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EMIRATES BOOSTS CANADA SERVICE

Emirates is stepping up its frequency between Canada and the United Arab Emirates with two additional flights per week between Dubai and Toronto. The move to daily service, starting April 20, follows the announcement last week of an expanded air transport agreement between the two countries.

NEW RETAIL OPPORTUNITIES: Air Canada, Amadeus expand partnership

Citing New Distribution Capability (NDC) technology’s ability to create new retailing opportunities for airlines around the world, Air Canada and Amadeus say that an expansion of their long-standing partnership will allow travel sellers to benefit from a long-term roadmap that offers additional features and new content.

A NEW APPROACH: Business looks at new world of work and expenses

Nearly nine in 10 finance managers would welcome an AI-powered future for expense management solutions according to a new survey which further revealed a host of priorities for expense management. More than 90% say it has affected the process in some way.

TROUBLES ANNIVERSARY CASTS LIGHT ON NORTHERN IRELAND

This week marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement (April 10, 1998), which ended the ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland. With this in mind, Tourism Ireland has produced a top 10 list designed to help visitors delve into the region’s fascinating if tumultuous history while at the same time discovering its regenerated present.

BUCKET LIST TRAVEL IS BACK, SAYS COLLETTE

Collette reports that that large bounce back in travel it experienced throughout 2022 as the industry emerged from COVID-19 pandemic has continued into this year, at that same time resulting in new trending destinations as more countries return to travel norms and travellers continue to polish up their bucket lists

‘AGENT ADVOCATE’ JOHN CHERNESKY JOINS NCL

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that cruise industry veteran John Chernesky will succeed Todd Hamilton as the Brand’s Sr. VP of Sales for North America, as Hamilton steps into a new strategic role as Sr. VP of New Ventures at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

FLORIDA WARNED OVER WILDFIRE THREAT

The threat of wildfires is growing in Florida over the coming weeks as more than half the state is experiencing severe to extreme drought conditions likely to persist until rainy season resumes around mid-May, state and federal officials are warning.

CANADIANS CUTTING BACK, BUT NOT ON TRAVEL

Canadians are cutting back on restaurants and goods, but continuing to spend on holidays and other non-essential services, according to the findings in a new report from Royal Bank of Canada.

TOURISTS KILLED, INJURED IN EASTER ISRAEL VIOLENCE

An Italian tourist was killed and five other Italian and British citizens were wounded when a car rammed into a group of tourists in Tel Aviv, Israel’s commercial hub on Friday, according to Israeli authorities. The attack came amid a surge of violence over Easter week that included Israel exchanging retaliatory rocket fire with both Syria and Lebanon and in the Gaza Strip.

‘A SLAP IN THE FACE’: Court nixes plan to shrink Schiphol flights

Environmental organizations are calling the decision by a judge against a Dutch government plan to require Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport to reduce the number of flights from 500,000 per year to 460,000 “a slap in the face” and a blow against cutting emissions and noise pollution.

RUZZOLA: Italy’s National Cheese Rolling Competition

He’s seriously psyched up as he wraps a long stretch of fibrous cord around a 30cm ball of hard cheese. The smoke from the cigar, wedged into the corner of his mouth, necessitated that he close one eye. His other eye accessed the camber of the road ahead. He took a couple of long strides to build up momentum, leaned his ample frame forward, and with a curved slingshot motion (delivered in an elegant pirouette), launched his wheel of cheese.

SNAKES ALIVE: Pilot finds cobra on plane

A pilot in South Africa made a hasty emergency landing after discovering a highly venomous cobra hiding under his seat. Rudolf Erasmus had four passengers on board the light aircraft during a flight last week when he felt “something cold” slide across his lower back. He glanced down to see the head of a fairly large Cape Cobra.

CRUISING IS SURGING BACK AS HONG KONG REOPENS:

You can’t keep a good dragon down. Hong Kong is aiming to reach new heights now that it has fully reopened, and officials at a cruise conference promised cruise passengers will find more than ever before when they visit.

ROUND-UP: April 3-10, 2023

A new agreement between Canada and the UAE last week promised more flights between the destinations; Canada Jetlines refocussed attention on sun routes; El Al delivered “not the best news” to Canadian agents, and a TD survey revealed Canadian habits when it comes to travel insurance.

CANADA, UAE EXPAND AIR AGREEMENT

Canada and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have announced the conclusion of an expanded air transport agreement that allows 21 flights per week for each country – 50 percent more flights than the maximum number previously possible.

TOP TIPS FOR RETURNING SNOWBIRDS

With the great Canadian snowbird migration set to return north, the Canada Border Services Agency and the Canadian Snowbird Association are encouraging Canadians who have spent the winter abroad, to plan ahead for a smooth return to Canada this spring. Together they are offering a top tips list of things to know before arriving at the border:

FEET FOR A KING: Westminster Abbey to offer barefoot tours after Coronation

People who visit London’s Westminster Abbey after the coronation of King Charles III will be allowed to stand on the exact spot where he was crowned, but they will need to make sure they don’t have holes in their socks for the shoeless tour, designed to protect the abbey’s medieval mosaic floor.

FREE LOLITA: Miami Seaquarium orca may be going home

If you’ve been to Miami Seaquarium during the past 52 years, you’ve probably met Lolita, who has been performing for guests since the ‘70s. Now the famed orca may be returned to her home waters in the Pacific Northwest, where a nearly century-old, endangered killer whale believed to be her mother still swims.

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH THEM: Star Wars actor lends voice to Ukrainian resistance

“Attention. Air raid alert,” the voice says with a Jedi knight’s gravitas. “Proceed to the nearest shelter.” It’s a surreal moment in an already surreal war: the grave but calming baritone of actor Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker of “Star Wars,” urging people to take cover whenever Russia unleashes another aerial bombardment on Ukraine.

LISTENING IN: No pressure on Lennox, Bowie on Queen hit

With the news that Queen – with lead singer Adam Lambert – is set to hit the road this fall for a North American expansion of their Rhapsody Tour, which will include a stop in Toronto, it got us to thinking about some of the band’s frontmen (and women) since the gone-too-soon passing of Freddie Mercury.

ATTRACTING TOURISM TALENT: New campaign aims to revitalize sector

Travel is rebounding from the COVID pandemic more quickly than expected, but Canadian tourism businesses are still operating with more than 100,000 fewer workers than they were in 2019, according to Tourism HR Canada, which has launched a new campaign, Discover Tourism, that aims to close that gap and encourage further growth and recovery across Canada’s tourism sector.

PIE IN THE SKY: St Pete-Clearwater Airport is flying high

The first time I visited Florida was a long long time ago. Disney World was only a couple of years old and I was relatively new to the industry, working for Adventure Tours. I flew into St. Pete-Clearwater Airport (PIE) to fill in for the vacationing Eileen Forrow, who then, at the very beginning of an illustrious career, was our rep at the Fort Harrison Hotel in Clearwater which was still owned by Jack Tar (it is now the Scientology Centre). I was back at PIE last week – what a difference!

CRUISE LINES ARE CONFIDENT IT’S FULL SPEED AHEAD

As might be expected, optimism reigned at a conference of the cruise community that predicted the clouds of the long pandemic lockdown have finally disappeared and the horizon is once again brilliantly sunny. At the Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Fort Lauderdale, cruise lines pointed to record booking days–in part due to redemptions of cruise credits for previously cancelled cruises–and the fact cruise tourism is rebounding faster than bookings for land-based resorts–in part because cruising is a comparative bargain.

WHAT’S BREWING IN SEATTLE

With Air Canada set to boost service to Seattle from eastern Canada on May 1, the time was right this week for tourism types to drop in on the trade in Toronto and Montreal to tout the northwestern US city.

LYNX CONTEST CELEBRATES ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Lynx marks it’s first anniversary Friday, having taken to the skies one year ago with its first flight from Calgary to Vancouver on April 7, 2022. To celebrate, the discount carrier has launched a contest for Canadians to win free flights for a year.

CLUB MED OPENS NEW CHAPTER

Calling it “a new chapter” in its storied history as a pioneer of the beach and mountain all-inclusive resort concepts, Club Med has unveiled a new refreshed and modernized brand identity.

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