23 DEC 2019: In case you missed it – or even if you didn’t – here’s a round-up of last week’s news and information in travel and tourism.
AIR
The second phase of new air passenger rights rules in Canada have come into effect. The first ones landed in mid-July and required airlines to compensate and respond to tarmac delays, denied boardings and lost or damaged luggage. The new phase includes requiring airlines to seat parents beside or near their children at no extra cost and compensate passengers for delays and cancellations within an airline’s control (excluding weather and mechanical issues).
Air Transat has inaugurated service between Vancouver and Costa Rica, consisting of a direct flight to San José and a second flight segment to Liberia. The route is available twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, until April 18.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has officially opened its completely renovated non-Schengen Crown Lounge at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. Offering visitors new food and beverage options and the latest technology, the new lounge has doubled in size with one thousand seats. It is located between piers E and F.
DEALS
Through Dec. 27, Sunwing customers can take advantage of Boxing Day savings of up to 40% on select vacation packages to popular resorts across the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. Options include resorts like Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria, Barcelo Bavaro Palace, and Catalonia Costa Mujeres All Suites and Spa.
Contiki is offering savings of up to 25% off a selection of trips on select departure dates when booked between Dec. 26 and Jan. 6. A full list of the global adventures can be found on the company’s web site.
A Boxing Day offer from Contiki sibling Busabout similarly offers up to 25% off a selection of “free-spirit adventure” trips to the US and Europe, as well as European Hop-on Hop-off travel passes, when booked between Dec. 26 and Jan. 6. Details on the web site.
TOURS
Rocky Mountaineer has accepted delivery of its 10th newly built rail car in time for its 30th anniversary in 2020. Crediting Santa for bringing an early Christmas present (photo), the western Canadian company says its GoldLeaf fleet is now complete. The two-storey premium rail cars seat 72 and feature dome windows that can be dimmed to moderate intensity of incoming sunlight and redesigned galleys to heighten Rocky Mountaineer’s culinary offering. Rocky Mountaineer has doubled its capacity over the past six years with the addition of the 10 GoldLeaf and 12 SilverLeaf rail cars.
Tauck is expanding Tauck Bridges holiday departures by 250% next year to meet a strong surge in demand. Tours will include a European Christmas market for families, two additional departures in Italy and an additional safari in Tanzania in December. The company reports that Tanzania and Costa Rica are its two most popular holiday destinations for Bridges travellers.
Groups can now take a shortened 60-minute “Highlights” audio guide tour of the Tower of London. Clients will be guided through all the key stories and must-see attractions including the White Tower, Crown Jewels and, of course, the infamous ravens. In May, a digital audio guide will also be launched at Kensington Palace, which will include an element of interactivity between the user and the palace, allowing visitors to find out more information on particular objects of interest.
HOTELS
The world’s largest independent hotel brand, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, is planning 20 new launches across the globe in 2020 – from glitzy West Hollywood to historically palatial Stockholm, and from the winelands of Northern California to the undiscovered beaches of Tuscany. Luxury properties include new city hotels, beach resorts, and countryside retreats. Among the forthcoming properties are: Alma Resort, Vietnam (February); Villa Dagmar, Sweden (April); Pendry West Hollywood (summer); and Montage Healdsburg, Ca. (October).
Set among the grand terraces, white stucco houses and garden squares of Bayswater, Six Senses London will inhabit the iconic former Whiteleys department store building when it opens in 2023. The hotel, wellness club and spa mark the IHG brand’s entry into the UK and will open with 110 guest rooms and suites, starting from 33 sq. m. and celebrate the building’s origins.
Now Open:
With celebrity co-owners Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper on hand, the new Nobu Hotel Los Cabos was officially launched in Mexico Nov. 13. The group’s first hotel in Mexico houses four pools, private cabanas, an Esencia Wellness Spa, Malibu Farm and signature Nobu Restaurant and is close to golf courses designed by Tiger Woods and Davis Love III.
RESORTS
Four new AMResorts-branded properties are set to open in early 2020: Now Natura Riviera Cancun, Dreams Vista Cancun, Secrets St. Martin Resort & Spa and Dreams Macao Beach Punta Cana. They will join the newly opened Dreams Acapulco (November) and Dreams Curacao (mid-December) in the AMResorts’ roster.
Now Open:
Located within easy reach of lively Playa del Carmen, the Riu Palace Riviera Maya has re-opened after a $40-million enhancement program, including 460 fully modernized guestrooms, four pools (including a dedicated kids pool), RiuLand kids club that now offers water slides, and new RIUFit area.
Following a US$45-million investment, the newly renovated and rebranded Marriott Aruba Resort has opened, marking the company’s sixth property on the island. Set in the heart of Palm Beach, the 148-room resort is centered around an oasis of tropical gardens and pools and includes event space, state-of-the-art fitness centre with top-of-the-line equipment, and a newly renovated Spa.
CRUISE
Due to a delay at the shipyard, Carnival Cruise Line is advising agents and passengers that delivery of the Mardi Gras will be delayed. The new schedule will see the cruise line take delivery of the ship in late October and its first revenue sailing will depart from Port Canaveral on Nov. 14, 2020. Consequently, the first eight sailings that were scheduled starting Aug. 31 have been cancelled, including European, transatlantic and New York-based itineraries and four Port Canaveral itineraries.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection will set sail in South America for the first time with two new itineraries throughout the Peruvian Amazon aboard the Aria Amazon, set to debut in September. The new itineraries include the 15-day “Peruvian Amazon & Machu Picchu Exploration” and the 11-day “Peruvian Rivers & Rainforst Discovery,” both of which also include time in the capital, Lima.
MSC Cruises says it is committed to becoming the world’s first fully carbon neutral major global cruise line. MSC executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago says the fleet will achieve a fleet-wide 29% reduction in carbon intensity (rate) by 2024 vs. 2008, and it has a 40% reduction target by 2030.
ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
Disney’s Riviera Resort opened on Dec. 16. at Walt Disney World Resort. The deluxe resort is also the first dedicated Disney Vacation Club resort at Walt Disney World since the opening of Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort in 2004.
EVENTS
Members of Westjet’s Travel Agent Advisory Board (TAAB) recently spent three days of planning and discussion about the future of WestJet at ) at the Marival Armony Luxury Resort & Suites in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The event was attended by 40 TAAB members from across Canada (photo), representing both leisure and corporate agents. Attendees learned more about upcoming WestJet initiatives, took part in workshops, and networked with company executives.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
Nancy Côté, of Voyage Louise Drouin in Drummondville is the winner of Sunwing’s fifth annual STARMillionaire contest, earning one million STAR Agent Reward Points that convert to cash. Designed to reward agents for their group bookings, the annual STARMillionaire contest gives travel agents the chance to win each time they book a group of 10 adults or more. The 2020 STARMillionaire contest is now on for bookings made by April 21 for departures June 1 onward.
JA Canada and the Canadian Business Hall of Fame announced on Dec. 17 that Air Canada President and Chief Executive Officer Calin Rovinescu will be inducted as a Companion into the 2020 Canadian Business Hall of Fame. The Hall celebrates “the outstanding achievements of Canada’s most distinguished business leaders, past and present.” It was established by JA Canada in 1979.
FAMS/INCENTIVES
Experience Kissimmee recently hosted Canadian travel agents and Sunwing product and call centre staff on an educational five-day getaway to the Florida destination. Led by Experience Kissimmee Canadian rep Denise Graham, the group conducted site inspections but also took part in an airboat ride through the Everglades, ziplined at the Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park, and dined at Medieval Times (photo), amongst other activities.
NEWS
In a bid to bring awareness and support to the bushfire devastation in Australia, TravelBrands is inviting travel agents to donate their Loyalty Points to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The company will match all donations made by Jan. 31. Donations will go towards restoring damaged lands and protecting wildlife. To donate, agents can simply log onto their Loyalty Rewards account and click the “donate” button. From there, they must select the amount they would like to donate.
BY THE NUMBERS
372,931 bricks and 2,200 hours went into creating the Twelve Rebuilds of Christmas, a rewrite of The Twelve Days of Christmas by The Savoy and The LEGO Group. Those visiting the renowned London hotel will be greeted at the entrance by A Shark Land-Exploring in the fountain. Once inside the foyer, A Dragon Shaped Christmas Tree made of 150,000 bricks and a Princess Rocket Castle are just a few of the imaginative installations that appear. The decorations will be on display until Jan. 3.
DESTINATIONS
Winterlicious, Toronto’s popular foodie event, returns Jan. 31 to Feb. 13, featuring both a Culinary Event Series and Prix Fixe Promotion. Created by the City of Toronto, Winterlicious, paired with Summerlicious, is designed to allow food enthusiasts to explore the city’s culinary culture. A highlight of the series of event is “Feed Your Soul – A Louisiana Culinary Experience,” to take place Feb. 4, 6-9:30 p.m. at Cirillo’s Academy and featuring chefs Cody and Samantha Carroll, who will served dishes such as Shrimp Remoulade Salad, Shrimp Etouffee, Duck and Andouille Gumbo and Bananas Foster Bread Pudding. Other events include Edible History, The Art of Pizza, a Scotch tasting dinner, and more. For a full list of the 14 scheduled events and ticket info, check HERE.
The US National Park Service has begun a $25-million renovation of the 95-year-old Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, adding new services and design to enhance the visitor experience, including activating the space below the monument. Completion is expected in 2022 prior to the centennial of its dedication.
A 150-foot observation wheel is among the attractions being planned for Golden Gate Park’s 150th anniversary in 2020. The wheel will provide riders with sweeping views from the ocean to downtown San Francisco. The observation wheel will launch on April 4 and operate through March 1, 2021. It will be located at the Golden Gate Park’s Music Concourse, the outdoor plaza near the de Young Museum, the California Academy of Sciences, and the Japanese Tea Garden. The wheel features 36 fully enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas that each seat six passengers.