DIGITAL DIGEST: The art of creating branded content

Take a scroll through your Facebook timeline for five minutes. Now try to remember what stood out for you. Whatever you recall is your hook. It could be topics, friends, sounds, videos, or something else altogether.

PUNTA CANA UPS AIRPORT ANTE WITH EXPANSION

The developers of the new expansion at Punta Cana International Airport in the Dominican Republic say a new expansion project will not only increase capacity at the facility, but will bring PUJ up to international standards, while at the same time offering users such creative amenities as a swimming pool and food truck dining.

ARCTIC DEEP-WATER PORT GETS LUKE-WARM REACTION

The cruise ship with about 1,000 passengers anchored off Nome, too big to squeeze into the tundra city’s tiny port. Its well-heeled tourists had to shimmy into small boats for another ride to shore. It was 2016, and at the time, the cruise ship Serenity was the largest vessel ever to sail through the Northwest Passage.

ACTA AND CATO WITHDRAW APPOINTEES FROM TICO BOARD

ACTA and CATO have taken the unprecedented step to withdraw its appointees from the TICO Board until they are given the opportunity to meet with the Ontario Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery, the Honorable Kaleed Rasheed. The two associations are also asking for a copy of TICO’s recommendations to the Ontario government on future fees and Compensation Fund funding.

WESTJET UNVEILS WINTER SCHEDULE

The WestJet Group has announced its winter schedule, operating 230 direct routes from Canada to the southern US, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America this winter, while also extending key domestic and international routes from summer to year-round service.

SOUNDS GOOD: Britain’s summer music festivals

Music festivals are synonymous with Britain, both singular and annual, and cover a wide spectrum from electronic music to classical and classic rock and roll. Some notable events, like Glastonbury, are in the books for 2023, but there are still plenty of tunes to come at a number of music fests across the country this summer.

CHTA ANNOUNCES CTM 2024 IN JAMAICA

Jamaica will host the 42nd edition of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace, May 20-22, 2024. The annual show was last held on the island in 2019 and follows a successful event last May in Barbados. CTM is the association’s most important event, which brings together buyers and sellers of the region’s tourism products and services.

IT’S THE PITS: Las Vegas Resorts furious at Formula One proposal

Formula One has been granted permission to run the Las Vegas Grand Prix on the famed Vegas ‘strip’ until the year 2023, with the first in the series scheduled for this November. However, hotels and clubs in the area are furious at F1’s alleged threat to block their view of the race if they don’t cough up huge amounts of money to view the race.

HAIL DIVERTS FLIGHT: US bound jetliner battered by hailstorm over Milan

Hail battered a Delta Air Lines passenger jet bound for New York shortly after taking off from Milan on Monday, forcing it to divert safely to Rome’s main airport, Italian media and the airline said. The aircraft sustained damage to its nose and on the fuselage near the wings, according to Italian media.

EXPLORA JOURNEYS SET TO SAIL AUG. 1

After taking delivery of its debut ship EXPLORA 1 last week, Explora Journeys, the luxury lifestyle brand of the MSC Group, will officially set sail on Aug. 1 after an initial delay. The maiden voyage will depart from Copenhagen, Denmark, for a seven-night sailing to Reykjavik, Iceland, with visits enroute to Lerwick, Shetland Islands, and Kirkwall, Orkney.

ANDREW DAWSON: Sunwing president looks ahead to winter 2023

Sunwing released its winter sun schedule last week, offering an overall capacity boost over the previous winter season, including more options in particular from The Prairies and Atlantic Canada, plus over 700 hotels and a couple of new destinations. We checked in with Sunwing President of Tour Operations Andrew Dawson for a quick-hit three-question Q&A to find out what’s trending, and why the tour company is so confident about the season ahead.

WILDFIRE BLAZES ON RHODES: Greek authorities institute major evacuations

Some 19,000 people have been evacuated from the Greek island of Rhodes as wildfires continued burning for a sixth day on three fronts, Greek authorities said on Sunday. The Ministry of Climate Change and Civil Protection said it was “the largest evacuation from a wildfire in the country.”

ICELAND, MOROCCO TOP SUMMER FAVES AT INTREPID

Iceland and Morocco are proving to be top favourites for Canadians this summer, according to Intrepid Travel. The former boast three tours in the small group tour operator’s top 10 for 2023, while the North African nation ranked twice.

FORGOT IT? NO WORRIES: Kimpton will lend guests fashion accessories

Never mind the toothbrush or razor, as part of its popular ‘Forgot It? We’ve Got It!’ program, Kimpton Hotels guests will now have complimentary access to seasonal accessories – from sunglasses to purses and belts – during their stay at participating US properties this summers.

ROUND-UP: July 17-21, 2023

Inflation is starting to affect travel planning according to a new poll; Canada’s passport value rose this year; Sunwing revealed its winter flight/package schedule; and Experience Kissimmee says thank you at a Partner’s Event.

INFLATION AFFECTING TRAVEL PLANNING – POLL

A new poll says a third of Canadians have changed or cancelled their vacation plans due to inflation. In addition to concerns about inflation, Canadians are also feeling the sting of flight delays and cancellations with almost half of Canadians surveyed said they think airlines aren’t reliable when it comes to their departures and arrivals.

GREECE IN FLAMES: Wildfires rage near Athens, Europe swelters

Firefighting aircraft and ground crews from other countries headed to Greece on Thursday to help battle wildfires that have intensified as a heat wave baked much of southern Europe in temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

RARE RUNWAYS: The world’s most beautiful landing strips

It’s estimated there are more than 41,000 airports in the world. And while it would be impossible to visit them all, British-based company Artemis Aerospace has channelled its eye-in-the-sky ethos to come up with a shortlist of six must-see runways that provide rare and beautiful vistas, guaranteeing a great start, or end, to a visitor’s journey.

PUBS, PATIOS & BARS: Iconic San Fran brewery weighed down by history

San Francisco’s iconic Anchor Brewing Company – dubbed “the birthplace of craft beer” – says it is shutting down for good. The 127-year-old brewing company, known as a trailblazer of craft beers, announced it would close after years of declining sales and tough economic conditions. The tap room will remain open until the end of the month.

THREE SCENIC GROUP SHIPS WILL LUXURIATE IN THE CARIBBEAN

Scenic Group is planning a warm waterfall season with three of its ocean-going yachts – Emerald Azzurra, Emerald Sakara and Scenic Eclipse II – island hopping in Caribbean. It’s a new destination for all three yachts, and there’s a wide variety of itineraries, amenities, and excursions.

LISTENING IN: Collective Soul shines on

Collective Soul is touring this summer (new album), including multiple dates across Canada. I caught the band in Kitchener, Ont. a couple of weeks back, at last crossing one of my all-time faves off my concert bucket list.

TANGIBLY IMPROVED: YYZ commitment to enhanced service pays off

Toronto’s Pearson airport says a staffing boost and other initiatives have ‘tangibly improved’ service, and issues that sparked chaos at Canada’s largest airport last summer have been addressed. And no longer is the Toronto hub rated last globally in on-time performance.

AIR CANADA ENHANCES INFLIGHT SERVICE

Air Canada has added a host of new features for passengers, from check-in to inflight. The upgrades include expanded in-flight food and beverage offerings, more family-friendly options in the airline’s in-flight entertainment library, as well as additional advances to the Air Canada App.

FLOOD WATERS APPROACH TAJ MAHAL

Rising water from the Yamuna river on Wednesday reached the outer boundary walls of India’s iconic Taj Mahal and submerged one of its adjacent gardens after record monsoon rains swelled rivers across northern India over the last three weeks.

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