TREADRIGHT CHECKLIST: How to help plan sustainable travel

In recognizing the importance for travellers to travel sustainably, The Travel Corporation (TTC) family of brands (among them Trafalgar, Insight and Contiki) has introduced a downloadable checklist designed to help clients (and those who book them) become more responsible travellers, ultimately helping to protect and make a positive impact on the planet, its people, and wildlife.

CARMEN RIU READY TO RETIRE

Carmen Riu has decided to retire as co-CEO of Spanish-based RIU Hotels & Resorts. Nearly 70, she will depart before summer, leaving her executive and institutional representation roles at company, where she currently shares her position with her brother Luis Riu, who will now continue as the company’s sole CEO.

NOT SO FAST: Graceland foreclosure sale halted as Presley estate’s calls fraud

A judge on Wednesday said Elvis Presley’s estate could be successful in arguing that a company’s attempt to auction Graceland is fraudulent as he halted a foreclosure sale of the beloved Memphis tourist attraction. Shelby County Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins issued a temporary injunction against the proposed auction that had been scheduled for Thursday. The injunction keeps in place a previous restraining order issued after Presley’s granddaughter Riley Keough filed a lawsuit to fight off what she said was a fraudulent scheme.

NICOLE BURSEY EXPLAINS: How Transat’s EBB can help agents’ bottom line

Transat’s newly launched Early Booking Bonus (EBB) is key opportunity that offers a wealth of advantages for both travel agents and vacationers. Transat Commercial Director Nicole Bursey explains why the promotion is not just a sales event but a strategic opportunity that significantly impacts annual revenue streams for travel agencies.

BERMUDAIR KICKS OFF CANADA SERVICE

BermudAir launched service to Canada with its inaugural flight to Toronto Pearson last week (May 17) and will follow this week with Halifax service (May 25). The nation’s flagship airline will provide direct year-round service to YYZ three times a week – Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday – with a flight time of two and a half hours, and weekly YHZ flights on Saturdays.

8 OF THE BEST RESORTS IN TRANSAT’S EBB SALE

Are you looking to recommend the perfect all-inclusive family resort for your clients’ next South vacations? Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Cuba, Jamaica, and even underrated Panama and Colombia are home to resorts that are ideal for families, ensuring a holiday packed with sun, fun, and cherished memories.

VIA RAIL ON TRACK FOR RECORD RIDERSHIP

Via Rail notched a big jump in ridership last year, continuing a three-year trend ahead of an expected record number of customers in 2024. In its annual report last week, the Crown corporation said some 4.1 million passengers hopped aboard its trains in 2023, a one-quarter jump from the year before. The higher demand boosted revenues by 29 percent to $430.7 million.

CURATED ALL-INCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES: Melia Resorts in Cuba for your clients

What if there was a seamless and easy-going way to book your clients’ next vacation in Cuba? The answer is simple: with Melia properties at the forefront, Transat facilitates access to an exclusive supply chain that promises not just premium quality and variety but also complete peace of mind.

MEG MURGATROYD JOINS JUST YOU

Well-known Canadian travel industry veteran Meg Murgatroyd has joined solo traveller specialist Just You as head of trade sales for North America in a move the company says reinforces its commitment to supporting the travel trade in Canada.

DESTINATION CANADA REVEALS ROAD MAP TO BOOST LAGGING TOURISM

Canada’s tourism industry has rolled out a road map it hopes will attract visitors to Canada after the bruising it took during the COVID-19 pandemic. At Rendez-vous, the country’s largest annual tourism convention held in Edmonton last week, Destination Canada and the federal government unveiled a plan that aims to extend the travel season, increase the length of stays and attract more locals, foreigners and business travellers to a broader range of sites.

WESTJET, KOREA TOURISM CELEBRATE INAUGURAL FLIGHT

WestJet Group launched its first flight to Seoul from Calgary Friday, establishing a direct link between Alberta and South Korea. The nearly sold-out WestJet flight 86 marked the first of 140 flights between Calgary and Seoul this summer, with the 787 Dreamliner service operating three times per week through Oct. 27, returning again in Spring 2025.

AIR CANADA ALL IN ON OTTAWA

Air Canada is significantly boosting its schedule serving Ottawa with year-round flights to Calgary and Winnipeg, increased flights to Halifax and Quebec City, and the addition of widebody service to Vancouver. Additional schedule improvements include more flights to Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, Cancun, and Punta Cana this winter.

JAMAICA CRUISING TO ARRIVALS MILESTONE

As the global travel industry (including Travel Industry Today) gathers in Montego Bay this week for Caribbean Travel Marketplace, host country Jamaica reports that it has recorded an impressive 1.7 million visitors as of May 7 of this year – nearly five percent ahead of last year and putting the island on track to reach its goal of welcoming a whopping five million visitors by 2025.

MONTREAL AIRPORT SQUABBLE HEADS TO COURT

The authority that runs Montreal’s international airport is going to court to stop an up-and-coming suburban airport from rebranding with the city’s name, arguing it will cause confusion among travellers. But the airport being taken to court is accusing the international airport of trying to protect a “monopoly.”

LEAVE THE AMMO AT HOME: U.S. tourists arrested in Turks, punishment called ‘absurd’

Five Americans are facing prison sentences of up to 12 years in the Turks and Caicos Islands on charges they illegally carried ammunition during recent trips to the Caribbean tourist destination. Three of the arrests have prompted pleas for mercy from the governors of Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, one of whom called the punishment “absurd.”

ROUND-UP: May 13-17, 2024

Quebec has a “new” tour operator with deep roots, and the “end of revenge (travel)” was officially declared. In other happenings last week, WestJet announced service to Iceland, Transat released its winter flight schedule, and France declared a state of emergency in New Caledonia.

COLLETTE COMES CALLING: Tour op in Toronto for gala trade event

Having operated for 106 years, Collette has stuck it’s toe into Canadian waters on plenty of occasions. But Wednesday’s visit seemed special as the Rhode Island-based tour operator gathered with close to 100 key members of the travel trade members in Toronto for the first time since the pandemic, and to be formally introduced to the company’s new CEO Jaclyn Leibl-Cote.

FIRE AND ICE: WestJet inaugurates Iceland service

WestJet celebrated the takeoff of service between Calgary and Reykjavik (Keflavik) Thursday, adding another option from Western Canada and the airline’s hub to Europe. Flights will operate four times weekly through Oct. 13 on 737 MAX aircraft, departing Calgary at 8:25 a.m.

NOT IF BUT WHEN: Forecasters say hurricane will hit Florida

With the start of the hurricane season less than a month away and 2024 expected to be busier than average, US officials who predict, prepare for, and respond to natural disasters have a message: It’s not a matter of if a hurricane will hit Florida, but when. Even for those not on the coast, the officials said people need to know the potential danger hurricanes pose, such as flooding; and put together an emergency plan that includes a supply kit.

CRUISE CONTROL: Can victory be snatched from Great Lakes defeat?

Here we go again. Cruise entrepreneur John Waggoner is reported to be relaunching Victory Cruise Lines to start cruising the Great Lakes in 2025. He scooped up two 190-passenger ships that have come and gone a number of times from the lakes over the past couple of decades in an auction of the assets of the bankrupt American Queen Voyages.

AN UTTERLY BRAINLESS EXERCISE: Where to go when the zombies take over

If you don’t survive the zombie apocalypse you can’t gamble, we suppose. With this evidently in mind, the good folks at CasinoHunters have curated a list of which Canadian provinces we should travel to (or not) to survive such an occurrence were it to happen in 2024.

LISTENING IN: ‘Love Shack’ with an terrific Ted Lasso twist

Of all the covers of “Love Shack” one might expect, a version by Brendan Hunt and Hannah Waddingham wouldn’t be among them. That’s because (for the uninitiated) the duo are better known as the beloved characters Coach Beard and Rebecca from the Ted Lasso TV show. But don’t be dissuaded, the talented pair absolutely nail the B52s’ classic.

THE END OF REVENGE: Canadians shift to reflective, meaningful travel in 2024

If 2023 was the year for “revenge travel,” then 2024 is shaping up to be the year for intentional exploration. A recent Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) survey conducted by YouGov reveals that 61% of Canadians are planning to pack their bags within the next year – but this time with a purpose. Canadians are trading impulsive getaways for mindful travel choices, seeking meaningful experiences that align with their values, aspirations – and tighter budgets.

LIVING THE DREAM: WestJet rides 787s to more overseas routes

WestJet has announced enhancements to its winter 787 schedule, including expanded year-round service between Calgary and Tokyo, as well as increased daily flights between Calgary and Paris Charles-de-Gaulle International (CDG) and London Heathrow International (LHR) Airports. The airline is also enhancing its presence on popular leisure routes with service between Canada, Mexico, and Hawaii.

ON THE ROAD TO OMAN: Club Med plans first Middle East resort

All-inclusive pioneer Club Med is planning its first property in the Middle East: Club Med Musandam, a luxurious beach resort set to open in 2028 in Oman. The 300-room, Exclusive Collection resort will incorporate the culture of Oman in its design, entertainment, food & beverage, and provide guests with access to a private beach with incredible scenery.

WILD AT HEART: Irish touring route thriving 10 years on

Offering cinematic beauty, off-the-beaten-track experiences and transcendently beautiful coastal scenery, Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way – the world’s longest-defined coastal touring route – has been one of the island of Ireland’s most successful tourism stories.

ANTIGUA WELCOMES NEW ROYALTON

Royalton CHIC Antigua has officially opened its doors, marking a new all-inclusive addition to the Blue Diamond Resorts’ portfolio. Featuring 225 rooms, the brand’s first property on the island designed exclusively for adults also notably introduces the innovative ‘Party Your Way’ concept.

EMIRATES FLYING HIGH AFTER PANDEMIC

Emirates has announced record profits of US$4.7 billion for 2023 as the airline fully took flight after the turbulent years of the coronavirus pandemic disrupted its operations. The airline carried 51.9 million passengers in its 2023 financial year, as compared to 43.6 million the year prior.

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