Canadians in the Caribbean scrambled to get out of harm’s way as Hurricane Beryl tore through the region Wednesday, bearing down on Jamaica, which declared a state of emergency and closed its airports. The Category 4 storm has killed at least six people and caused significant damage in the southeast Caribbean, including Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Barbados.
Travelling to or through the US this weekend? Best to pack some patience as federal officials expect air-travel records to fall as Americans turn the timing of July Fourth on a Thursday into a four-day – or longer – holiday weekend.
The European Commission on Wednesday approved Lufthansa’s takeover of Italian airline ITA with conditions to protect competition in a deal that Italy’s finance minister called “historic.” Lufthansa will invest 325 million euros (US$350 million) to acquire a 41 percent stake in ITA, formerly Alitalia, from the Italian government, gaining full control by 2033 with a total investment of 829 million euros.
A busy week in the neighbourhood: In this week’s Round-Up, TDC treated top owners to a Me cruise; TTAND earned plaudits from Playa Hotels; Direct Travel agents received prestigious nominations; a milestone anniversary for redtag.ca; F1S expanded into the UK; and appointments at the Travel Leaders and Travel Edge networks, as well as TRAVELSAVERS Canada.
Coinciding with Canada Day, Windstar Cruises has unveiled a new Canada-centred booking process designed order to provide better service and value for Canadian guests and the travel advisors who serve them. Canadians can also sail on select cruises for up to 30% off in Iceland, the Mediterranean, and French Polynesia.
Bhutan is booming – at least by its own standards – having doubled in the first quarter the year, compared to a year before. Moreover, March was the third busiest month for tourism to the Himalayan nation since the country’s post-pandemic re-opening, though the highwater mark still only saw just over 16,600 arrivals in May, 2023.
SeaWorld Orlando is celebrating its 60th Anniversary this summer with a host of new attractions and shows, plus a free beer (through July 26) at the Waterway Patio Grill, Marc Swanson, CEO of United Parks & Resorts noting that the latter is “a small token of our deep appreciation for all our guests as we celebrate 60 years of creating enriching, animal care experiences, exhilarating rides and all-around fun for everyone.”
On a warm Wednesday this month, a cartoon raccoon raised a cocktail glass and sarcastically saluted Air Canada. The social media image, posted by Porter Airlines, included an accompanying toast from the character: “Air Canada has now joined Porter in offering free beer, wine and snacks to all passengers. Thanks for joining our mission to help everyone actually enjoy economy!”
Hurricane Beryl is roaring through open waters as a monstrous Category 5 storm heading toward Jamaica after earlier making landfall in the southeast Caribbean, killing at least four people. A hurricane warning was in effect for Jamaica and a hurricane watch for Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, Cayman Brac, and for Haiti’s entire southern coast.
After a wild weekend of flight cancellations and stranded passengers caused by WestJet mechanics going on strike on Friday, ACTA is urging the airline to fairly compensate travel advisors for their “countless hours” working on behalf of clients during the disruption – which was resolved by Monday, though more cancellations were expected this week as the airline re-engages its fleet.
A new air transport agreement between Canada and Argentina promises to increase air service between the two countries. The arrangement updates and expands policies negotiated in 1979 and goes into effect immediately. Argentina is Canada’s second-oldest travel market in South America, after Peru.
Halifax Stanfield International Airport will receive an $18-million upgrade to its international connections facility – improvements that officials hope will attract more international flights to the Nova Scotia facility.
Intrepid Travel is launching a new trip range dedicated to rail travel that includes 40 trips and three brand new itineraries. The travel company says the tours will cater to the rising trends of both slow and train travel, with new data showing 75% of travellers are hoping to take a train on their next trip.
Registration is open for the 68th annual Skal Toronto and Skal North Toronto Golf Tournament, which will take place Aug. 28 at the Royal Ontario Golf Club. The tournament is open to anyone including tourism, hospitality and travel Industry members along with Skal members.
WestJet has reached a deal with its mechanics to end a strike that had disrupted the travel plans of tens of thousands of travellers over the Canada Day long weekend. However, the airline has warned that there will still be flight disruptions in the week ahead as its planes are brought back into service.
Hurricane Beryl began pounding the southeast Caribbean on Monday as a powerful Category 4 storm after becoming the earliest storm of that strength to form in the Atlantic, fuelled by record warm waters. Hurricane warnings were in effect for Barbados, Grenada, Tobago and St. Vincent and the Grenadines as thousands of people hunkered down in homes and shelters. The last strong hurricane to hit the southeast Caribbean was Hurricane Ivan 20 years ago, which killed dozens of people in Grenada.
A strike by screening officers at Toronto Pearson continues to be “on the table” after 95 percent of nearly 3,000 workers rejected a tentative agreement with their employer, according to reporting from the Toronto Star. The Canadian Airport Workers Union, which had reached a tentative deal on June 21 with Garda World Security, said it hopes to return to bargaining soon.
This summer, all eyes will be on Paris as the city prepares to host the Olympic Games (July 26-Aug. 11). But France is the world’s top tourist destination for a reason: there’s no end of opportunities for things to discover in the City of Light and beyond. From summer wellness retreats and ritzy beach clubs to private sailings through the vast, marshy wetland of the Camargue, here’s what not to miss when planning a trip, and where to stay (including recommendations from Transat) while doing do.
With its Small Group tours now accounting for more than half of its non-cruise business each year, Tauck says it will get even smaller with its new “Smaller Group” tours and departures. While Tauck’s Small Group trips will continue to average 24 guests per departure, the new Smaller Group journeys will average just 15 guests.
Known as one of the Mediterranean’s “grande dame” hotels, the newly restored and expanded Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor is now confirming reservations for arrivals beginning in late August. Set amid 40 hectares of seaside woodlands in the heart of a vast private estate that also includes a working vineyard, the property follows the hotel company’s restoration of Four Seasons Hotel Madrid in Spain.
In last week’s news, we learned that a majority of Canadians are “vacation deprived”; WestJet expanded its partnership with Germany’s Condor Airlines; travellers from Halifax gained greater access to Bermuda; Kimpton Hotels is headed for Hawaii; TICO opened applications for positions on its board; Virginia is celebrating country music; and, much more.
A possible long-weekend strike at WestJet has been averted. The federal government on Thursday directed the airline and plane mechanics into binding arbitration to resolve their dispute, steering clear of a work stoppage that could otherwise have disrupted flights for hundreds of thousands of travellers over the Canada Day long weekend.
Boeing is being sanctioned by U.S. investigators for sharing information about a federal investigation of a door plug blowout that left a gaping hole in a Boeing 737 Max 9. The National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday that Boeing “blatantly violated” the agency’s investigative regulations as well as a signed agreement by providing non-public investigative information to the media and speculating about possible causes of the Jan. 5 door plug blowout on a Boeing passenger jet in Portland, Oregon.
Porter Airlines is launching two new seasonal, nonstop routes connecting Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) with Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The YUL-LAX route offers four-times weekly service beginning June 27, while the YUL-SFO route operates three-times weekly starting June 28.
The union representing food service workers at Vancouver International Airport says more than 200 have walked off the job to push for higher wages. A statement from Unite Here Local 40 says the workers are employed by SSP America, which operates more than a dozen food outlets at the airport.
Jamaica might be best known for its beautiful beaches and lively culture, but savvy travellers know there’s no shortage of active options and off-the-beaten-path adventures that also await, from river rafting to caving, and, of course, hiking galore. Tour operators located in the major tourist destination cities on the island can guide through Jamaica’s wet and dry terrain, or trekkers can set out on their own (or with guides).
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is maturing like the fine whiskeys it showcases. A new-look Bourbon Trail unveiled this month will lead visitors to large and small distilleries alike, linking relative newcomers and age-old brands in a collective strategy to build on bourbon tourism’s popularity.
Oceania Cruises is making the 2025 season in the South Pacific it most expansive yet. Two ships, Nautica and Regatta are plotting unique itineraries in fascinating corners of Tahiti during the winter and summer seasons.
Bonnie Raitt has been turning out tunes for over 50 years and earned enough plaudits to warrant a long Wikipedia page. There’s been 13 Grammys – most recently in 2022 – induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and chart-topping success, which didn’t materialize until well into her career.
WestJet says it faces a possible strike by its mechanics starting as early as Friday. According to the airline the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association has issued a strike notice that could mean a work stoppage as early as 5:30 p.m. (MT) on Friday.