Nominations are now open for the ACTA Awards and ACTA is urging the travel industry to get involved to recognize the best of the best. Each year, ACTA presents six awards to travel agency leaders and travel advisor nominees across a variety of categories. Anyone in the industry can nominate an advisor or agency but the nominee must be an ACTA member.
Food service workers are returning to return to work at Pearson Airport after reaching a tentative agreement with airline caterer Gate Gourmet nearly two weeks after walking off the job, meaning travellers through Toronto may soon find a full menu option on flights once again.
It’s Derby week and the eyes of avid horse racing fans – and even many who aren’t – will be on Louisville, home of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, this Saturday (May 4) when the race celebrates its historic 150th running. Yet there’s more to Louisville than horses, from bourbon to boxing and bluegrass to baseball and Hot Browns, helping make Kentucky’s biggest city a diverse and largely undiscovered gem – and guaranteeing that visitors will be off to the races no matter when they go.
In celebration of Dr. Jane Goodall’s 90th birthday, G Adventures has added five ‘Jane Goodall Collection’ trips to its repertoire, including one that follows in the renowned environmentalist’s footsteps, offering participants the opportunity to observe chimpanzees in the wild in Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania, the place she began her trailblazing research in 1960 at the age of 26.
The Alaska cruise season from Vancouver has launched, but one ship was left at the starting gate. Royal Caribbean International cancelled the April 26 sailing of Radiance of the Seas after 1,900 passengers had already boarded. The company announced after a day of trying to fix a propulsion issue that the cruise was no longer going ahead and everyone had to go home.
Christopher Austin has been named President, North America, of Explora Journeys, the luxury lifestyle brand of the MSC Group. Based in Miami, Austin will direct Explora’s efforts and teams in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He joined Explora Journeys in November 2020 as the brand’s Chief Sales Officer.
Preventing passenger screening technology using automated face matching technology is misguided and dangerous and will only serve to undermine security and disgruntle travellers by creating longer customs line-ups and delays, the US Travel Association is warning.
On a visit to Toronto last week, Intrepid Travel co-founder Darrell Wade unveiled the adventure company’s plans for the future. Australia-based Wade’s visit was part of a world tour to each of the company’s 27 country offices this year to celebrate its 35th anniversary – and to unveil the 2030 strategy when the brand will turn 40.
Costa Rica provided the Toronto trade some precious moments of serenity last week when tourism officials showcased a photographic exhibit offering captivating images that highlight the diverse landscapes and rich human stories of the Central American nation – uniquely centred on the image of a red chair that inspires the notion that the viewer controls their own destiny and could be sitting in it.
Carnival Cruise Line has added its fifth ship to the fleet in 18 months as it christened its newest ship, Carnival Firenze, at its new home, the Long Beach Cruise Terminal in California. Hollywood actor Jonathan Bennett served as the ship’s godfather, and he and Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy celebrated all things Italian with the help of a Broadway star, a Puccini aria, and even a Catholic priest making a running jump onto the stage to deliver a blessing.
The World Bank has suspended funding for a tourism project in Tanzania that has caused the suffering of tens of thousands of villagers, according to a US-based rights group that has long urged the global lender to take such action. The World Bank’s decision to suspend the US$150- million project, which aims to improve the management of natural resources and tourism assets in a remote part of southern Tanzanian, was “long overdue,” according to the Oakland Institute.
After a thorough search across North Amerca, Destination Toronto veteran and current executive vice president Andrew Weir has been named President & CEO of the organization effective May 1. Weir has been an integral member of the leadership team at Destination Toronto for the past 18 years.
Last week, the US government cracked down on airlines over delays and transparency, while other notable news included the start of a new high-speed rail link between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, more Asia links from WestJet, the delay of the launch of a new Princess ship, and batten down the hatches – forecasters are predicting the busiest Atlantic hurricane season ever.
Welcome to The Most Magical Place On Earth. There is one place on Earth where moments of magic take place every day, every hour, every second, in every corner of our world. Where moments have the power to transform us—and free us to escape into joy. Here, the magic we make together warms our
An extremely active upcoming Atlantic hurricane season has been predicted by researchers at Colorado State University in their initial 2024 outlook. Pointing to record warm tropical and eastern subtropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures as a primary factor, the CSU Tropical Weather and Climate team is forecasting 11 hurricanes this year – the highest prediction for hurricanes ever issued in the institution’s April outlook.
Calling Alberta’s capital “the heart of our ambitious growth strategy,” WestJet’s chief executive told Edmonton’s business and community leaders Wednesday that the airline is intent on being the city’s top airline and cementing its “well-deserved position on the global stage, making it one of the most connected cities of its size in North America.”
Venice launched a pilot program Thursday to charge day-trippers a €5 (CDN$7.35) entry fee that authorities hope will discourage visitors from arriving on peak days and make the city more livable for its dwindling residents. But not everyone was happy, with some residents likening the move to turning Venice into a theme park.
Paris’s iconic windmill sails of the Moulin Rouge, a vibrant emblem of French city’s bohemian lifestyle, collapsed Thursday after a show. The incident took place shortly before 2 a.m., after the last performance of the night had ended and the audience had left the historic cabaret venue, renowned for its dazzling shows and can-can dancers. No injuries were reported.
When a small number of cases of locally transmitted malaria were found in the United States last year, it was a reminder that climate change is reviving or migrating the threat of some diseases. But in light of World Malaria Day yesterday (April 25), experts are reminding that malaria has never left, killing or sickening millions of people and threatening visitors to afflicted areas who don’t take precautions.
Holland America Line is debuting ‘Glacier Days’ on its Alaska cruises with expanded ‘We Love Alaska on-board experiences.’ HAL’s six ships doing cruises from Vancouver and Seattle are featuring more cultural enrichment and culinary and cocktail specialties designed to foster a deeper connection to the people and history of Alaska, the company says.
With apologies to Kraftwerk and Trio (remember the classic “Da Da Da”?), The Scorpions are Germany’s greatest contribution to the rock music canon. Still going strong, the band formed in 1965 but hit its commercial peak in the ‘80s with a series of power ballads that helped define the niche, such as “Winds of Change” (about the political transformation of Russia) and “Still Lovin’ You.”
The US government issued final rules Wednesday to require airlines to automatically issue cash refunds for things like delayed flights and to better disclose fees for baggage or cancelling a reservation. The Transportation Department said airlines will be required to provide automatic cash refunds within a few days for cancelled flights and “significant” delays, which it defines as three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international ones.
Maureen Gordon has weathered hard times before. She and her husband began running ecotourism outfit Maple Leaf Adventures out of Vancouver about a month before the 9/11 terrorist attacks devastated international travel in 2001. The rebound was relatively quick. Fallout from COVID-19 has proven much more prolonged.
Luxury travel network Virtuoso hosted three networking and professional development events this month for its Canadian member agencies, advisors, and preferred partners. Virtuoso On Tour Canada kicked off in Montréal April 4-5 at the Four Seasons Hotel Montréal, continued in Vancouver April 8-9 at the DOUGLAS, an Autograph Collection Hotel, and wrapped at the Shangri-La Toronto April 11-12.
MSC Cruises has announced a new summer ‘Stay & Cruise’ program, offering guests the chance to extend their cruise with a new add-on package in five destinations: Athens, Venice, Rome, Miami, and New York. Clients can book extra accommodation for two or three nights (depending on the city) before or after their cruise, coupled with a half-day city excursion.
African Travel, Inc., the Travel Corporation’s luxury safari outfitter, is promoting ethical wildlife experiences by sharing responsible practices with clients help create a healthy planet. ATI is highlighting three key areas where clients can make a positive impact on wildlife conservation and the protection of habitats while enjoying an immersive African safari adventure.
TravelBrands has announced the appointment of Nicole Davey as its new Business Development Manager for British Columbia. With over 10 years of experience in the travel industry, both as a selling agent and an office manager, Davey brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her new role.
A “global travel industry champion,” Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy has been honoured with the Cruise Lines International Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024. Steering the flagship brand of Carnival Corp., Duffy leads more than 48,000 Carnival Cruise Line team members who cater to more than 5.5 million guests each year.
As airfares continue to surge, travellers are increasingly turn to “skiplagging” for more affordable options – a practice frowned upon by airlines. But it’s travel advisors who often pay the price, says the World Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAAA), which is urging airlines to stop penalizing agents when clients break the rules.