DESANTIS TAKES OVER DISNEY DISTRICT:
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a bill that gives him control of Walt Disney World’s self-governing district, punishing the company over its opposition to the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law.
FORMER AIR CANADA CEO EYES ANCILLARY SERVICES
Former Air Canada president and CEO Calin Rovinescu has joined the board of directors and become an investor in Montreal-based Plusgrade, a provider of ancillary revenue solutions for the global travel industry.
ARRESTS MADE IN ONTARIO TICKET SCAM
Peel Regional Police say they have charged a second suspect in an airline ticket scam allegedly operating across the Greater Toronto Area. Between June and December 2021, police allege the two suspects misrepresented themselves as working for travel agencies based out of the United Kingdom to gain access to a secure online booking portal for a major European airline.
HOW LOW CAN YOU GO: An unusual problem for Venice
Instead of occasional – and more typical – flooding, Venice now has the opposite problem – some of its canals have practically dried up due a prolonged spell of low tides, frustrating boat crews and bewildering tourists.
RICH RUSSIANS CONTINUE TO TRAVEL IN STYLE:How can they dance when beds are burning?
With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine passing the one-year mark on Feb. 24, a prominent tourism analytics firm has assessed the war’s impact on travel over the past 12 months, revealing a number of trends – some surprising, some not.
CANADIANS RETURNING TO EUROPE IN 2023
The outlook for travel to Europe this year is promising despite global pressures such as high inflation, the war in Ukraine and consequent energy crisis, and prospects of a looming economic recession, says the European Travel Commission (ETC).
SKATERS WON’T PLAY: Ottawa skateway closed for first time ever
Even as eastern Canada shivers under frigid temperatures, the National Capital Commission says Ottawa’s Rideau Canal Skateway will not open this season due to warm temperatures.
HAVING A BALL IN RUGBY: British town celebrates sporting milestone
Ahead of this year’s World Cup of Rugby this Fall, rugby fans around the world are also celebrating the 200th anniversary of the sport’s birth this year. And interest and activities are most notable in British town of Rugby at the West Midlands school where it is said to have all begun.
BUSY AS ALL OUTDOORS
Business was booming at the Outdoor Adventure Show in Mississauga over the weekend with the massive annual event at the International Centre boasting one of its largest list of travel suppliers ever, enhancing the usual roster of camping, adventure, and outdoor providers and products.
WHAT WAS HE THINKING?: Student prank prompts bomb scare
A high school student confessed to sending a hoax bomb threat via AirDrop that resulted in an American Airlines flight recently being diverted from the tarmac at a Texas airport, authorities said.
ROUND-UP: Feb. 20-24, 2023
Last week, in which the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was marked, the Canadian trade also saw the return of the annual Destination France roadshow, a glimpse of the future of travel from Air Canada, a unique promotion from Swoop, the opening of a new hotel for visitors to Toronto, and retirement news from a well-known travel industry figure.
‘SAD’ ANNIVERSARY: Tourism still firmly supports Ukraine
On the “sad” occasion of the one-year anniversary today (Feb. 24) of Russia’s unconscionable invasion of its neighbour, the world’s tourism industry remains firmly in support of Ukraine, says the secretary-general of the United Nations Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
‘RELUCTANT TRAVELLER’: On the road with Eugene Levy
Eugene Levy admits he’s not really a fan of the cold or the heat. He doesn’t really like eating strange things, and, well, insects freak him out. He’d rather stay home, to be honest.
NEW ROUTES, SERVICE: Air Canada, United expand alliance
Air Canada and United Airlines have announced that through their enhanced transborder joint business agreement they will offer more than 260 daily transborder flights and two new routes this summer.
UNVEILED: Disney shows off 2023 bridal collection, new wedding features
Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons has launched its 2023 collection of bridal gowns and the first-ever collection of Disney Princess-inspired bridesmaid dresses. Also unveiled at Disney Weddings is a new coach at Disneyland, as the company showcases its venues for nuptials around the world coinciding with this year’s 100th anniversary celebrations.
PUBS, PATIOS & BARS: St. Kitts launches rum certification course
St. Kitts is launching a distinctive, first-of-its-kind “Kittitian RumMaster” program for both rum aficionados and other visitors simply wanting to learn more about the island’s historic spirit, while also getting a taste of Kittitian culture and history.
CALIFORNIA PORT DISCOURAGES VISITS BY CRUISE SHIPS
Hoping to persuade cruise lines decide to anchor elsewhere, the city council in Monterey, California has voted to take away city services for handling passengers arriving at the city’s dock.
LISTENING IN: Depeche Mode never lets us down
Who’d’ve thought Depeche Mode would be all the rage in 2023, close to 40 years after the band’s 1980s heyday? But the British electro-pop giants have exploded on streaming services after their 1987 classic “Never Let Me Down Again” was used in an episode of the latest greatest TV show “The Last of Us.”
THERE’S NO BETTER TIME TO SEE (AND SELL) BRITAIN
With the upcoming coronation of a new king, and the legacy of its previous monarch, along with other high-profile events in the UK in 2022 such as The Commonwealth Games, there is no better time to be selling Britain, says the country’s tourist board chair.
TRAVEL CHAOS AS BLIZZARD SLAMS CANADA AND U.S.
Airlines are warning that travel to and from Central Canada may be affected by a winter storm sweeping in from the west. The blizzard conditions were expected to cause delays to flights into and out of airports in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal on Wednesday and Thursday. Meanwhile, brutal winter weather hammered the northern US Wednesday with “whiteout” snow, dangerous wind gusts and bitter cold, shutting down roadways, closing schools and businesses and prompting dire warnings for people to stay home.
ALL ABOUT OCCITANIE: On the road with Atout France
Atout France has been on the road this week, rolling out its annual Destination France events for close to 350 agents, including events in Vancouver tonight (Thursday), Calgary last night, plus Montreal and Toronto. On average, close to two dozen suppliers are taking part, bolstered by nearly a dozen-strong supplier delegation from the Occitanie region of southern France.
GTAA PLAYS ROLE IN DISRUPTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Citing human trafficking as one of the fastest-growing crimes in Canada, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) says it has renewed its partnership with #NotInMyCity, an organization dedicated to preventing and ending the abhorrent activity.
VIRGIN TAKES FIRST BITE OUT OF BIG APPLE
Virgin Hotels New York City has opened its doors to guests, though an official inaugural event is still to come this Spring. Located on Broadway, Virgin’s sixth US property (and seventh in the portfolio) takes up an entire block between 29th and 30th streets in the booming NoMad neighbourhood.
CARIBBEAN CARRIER BOOSTS INTER-ISLAND SERVICE
With the addition of two aircraft to its fleet, interCaribbean Airways will offer an expanded flight schedule to service Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent & The Grenadines.
LEI OF THE LAND: Hawaiians happier with tourism efforts
Hawaii residents feel that more effort is being made to balance the economic benefits of tourism and quality of life for residents, according to the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism’s Fall 2022 Resident Sentiment Survey.
‘I FORGOT’: Why American travellers are packin’ on planes
The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says it intercepted a record 6,542 guns – nearly 18 a day – last year at airport checkpoints across the America. And while experts don’t think this indicates an epidemic of would-be hijackers – nearly everyone caught claims to have forgotten they had a gun with them – they emphasize the danger even one gun can pose in the wrong hands on a plane or at a checkpoint.
FACING THE FUTURE: Air Canada tests digital recognition for pax
Calling the process, simple, seamless, and safe, Air Canada has launched digital identification for passengers, becoming the first airline in Canada with approval to use facial recognition technology to confirm identification. The pilot project is currently underway for select customers departing from YVR for Winnipeg, and entering the Air Canada Café at Toronto Pearson, but will be expanded to other locations.
JAPANESE STARTUP UNVEILS BALLOON FLIGHT SPACE VIEWING TOURS
A Japanese startup has announced plans to launch commercial space viewing balloon flights that it hopes will bring an otherwise astronomically expensive experience down to Earth. The company CEO said passengers do not need to be billionaires, go through intense training or have the language skills needed to fly in a rocket.
‘CARNIVAL OF REBIRTH’: Rio revels in full return of beloved event
Glittery and outrageous costumes were prepared again. Samba songs were ringing out ’til dawn at Rio de Janeiro’s sold-out parade grounds. And hundreds of raucous, roaming parties were once again flooding the streets over the weekend as the city’s iconic returned to form for the first time since the pandemic.
UNITED INVESTIGATED FOR SHOCK NOSE-DIVE
The US National Transportation Safety Board says is investigating a December flight in which a United Airlines plane nose-dived to within less than 250 metres of the ocean surface after taking off from Hawaii. The NTSB said it expects to issue a preliminary report in about two weeks. The agency said that it had been asking United questions about the incident before deciding whether to launch a formal investigation.