HIS Japan has announced a leadership change at TravelBrands, Red Label Vacations, and Merit Travel. Nathalie Tanious will take charge of the companies following the decision of President and CEO Frank DeMarinis to step down from the organization, effective July 21.
WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech says bringing Swoop and Sunwing Airlines under its banner won’t lead to higher airfares, since integrating the discount carriers will also tamp down costs.
The federal government moved this week to bolster accountability at airports, introducing new legislation that would compel them and other operators to cough up more information on their performance.
There’s no place like Wytheville. Literally. Unlike Washington or ubiquitous Springfield (notably home of everyman family the Simpsons), the southwest Virginia town is the only place in the US with that name (and the entire world, they claim).
From Carnival in Antigua and Barbuda to new properties in the US Virgin Islands, record tourist arrivals in Jamaica and the Barbados Food & Rum festival, here’s the some of the latest news from the Caribbean that has caught our eye.
Guests at Sandals Dunn’s River resort are guaranteed a “stellar” stay with the introduction of the luxury all-inclusive’s first “Stargazing Concierge,” part of a new and out-of-this world Celestial Experience at the newly re-imagined property in Jamaica.
With news swirling this week about the future integration of Sunwing Airlines into the WestJet fleet, the company’s tour operator arm is reassuring the trade that it’s “business as usual” and that the future is “brighter than ever.”
The head of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada says businesses are struggling to stay afloat under a pile of debt and a dearth of overseas visitors. In a poll of tourism operators, some 45 percent said they were likely or somewhat likely to shut down within three years unless the government steps in to adjust their loan conditions.
Tropical Storm Bret chugged toward the eastern Caribbean on Tuesday as forecasters warned it could strengthen into a hurricane before approaching a region rushing to prepare itself for an unusually early storm.
Police arrested a Norwegian citizen in Hungary on suspicion that he was planning an extremist attack modeled after a 2011 massacre in Norway that killed 77 people, and would have taken place across airports, railway stations and on airplanes.
In our latest retail round-up, Transat agents sailed with Scenic, Crystal made waves with Travel Leaders Network, and TRAVELSAVERS Canada talks technology.
Registration is now open for the ACTA Travel Industry Summits to be held in Toronto, Richmond, BC, and Laval, Que., in September. Travel advisors, managers, senior leaders, consortia, and host agency teams are all invited to attend.
Kwasi Bandoh, a senior recruiter for an airline, stood before a group of aviation mechanic students at their graduation ceremony last month and congratulated them for all having jobs. As some of the students began nudging each other, Bandoh realized that perhaps not every one of them had already been hired.
In a record-setting order that underscores surging demand in India for air travel, IndiGo airline said it is buying 500 passenger jets from European plane-maker Airbus.
Experts seemingly disagree whether WestJet’s decision to shut down Sunwing Airlines and fold it into its main operations could mean less service and higher fares – or whether the Competition Bureau, competitors, and savvy consumers will ensure that fares stay competitive.
A rescue operation was underway deep in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Newfoundland on Monday in search of a submarine that carries tourists to view the wreckage of the Titanic.
Vancouver ranks as the top domestic city being booked this year, according to new survey results released by First in Service Travel LTD (F1S) – one of North America’s largest independent travel agencies.
G Adventures has posted a new toolkit for travel counsellors to help promote its new brand campaign. Meant to be “part rally cry, part love-letter to real travel,” “Bring on the World” is designed to capture the type of travel the community tourism pioneer stands for: “unforgettable experiences, deep connections, and a world-changing ethos,” while at the same time “inspiring travellers to welcome whatever their adventure happens brings their way.”
Ferry travel between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia has been cancelled until at least Wednesday morning due to technical problems with the service’s sole vessel, the MV Confederation.
Canadian travel industry veteran Vicki Ioannou-Theophilou has joined JacTravel to boost the British-based destination management company’s presence in North America in the role of regional sales manager.
WestJet says it will wind down Sunwing Airlines and integrate the carrier into its mainline business within two years as part of a strategy to streamline operations.
However WestJet said its “immediate focus” remains on weaving Swoop into the company’s operations.
Cambodia, the Maldives, and Indonesia have become the newest signatories to UNWTO’s International Code for the Protection of Tourists. The Code is the first ever legal instrument designed to create internationally recognized standards for the protection of tourists at the international level.
A shiny red sightseeing bus, a common sight in most European cities, might have been an anomaly here in Old Bilbao if not for the reinvention of Spain’s largest Basque city as a mecca for art and culture.
Far-flung destinations, late-season travel, and a focus on in-depth exploration of a singular place, highlight this summer’s travel trends for Gen-Z and Millennials, according to new client booking data and new sentiment research of the demographic from Contiki.
Marriott International, Inc. has plans to further expand in the affordable midscale lodging segment in Canada and the US with yet-to-be-named extended-stay brand intended to deliver reasonably priced modern comfort for guests seeking longer stay accommodations.
SeaWorld has opened a massive new aquatic life park in the United Arab Emirates, its first outside the United States. The US$1.2-billion venture features the world’s largest aquarium and a cylindrical LED screen.
In last week’s news, Air Canada announced a return to Singapore after more than 30 years, also a new NDC deal with Sabre; Amex GBT reveals some interesting fare facts; there’s new rail booking platform in Canada; and Vancouver is set to get a swank new hotel.
Heralding a new entertainment district for the GTA, a much anticipated billion-dollar resort located near Toronto airport is set to open next week with a modern Vegas-style casino, hotel, live entertainment venue, and multiple on-site dining options.
The oneworld airline alliance says it has completed initial trials of a state-of-the-art booking tool that leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to help users navigate the complex process of planning a “Round the World” ticket.
Launching ‘Little Tennessee’ at The Drake Hotel Toronto are (l-r) Charmaine Singh, Reach Global; state tourist development commissioner Mark Ezell; singer-songwriters Eric Arjes and Jimmy Robbins; Deana Ivy, president of Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp.; and state tourism assistant commissioner of marketing Debra Smith.