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TURNING IT UP A NOTCH: Transat-Porter deal latest twist in airline sector

If it seems that Canadian airlines are announcing or inaugurating new routes almost every day, it’s because they are. And while that’s great news for consumers as the increased competition helps drive down fares from unprecedented peaks at the tail end of the pandemic, as one industry observer stated at a travel event in Toronto this week: “It’s like the old days – there’s too much capacity out there.”

CHINA SYNDROME: Country poised to dominate global tourism

There’s always an asterisk when tourism recovery numbers are assessed: it doesn’t include China and its massive middle class, which hasn’t yet fully returned to pre-pandemic travel levels. But that’s about to change, not just in the present, but over the next decade, during which the country is poised to become world’s most dominant tourism market.

AIR CANADA RECOGNIZED FOR EMPLOYMENT EQUITY

Air Canada has earned two honours in the recently announced federal Employment Equity Achievement Awards, presented by the minister of labour. This is the fifth year that the awards are presented, and this year marks the second time that Air Canada has been recognized.

A BIG FAT FLIGHT: First jetliner crosses Atlantic using biofuel

The first commercial airliner to cross the Atlantic on a purely high-fat, low-emissions fuel flew Tuesday from London to New York in a step toward achieving what supporters called “jet zero.” The Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 flight was powered without using fossil fuels, relying on so-called sustainable aviation fuel made up largely of tallow and other waste fats.

SWAN HELLENIC PLOTS POLAR CRUISES IN 2024

Swan Hellenic’s Antarctica 2024 season will open on Nov. 13 with a 20-night cruise on SH Diana from Cape Town to Ushuaia, exploring Tristan Da Cunha, South Georgia, and the Antarctic Peninsula. The cruise line will boast two boutique five-star ice-class ships in the polar region with journeys continuing into 2025.

LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES: Cape Town commits to breaking down barriers

Cape Town Tourism has launched “Limitless Cape Town,” a first-of-its-kind universal access movement designed to make the city more inclusive to all individuals, giving them equal opportunity and access to the region’s tourism environment, regardless of their social class, ethnicity, or physical disabilities.

DIGITAL DIGEST: Maximizing online presence

In the dynamic world of travel and tourism, keeping the Press Room pages of websites up to date is crucial, not only for the convenience of the media but also for enhancing a website’s search engine optimization (SEO) performance.

HIGHLY COMPLEMENTARY: Air Transat, Porter launch ‘transformative’ alliance

Citing “highly complementary” route networks, Air Transat and Porter Airlines are creating a joint venture “alliance” that the companies say will transform the current Canadian aviation competitive landscape. To be implemented gradually in 2024, the arrangement will extend the airlines’ existing code-sharing agreement to give travellers access to a broader network through enhanced commercial collaboration and optimization.

MORE PEOPLE, FEWER PROBLEMS: U.S. avoids repeat of holiday travel chaos

A record number of passengers traveled through US airports over Thanksgiving weekend, but travel was relatively smooth despite the crowds, reported the Transportation Security Administration, which said it screened just over 2.9 million passengers on Sunday, surpassing the previous record of 2.88 million set on June 30.

PROFIT SHARE BACK AT WESTJET:  CEO ‘cautiously optimistic’ about 2024

With earnings this year surpassing 2019 levels, Alexis von Hoensbroech says he’s cautiously optimistic about the company’s prospects for 2024. Speaking to staff in Calgary last week, the Westjet CEO hailed their efforts in the company’s return to profitability this year – and announced the welcome return of profit sharing to employees. And despite economic headwinds, he mused that this year’s momentum will carry the carrier successfully into the new year.

SUNWING CYBER SALE: Deals, door-crashers continue all week

Sunwing Vacations Cyber Monday deals will continue all week. The tour company’s “biggest sale of the year” runs through Sunday (Dec. 3) for travel between Dec. 14 and April 30, 2024, with clients able to score up to 40 percent off holidays in southern climes, from Mexico to the Dominican Republic, Central America, and the US.

CANADIAN TOURISM AWARD WINNERS 2023

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) has announced its Canadian Tourism Awards winners for 2023. The honours recognize outstanding achievements in the tourism sector and aim to showcase the dedication, innovation, and excellence of individuals and organizations that contribute significantly to the growth and success of the Canadian tourism industry. Sponsors included WestJet, Air Canada, Air Transat, VIA, and Hilton.

TRANSAT CONFIDENT STRIKE WILL BE AVOIDED

Amid what the company characterizes as “cordial and respectable” bargaining, Transat says it is confident that agreement will be made with its flight attendants, who have voted to strike as early as Jan. 3, 2024. The union representing 2,100 flight attendants at Air Transat says workers voted to approve a strike if they cannot reach a new contract with the airline.

CANADIANS FLOCKING TO FLORIDA AGAIN

Florida has set a visitations record in the third quarter of 2023, with an estimated total of 35.1 million people arriving in the Sunshine State between July and September 2023. Visitations were comprised of 32.2 million domestic visitors, 2.2 million overseas travellers and 666,000 Canadians. Additionally, Florida continues to beat overall annual visitation records with 105.2 million visitors so far in 2023, 724,000 more than the first nine months of 2022.

RELAIS & CHÂTEAUX ADDS NEW CANADIAN MEMBERS

Relais & Châteaux has added 27 new members to its list of unique hotels and restaurants for 2023 and two of them are Canadian: pioneering Fogo Island Inn (Newfoundland), and Restaurant La Tanière3 (Rue Saint-Pierre, Old Quebec).

PENNY PLANS FOR LIFE AFTER TTAND

Penny Martin will be leaving her role as VP Agent Experience at The Travel Agent Next Door next August. The gregarious travel industry veteran has been with the company since its inception, working alongside Flemming Friisdahl as they built the company from scratch 10 years ago. But while Martin may be retiring from TTAND, she says “(I) hope to stay involved in the travel industry. Travel is in my blood!”

YUL TO CURB CAR CHAOS AT TERMINAL

The authority overseeing the Montreal airport has announced measures to reduce congestion after a surge in car traffic over the summer prompted a wave of frustration among passengers trying to make their gate on time.

TURBOCHARGED HURRICANES GETTING STRONGER FASTER

With warmer oceans serving as fuel, Atlantic hurricanes are now more than twice as likely as before to rapidly intensify from wimpy minor hurricanes to powerful and catastrophic, says a new study. Recently Hurricane Lee went from barely a hurricane at 129 kph to the most powerful Category 5 hurricane with 249 kph winds in 24 hours

MSC INCREASES INVESTMENT IN BAHAMAS MARINE RESERVE

A new marine centre will be built by MSC Cruises on its Ocean Cay marine reserve in the Bahamas, along additional new environmental infrastructure, plus amenities for passengers, as the company continues its transformation of the site.

TRAVEL DIFFERENT: ETC, CATO lead by example on Europe

It was a curious event, on many levels. “Europe invites the curious” was the theme, but the Toronto trade gala last week was also the first-ever collaboration between the European Travel Commission (ETC) and the Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO).

WHAT TRAVELLERS REALLY WANT IN A HOTEL

According to new research from Hilton, travellers will have high expectations from the hotels they choose in the coming year – and Millennials, Gen Z, Gen X and Baby Boomers have all provided telling insights into the changing preferences of travellers by generation.

CANADA TARGETS TROPHY HUNTING, BARS IVORY IMPORTS

Canadian trophy hunters will be barred from bringing home elephant tusks or rhinoceros horns as Canada adopts new trade controls to help stop the critical decline in the animals’ populations. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says that as of Jan. 8, raw ivory will only be allowed to be imported into Canada for research and scientific purposes or for use by law enforcement.

COPA TO BOOST PANAMA FREQUENCIES FROM CANADA

With the expanded international air agreement between Canada and Panama, Copa Airlines says it will increase frequencies between the countries in 2024, culminating in daily service between both Toronto and Montreal starting May 20 and 21 respectively.

TRANSAT PRODUCT ROUNDS OUT MOROCCO PROGRAM

To complement its previously announced year-round flights to Morocco from Montreal starting next June, Transat has launched a suite of packages, hotels, tours, and excursions in the north African country.

WHAT’S NEW IN ANTIGUA: Accommodation Report

Antigua is known for its 365 beaches – one for each day of the year, they say. As such there is no shortage of hotels and resorts on the island, and neighbouring Barbuda, where visitors can spread out their beach towels or find a shady spot under a sun umbrella. Here is some of the latest news from the islands’ accommodation sector heading into a new winter season.

ROUND-UP: Nov. 27-Dec. 04, 2023

A fiery crash at the border, the re-instatement of Indian visas, and a government tourism investment program highlighted last weeks news. Other items included StatsCan’s suggestion that airfares are dropping, new trans-border flights from WestJet and Porter, and a new Disney milestone in Hong Kong.

PYRAMID POWER: Egypt plays down war, pursues lofty tourism goals

Despite concerns over the war in neighbouring Israel-Gaza, Egypt’s tourism and antiquities minister believes the middle eastern country is just scratching the surface of its tourism potential. Ahmed Issa that his country is poised to reach 15 million visitors this year, having already posted record numbers in the first half of the year.

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