South Florida began draining streets and otherwise cleaning up Thursday after an unprecedented storm that dumped upward of 60 cm. of rain in a matter of hours, causing widespread flooding, closing a key airport, and turning thoroughfares into rivers.
In a State of the Airline address to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce this week, WestJet Group CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech provided a comprehensive update of progress on its new strategic direction, including the airline’s plans in both east and western Canada, fleet renewal and new routes, and, of course, it’s takeover of Sunwing.
Just as the Canadian passport office seemed to get its head above water, members of the public service’s largest union, which represents more than 120,000 federal workers – including passport office employees – have voted in favour of a strike mandate that could be acted on as soon as next week.
A new Sunwing survey of Canadian travellers says seven-in-10 (71%) respondents’ fondest vacation or travel memory was from a past or recent vacation as an adult – an overwhelming margin over holidays taken as a child or teen.
Hordes of revellers toted colourful water guns Thursday as Thailand kicked off its exuberant three-day Songkran festival at full blast for the first time since 2019, hoping for a significant boost in tourism after the industry was devastated by coronavirus travel restrictions.
The lobby of Explora 1 evokes comparisons to the luxury of a grand European hotel. The itineraries speak of extraordinary adventures with whimsical names like Glacier Carved Islands or the Valley of Mischievous Trolls.
Jack Johnson has always fascinated on many levels. An amazing singer-songwriter in the Cat Stevens mold, he was a professional surfer before music and is an active environmental and charitable crusader.
The first cruise ship of the season – the Sapphire Princess – arrived in Vancouver yesterday, officially kicking off what is expected to be a record season for the industry in BC. A total of 331 cruise ships visits are scheduled for the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver between April 12 and Oct. 24, destined to bring more than a million visitors to the city.
Citing “skyrocketing demand” for the French provinces, Air Transat is expanding its flight operations to France, most notably on two direct routes departing from Montreal. Following recent news that it would service Lyon all year, the airline is also adding Marseille to its roster of year-round destinations. Additionally, it is extending its Montreal-Nantes service until Jan. 24, 2024.
Strengthening Hong Kong as an event capital, continuing to develop the Greater Bay Area tourism and maintaining a close partnership with the trade are integral components of the Hong Kong Tourist Board’s travel-related plans post pandemic.
Air Canada and Dreams Take Flight returned to the skies yesterday for the first time since 2020 to take a plane load of disadvantaged children from Winnipeg to Florida for the trip of a lifetime, including a day at an Orlando theme park.
A vintage event space on Toronto’s King Street was a long way from sunny Santa Monica, California – but maybe that was the point as tourism partners from the Los Angeles-area community rolled into town recently on their annual Canadian sales mission, the first since the pandemic.
Montreal-based Rental Escapes a full-service luxury villa company specializing in providing private villa rentals worldwide since 2012, has announced the launch of a new travel advisor rewards program that offers the opportunity to earn free villa vacations. Believed to an industry first in the sector, agents will earn one reward point for each $1 booked, which can then be used towards their own trip.
Air Canada executive vice-president and chief financial officer Amos Kazzaz is retiring at the end of June, to be replaced by John Di Bert, who is the current CFO of Clarios International and has been CFO at Bombardier and Pratt & Whitney.
The US national emergency to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic has ended with the stroke of a pen by President Joe Biden, who signed a bipartisan congressional resolution to bring measure to a close after three years – and just weeks before it was set to expire alongside a separate public health emergency.
As Goway Travel moves into its 53rd year, the company is gearing up for a marketing and brand transformation, its first since being founded by Bruce Hodge in 1970. Supporting a global expansion of the Toronto-based tour company, the project will feature a new Goway website with a cutting-edge reservation system to be launched launch later this year.
The Jamaica Tourist Board’s recently launched ‘Jamaica Cooking Challenge’ invites travel advisors to recreate a taste of the island at home. Each month, the JTB Canada sales team releases a new cooking video featuring an authentic Jamaican recipe prepared with step-by-step instructions by Chef Latoya Fagan. Agents are encouraged to prepare the recipe at home and share a photo of their finished dish for a chance to win monthly prizes.
It’s all about partnerships in this week’s round-up of news from the world of retail travel, with dispatches from The Travel Agent Next Door, Ensemble, Virtuoso and redtag.ca.
Royal Caribbean Group announced that Laura Hodges Bethge will be the next president of Celebrity Cruises, taking over from Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, who will transition to Vice Chair, External Affairs for Royal Caribbean Group, effective May 01.
Repairing coral reefs after boats run aground. Shielding native forest trees from a killer fungus outbreak. Patrolling waters for swimmers harassing dolphins and turtles. Taking care of Hawaii’s unique natural environment takes time, people, and money. Now Hawaii wants tourists to help pay for it.
Southwest Airlines CEO Robert Jordan’s compensation nearly doubled last year to US$5.3 million after being promoted to the top job during a year that ended with massive flight cancellations that will cost Southwest more than $1 billion.
With more travellers increasingly eager and able to pay for their holidays with cryptocurrency, travel companies should consider developing experiences in the metaverse to cater for younger people and new audiences, says a digital currency expert.
Emirates is stepping up its frequency between Canada and the United Arab Emirates with two additional flights per week between Dubai and Toronto. The move to daily service, starting April 20, follows the announcement last week of an expanded air transport agreement between the two countries.
Citing New Distribution Capability (NDC) technology’s ability to create new retailing opportunities for airlines around the world, Air Canada and Amadeus say that an expansion of their long-standing partnership will allow travel sellers to benefit from a long-term roadmap that offers additional features and new content.
Nearly nine in 10 finance managers would welcome an AI-powered future for expense management solutions according to a new survey which further revealed a host of priorities for expense management. More than 90% say it has affected the process in some way.
This week marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement (April 10, 1998), which ended the ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland. With this in mind, Tourism Ireland has produced a top 10 list designed to help visitors delve into the region’s fascinating if tumultuous history while at the same time discovering its regenerated present.
Collette reports that that large bounce back in travel it experienced throughout 2022 as the industry emerged from COVID-19 pandemic has continued into this year, at that same time resulting in new trending destinations as more countries return to travel norms and travellers continue to polish up their bucket lists
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that cruise industry veteran John Chernesky will succeed Todd Hamilton as the Brand’s Sr. VP of Sales for North America, as Hamilton steps into a new strategic role as Sr. VP of New Ventures at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
The threat of wildfires is growing in Florida over the coming weeks as more than half the state is experiencing severe to extreme drought conditions likely to persist until rainy season resumes around mid-May, state and federal officials are warning.
Canadians are cutting back on restaurants and goods, but continuing to spend on holidays and other non-essential services, according to the findings in a new report from Royal Bank of Canada.