Despite not being able to afford one, many Canadians are planning to take a holiday this year anyways as they battle inflation fatigue with travel plans, according to a new survey. The seventh annual Vacation Confidence Study from Allianz Global Assistance’s (Allianz) says the average vacationing family intends to spend over $4,000 on their vacation in 2024.
Most airlines recommend arriving at least two hours before domestic flights and at least three hours before international flights. But do passengers need that much time for connections between international flights?
“What in God’s name are you wearing?” my neighbour asks. “Me! Look at you! You look a right idiot.” So, there we stand in our respective costumes, surveying our splendour in my hallway mirror. Serena is costumed up as Po, the red Teletubby (UK kids TV show) and I’m Kermit the Frog. “We could become a thing,” I said. “It might catch on.”
Las Vegas is truly a city that never stands still. Indeed, standing or stopping is now banned on pedestrian bridges on the Strip where visitors often pause to take photos amid the glittery casino lights or to watch street performers. Violators of the ordinance, which took effect Tuesday, could face up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine.
On St. Bart’s in season, the theme is if you’ve got it flaunt it! The French Caribbean harbour is packed with imposing yachts that are the toys of people constantly looking for ways to one-up the competition. And yet all eyes are on us when the Sea Cloud Spirit gracefully sails in.
“Hidden in plain sight behind a secret door,” and situated in one of London’s most historic and cherished buildings, the Síbín whisky bar has launched a global “Whisky Passport” designed to take patrons on a flavour journey beyond the British capital with some of the world’s best vintages.
In the tradition of great charitable relief songs like “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” “We are the World,” and “Tears Are Not Enough,” The Doobie Brothers have recorded a song – “Lahaina” – to help raise funds for recovery in Maui from last year’s devastating wildfires. The band has deep connections to the Hawaiian island, as has Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood (who lost his restaurant on Maui to the fires).
Flight Centre Travel Group’s Corporate Traveller has released its 2024 travel trends forecast, signalling a levelling of the rapid travel growth expected for sector this year. Nevertheless, “corporate travel demand is growing and positive,” it reports.
MSC Cruises says the ongoing attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea has obliged it to cancel three repositioning ‘Grand Voyage’ sailings in April from South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Europe because of the risks in the region.
On a day when most of Canada, coast to coast, was gripped in polar temperatures and snow, Grenada tourism officials brought their sunny ways to a Toronto airport hotel, leaving a couple of dozen travel advisors more actively dreaming of an escape to the Caribbean Spice Island than usual, both personally and for clients.
Lynx Air has announced the addition of Regina to its network starting in June. The new gateway marks the discount carrier’s first foray into the Saskatchewan market and brings to 23 its total number of North American destinations.
Abercrombie & Kent is building a new Nile riverboat, its fifth in Egypt, which will launch in late 2025. Promising that it will be “the finest new craft on the Nile,” the tour company says the boutique boat will “herald a new golden age of river cruising in Egypt.”
Whether travellers are looking for new places to stay, take a trip to one of the many theme parks, or experience a part of the state they may not have known, Florida has a host of new things to explore in 2024. Read on for just a small sampling of what’s new and coming in the Sunshine state this year:
2023 was a fast year, with COVID recovery as the headline. 2024 is the year of business prosperity and regaining lost margins. Here’s a guide to crafting a master navigation plan for your brand’s success this year.
Citing a “near standstill” in negotiations, the union representing pilots with WestJet’s regional subsidiary says it has started the clock on potential job action – though any moves on that front are still at least three months off.
Porter Airlines celebrated the start of daily roundtrip service between Toronto Pearson and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) yesterday, expanding east-west connections between eastern Canada and southern California.
In 2023, Radisson Hotel Group celebrated a new company record with the addition of its largest number of keys to its portfolio of 10 leading brands, amounting to over 30,000 keys through openings and signings. The fastest-growing brand in the industry, Radisson has grown its business by nearly 50% since the launch of its transformation plan in 2018.
Ensemble continues to extend its offerings in the luxury travel sector with the announcement of several new partnerships and programs. They include a new preferred partnership with Crystal, a strategic relationship with Tully Luxury Travel, and the launch of its second member community, Luxe Circles.
Following a soft launch last week, Air Canada Vacations has officially unveiled its new Group Quoting Tool, offering travel advisors the capability to easily create and manage their group quotes.
A US federal judge is siding with the Biden administration and blocking JetBlue Airways from buying Spirit Airlines, saying the US$3.8 billion deal would reduce competition. The Justice Department sued to block the merger, saying it would drive up fares by eliminating Spirit, the nation’s biggest low-cost airline.
Having been dubbed the city’s “front porch,” the Mississippi River will be the main tenant in an extensive redevelopment of New Orleans’ Riverfront District, including one of the largest contiguous riverfront parks in the US.
According to new report, the United States ranks “nearly dead last” in global competitiveness among top travel markets – a result the US Travel Association (USTA) calls “stunning” and for which it blames decades of underinvestment and a lack of focus and coordination from federal policymakers.
Iceland’s president said the country is battling “tremendous forces of nature” after molten lava from a volcano in the island’s southwest consumed several houses in the evacuated town of Grindavik. Scientists said Monday that the eruption appeared to be dying down, but it was too soon to declare the danger over.
Featuring a new look and feel, Sunwing Vacations has released the 11th edition of Wedding Vacations by Sunwing, designed to be a critical tool to help agents and their clients plan their nuptials in paradise
Boeing told employees Monday that it plans to increase quality inspections of its 737 Max 9 aircraft, following the failure of an emergency exit door panel on an Alaska Airlines flight last week. It is the latest in a series of troubles for Boeing, whose reputation as the premier American aircraft manufacturer has been tarnished by a series of manufacturing flaws that have led some airlines to hold off aircraft purchases or go with its European rival, Airbus.
Continuing it’s ongoing expansion in the U.S., MSC Cruises has announced that Galveston, Texas will be its fourth home port in the country and will serve as the new home base for the MSC Seascape starting in November 2025.
Following a record year for fundraising, Intrepid Travel is pledging AUD$1 million (CDN$890,000) to local communities around the world in 2024, through its non-profit arm, the Intrepid Foundation. By matching customer donations up to a million dollars, the tour company aims to double the philanthropic impact in its host communities.
Russian tourists reportedly going on a ski trip to North Korea in February will be the first international travellers to visit the country since its borders closed in 2020 amid the global pandemic lockdown.
Canada wants to launch a pilot project to explore letting northbound land travellers clear customs before they leave the United States. While the US has been pre-clearing southbound air travellers since 1952, Canada currently has no preclearance operations anywhere in the world.
The US Federal Aviation Administration says it will begin auditing Boeing’s aircraft production and increase oversight of the troubled manufacturer after a panel blew off a jetliner in midflight last week, the last in a string of mishaps for its marquee aircraft.