TRADING VOLUME FOR VALUE: Longer, higher spend trips are driving strong summer -Canadian travellers are prioritizing longer, higher-value trips that are driving strong growth for the summer, according to new data from Virtuoso. Notably, while demand for travel to the U.S. has softened, the travellers who are going are spending significantly more, and Canadian summer travel overall is pacing well ahead of last year.
UNMISSABLE FLORIDA (FROM SOMEONE WHO SHOULD KNOW): State tourism boss offers inside tips -By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ There’s no shortage of tips (online and elsewhere) on what to do when visiting Florida – even when it comes to activities beyond the famed beaches, energizing theme parks, colourful cities, and far-out attractions (like the Kennedy Space Center).
WESTJET POSTS TOP ON-TIME PERFORMANCE -Hailing the ranking as a “major milestone in operational excellence,” WestJet reports it has earned a place among the world's most on-time airlines in the latest Cirium On-Time Performance Report.
UNRUSHED IRELAND: Visitors invited to slow down and smell the shamrocks -In a world where travel often feels rushed and driven by checklists, Ireland has embraced the notion of “slow travel,” in which visitors are drawn deeper and beyond the expected toward richer encounters with its landscapes, culture and communities.
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WESTJET HITS NEW HEIGHTS WITH JAYS: Unveils branded plane to mark partnership renewal -By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ With nearly 1,000 WestJetters, Toronto Blue Jays representatives – including legendary players Pat Borders and Edwin Encarnacion – and community members in attendance, WestJet celebrated the renewal of its long-standing partnership with the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday by unveiling a new co-branded plane that will take the iconic Jays logo to 35,000 feet, and wherever the plane flies.
CUBA ‘EMPOWERS’ TRAVEL SECTOR: Details emerge from unprecedented economic package -As part of an unprecedented emergency economic package designed to open up Cuba’s struggling economy, the Cuban government has announced the rollout of a historic package of 176 free-market reforms designed to completely revitalize the island's travel sector.
FIRST DOMINO TO FALL? Porter reduces fuel surcharge -With fuel prices dropping in the wake of an apparent agreement between the U.S. and Iran to end the war in the Middle East, Porter Airlines says it is reducing its temporary surcharge for new reward flight bookings to $20.
FRENCH FRY AND EUROPE WITHERS UNDER RECORD HEAT -France recorded its hottest day ever Tuesday as an early heat wave gripped Europe, prompting the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre museum to restrict visiting hours and disrupting school and transportation schedules in multiple countries.
RETAIL ROUND-UP: Agent news, fams & incentives -This week: ACTA is concerned over cuts, Ensemble ups tech ante, Utah Office of Tourism hosts Canadian travel advisors, Flight Centre Canada gets a gift partner, and Collette collects food donations.
EXPEDIA TAAP MOVES BEYOND BOOKINGS: Introduces new back-office API and tools -Expedia Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP) is redefining its role beyond a booking platform, introducing new capabilities that help travel advisors and agencies streamline back-office operations, reduce manual work and scale their businesses more effectively.
