NEW-LOOK CARNIVAL SHIP GETS COOKING IN THE MED

Carnival Pride is embarked Sunday on her first sailing of the Europe summer season, sporting the signature Carnival red, white, and blue hull design for the first time, after undergoing extensive enhancements that include bow-to-stern upgrades to enhance accessibility on the ship for guests with disabilities.

FEELING THE PRIDE: Orlando kicks off June GayDays

Orlando kicks off Pride Month June 1 with the entire month devoted to showcasing “a diverse community that warmly embraces cultures from all backgrounds coming together (and) remaining a welcoming destination for LGBTQ+ visitors.”

FRIGHT FLIGHT AS PASSENGER OPENS DOOR

A man who opened an emergency exit door during a flight in South Korea was formally arrested Sunday and faces up to 10 years in prison on a charge of violating the aviation security law. During a preliminary questioning, the 33-year-old told investigators that he felt suffocated and tried to get off the plane quickly, according to police.

BRAND USA MORE OPTIMISTIC THAN EVER

Declaring the pandemic now endemic, Brand USA, the nation’s destination marketing organization, opened IPW 2023 last week showcasing the country as an unrivalled travel destination that is poised for a historic year in travel.

 ‘QUITE A MESS’: Computer snafu snarls UK customs on weekend

Travellers arriving in the UK faced long delays Saturday after a technical problem shut electronic border gates at airports across the country for most of the day, forcing everyone to have their passports checked manually on what was expected to be one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.

HERE COMES THE SUN: Sunwing makes splash with ‘biggest event of the year’

‘Sun Week’ at Sunwing is back – a week-long extravaganza of big deals, big contests, and an even bigger grand prize. Kicking off today (May 29), travel agents can book their clients’ summer getaways with savings up to 50 percent while also earning the chance to win prizes themselves.

OCEANIA VISTA: A new standard for upper-premium cruise ships

When Oceania Cruises launched Vista in this month, the cruise line set a new global standard for the upper-premium category of cruise ships. Designed with evolutionary style concepts and substantial luxe elements, the 1,200-passenger Vista – Oceania’s first new build in over a decade, and first of the Allura class vessels – approaches the luxury level of sister brand Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Both are owned by Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

ROUND-UP: May 22-26, 2023

Last week, there was good news for Canadian trusted travellers; two Canadian carriers boosted their codeshare; Sandals unveiled its newest resort; there were flash sales galore; and Allianz stepped up – again – for Dreams Take Flight.

WASN’T THAT A PARTY!: San Antonio shines at IPW

From a boat-float parade along its famous River Walk to a closing night gala at The Alamo, delegates will long remember this year’s IPW in San Antonio as US travel officially emerged from the pandemic.

AIR CANADA BRIEFLY GROUNDS FLIGHTS

Air Canada briefly grounded its planes Thursday due to a problem with its computer system. The airline said a technical issue with the system it uses to transmit messages to aircraft and monitor their performance, prompted a halt to operations.

SANDALS BEGINS NEW CHAPTER AT DUNN’S RIVER

The all-new Sandals Dunn’s River has opened to guests as the 17th resort in the Sandals Resorts portfolio. Having debuted over 30 years ago, the 260-room Ocho Rios property is “utterly transformed” – except for the stunning stretch of white sand beach it inhabits.

STRANGE BUT TRUE: Tales of the weird and wacky

It was a week for animals running amok, and an exceedingly hungry star, plus an Illinois traveller took getting to the airport on time to a whole new level. Then there was turmoil over tacos south of the border, all contributing to this week’s weird and wacky news file.

CRYSTAL CHARTING A FUTURE OF GLOBE-TROTTING CRUISES

The new Crystal is setting a global course for 2024, planning extended cruises to iconic and off-the-beaten-track destinations around the world while almost never repeating a port. The luxury line’s two ships will both be globe-trotters, highlighted by a 141-night world cruise on Crystal Serenity as well as a series of unique Grand Journeys ranging from 37 to 68 nights.

LISTENING IN: Remembering Tina Turner, the ‘Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll’

Tina Turner was an unstoppable singer and stage performer who teamed with husband Ike Turner for a dynamic run of hit records and live shows in the 1960s and ’70s surviving her horrifying marriage to triumph in middle age with a string of hits, including the chart-topping “What’s Love Got to Do With It.” Dubbed the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Turner died at her home in Switzerland this week after a long illness at age 83.

FLIGHTS DISRUPTED AS VOLCANO SPEWS ASH AND LAVA

Towering a few hours from one of the world’s largest cities, the Popocatepetl volcano has been coating nearby towns with ash and disrupting flights at Mexico City’s airport, the busiest in Latin America. Approximately 25 million people live within 60 miles of the mountain.

MAKING A CASE FOR CAMPING: More Canadians embracing outdoor activity

Canada’s outdoor travel sector grew in 2022 as COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, putting an end to many outdoor leisure travel barriers faced across provinces since 2020. In 2022, more than half a million new Canadian households ventured out to experience camping for the first time.

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ PART 2

Last week we looked at a host of SoCal destinations – some familiar, some less so – whose delegates attended the recent visit California sales mission in Niagara on the Lake, having put the insiders on the spot to tell us one thing they wished a Canadian knew about their region. Here’s Part 2, covering the middle and northern parts of the Golden State (starting north of Los Angeles).

HAWAI‘I STAYS WITH VOX INTERNATIONAL:

Break out the tiny bubbles – The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), the state agency providing holistic tourism management for the Hawaiian Islands, has awarded the contract for Destination Brand Management and Marketing Services in Canada to VoX International.

FONTAINBLEAU FINALLY SET TO SOAR ON VEGAS STRIP

A soaring blue-glass tower that has sat empty for close to two decades on the Las Vegas Strip – through the Great Recession and an unprecedented pandemic that shut down the famed tourist corridor for months – is set to open its doors to the public in December as the gambling centre’s latest resort and casino.

ABU DHABI UNVEILS SUMMER CAMPAIGN

Abu Dhabi has launched ‘One Summer Isn’t Enough,’ a new campaign that shows the wide range of experiences available throughout the season as part of the emirate’s plan to attract 24 million visitors by 2023.

DIGITAL DIGEST: The importance of cybersecurity

In today’s digital age, with the increased reliance on technology for professional and personal use, cybersecurity is more important than ever. Networks and data are under constant threat and need to be monitored diligently, while security measures need to be resourced adequately to ensure digital safety.

MOVING RIGHT ALONG: Government moves to avoid summer airport chaos

The federal government has rolled out a revamp of its trusted-traveller program to clear clogged airports as the summer travel season kicks off. A tweaked “verified-traveller program” will launch dedicated security screening lines at six of the country’s biggest airports between June 7 and June 21, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said Tuesday.

THE FACE OF FUTURE TRAVEL: But biometric ID prompts privacy concerns

A passenger walks up to an airport security checkpoint, slips an ID card into a slot and looks into a camera atop a small screen. The screen flashes “Photo Complete” and the person walks through – all without having to hand over their identification to the customs officer sitting behind the screen.

CHARGE IT: Canada and US give boost to electric vehicles

Canada and the US are teaming up to build a corridor of charging stations between Quebec City and Michigan to encourage motorists in both countries to buy more electric vehicles. Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra and US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg unveiled their Alternative Fuel Corridor at an event in Detroit.

FLORIDA STATE PARK TOPS DR. BEACH LIST

A 14-km stretch of Florida sugar-white sand in an unspoiled natural setting alongside the Gulf of Mexico is the best beach for 2023 in the US, according to the annual ranking released last week by the university professor known as “Dr. Beach.”

NADA SEMAAN NAMED TO LEAD CATSA

Nada Semaan has been announced as Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority for a five-year term. (CATSA) is a Crown corporation mandated with protecting people through effective and efficient screening of air travellers and their baggage. CATSA provides a professional, effective, and consistent level of security service across the country.

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