10 DEC 2018: In case you missed it, and even if you didn’t, here’s a quick look at some of last week’s need-to-know travel news:

AIR

WestJet has expanded its codeshare relationship with Qantas by placing its WS code and flight numbers on Qantas-operated flights between Los Angeles and Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane as well as Qantas seasonal service between Vancouver and Sydney. WestJet and Qantas have been codeshare partners since 2014.

Porter Airlines’ seasonal service to Myrtle Beach will take flight beginning Feb. 13, through to May 19, 2019. The carrier will offer non-stop flights directly from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with added frequency during March Break. Porter touts the South Carolina destination’s oceanfront hotels, sandy beaches, and 100-plus golf courses, noting that packages are available through Porter Escapes.

TOURS

Goway’s new 2019-20 Idyllic Islands brochure is out, offering comprehensive travel options to bucket list destinations including Tahiti, Fiji, Cook Islands, Bali, Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives, and the islands of Greece and Croatia. Included are a range of resorts from boutique to ultra-luxury, boutique cruises, vacation packages, and more. Order the guide at info@goway.com.

UK small group youth travel specialist TruTravels, has been bought by G Adventures, broadening G’s reach into the youth travel sector. Launched in 2012, TruTravels caters to an 18-25 demographic and offers “fun-focussed travel rooted in meeting new people and driven by social media influences.” Tru founders Joe Fallon and Mark Pope will continue to run the company as partners and minority shareholders and plan to expand to take advantage of G’s supply chain access, as well as share resources in areas such as technology, talent acquisition and finance. “Our aim is to give them a boost so they can do more of what they already do so well,” says G Adventures boss Bruce Poon Tip.

Busabout’s expansion in Asia continues and is reflected in the tour company’s new 2019-20 brochure the region. Two new tours, Bangkok to Kwai Adventure and Southern Thailand Adventure, are available, more local guides have been engaged, and the Hop-on Hop-off freestyle form of travel from Europe will be launched in North America for the first time in May, 2019. Clients can also take advantage of an ‘Unlimited Asia Pass.’

DEALS

The first 70 customers to purchase a $500 Rail Europe Gift Card this week (through Dec. 14) will get $75 added to the card for free. A discount of $30 will also be offered for the London-Edinburgh route on an eco-friendly train from new railway operator London North Eastern Railway. Use promo code GREEN30LOEB for tickets from London to Edinburgh and code GREEN30EBLO for travel from Edinburgh to London (discount available Dec. 10-23).  For more details on Green Monday promotions, go HERE.

HOTELS

Not all expense accounts will cover the Georges V. With this in mind, a new Courtyard by Marriott has opened in Paris. Located in the heart of the city, the 249-room Courtyard By Marriott Paris Gare de Lyon hotel is aimed at business travellers through its central location, transportation options, ample meeting space, all-day dining, gym, and contemporary décor.

W Costa Rica – Reserva Conchal is the first W hotel in Costa Rica. The newly opened property is located within a 930-hectare nature reserve just minutes from Tamarindo, an internationally renowned surf spot. Nearby Playa Flamingo offers horseback riding, ATV and catamaran rides as well as fishing, snorkeling and jungle exploration by foot.  W Costa Rica is also the newest W Escape, the brand’s unique spin on the traditional resort experience – zip line and all.

RESORTS

One year after the initial announcement of Club Med’s first-ever ski resort in Canada, the company has revealed the first look at the resort’s architecture and design (photo). Club Med Quebec Charlevoix will be the first resort venture into the Canadian market for Club Med and marks the return of its ski offering to the North American market. However, it will also be open year-round with an emphasis on regional its activities, delicacies, culture and people.

Royalton is rolling into Grenada, with the Sunwing Travel Group announcing that it plans to open a 300-room “all-in luxury resort” on there in December, 2019. The Royalton Grenada will be the largest resort on the spice island and will feature a world-class spa, eight restaurants, and a host of facilities and services appealing to couples, families and groups. “Grenada is a beautiful and welcoming destination with a lot to offer and we’re looking forward to spearheading tourism growth on the Island and have already started with our new flights beginning next month”, said STG president and CEO Stephen Hunter.

A significant new resort property is being planned for Long Island, one of the Bahamas’ most pristine Out Islands. The US$500-million development by the Star Resort Group will be set on 337 hectares with nearly 5 km. of shorefront on both the Atlantic Ocean and Exuma Sound. Port St. George will include a five-star hotel and spa, 515 luxury residences, a 640-berth full-service marina & yacht club (largest in the Bahamas), beach club and a golf course among other amenities. The project will have an eco-focus, with plans to operate entirely off the grid through solar tiles and storage batteries.

CRUISE

Remember Mardi Gras (the ship, not the New Orleans festival that no one would expect you to remember)? It was the first Carnival Cruise Lines ship to enter service in 1972. Now, almost half a century later, Carnival is bringing back the name for its new XL-class ship, which will be delivered in 2020. The name was revealed on TV as an answer to a puzzle on Wheel of Fortune.

With last week’s official launch of the Celebrity Edge, the cruise line is now looking ahead to the next Edge Series ship to join its fleet, the Celebrity Apex, which will debut in Southampton in 2020 where she will offer a mini season of five sailings to European destinations, including the Norwegian Fjords and the northern coasts of Spain and Portugal. After a Northern Europe mini season, she’ll spend the rest of her inaugural summer sailing seven- to 12-night itineraries in the Mediterranean.

An exotic 16-night Fiji to Bali itinerary, and 12- and 13-night Fiji, Tonga, Cook & Society Islands sailings highlight Paul Gauguin Cruises’ 2020 schedule. Returning favourites include seven-night Tahiti & the Society Islands and Society Islands & Tahiti Iti; plus 10-night Society Islands & Tuamotus; 11-night Cook Islands & Society Islands; and the 14-night Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society Islands. To launch its voyages, PGC is offering savings of 50% off standard cruise fares on all voyages, plus included airfare from Los Angeles. Past guests also receive 15% off on select sailings.

THEME PARKS

An all-new Ultimate EVE package, coupled with extended theme park hours to 2 a.m., will allow guests to welcome the new year in style at Universal Studios Hollywood. Package highlights include admission starting at 6 p.m., access to private lounges, buffet dining, private cash bars, reserved VIP viewing areas for the dazzling fireworks display, a complimentary, midnight champagne toast, commemorative 2019 party favours and unlimited Universal Express access to all rides and attractions.

Dubbed America’s first “first truly upscale, indoor/outdoor resort water attraction,” Soundwaves opened Dec. 1 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville. Featuring 34,000 sq. m. of thrill-rides and attractions that fuse water and music, the attraction is intertwined with living walls and plant beds in an environment that maintains a 29-degree C temperature and boasts a uniquely-designed roof that permits natural light, giving guests the opportunity to sunbathe indoors year-round. A host of seasonal outdoor features expand and enhance the attraction.

PEOPLE

The Travel Agent Next Door reports that it has joined the exclusive Air Canada Circle of Excellence in 2018. COE status provides access for TTAND members to the Air Canada Elite Customer Care Centre and a dedicated Air Canada Account and Customer Support Team.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has named Kelly Craighead as president and CEO effective Jan. 1, 2019. Craighead will be taking over the role currently held by Cindy D’Aoust.

FAMS & INCENTIVES

For the month of December, Sunwing agents will be rewarded with 4X STAR points (that convert to cash) and 4X RIU RPC (Riu Partner Club) points on all new bookings made by Dec. 31 to select RIU Hotels & Resorts for departures from Dec. 23 to April 30, 2019. On top of their earnings, each time an agent makes a booking with a participating resort, they’ll be entered into a weekly contest for a chance to win an all-inclusive vacation for two to a select resort included in the promotion. Participating resorts include: Riu Palace Costa Mujeres, Riu Sante Fe (photo), Riu Palace Tropical Bay, Riu Yucatan, Riu Cancun, Riu Bambu, Riu Reggae and Riu Guanacaste.

Emulating the 12 Days of Christmas, TravelBrands Cruises, by Encore Cruises is offering agents a host of bonus loyalty points for bookings. Each day has a different reward based on a specific cruise package booked. The Encore’s Favourite Things promotion continues through Dec. 21.

Until Dec. 16, Air Canada Vacations is offering 2X ACV&ME points to agents booking a package or group at select Karisma Hotels & Resorts for travel until April 30, 2019. Participating Resorts include: El Dorado Royale, A spa Resort by Karisma, El Dorado Casitas Royale, El Dorado Maroma, El Dorado Seaside Suites, Azul Beach Resort Riviera Maya, Generatiosn Riviera Maya, Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Can, Hidden Beach Au Naturel Resort by Karisma. At the same time, every day throughout December, ACV is offering a chance to win ACV & ME Bonus points, future travel vouchers, extra bonus commission, gift cards and air tickets. Each booking made on the corresponding day will be entered in for the daily giveaway.

EVENTS

Air Transat and the Children’s Wish Foundation’s annual Flight with Santa Claus lifted off Dec. 5 with hundreds of children hoping to find Santa somewhere in the sky between Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. For photos, please follow this LINK.

Last week, WestJet hosted over 40 members of its Travel Agent Advisory Board (TAAB) at the Paradisus Playa del Carmen in Mexico for its annual conference. Representing more than 30 agency partners from across Canada, the TAAB participated in discussions on the future of WestJet and what the airline’s travel partners can look forward to in 2019. “As respected partners, we look to the TAAB to collaborate on our strategies for both WestJet and WestJet Vacations,” said Jane Clementino, WestJet Director, Agency Sales. “We wanted this year’s focus to be on educating our members about our new products and services, and all the opportunities we’re opening up for travellers in Canada and beyond.”

BY THE NUMBERS

New York City’s travel and tourism sector saw a record-breaking year in 2017 with 62.8 million visitors, US$44 billion in direct visitor spending and $66 billion in total economic impact, representing the largest tourism economy in the United States. The industry also sustained a record 391,000 jobs for working New Yorkers in all sectors of the economy. Since 2009, the industry’s contribution to city tax revenues has increased by 70% to $4.4 billion. Since 2008, 42% of new hotels have been built in the boroughs beyond Manhattan. The City enjoys the highest hotel occupancy rate nationwide at 87.6%, while simultaneously maintaining the most active hotel development pipeline in the nation, with an additional 17,700 rooms to be added to the inventory by 2021. The visitor forecast for year-end 2018 is 65.2 million visitors, comprising 51.6 million domestic and 13.5 million international visitors.

DESTINATIONS

Cuba officially has a million reasons to love Canadians with the country’s tourist board announcing that visitations from this country broke the milestone mark in 2018. Eloy Govea, Director of the Cuba Tourist Board in Canada, attributes the strong results to a dedicated effort by the country’s tourism industry to invest in hotels and infrastructure ahead of Havana’s 500th anniversary (at least seven new hotels will open in the capital by the end of 2019, including the Prado y Malecón and Gran Hotel), and the continued roll out of WiFi service, with coverage for every hotel on the island on target for the end of 2019.

The Bahamas is enjoying a cheerful holiday season as the destination ends the year on a high note with record tourism arrivals. In 2018, The Bahamas has seen an over 10 percent increase in international arrivals aided by new hotel product and new direct airlift from major hubs. Travellers visiting in December can expect major end-of-year cultural celebrations, and hot deals for last- minute travel. For a complete, up-to-date listing of deals and packages for The Bahamas, click HERE.

Weather permitting, the Ice Hotel – the only one of its kind in North America – will be open for overnight stays from early January through mid-March. The stunning and ephemeral work of art and architecture is built entirely of ice and snow and features an ice bar, themed suites and a chapel. Every winter, the unique hotel, found just outside Quebec City, is completely redesigned and rebuilt with a new theme. The hotel is located onsite at the Valcartier Vacation Village, the largest winter playground in North America with 35 snow slides, skating, and snow rafting.

Send news to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com