Has the Four Seasons Yachts project hit the rocks? The mystery persists in the wake of the abrupt resignations of cruise superstar Larry Pimentel, who was President and CEO, along with co-founder Philip Levine from the company developing ultra-luxury ships in a partnership with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts.
Women in matching checkered aprons, headscarves, and a rainbow of running shoes limbered up as they prepared for the centuries-old pancake race in the English country town Olney. They rolled their shoulders in unison, raised up on their toes and did squats before stepping to the starting line – frying pans in hand.
Dave Matthews… backed by Dead & Company (remnants of The Grateful Dead)… playing the Bob Dylan classic “All Along the Watchtower”… via Jimi Hendrix… What more, I ask you, could you ask for?
After a milestone year for the industry in 2023, resulting in the busiest and least interrupted year for business travel in over four years, and with traveller confidence on the rise, FCM Consulting is predicting another big year for business travel in 2024.
ACTA says its is deeply concerned and “strongly objects” to American Airlines’ decision to limit traveller loyalty points accrual to direct bookings and a select group of travel agencies – a move it says “effectively marginalizes a vast number of travel agencies and travel advisors.”
There was certainly no shortage of top-of-mind topics at Atout France’s annual Canadian roadshow this week – a four-city tour that winds up in Vancouver Thursday after gala event in Montreal, Toronto, and Calgary. After all, the Summer Olympic Games awaits the starters gun July 26 in Paris, D-Day will be thoughtfully remembered in Normandy on its milestone 80th anniversary on June 6, and the long-awaited re-opening of Paris’s landmark Notre Dame Cathedral is scheduled for Dec. 8 (it was famously devastated by fire 2019).
MSC Cruises’ new “Open Booking” program allows guests to make a future holiday at-sea reservation without the need to commit to a particular vessel, itinerary or sailing date. The initiative complements MSC’s ‘Future Cruise’ program. Notably, travel advisors who made the original cruise reservation will also receive full commission on the new cruise once the ship and sail date is selected.
American Queen Voyages (AQV) says that “despite great efforts” it has been forced to shut down and all future cruises have been cancelled.
A New York City man who admitted to smuggling three Burmese pythons in his pants through a US-Canadian border crossing has been sentenced to a year of probation and fined $5,000, US federal prosecutors said.
When it comes to public relations, standing out from the crowd is critical to making a lasting impact. Amidst the noise of competing messages and attention-grabbing campaigns, one strategy reigns supreme: personalization.
American Airlines says that starting with tickets issued on May 1, customers will have to buy tickets directly from the airline or its partner carriers, or from preferred online travel agencies, if they want to earn points in its AAdvantage loyalty program. The airline said it will list the preferred travel agencies in late April. Corporate travellers won’t be affected.
The price of a plane ticket fell more than 14 percent on average in January compared with a year earlier, according to new data from Statistics Canada. Airfares also dropped nearly 24 percent between December and January, the agency’s consumer price index report said, as holiday demand gave way to stay-at-home habits last month.
The cruise ships dot the Nile like planes coming into an airport, though the procession belies the fact that they are operating at half capacity or less as Egyptian tourism continues to be rocked by the country’s perceived proximity to the war in Palestine – despite the fact that the distance from Gaza to Giza is close to 500 km., and through the Sinai desert no less.
With Icon of the Seas newly having just entered service and Utopia of the Seas set for summer sailing, Royal Caribbean Group says it is already dreaming up its next vessel, which is a now a step closer with the announcement of an agreement with French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
Travel advisors are invited to connect with JTB Canada team during virtual drop-in sessions as the tourist board launches a new virtual travel agent engagement series with the Jamaica Winter Open House, taking place today (Wednesday, Feb. 21) from 1 to 3 p.m. ET. Further sessions are planned throughout the year.
Discover the World has announced the retirement in March of Karen Evans after 30 years at the company. She will be succeeded in her role as National Sales Manager for SATA Azores Airlines by her colleague Andrea Thornton, who has worked alongside Evans for many years
For anyone with even a passing acquaintance with London, the city’s Tube map is as iconic as the red buses or the black cabs. But for the past few years, there’s been something not quite right about the map originally designed by Harry Beck in 1933 – a collection of orange train lines, mostly orbiting the inner city, known as the London Overground.
Air Canada continued its post-pandemic recovery in the last quarter of 2023, earning roughly 10% higher profits year-over-year and, more importantly, registering a nearly $4-billion swing into the black for the year compared to 2022.
Springboarding off a “phenomenal” year of tourism, which included $125 million in revenue from the tourist development tax – the second highest in its history – Visit Lauderdale has unveiled a series of ambitious destination marketing initiatives for 2024 designed to “share our message of inclusion and diversity to travellers who are looking for fun, bold, immersive, and interactive experiences.”
In a case of you can’t make this stuff up, a New York City man who lived rent-free for five years in a landmark Manhattan hotel has claimed ownership of the entire building. Prosecutors say Mickey Barreto filed paperwork saying the New Yorker belongs to him – and tried to charge another tenant rent.
Visitors to Greater Fort Lauderdale will discover a destination where the Sunshine state’s magic collides with the region’s vibrant beats. Beyond breathtaking landscapes and balmy weather, Florida’s musical soul finds its home here, resonating with the rhythm of diversity that makes this destination exceptional.
WestJet chief executive Alexis von Hoensbroech has apologized for incidents where the airline failed to accommodate people living with disabilities, and says the airline is “committed to doing better.”
With a culinary landscape and cultural scene flourishing with newfound vitality, Greater Fort Lauderdale’s buzzing neighbourhoods offer a diverse array of creative, highly sought-after restaurants, but also classic comfort food, from pizza to barbecue and, of course, ice cream – the perfect compliment to the South Florida warmth.
Troubles in the Red Sea continue to play havoc with the cruise industry. Also last week, the New Year and Leap Year have intersected to create plenty of consumer deals; PEI is polishing up its hockey sticks; a Jamaican resort is celebrating the Bob Marley movie; TravelBrands welcomed a new BDM; and Tauck celebrated a newly re-organized executive team.
As rumours swirled Thursday, Flair and Lynx declined to comment on speculation of a merger, and various sources said the precise timing of any announcement was as yet unknown. However, the Toronto Star, citing three industry sources, reported that “Flair Airlines and competitor Lynx Air are in discussions about a merger, and a deal could be announced the same day.
Creating viral content is what every advertiser, marketer, and content producer dreams of, but it isn’t always straightforward. There are no set formulas or recipes for success, so it’s important to get the basics right.
With Family Day (Feb. 19), marking the first holiday of 2024, online travel family CheapOair.ca revealed some of the top local and international destinations being booked by Canadians. Some are certainly familiar, but others not so much.
Canada’s smallest province is looking to boost its tourism profile through a deal with the National Hockey League. The agreement announced Tuesday designates Tourism Prince Edward Island as the “official travel destination partner of the NHL.’”
What a week. First we had mummified monkeys (‘bushmeat’ as it was so appetizingly termed) now we have a Delta Air Lines flight forced to turn around back to Amsterdam due to a “bug” infested carry on bag. Well, though the airline diplomatically described an “improperly packed carry-on bag,” social media posts (you can always count on them for the nitty gritty) noted the ‘bugs’ falling from an overhead bin, were in fact …ewww
With a Family Day and Spring Break on the horizon, Orlando is sure to be in the spotlight for many Canadians. And with more than two dozen new experiences set to amuse, entertain, and dazzle in the theme park capital, here’s a look at just some of what’s new for the upcoming holidays, and beyond.