WestJet says it is making significant increases to its summer schedule, bringing more seats and additional flight frequencies to routes across its network. That includes a 64 percent increase in capacity from Regina and 46 percent more from Saskatoon, as well as other western gateways.
Destination Canada has introduced a new global brand strategy – including a unique new partnership with TED – designed to “put Canada on the map” again for international travellers, reversing the pandemic trend that saw eight of 10 tourism dollars spent last year by Canadians.
Rhythmic reggae beats, mesmerizing beaches and waterfalls, friendly people, a vibrant culture and Blue Mountain Coffee — these are just a few of the amazing things that Jamaica is known for. While there are many reasons for your clients to visit this vibrant island, on top of that list is being able to wake up to the delightful aromas of a cup of the world-famous Blue Mountain Coffee.
Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) has announced the appointment of travel industry veteran Anita Emilio as the Vice President and General Manager, Independent and Luxury pillars in Canada, effective immediately.
Greece’s National Archaeological Museum is in for a major renovation and expansion that officials hope will attract more visitors to the Athens venue that houses what is considered the most important collection of Greek antiquities in the world.
When Sandals Dunn’s River opens on May 24, 2023, it will set a new standard of excellence in Jamaica, offering one-of-a-kind accommodations where nature and luxury go hand in hand. Modern designs inspired by the stunning phenomenon of the Dunn’s River, encapsulating the rainforest backdrop for this tranquil place, these accommodations have been elevated to new heights with Jamaica’s natural elements present in every experience across the resort.
Just as Toronto Pearson announced a cap on flight and passenger arrivals, a group of airlines that includes KLM, Delta and easyJet have sued the Dutch government over its plans to reduce the number of flights from Amsterdam’s busy Schiphol Airport.
A Lufthansa flight that experienced “significant turbulence” late last week was diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport and seven people on board were taken to area hospitals.
Birmingham today is hardly recognizable to those who may have visited in the past. Britain’s second city has re-invented itself over the past couple of decades, and not least in recent years leading up to and including last summer’s Commonwealth Games – an event city officials consider a global coming out party for the West Midlands city.
Nine British Columbia tourism and hospitality providers have been recognized for their outstanding contribution to the sector in Canada’s westernmost province. Winners were presented by Indigenous Tourism BC March 2 at a gala awards event sponsored by the British Columbia Hotel Association (BCHA) and the Tourism Industry Association of British Columbia (TIABC).
Seabourn has announced the appointment Natalya Leahy as its new president. Leahy, whose seven years with Holland America Group included operational oversight of Seabourn, succeeds Josh Leibowitz who is leaving the brand to pursue new opportunities.
The famed statue of Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid, one of Copenhagen’s biggest tourist draws, has been vandalized, with the colours of the Russian flag painted on the rock on which she sits.
Airports in Montreal and Toronto made big news last week, along with the unveiling of a number of appealing agent incentives. And, as usual, there’s the latest airline cruise, hotel, and tour operator tidbits, plus much more.
If Sunwing passenger Behfar Sanjarit was at all nervous about flying to Cancun for a recent holiday, it’s only because he was preparing to pop the question to his unsuspecting girlfriend, Golnar Adhami, in an unconventional setting – on the plane at 30,000 feet!
A travel industry coalition is calling on Ottawa to broaden its trusted traveller pilot program and roll it out across the country. The demand comes ahead of an expected busy summer season, and spring break this month when traveller numbers at Toronto’s Pearson airport are expected to be 30 percent higher than a year ago.
With Spring Break on the horizon (at last!) and many Canadians preparing to escape the trenches – not to mention the snowbanks – to head south for heaping helping of sunshine and warm weather, many Florida destinations are gearing up for the annual migration of students and families with a host of happenings throughout March and April.
If you haven’t tried Transat’s mobile app for awhile, now’s the time, as the airline has unveiled a fresh interface and new features, all designed to simplify the user experience.
Alligator antics, lunatic leaders, a yearning for Easter eggs, and roving bands of headphone-stealing bandits on mopeds, were among the items that caught our attention this week in this big, ol’, wacky world.
Move over Miami, Port Canaveral has climbed to number one as the world’s busiest cruise port for the first time ever. New figures from the Florida Ports Council rank the port 45 miles from Orlando as number one, with 4.07 million passengers coming to or from cruises in 2022. That compares with 4.02 million for PortMiami, which has held the title for many years. Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale retained its number 3 spot, with 1.72 million passengers.
Kudos to k.d. lang, who was just awarded Canada’s highest honour in the performing arts – the 2023 Governor-General’s Performing Arts Awards, one of seven Canadians to receive the honour. The lifetime achievement award “recognizes artists for their outstanding body of work and enduring contribution to the performing arts in Canada.”
Air Canada says it has no problem with the Greater Toronto Airport Authority plan to impose limits on carrier operations at Toronto-Pearson airport. The airline says it learned of GTAA’s plans last August and designed its 2023 winter schedule accordingly.
Flexible work arrangements, such as “bizcations,” are some of the most notable work-related outcomes of the pandemic – and something that many employees prioritize. The mobile workplace has become the norm and innovative working arrangements have become a key factor in attracting talent.
From cosmopolitan (and quintessential) British cities to historic castles, and Shakespeare to Peaky Blinders, England’s West Midlands region shows another side of the country beyond the well-known attractions of London. And they’re attributes that Goway is eager to show off in a series of new tours recently introduced by the Canadian tour operator.
Hong Kong lifted its mask mandate on Wednesday, ending the city’s last major restriction imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The city’s chief executive, John Lee, said masks are no longer be required for residents or travellers both outdoors and indoors, including on public transit.
Struggling low-cost airline Viva Air suspended its operations in Colombia and Peru Tuesday, leaving thousands of passengers stranded in airports with little support. The airline, owned by the same group that owns Ryanair, blamed Colombian authorities for delays in approving the airline’s requested merger with Avianca, Colombia’s main carrier.
G Adventures’ popular agent incentive program “Change Makers” is returning this year after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Agents will be able to earn their way to the global summit – to be held from Sept. 22-28, 2023, in a yet-to-be-revealed destination – by “choosing to change people’s lives through travel.”
A man who US federal agents say tried to board a plane in New Jersey with three guns, including a semi-automatic rifle, and a fake law-enforcement ID is in federal custody and facing two charges.
A JetBlue pilot had to take “evasive action” while landing at Boston’s Logan International Airport when another aircraft crossed an intersecting runway, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Despite the spate of recent “near misses” data from the US Federal Aviation Administration shows the number of the most serious close calls at US airports has actually been decreasing even as overall incidents have risen.
WestJet customers were rebooked on a seven-and-a-half-hour bus trip from Calgary to Regina after their afternoon flight was cancelled on Sunday. Passengers said they were informed less than three hours before boarding that the one-hour flight between the two cities had been cancelled and that they could reach their destination via “ground transportation” that would have them arrive in Regina after midnight.
Air Canada conducted its second annual Black History celebratory flight from Montreal to Halifax on Tuesday – an operation that was planned, supported, and operated by Black pilots, flight attendants, managers, and employees on the ground and behind the scenes.