s news reel, Disney offered a first glimpse of its new ship, the Treasure; a Qantas scandal led to early retirement for the airline’s boss; Air Canada revealed ambitious plans for its 2004 transatlantic program; a cruise ship returned to Maui; WestJet Encore pilots began preparing for contract negotiations; and Myrtle Beach named a new representative in Canada.
Tourist-flooded Venice has approved guidelines for testing a new fee for day-trippers on peak visitor weekends next year. The city council gave the go-ahead for the guidelines, tweaking earlier plans for a fee that were announced a year ago. Final approval of the plan will come up for consideration on Sept. 12.
President Joe Biden will nominate a former Obama administration official to lead the Federal Aviation Administration after his first choice withdrew in the face of Republican opposition nearly six months ago. The FAA, which regulates airline safety and manages the nation’s airspace, has been run by back-to-back acting administrators since March 2022.
He’s most often associated with Boston, the hometown of his legendary rock band, but Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler has a soft spot in his heart for the Hawaiian island of Maui. The singer, who has a home on the island, wants vacationers to return to Maui to help the island’s economy – devastated by wildfires last month – recover.
A British company whose mission is “to help people all over the world make better financial decisions” – and what could be more important than finding cheap beer? – has deduced that the average cost of a pint in Canada is about $3.68 (£1.98) more than the global average.
The popular hotel brand definitely has a lot happening in Fall of 2023/Winter 2024. Throughout this year, several characteristic hotels will be renovated, like Riu Caribe and Riu Palace Pacifico (Mexico), as well as Riu Palace Macao (Dominican Republic). In addition, the new Riu Palace Aquarelle (Jamaica) will be opening in 2024.
Spouting and snorting and flipping its enormous tail, it was almost as though a humpback whale was giving us an escort to his glittering ice cave as it emerged from the waves alongside our boat. Towering walls of ice surrounded us as we entered Disko Bay on a small boat tour from a town clinging to the Greenland coast that’s a whale-watching paradise and whose name Ilulisssat, literally means icebergs in Greenlandic. Titanic chunks of white ice streaked with brilliant blue float everywhere in the water, fed by mountainous glaciers which date back at least to the last ice age 10,000 years ago.
Jimmy Buffett celebrated slackers before the word existed, even though he was hardly one himself. “Wastin’ away again in Margaritaville,” went the chorus to his most famous song, which became an international singalong. But you’ve probably heard that song by now, so we’ve got something else in mind for this week’s video.
Tropical Storm Lee strengthened into a hurricane on Wednesday as it churned through the open waters of the Atlantic on a path that would take it near the northeast Caribbean.It was expected to develop into an “extremely dangerous” major hurricane by Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm was located about 1,815 km
Canada’s public health agency says it’s investigating a recent incident involving a vomit-smeared airplane seat. On Tuesday, Air Canada said it apologized to two passengers who were escorted off the plane by security after protesting that their seats were soiled – and still damp – ahead of an Aug. 26 flight from Las Vegas to Montreal.
G Adventures says it has yet to receive formal confirmation of a change to the entry requirements for Canadian travellers intending to travel to Egypt but expects that Canadians will be required to obtain a visa effective Oct. 1 as announced a week ago on Global Affairs Canada’s travel page for Egypt. UPDATED TO INCLUDE CATO RESPONSE
The Mexican government ordered Mexico City’s old international airport (MEX) to cut flights by 17% sparking warnings by airlines of possible mass flight cancellations. The new rules scheduled to take effect by Oct. 29 would require the terminal to reduce the number of flights per hour at the airport from 52 to 43.
VisitBritain’s flagship Destination Britain North America trade event kicks off today in San Francisco with more than 50 top buyers from Canada and the US on hand to meet 70 British suppliers touting the message that Britain is the “must-go-now destination.”
In this week’s round-up, Travel Leaders Network announced the dates of its annual Fall Regional conferences; The Travel Agent Next Door rewarded top performers with a high Arctic expedition with Adventure Canada; Tourism Australia scored top marks with Virtuoso; and Direct Travel made the most of Virtuoso conference.
Like an island getaway within their island getaway, Cuba has smaller islands nestled along its northern and southern shores that bring all the beauty Canadians expect from their favourite tropical destination, and set the stage for unforgettable stays.
Disney Cruise Line unveiled its sixth and newest ship – Disney Treasure – yesterday in a virtual video reveal that introduced never-before-released details about the vessel, which is set to sail in December, 2024.
A new, year-round route between Montreal and Madrid will launch next May as part of Air Canada’s expanded international summer 2024 flying schedule. The airline plans to operate 100 percent of its peak summer 2019 trans-Atlantic capacity next year, taking full advantage of the robust recovery in its largest international market.
The boss of Australian airline Qantas said Tuesday he would leave his job immediately – two months earlier than planned – following a series of embarrassing revelations about the company, including allegations it sold tickets for flights that had already been cancelled.
Quebec’s new tourist accommodation law is now in effect, with hefty fines of up to $100,000 for short-term rental platforms listing properties without a proper government certificate.
In celebration of Sunwing Vacation’s newly revamped group quoting capabilities, the tour operator is offering agents the chance to win one of two, seven-night all inclusive getaways for two to Riu Latino with every booking made by Oct. 31 using the new Group Booking Request form.
Newmarket, Ont.-based Canlink Travel Representatives has been named Canadian representative for SunSwept Resorts in St. Lucia, which includes StolenTime and BodyHoliday, the Caribbean’s first wellness resort. Each of the properties offer an all-inclusive experience set on a beautiful beach in St. Lucia.
A woman accused of intentionally abandoning her dog at a Pennsylvania airport before she boarded a flight to a resort in Mexico last month has been charged with animal cruelty and related charges, authorities announced.
RIU Hotels and Resorts have been a favourite with Canadians since the 1990s when The Riu Taino opened in Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic. RIU had, of course, long been popular holiday hotel choices for European and international travellers since the 50’s when the Riu family acquired their first hotel in Playa de Palma (Mallorca, Spain).
The US federal government is fining American Airlines $4.1 million for dozens of instances in which passengers were kept on board planes without a chance to exit during long ground delays. The Department of Transportation said it is the largest such fine against an airline since rules covering long ground delays took effect about a decade ago.
The changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace may draw tourists from far and wide, but on Sunday visitors to the landmark were treated to a different sort of spectacle: a parade of corgis dressed up in crowns, tiaras, and royal outfits.
The tiny Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda is flying high. Literally. On Aug. 10, two citizens of the island ventured into space on the Virgin Galactic 02 Spacecraft, making Keisha Schahaff and her daughter Anastatia Mayers worldwide celebrities, but also blasting their country into the international spotlight.
There’s still time to support Intrepid’s annual charity marathon on Sept. 10, with the tour company giving away five trips on its 10-day Vietnam Express Southbound itinerary to top fundraisers.
Norwegian Cruse Lines returned to Maui on the weekend. Earlier in August, the cruise line paused its calls to the island, to avoid stressing local resources due to the devastating wildfires in Lahaina on the island’s west side.
Among last week’s news highlights, ACTA launched a loan relief campaign, tropical storm Idalia ravaged Florida and Georgia, China finally dropped COVID testing for arrivals, Air Canada slashed routes from Calgary, and Transat completed a deal to sell land it owned in Mexico.
The United States remains the preferred choice for shopping while on holiday, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. The news comes ahead of the WTTC’s ‘Retail Report,’ to be released early next month.