Canada Jetlines’ inaugural flights have been delayed; France lifts COVID restrictions, but Germany plans for a fall wave; revenue at Air Canada improves; and much more in last week’s round-up.
NEWS
Germany presented plans for new coronavirus measures for the coming fall and winter as it expects virus cases to go up again during the colder season. Among them, wearing masks on planes and during long-distance travel by train and bus will be mandatory from October to early April all over Germany.
The UNWTO’s forward-looking scenarios published in May point to international arrivals reaching 55% to 70% of pre-pandemic levels in 2022. Scenarios by region show Europe and Americas recording the best tourism results so far this year.
BORDERS
Following a new law passed on July 30, France has declared an end to the public health emergency and subsequent exceptional measures put in place at the outset of the COVID pandemic. Similarly, Martinique and Tahiti advise that all COVID-19 restrictions applied to international travellers arriving on the Caribbean and South Pacific islands have been lifted.
BY THE NUMBERS
In June, 15,634 visitors arrived in Hawaii from Canada compared to 19,172 visitors (-18.5%) in June 2019. Visitors from Canada spent $34.4 million, compared to $36.1 million (-4.6%) in June 2019. And daily spending by Canadians increased to $196 p.p. compared to $160 p.p. (+22.5%). Overall, a total of 842,927 visitors arrived in Hawaii in June, representing an 89% recovery from June 2019.
AIR
Canada Jetlines has announced a change to the date of inaugural flights out of Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to Winnipeg (YWG) and Moncton, New Brunswick (YQM). The inaugural flights, originally scheduled for Aug. 15, have been tentatively rescheduled for Aug. 29, subject to receipt of final licensing approval.
Air Canada raked in a nearly five-fold revenue increase in its latest quarter but continued to suffer net losses in the hundreds of millions due to a “very challenging” three months, said CEO Mike Rousseau. Nevertheless, the airline boss says he is “encouraged” by the recent improvements.
From July 1 to 31, WestJet completed 97.5% of all scheduled flights, according to flight statistics provided by Cirium. Additionally, 82% of all scheduled and operated flights arrived within 45 minutes of scheduled arrival time.
DEALS
To celebrate its 25th anniversary (Aug. 5), Viking is offering special savings plus up to free international airfare on select river and ocean voyages. The “25th Anniversary Sale” is in effect until the end of the month.
Couples Resorts is celebrating Jamaica’s Diamond Jubilee with a special offer. Travellers that book by Aug. 31 for travel through Dec. 16 will receive their 6th night free, a $60 resort credit and two times the Romance Rewards points.
TOURS
Tourcan Vacations has launched a new on-line booking engine that provides user-friendly access to thousands of flight options, airlines, and price options. The booking engine is accessible through the tour company’s agent portal. For information and registration, click HERE.
A new Explorations tour has been launched by Collette. The 11-day “Montana: Exploring Big Sky Country” excursion includes two full days in Yellowstone National Park, a cruise through the Gates of the Mountains following in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark, as well as an overnight at St. Mary Lodge just outside Glacier National Park. Tour participants also have an opportunity to meet with a descendant of the last Kootenai chief while learning about Kootenai traditions and trying out some traditional foods.
HOTELS
Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, one of the most iconic heritage properties in Southeast Asia, has reopened its doors to guests on June 1 for the first time in almost three years. First opened in 1932 and widely celebrated as La Grande Dame de Angkor, the hotel has been welcoming discerning travellers and famous faces – from Charlie Chaplin to Jackie Kennedy and Michelle Obama – to the historic heart of Cambodia for almost 90 years. The hotel underwent a delicate transformation in 2019 with rooms and suites receiving a meticulous facelift before the global pause in travel.
New this summer in the San Francisco, the Sir Francis Drake Hotel has re-opened doors as the Beacon Grand following a renovation and redesign of all public spaces and 418 guestrooms…. Located near San Francisco’s iconic Ferry Building on the Embarcadero, 1 Hotel San Francisco opened on June 1. The 200-room hotel is the city’s first mission-driven hotel that celebrates the beauty of the Bay Area’s natural environment…. The LUMA Hotel San Francisco has opened as the first hotel development in the evolving Mission Bay community.
RESORTS
Labour Day Weekend (Sept. 2-4) will see the return of the Four Seasons Maui Wine & Food Classic offering guests the opportunity to connect with an all-star lineup of vintners and celebrity chefs, including Wolfgang Puck, Josiah Citrin, and Joachim Splichal. Tickets for events, ranging from US$230 to $930 can be purchased on the resort’s website.
Playa Hotels & Resorts all-new Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya is now available for booking. The all-inclusive 291-room adult resort, featuring “modern hacienda charm,” is nestled in the secluded region of Riviera Maya 10 km. from Playa del Carmen, surrounded by lush mangroves, and set on a long stretch of pure white sand beach. The resort will open Dec. 1.
CRUISE
Marking a major construction milestone, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Vista touched water for the first time last week when it was floated out from dry dock at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera (Venice), Italy. The Prima Class vessel will set sail in 2023.
Carnival Cruise Line reports it has reached an important milestone this summer – welcoming three million guests since the restart of guest operations in July 2021. The “banner summer” across the cruise company’s 23 ships comes as the cruise line celebrates its 50th anniversary and at time when pandemic restrictions have largely been removed.
ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
Every Saturday night from Sept. 17 to Oct. 29, Monsters are taking over LEGOLAND California Resort in San Diego as “Brick-or-Treat” presents the all-new Monster Party children’s Halloween celebration. Guests can dress up and celebrate Halloween with new LEGO® Monster characters, treat stations, not-so-spooky décor, an all-new show lineup, and the release of the exclusive new 4D movie: “The Great Monster Chase!”
FAMS & INCENTIVES
Air Canada, Utah Office of Tourism, and Rocky Mountaineer are partnering on the “Sell Your Way to Utah!” promotion, which will enable four agents to qualify to join an Oct. 22-29 FAM to Utah, including airfare, to join the rail company’s Red Rocks itinerary. Travel professionals will receive one point for each round-trip Air Canada return or open jaw airfare booked to either Denver, Las Vegas or Salt Lake City between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30 and one point for each Rocky Mountaineer passenger booked on the “Rockies to the Red Rocks” rail journey for travel in 2022. One additional point for any Utah land arrangements will also be awarded. Agents must register to participate by Aug. 25 by emailing lara@canuckiwi.com with their details.
EVENTS
Travel Edge Network recently hosted a select group of top advisors, including several from Toronto, and Travel Edge team members on a Silversea Alaskan cruise aboard the Silver Muse (photo). This year’s event not only honoured top overall sales but was expanded to recognize the leading performers by vertical including adoption of preferred suppliers, air, and cruise. Canadians included Brett Carfa (Top Sales Performance/Cruise), Jenny Malka (Top Sales Performance/ Cruise), and Laura Kelly (Rising Star award).
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
Explora Journeys, the luxury travel brand of MSC Group, has appointed Patricia Di Benedetto as its Toronto-based Business Relationship Lead in Canada. She was most recently a Strategic Accounts Manager for Royal Caribbean International and has more than 17 years of experience in building retail and hospitality brands.
Sabrina Bernacchia has joined Discover the World in Toronto as national sales manager for German carrier Condor Airlines. Her 30-year career in travel in Canada included nearly two decades at Air Canada Vacations and the past seven years as senior account manager for Air New Zealand. Condor Airlines offers year-round flights from Toronto, and seasonal flights from Vancouver, Halifax, and Whitehorse to Frankfurt and onward to Europe and points beyond.
DESTINATIONS
Tourism Trinidad has launched the Tourism-Oriented Policing Program (TOPS) for police, immigration, customs, and other front-line law enforcement officials in response to “the critical need to ensure that visitors’ first impressions are positive and memorable upon entering our shores.” The aim of the program is to provide security and other port of entry representatives with the requisite knowledge, skills, and attitudes to enhance the image of Destination Trinidad by providing a safe, secure, and enjoyable environment for our international guests.
The World Golf Hall of Fame is leaving Florida and returning to North Carolina, where it will be part of the USGA’s campus at Pinehurst in time for induction ceremonies during the US Open weeks in 2024. The move will involve relocating some of the artifacts that have been on display at the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Fla., which opened in 1998. The visitor experience also will include the USGA museum and its vast library.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
In 2005, an Air France passenger jet carrying 309 people skidded off the runway in a fierce thunderstorm at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. All on board escaped before the jet burst into flames.
Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com