After a thorough search across North Amerca, Destination Toronto veteran and current executive vice president Andrew Weir has been named President & CEO of the organization effective May 1. Weir has been an integral member of the leadership team at Destination Toronto for the past 18 years.
Last week, the US government cracked down on airlines over delays and transparency, while other notable news included the start of a new high-speed rail link between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, more Asia links from WestJet, the delay of the launch of a new Princess ship, and batten down the hatches – forecasters are predicting the busiest Atlantic hurricane season ever.
Welcome to The Most Magical Place On Earth. There is one place on Earth where moments of magic take place every day, every hour, every second, in every corner of our world. Where moments have the power to transform us—and free us to escape into joy. Here, the magic we make together warms our
An extremely active upcoming Atlantic hurricane season has been predicted by researchers at Colorado State University in their initial 2024 outlook. Pointing to record warm tropical and eastern subtropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures as a primary factor, the CSU Tropical Weather and Climate team is forecasting 11 hurricanes this year – the highest prediction for hurricanes ever issued in the institution’s April outlook.
Calling Alberta’s capital “the heart of our ambitious growth strategy,” WestJet’s chief executive told Edmonton’s business and community leaders Wednesday that the airline is intent on being the city’s top airline and cementing its “well-deserved position on the global stage, making it one of the most connected cities of its size in North America.”
Venice launched a pilot program Thursday to charge day-trippers a €5 (CDN$7.35) entry fee that authorities hope will discourage visitors from arriving on peak days and make the city more livable for its dwindling residents. But not everyone was happy, with some residents likening the move to turning Venice into a theme park.
Paris’s iconic windmill sails of the Moulin Rouge, a vibrant emblem of French city’s bohemian lifestyle, collapsed Thursday after a show. The incident took place shortly before 2 a.m., after the last performance of the night had ended and the audience had left the historic cabaret venue, renowned for its dazzling shows and can-can dancers. No injuries were reported.
When a small number of cases of locally transmitted malaria were found in the United States last year, it was a reminder that climate change is reviving or migrating the threat of some diseases. But in light of World Malaria Day yesterday (April 25), experts are reminding that malaria has never left, killing or sickening millions of people and threatening visitors to afflicted areas who don’t take precautions.
Holland America Line is debuting ‘Glacier Days’ on its Alaska cruises with expanded ‘We Love Alaska on-board experiences.’ HAL’s six ships doing cruises from Vancouver and Seattle are featuring more cultural enrichment and culinary and cocktail specialties designed to foster a deeper connection to the people and history of Alaska, the company says.
With apologies to Kraftwerk and Trio (remember the classic “Da Da Da”?), The Scorpions are Germany’s greatest contribution to the rock music canon. Still going strong, the band formed in 1965 but hit its commercial peak in the ‘80s with a series of power ballads that helped define the niche, such as “Winds of Change” (about the political transformation of Russia) and “Still Lovin’ You.”
The US government issued final rules Wednesday to require airlines to automatically issue cash refunds for things like delayed flights and to better disclose fees for baggage or cancelling a reservation. The Transportation Department said airlines will be required to provide automatic cash refunds within a few days for cancelled flights and “significant” delays, which it defines as three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international ones.
Maureen Gordon has weathered hard times before. She and her husband began running ecotourism outfit Maple Leaf Adventures out of Vancouver about a month before the 9/11 terrorist attacks devastated international travel in 2001. The rebound was relatively quick. Fallout from COVID-19 has proven much more prolonged.
Luxury travel network Virtuoso hosted three networking and professional development events this month for its Canadian member agencies, advisors, and preferred partners. Virtuoso On Tour Canada kicked off in Montréal April 4-5 at the Four Seasons Hotel Montréal, continued in Vancouver April 8-9 at the DOUGLAS, an Autograph Collection Hotel, and wrapped at the Shangri-La Toronto April 11-12.
MSC Cruises has announced a new summer ‘Stay & Cruise’ program, offering guests the chance to extend their cruise with a new add-on package in five destinations: Athens, Venice, Rome, Miami, and New York. Clients can book extra accommodation for two or three nights (depending on the city) before or after their cruise, coupled with a half-day city excursion.
African Travel, Inc., the Travel Corporation’s luxury safari outfitter, is promoting ethical wildlife experiences by sharing responsible practices with clients help create a healthy planet. ATI is highlighting three key areas where clients can make a positive impact on wildlife conservation and the protection of habitats while enjoying an immersive African safari adventure.
TravelBrands has announced the appointment of Nicole Davey as its new Business Development Manager for British Columbia. With over 10 years of experience in the travel industry, both as a selling agent and an office manager, Davey brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her new role.
A “global travel industry champion,” Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy has been honoured with the Cruise Lines International Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024. Steering the flagship brand of Carnival Corp., Duffy leads more than 48,000 Carnival Cruise Line team members who cater to more than 5.5 million guests each year.
As airfares continue to surge, travellers are increasingly turn to “skiplagging” for more affordable options – a practice frowned upon by airlines. But it’s travel advisors who often pay the price, says the World Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAAA), which is urging airlines to stop penalizing agents when clients break the rules.
A US$12-billion passenger bullet train linking Sin City to the City of Angels is now under construction with the Las Vegas-Los Angeles line dubbed the first true high-speed rail service in the US. The private company building it is predicting millions of ticket-buyers will be boarding trains by 2028.
With the hockey playoffs and baseball season now in session – and the Summer Olympics and EURO 2024 only a few calendar page flips off – Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) says its research show that nearly one out of every two Canadians say they are likely to plan a trip focused on attending sporting events.
Transat Distribution Canada (TDC) recently invited its English Canada owners, managers, preferred partners, and leadership team to a strategic retreat at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, BC – this following a similar session for Quebec members earlier in the month in Charlevoix.
Flight simulator maker CAE Inc. says it has signed an agreement with Nav Canada to help train flight service specialists and air traffic controllers beginning this fall. In July, IATA called out air traffic control organizations in North America, which include Nav Canada, for staffing shortages that “continue to produce unacceptable delays and disruptions.”
Valery Brown-Alce, a veteran in the Bahamas tourism sector, has been appointed as the newest Deputy Director General (DDG) of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation. Her appointment is effective immediately and responsibilities include oversight of the Bahamas Tourist Offices in the US, Canada, and Europe.
US authorities are investigating after a video that surfaced on social media showing a man who appears to be Colorado Rockies hitting coach Hensley Meulens sitting in the pilot’s seat “at cruise altitude” while bound for Toronto. The Instagram post, which has been taken down, included a caption that said “the captain and the first officer” of a United Airlines charter flight had allowed the poster to sit in the cockpit during the flight from Denver.
Jay Sorensen flies both business class and economy. While the differences between the two have always been stark – priority boarding and free alcohol are decades-old features of first-class travel – lately the gulf seems to have widened, says the consulting firm president. Economy-class trips are defined by shrinking legroom, narrower cushion space, diminishing rewards for frequent fliers and, especially, the myriad fees that can pile up like thunderclouds as airlines increasingly offer top-up options on their tickets.
New research related to sustainable travel suggest that eight in 10 (78%) Canadian travellers confirm that sustainable travel is important to them, though new insights show a sense of weariness could be emerging, fueled by the ongoing challenges experienced to make more sustainable travel choices.
It was only fitting that last week’s trade mission to Toronto by the Philadelphia Visitors and Convention Bureau culminated in an evening at the Royal Conservatory with the Philadelphia Orchestra, which also performed its first international concert in the city 100 years ago. PHLCVB President and CEO Gregg Caren said the event symbolized the long history of cultural connections between the two cities and noted that Canada is Philadelphia’s top partner in both trade and tourism.
Cunard’s newest ship, the Queen Anne officially joined the luxury cruise line’s iconic fleet during a historic handover ceremony in Italy on April 19 and is now sailing to Southampton ahead of her seven-night maiden voyage to Lisbon on May 3.
Tis the season for travel advisors to be on the road, whether its on a FAM or for organizational sessions and summits – or heading to the bank! Here’s a glimpse of a few recent rendezvous, ranging from The Travel Agent Next Door hopping down to South Africa with G Adventures (banner photo), plus on tour with Travel Edge’s top dog, dining and discovering with TRAVELSAVERS, and cashing cheques from Ensemble.