20 AUG 2018: In case you missed it, and even if you didn’t, here’s a quick look at some of last week’s need-to-know travel news:
AIR
Saskatonians are a step closer to Orlandos’ sun and theme parks courtesy of WestJet, which will begin weekly non-stop service to the Florida city from Saskatoon on Dec. 7. At the same time, Calgary and Montego Bay, Jamaica, will be linked by the carrier twice weekly starting Nov. 3.
On Aug. 16 Swoop entered its fourth aircraft into service with the launch of a seasonal summer route between Abbotsford and Winnipeg.
TOURS
Growing demand has prompted G Adventures to add a fifth vessel, the Eden Yacht, to its fleet serving the Galapagos. Six different itineraries will enable guests to visit all corners of the 20-plus Ecuadorian islands starting in January after the yacht is fully renovated. G has more than 30 itinerary options in total in the islands.
DEALS & DISCOUNTS
Transat is inviting clients to save up to 60% when booking select September and October all-inclusive sun packages by Oct. 31. Visit www.transat.com for details.
Two dozen Broadway shows, from Aladdin to Wicked, are now on sale at discounted prices for New York’s annual NYC Broadway Week, which runs Sept. 3-16. The two-for-one rates are available at nycgo.com/broadwayweek. Theatre-goers can also enter for a chance to win a pair of free tickets at nycbroadwayweeksweeps.com.
HOTELS
VÄ«b is for “vibrant” – the philosophy behind Best Western’s new boutique brand, which launched last week in Springfield, MO. Aimed at young professionals through a combination of contemporary design and affordable style, with social engagement at the centre of the experience, the hotel brand features “zones for work and play” stocked with amenities including USB and power ports, free wireless Internet, eight gaming stations, fitness centre, 24/7 electronic tech shop, fireplace lounge and a social Mezzanine. The hotel lobby is also home to an upscale bar. More VÄ«bs are on the way in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Los Angeles, San Diego, NY-Staten Island, Pittsburgh and New Orleans.
A new Holiday Inn is open at Boston’s Logan Airport. Featuring an “upscale, stylish design” that, in its own words, is said to be a first for the hotel chain, the property is located two minutes by shuttle from the airport and 10 km. from the city.
Fairmont Gold rooms at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess are sporting an elegant new shine following a recent refurbishment. The hotel’s Fairmont Gold offering is an exclusive enclave of 69 Junior Suites, plus lounge and meeting centre, set within the 750-rooom resort. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is the first hotel to have a hands-free, voice-activated calling feature via Amazon Alexa and accommodations include access to the hotel’s Well & Being Spa, use of computers and iPads and twice daily housekeeping service. The adjacent meeting centre has also been remodeled.
RESORTS
For the first-time ever, RIU Resorts has produced a sustainability report. The inaugural document, which covers practices and endeavours in 2017, can be viewed here.
CRUISE
Carnival Corp. sister cruise lines Carnival, Princess and Holland America honoured their top trade partners at a gala in San Diego last week. Canadian brand winners at the World’s Leading Cruise Lines Excellence Awards included, respectively: Flight Centre Travel Group Canada, Cruise Vacations Inc., and TravelBrands.
Emerald Waterways is celebrating five years since it launched its first collection of European river cruises aboard the original Star-Ships, Emerald Sun and Emerald Sky. With eight ships now in the fold and itineraries expanded to include Asia, Egypt, Portugal and along the coast of Croatia, the Australian-based company will grow again in 2019 with the addition of the Emerald Harmony, which will sail the Mekong River through Vietnam and Cambodia. Additional new itineraries launching in 2019 include intimate yacht sailings along the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia and cruise and land tours of the Nile river in Egypt and Jordan.
THEME PARKS
LEGO fans may wish to, ahem, block off the spring of 2020 for the opening of the LEGOLAND New York Resort. Located 100 km. northwest of New York city in Goshen, N.Y., the 60-hectare site is the first major theme park to be built in the U.S. northeast in decades and will feature eight themed lands with more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, all aimed at two- to 12-year-olds and their families. Run by Merlin Entertainment, it will open seasonally from spring to fall.
It’s been planned, anticipated and talked about for what seems like forever. Now, visitors to Orlando can see what all the fuss is about with the official opening of Universal’s Aventura Hotel. Located on the Universal theme parks footprint between the Cabana Bay resort and Volcano Bay waterpark (with direct access to the latter), Universal’s sixth onsite hotel – designated as “prime value” – features a rooftop bar and grill, modern food hall, resort-style pool, and exclusive theme park benefits (such as early entry) for guests. Prices start at US$116 based on a four-night stay and a limited time offers gives guests a $50 food credit. (www.UniversalTravelAgents.com)
Canada’s first dive coaster, and the ‘longest, fastest and tallest” of its kind in the world, is coming to Canada’s Wonderland in 2019. The Yukon Strike, will headline a new themed area, called Frontier Canada, at the Toronto-area theme park. See LONGEST. TALLEST. FASTEST.
EVENTS
More than 25 Africa and Middle East partners will join Goway at the tour operator’s annual Africa evening event in Toronto on Sept. 18 at the Toronto Marriott Bloor Yorkville Hotel. The event starts at 5, prizes at 9, and space is limited. Register at GowayAgent.com.
FAMS & INCENTIVES
Triple STAR points will be issued to agents making new Sunwing Experiences bookings in the Caribbean, Florida, Mexico and Central America through Aug. 31. The excursions must be taken by Oct. 31. Clients can also save up to 20% on select excursions added to their travel packages – including non-Sunwing packages made through SIREV, Galileo Vacations and Sabre Vacations – between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30.
Travel agents can now earn 15% commission for Concierge room categories and 10 to 13% commission on other room categories at Saint Lucia’s Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa. Bookings must be made directly with the resort at 1-877-252-0304 for travel by Dec. 20. Additionally, agents who sign up for the resort’s CBAYREWARD$ incentive program also earn $50 for every five-night or more booking in Premium Oceanview or higher room category, or one free night for every seven-night booking in an Oceanview or higher room category (cbayresortrewards.com). Clients can also save up to 70% with the resort’s “Harvest of Fall Specials.”
LGBT
A destination wedding fam to Puerto Vallarta may not be new. That it is specifically tailored to the LGBT market is believed to be an industry first. The Transat Distribution Company (TDC) experience for select agents in late Novermber/early December will feature specially tailored training and a mock same-sex ceremony. See the full story at GETTING INCLUSIVE.
BY THE NUMBERS
With summer holidays winding up and the start of another school year at hand, Friday, Aug. 24 is expected to be the busiest day of the year at Toronto’s Pearson International with an estimated 166,900 passengers expected to pass through Canada’s biggest airport.
There’s nothing fishy about it: Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto welcomed its 10 millionth visitor on Aug. 16. The lucky guest was given a VIP Sleepover Experience, including a private sleepover in the Danger Lagoon, dinner atop the neighbouring CN Tower, behind the scenes tour and more. The attraction splashed onto the scene in 2013.
What, no popcorn stats? Brand USA reports that its IMAX giant-screen film “National Parks Adventure” has generated 47,000 trips to the U.S., along with US$173 million in visitor spending in 2017 alone. By 2019, the numbers, complied by Phocuswright and Oxford Economics, are expected to jump to 172,000 incremental visits and $700 million in spend.
PEOPLE
Bye, bye, Ben! Air Canada’s No. 2 exec Benjamin Smith is off to the take the No. 1 job at Air France-KLM.
The Sunwing Foundation has partnered with not-for-profit organization, Sisters Keeper Elite Basketball, to help 100 kids in Jamaica develop their love of basketball and get ready for the school year. On Aug. 18 the team and the Foundation hosted a basketball camp at Montego Bay Community College for local children and aspiring athletes. Attending kids were given a backpack filled with books, school supplies and athletic gear, packed earlier in the week at Sunwing’s head office by the team, family and friends. (www.sunwingfoundation.com)
Welcome Mary Takla to Goway’s groups division. The industry veteran has worked for international airlines in Canada and Egypt and has destination and group planning experience. Meanwhile, Goway has also announced its Europe, Africa and Air division prize winners for July. The $500 grand prize winner was Kathy Skelton – Myrna’s Travel Service, while $100 winners included: Temitope Otubusen, Nexion Canada; Jami Witso, Japatedon Travel & Cruise; Arline Whyel, Travel Masters; and Sandy Kulenkamp, Conlin Travel.
Alberta bound: Kaylyn Skulski has joined Trafalgar as the tour company’s new Alberta sales manager. The sales and marketing veteran will be responsible for strengthening relationships and developing and implementing sales and marketing plans in the province. She can be reached at Kaylyn.Skulski@TrafalgarTours.com. For more, see TRAFALGAR HIRES NEW SALES MANAGER.
Goway counted a couple of notable ringers among the team it fielded last week as it took on the vaunted Travel Industry Today squad in a highly professional softball league game in Toronto. Despite never having picked up a glove before, Australian Pacific Touring sales and marketing manager (and Goway sponsor) Jason Stratford from Vancouver ably patrolled left field while colleague Angela Waite from APT’s U.K. office enthusiastically cheered the Georgia Sibley– and Aubrey Schmidt-led team on. But to no avail, for despite an impressive comeback from a 16-3 deficit, Travel Industry Today prevailed 20-19 on a walk-off hit in the bottom of the 9th. The result was revenge for TIT’s title game defeat by Goway in last year’s playoffs.
DESTINATIONS
Myrtle Beach’s annual ‘60 More Days of Summer’ Fall promotion got underway Aug. 13 and will continue to offer special activities and select savings for Canadian visitors through Oct. 31. The campaign focusses on millennial families this year, but with the South Carolina’s vibrant beach, golf and food scenes, there’s something for everyone. Check out the details.
With wildfires diminished and air quality improved, California’s Yosemite Valley and the iconic Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequouas have now re-opened to the public.
It will be “Sweet Emotion” for Aerosmith fans next year as the rockers take up a three-month residency on the Las Vegas strip. The band will play 18 dates starting April 6 through to July 9 (no May performances) at the Park Theatre at the new Park MGM hotel. Tickets start at US$75 and go on sale Aug. 24 at 10 a.m. PT via Ticketmaster.
Send your news to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com