News

WORDS MATTER: US squelches ‘squaw’ place names

The US Department of the Interior has given new names to five places that previously included a racist term for a Native American woman. The renamed sites are in California, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas, completing a year-long process to remove the historically offensive word “squaw” from geographic names across the country.

SILVER NOVA: Outdoor spaces highlight new Silversea ship

Silversea Cruises 11th, and newest ship, Silver Nova, is scheduled for delivery this summer. Built with a revolutionary asymmetrical design – a first for the cruise line – the new ship will offer guests all-new outdoor spaces for an unprecedented openness, with a reimagined, outward-facing pool deck, an al fresco dining area, and a sky bar that offers panoramic views from the ship’s aft.

GENERATION GAP: The influence of social media on your clients

Social media influencers are inspiring one in five young travellers to head off on holiday – but their impact drops dramatically over the generations, new research shows. At the same time, that same demographic is the most likely to book with a travel agent.

B.C. DECRIMINALIZING POSSESSION OF DRUGS FOR PERSONAL USE

British Columbia is introducing a policy of decriminalization on Tuesday as part of what it says is an overall plan to prevent overdose deaths from illicit drugs. The pilot project will continue until Jan. 31, 2026, after a federal exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

HAPPY TO SEE YOU:  The most welcoming places in Canada and around the world

As travel continues to make its return in most parts of the world, the 11th annual Booking.com Traveller Review Awards recognize travel providers from across 220 countries and territories for their commitment to providing consistently excellent service and hospitality over the course of the year.

FEDS INVEST IN HAMILTON AIRPORT UPGRADE

The federal government has announced an investment of up to nearly $23.5 million for an expansion and sustainability project at John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport.

FOUR SCORE AND 60 YEARS AGO

For more than 60 years, Four Seasons has helped define the art of luxury hospitality and the Toronto-based company says it has no plans to stop, with a continuing “robust (and) evolved growth strategy” that has seen the brand add private residences, a jet, and soon yachts to its global portfolio of 126 luxury hotels – all of which began with the opening of the singular Four Seasons Motor Hotel in Toronto in 1961.

LYNX LAUNCHES TORONTO TO ORLANDO SERVICE

Lynx Air launched its inaugural flight to the United States on Friday, departing from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and arriving at the new Terminal C at Orlando International Airport (MCO). Canada’s new “ultra-affordable” airline will operate four direct flights per week between Toronto and Orlando, flying brand-new Boeing 737 aircraft.

FLYBE GONE: UK airline sinks into bankruptcy

Struggling UK regional airline Flybe collapsed for the second time in three years Saturday, putting jobs on the line and leaving passengers stranded. The airline initially slumped into bankruptcy in March 2020, shedding 2,400 jobs, as coronavirus restrictions decimated the travel industry. It relaunched in April last year, flying many of the same routes out of Belfast, Birmingham and London Heathrow.

RAIN DAMPENS BOYCOTT: Cancun’s boycott of taxis rained out

Residents of the Mexican resort of Cancun hoped people would boycott medallion taxis Friday, after a week of blockades and violent incidents by drivers protesting the ride-hailing app Uber. Road blockades, stone throwing and cabbies physically preventing tourists from boarding Uber vehicles drew a U.S. travel advisory Monday, noting “past disputes between these services and local taxi unions have occasionally turned violent, resulting in injuries to U.S. citizens in some instances.”

FAA EXPANDS AIR SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

US Federal officials say they will require charter airlines, air-tour operators, and plane manufacturers to develop detailed systems for identifying potential safety problems before accidents occur.

VISITBRITAIN APPOINTS LANDRY AND GAUGER TO NEW ROLES

Britain’s national tourism agency, VisitBritain has announced two appointments to ensure it is best placed to drive tourism to Britain, deliver its strategy, build for the future and that Britain remains the top destination of choice for travellers.

ROUND-UP: Jan. 26-29, 2023

Protests and pilots were in the news last week, while CATO called for consumer contributions to the Ontario Compensation Fund. Jamaica was jammin’ over its new numbers, and Porter introduced a new loyalty program…

YOUR GUIDE TO THE DISNEY100 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AT DISNEYLAND RESORT

The Walt Disney Company marks its 100th anniversary this year and the Disneyland Resort will commemorate the milestone with new experiences, entertainment and more throughout 2023. Disney100 will celebrate our incredible storytellers and creators, along with the fans and families who’ve brought us into their hearts, as they together spark the magic and wonder of Disney. This celebration honours the journey we’ve been on and the memories we’ve created together, and it will bring new experiences with our beloved characters along with heartwarming new stories.

TRON LIGHTCYCLE / RUN OPENS APRIL 4 AT THE WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT IN FLORIDA

TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise officially opens April 4 at Magic Kingdom Park!

The story of TRON Lightcycle / Run picks up after “TRON: Legacy” where Kevin’s son, Sam Flynn, has opened a second gateway into a digital world called the Grid. The first portal was built at Shanghai Disneyland with the original TRON Lightcycle Power Run.

SHIMMER AND SHINE ON DISNEY CRUISE LINE

For 25 years, Disney Cruise Line has set a course for magical vacations at sea. On the way to dazzling destinations in the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe, you can play the day away with some favourite Disney Characters, enjoy Broadway-style shows, relax in adult-exclusive spaces and venture into incredible kids’ clubs. Plus, with special limited-time entertainment, themed offerings and more, this summer’s 25th anniversary celebration is sure to be shining, shimmering and splendid!

SHOULD PAX PROTECTION BE EXENDED TO TRAIN TRAVEL: Via Rail says winter storm delays were a unique situation.

The CEO of Via Rail says the Crown corporation “will not shy away from our responsibilities” after passengers found themselves stranded on trains for hours over the holidays. Martin Landry, the railway’s interim president, told a parliamentary committee that Via fell short on communicating with passengers who experienced widespread delays between Dec. 23 and 26 after a winter storm swept across Ontario and Quebec.

ARE RESORT FEES WORTH IT? A case for and against

The Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, a Hyatt resort on 15 beachfront acres in Hawaii offers multiple pools, including a lagoon and three infinity pools. As part of the resort fee, guests can also take a stand-up paddleboarding course, use the resort’s snorkel equipment and GoPro action camera and maybe even learn ukulele, hula or mixology.

GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNING AT CORVETTE MUSEUM

There’s a museum for almost everything it seems, so it’s of little surprise that automobile aficionados can get their hearts racing at a Kentucky venue dedicated to North America’s first sports car, the Corvette.

CURACAO DOUBLES DOWN ON DIVERSITY

Despite the island’s growing popularity amongst tourists and continued strong investment interest in hotels and attractions, the Dutch Antillean nation of Curaçao is not resting on the laurels of its post-pandemic success.

OSLO MUSEUM DISPLAYS RARE FIND

Archaeologists in Norway have found a runestone that they claim is the world’s oldest, saying the inscriptions are up to 2,000 years old and date back to the earliest days of the enigmatic history of runic writing.

PUBS, PATIOS & BARS: The Beatles Bar Varadero, yeah, yeah, yeah

In the land of Fidel and Che, a venue based on the memory of John, Paul, George, and Ringo certainly comes as a surprise. Nevertheless, The Beatles Bar Varadero is one of the Cuban beach resort’s most popular hangouts, drawing crowds nightly for live music and mojitos under the stars – or more accurately, under leafy trees on a patio.

ABU DHABI: Born Yesterday and Dressing to Impress

At every port on a cruise in the United Arab Emirates, it’s obvious that each of the Arab sheikdoms are playing top this with their newly built soaring skylines, their supersized yachts and their over-the-top palaces.

LISTENING IN: A Fredhead forever

Fred J. Eaglesmith is a national treasure, but disappointingly one whose unique singing and songwriting talents may be better known amongst his peers than many Canadians, save a legion of “Fredheads” like myself who have found him somewhere along a dusty, county road during his rather under-the-radar 40-year career.

THE RISE OF THE ‘NOTHING-CATION’: Beating post-holidays burnout

Not unlike the Seinfeld episode where George and Jerry pitch a TV show about “nothing” – new research from Expedia reveals the typically over-scheduled end-of-year holiday season has prompted many Canadians to plan a “nothing-cation,” where only warm weather and relaxation are the main attractions.

SUNWING STATEMENT ON HOLIDAY DISRUPTIONS:

Sunwing issued an official statement yesterday which was sent to the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA) after a meeting with the Travel Agency Leaders Advisory Group. The statement addressed the recent travel disruptions and impact on travel advisors, and outlined the company’s plan moving forward for the winter season.

SUN, SAND AND SECLUSION AT SANDALS EMERALD BAY

Just how easy is it for Canadian travellers to get to Sandals Emerald Bay in the Bahamas? Well, according to Jeremy Mutton, the resort’s General Manager, his guests can “have breakfast in Toronto and lunch in Great Exuma”. With Air Canada Vacations’ exclusive seasonal weekly direct service between Toronto and Great Exuma (with 51 connections across Canada) now through April 30, 2023, there’s no time like the present to recommend this stunning destination to your clients.

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