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ROUND-UP: Jan. 9-13, 2023

Last week offered good news on the value of holding a Canadian passport; a timely reminder from TICO; a new campaign from Transat; plus, news from Canada Jetlines, Air Canada Vacations, Sunwing, Quark Expeditions, and Cosmos. And celebrations of an artistic genius began in Spain…

Celebrating Louisiana’s World-Renowned Cuisine

Louisiana’s cuisine is unlike anywhere else, and locals have conjured up a plethora of ways to honor these traditional dishes and the influences that brought them to life.

Exploring Louisiana’s Highlights & Hidden Gems

There’s no better way to explore all Louisiana has to offer than by taking a road trip! Along the way, you’ll experience Louisiana’s most popular attractions along with quirky marvels. 

Louisiana’s Unique History & Influences

Louisiana is where Jazz and zydeco music originated, Cajun cuisine was concocted, where industries flourished and where the Civil Rights Movement made an impact. Learn about Louisiana’s unique and storied history told at countless historic sites, museums and venues around the state.

WHY BOOKING ON YOUR PHONE IS A BAD IDEA

Since the first iPhone launched 15 years ago, consumer shopping habits have slowly but relentlessly shifted toward mobile devices. According to a recent survey of 3,250 consumers from Pymnts.com, a website dedicated to analyzing the role of payments in new tech, the majority of travel service purchases (51.4%) were made on a mobile device.

WINTERLUDE READY TO WOW AGAIN IN FEBRUARY

Pack up the skates and start dreaming of beaver tails again, Ottawa’s 45th annual Winterlude festival is set to return for 2023 after a two-year hiatus from in-person activities. Featuring a full program of winter, artistic, and cultural traditions set in a diverse program of events and activities, the iconic winter festival will take place from Feb. 3 to 20 across the Capital Region.

GOING, GOING, GONE: Canadian glaciers can’t get a break

On a mountain high above the residents of Metro Vancouver, tucked inside a north-facing gully, the region’s last remaining glacier is vanishing fast. The Coquitlam Glacier has survived 4,000 to 5,000 years thanks to its sheltered location on the east side of the Coquitlam watershed.

BEAUTIFUL. AFFORDABLE. DELICIOUS: Malta has lots to offer

I knew nothing about Malta when I decided to go last May. Friends were renting an 11-bedroom/11 bath Airbnb with a pool just outside the capital, Valletta. They were going for SIETAR, a conference on intercultural education. I went because, well, I had never been to Malta – and, at US $350 for 7 nights, housing was very “cost-effective.”

PUBS, PATIOS & BARS: Sky’s the limit at Thai rooftop bar

The first five-star hotel to open in Chiang Mai, Thailand, since the global pandemic’s onset has launched a 360-degree rooftop bar affording awe-inspiring views of the Ping River to the city’s east and famed Doi Suthep Temple on the mountaintop to the west.

IS AN EXPEDITION ON SEABOURN VENTURE RIGHT FOR YOU?

The sex lives of seahorses are even racier than you could imagine. And believe it or not, the global intrigues that led to what became known as the Guano Wars are more fascinating than any spy novel.

LISTENING IN: Amy Winehouse, Back to Black

It’s hard to believe that its been over a decade (almost a dozen years to be precise) since the death of Amy Winehouse, the troubled troubadour who struggled with substance abuse and addiction and who, at the tender age of 27, died of alcohol poisoning.

NO EVIDENCE OF A CYBERATTACK: FAA investigation underway

Thousands of flights across the US were cancelled or delayed Wednesday after a government system that offers safety and other information to pilots broke down, stranding some planes on the ground for hours.

CANADIAN PASSPORT AMONG WORLD’S BEST

Canadians can claim the world’s 8th-most valuable passport for the third year running, according to the respected Henley Passport Index, which ranks the world’s 199 passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. Japan took top spot for the fifth consecutive year.

THE TROUBLE WITH TWITTER: Will Musk chaos compromise your marketing?

Travel marketing experts have long advocated the use of Twitter as an important tool to drive business and communicate with clients, whether it’s companies or individual travel agents. But you may have noticed that the social media platform has been engulfed in chaos since Elon Musk took the helm.

WHAT’S NEW IN CALIFORNIA IN 2023

California is inviting visitors to discover a wealth of new offerings coming to the Golden State in 2023, ranging from theme park experiences and cultural attractions to museums and luxury resorts.

MOTTO MAKES ITS MARK: Hilton brand debuts in Mexico, Europe

Motto by Hilton has marked a major milestone with its international debut in the Caribbean and Europe with the openings of Motto by Hilton Tulum and Motto by Hilton Rotterdam Blaak. The US urban, lifestyle hotel brand is designed to offer guests the flexibility to create their own experiences and live like a local in some of the world’s most sought-after destinations.

ATLANTIC CITY BETTING ON 2023 REVIVAL

Several big new projects, including a long-awaited year-round water park and major dining, lodging and entertainment projects at several casinos, are on the boards, but how well Atlantic City’s nine casinos do in clawing their way back to where they were when the COVID pandemic hit will go a long way toward determining what kind of year 2023 will be for the New Jersey resort town.

NORMAL AIR TRAFFIC OPERATIONS RESUMING GRADUALLY

The latest statement from the FAA at 08:50 EST said, “Normal air traffic operations are resuming gradually across the United States following an overnight outage to the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system that provides safety information to flight crews. The ground stop has been lifted. The agency continues to look into the cause of the initial problem.”

CHINA OUTBREAK NO THREAT – YET

The director of the World Health Organization’s Europe office said Tuesday that the agency sees “no immediate threat” from a COVID-19 outbreak in China, but more information is needed. China is battling a nationwide outbreak of the coronavirus after abruptly easing restrictions.

VIRTUOSO’S 2023 CRYSTAL BALL FOR LUXURY TRAVEL

From sustainability to an increased role for travel advisors, Virtuoso has identified several trends, and hot destinations, for 2023 and beyond when it comes to luxury travel.

HAWAII MONITORING NEW KILAUEA ERUPTION

Authorities in Hawaii are keeping an eye on Kilauea volcano, which has begun erupting again less than one month after the volcano and its larger neighbour Mauna Loa stopped releasing lava. Eruptions have remained inside its summit crater, says the US Geological survey, and the area was placed under a “watch” on Friday.

NEW KEMPINSKI OFFERS HAVANA IN STYLE

The doors are once again open at the Gran Hotel Bristol in Havana after a longer hibernation period than expected caused by the pandemic. Having re-opened in February 2020, the all-new Kempinski property lasted only four weeks before having to shut down again due to the health-related shutdown of Havana.

MAZATLAN CALM AFTER CARTEL VIOLENCE, SAYS MAYOR

Mazatlan, Mexico’s mayor says his city is safe again for Canadians and other travellers after violence late last week in Sinaloa state between military/police and drug cartel members resisting the arrest of alleged drug trafficker Ovidio (“The Mouse”) Guzman. At the same time, Sunwing stated its policy for affected passengers, including refund or change options, the latter due today (Jan. 10).

‘RELENTLESS PARADE’ OF PACIFIC STORMS WALLOPS CALIFORNIA

Rain-weary Californians grappled with flooding and mudslides Monday as the latest in a series of powerful storms walloped the state, prompting widespread evacuations, toppling trees, and frustrating motorists who hit roadblocks caused by fallen debris.

WHAT’S NEW FOR AMERICAN QUEEN VOYAGES IN 2023

American Queen Voyages has introduced a savings offer ahead of its 2023 season, which is highlighted by new city-stay packages, and a new ‘Lakelorian’ program on its Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator Great Lakes itineraries.

GERMANY EMBRACES NATURE WITH 2023 MARKETING

A concerted effort to promote climate-friendly travel and a responsible use of all resources are essential if Destination Germany is to build on its already strong position within the international market, believes the country’s tourist board. And to that end, the German National Tourist Board says it will run three theme-based campaigns in 2023 that will continue to keep the focus of its global marketing firmly on sustainable tourism.

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