04 MAR 2019: 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

Sunwing will operate seasonal summer flights from Quebec City to Cancun, Varadero, and Cayo Coco again this summer as well as introducing new weekly flight service on Tuesdays to Punta Cana from April 30 to Oct. 29.

A new daily service between London, Ont., and Montreal will take flight June 24 courtesy of WestJet Encore. The seasonal service, departing London at 10:20 a.m. and returning at 12:15 p.m. will continue through Oct. 15.

A flurry of Air Canada route announcements:

• New non-stop service between Toronto and Quito, Ecuador – the first from Canada – will be operated three-times weekly on a seasonal basis by Air Canada Rouge starting Dec. 8 (subject to government approval).
• New winter service from Montreal to São Paulo, Brazil – the only non-stop flights between the two cities – commences Dec. 11, through to March 27.
• New, non-stop, four times weekly flights between Vancouver and Auckland, New Zealand on the 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft begin Dec. 12 until the end of March 2020, subject to obtaining the necessary government approvals.
• New daily, seasonal flights between Calgary and London, Ont., beginning June 24 until mid-October. Flights will be operated onboard Air Canada Rouge Airbus A319 aircraft.
• Dreamliner 787 service will be available on Air Canada’s Toronto-Honolulu route beginning Dec. 14 with three flights a week through April 26, 2020.

DEALS

Guests seeking a vacation in paradise can book their next luxury, all-inclusive escape at AMResorts’ Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets, Breathless, Dreams, Now, Reflect or Sunscape Resorts & Spas and receive discounted rates and resort coupons when they take advantage of the Savings in Bloom promotion. Vacationers booking reservations from Feb. 27 through April 30 for travel through August 17, 2019 will receive: Special discounted rates, up to $200 in resort coupons, and instant savings of up to $300.

Beginning Feb. 26, Choice Privileges members who book two separate stays can earn a minimum of 8,000 reward points, which is enough rewards points to redeem a free night for a future stay at more than 1,000 Choice Hotels properties worldwide. There is no limit to the number of reward points members may earn during the Book. Stay. Repeat. promotion, which runs for two months.

In honour of Saint Lucia’s 40th Anniversary of Independence (Feb. 22), a collection of 20 of the island’s hotels and resorts have created promotions and packages that include discounts on future stays, spa treatments, activities, and other amenities. All details can be found on the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority website. Visitors to Saint Lucia in 2019 will also be treated to an ongoing calendar of commemorative events and celebrations of the 40th Anniversary of Independence.

TOURS

Trafalgar reports that it has developed the world’s first travel fragrance in partnership with leading French perfumery, Fragonard. Named after Trafalgar’s brand philosophy, ‘La Belle Vie,’ the fragrance – “a harmonious blend of delicate white petals and a hint of white grapefruit zest” for both men and women – is available for purchase exclusively to Trafalgar guests travelling through France, on itineraries visiting Paris, Eze and Grasse. For guests travelling on the eight-day Paris Explorer trip, the brand offers an insider experience at Fragonard’s Parisian headquarters.

According to Goway, which cites the Daily Mail, a Fernandina Giant Tortoise, which was thought to have gone extinct over 100 years ago, has been spotted in the Galapagos Islands. The sighting came during an expedition to the island of Fernandina in the western Ecuadorian region of the archipelago. Goway has a wide variety of tours into the Ecuadorian islands, starting at four days from $3,706.

Blind and visually impaired visitors have the opportunity to experience New Zealand through a new sensory-based tour through the Zealandia eco sanctuary, led by a formerly blind nature guide of Maori descent. The tour helps guests to connect with nature through sound, smell and touch at Zealandia, the world’s first fully-fenced urban eco-sanctuary, located 10 minutes from Wellington. The ground-breaking conservation project has managed to reintroduce 18 species of native wildlife, including the little spotted kiwi and tuatara, into the 225-hectare natural park. The sensory tours are offered twice a month and on demand.

HOTELS

Dubbed the world’s most northerly “grand dame” hotel, the Britannia Hotel (rendering above) will re-open on April 1 after a multi-year US$160-million renovation. Located 100 km. south of the Arctic in the colourful fjord city of Trondheim, Norway’s third largest, the hotel has welcomed distinguished guests from presidents to Nobel Prize winners and Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh to Beyoncé and Jay-Z, during its nearly 150-year history. A member of Leading Hotels of the World, the property’s “rebirth” will feature 246 rooms and 11 suites, six restaurants and bars – including its original Palm Court – a spa, gym and indoor swimming pool, along with the latest technology and amenities, such as sound-proofing and TVs concealed within mirrors.

Best Western Hotels & Resorts has acquired global hotel brand WorldHotels representing a collection of approximately 300 unique and special hotels and resorts in premier destinations around the world.

OPEN:

California’s Bay City now has a second Virgin hotel. The Virgin Hotel San Francisco is located at 250 Fourth St. in South of Market (SoMa), close to Yerba Buena Gardens and the Moscone Center, and features 192 rooms plus two Penthouse Suites; multiple dining and drinking outlets, including the brand’s flagship space, Commons Club and the city’s newest rooftop bar, Everdene.

RESORTS

A new Breathless is bound for Mexico. Located in the Cancun Hotel Zone, the brand’s third resort in the country will be comprised of 429 guestrooms and suites and is slated to open in summer 2021. The resort will offer the brand’s Unlimited-Luxury vacation concept, where everything is included, and all without wristbands. Breathless is part of AMResorts, which has 30 properties in Mexico. Breathless Tulum Resort & Spa is set to open in 2021.

The Renaissance Cancún Resort & Marina is the brand’s first hotel to open in Mexico. Located 10 minutes from the city and 25 minutes from Cancún International Airport in the gated community of Puerto Cancun (at the beginning of the hotel zone) and “steps from the beach,” the hotel boasts 180 guestrooms, including 11 suites, all with ocean, marina or golf course views. Opening rates begin at $250 per night.

The flagship Sandals Montego Bay resort has two more restaurants and a new bar as part of its comprehensive makeover. Butch’s Steak & Seafood takes its name from Sandals’ founder and chairman Gordon “Butch” Stewart, while Soy serves Asian cuisine in an authentic décor setting. The all-new Palms Bar services both restaurants and is a spot to grab an after-dinner drink. Also still new is The Jerk Shack, which opened last fall.

CRUISE

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has released a sneak of its new S.S. Mekong Jewel (photo) which will debut Jan. 3, 2020 with a 13-day river cruise that will take guests from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to Siem Reap, with visits to Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat and more. The newly-built ship will feature all-suite accommodations, an indoor swimming pool and two restaurants: a main dining room and an al fresco eatery on the upper deck.

Along with Star Wars Day at Sea theme cruises early next year, Disney Cruise Line will also welcome super heroes from the Marvel world (including, for those of you who aren’t my son, Captain Marvel, Captain America, Spider-Man and Iron Man) to the Disney Magic, for a series of sailings in March 2020. The five-night cruises out of Miami will include live shows for the whole family, a special deck show, Marvel-themed activities for kids and families, and more. Departures are Jan. 9, Jan. 27, Feb. 10, Feb. 24 and March 9, to the Bahamas, and Jan. 18, Feb. 1, Feb. 15 and Feb. 29, 2020 to the western Caribbean.

THEME PARKS

The Southern California CityPASS program now gives customers the ability to build their own discounted ticket packages to a list of top attractions including Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood, SeaWorld San Diego, LEGOLAND California and the San Diego Zoo or Safari Park. Upon visiting the Southern California page of the CityPASS website, travellers select the parks and tickets they want to include with the customized direct-to-the-turnstile tickets then delivered via e-mail.

The first-ever ride-through attraction themed to Mickey Mouse is set to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in fall. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will feature a new cartoon short that takes guests on an unpredictable world of Disney Channel’s Emmy Award-winning “Mickey Mouse” cartoon shorts.

Orlando’s Discovery Cove – sister attraction to SeaWorld – has been officially designated as a Certified Autism Center (CAC) by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) after completion of staff-wide autism sensitivity and awareness training as well as an onsite review of the park property and guest experience.

FAMS & INCENTIVES

AMResorts reports that more than 38,000 travel agents registered in its AMRewards program in 2018, shattering previous participation records with a 27% increase year over year in bookings entered. Rewards can be redeemed for room nights at AMResorts’ 52 properties.

Sandals is continuing its group booking incentive with a new contest period for Q1 2019. Canadian agents who book any type of group – social, corporate or wedding – of five rooms or more at any Sandals or Beaches resort through March 31 will be automatically entered for a chance to win a three-night stay of their very own. No entry form is required.

During Contiki SEVEN campaign (through April 14), travel agents will be able to turn every booking into a cash incentive. With the launch of the 2019 Contiki Rewards program, agents can earn $250 for every five passengers booked on any Contiki trips that are seven days or longer. For every additional five passengers booked, agents will receive another $250 in cash. Agents simply need to fill out the “2019 Cash Incentive” form, which can be downloaded at contiki.com/agents, and email it to sales@contiki.ca. Additionally, Contiki will be giving away destination themed prize packs through their Contiki Canada Travel Agent Facebook page. Throughout the campaign, there will be fun and engaging ways to enter and multiple prizes to be won. Agents are encouraged to check the Facebook group on a regular basis to see what Contiki is giving away and special spot prizing.

PEOPLE

Trafalgar has named Jodine Clement sales manager of Alberta. She boasts 25 years of experience focusing on sun destinations and products with global tour operators and airlines. Her most recent role was as a Business Development Manager in Western Canada, for a hotel chain. In her new role with Trafalgar, Clement will be responsible for strengthening relationships and developing and implementing sales and marketing plans in the Alberta area. She can be reached at Jodine.Clement@Trafalgar.com or via telephone at 1-800-834-5677 ext. 8497605.

BY THE NUMBERS

Research by Booking.com indicates that a third of travellers (34%) want someone or something to do the hard work and make travel recommendations for them and around two fifths (41%) want travel brands to use technologies such as AI to make travel suggestions based on past travel experience. In fact, over half (52%) would be excited about tech travel innovations such as a digital tour guide, bringing them a truly bespoke experience.

DESTINATIONS

Germany’s incoming tourism is scoring a record result for 2018 for the ninth time in succession. According to the provisional figures, 87.7 million foreigners stayed overnight from January to December in accommodation establishments with at least 10 registered beds. These are 3.8 million more international overnight stays than in the previous year, and an increase of five percent. Canadians contributed to the overall success with just over a three percent increase of travel to Germany from January to November 2018.

Nothing says happy anniversary like the launching of a hiking and biking trail. That’s what tiny Liechtenstein will do in May as it celebrates being elevated to the status of an imperial principality 300 years ago in 1719. The Liechtenstein Trail will connect all the country’s municipalities and features castles, cottages, villages and vistas.

D-Day isn’t the only anniversary being observed in France this year. 1519 is symbolically considered to have marked the start of the Renaissance and the Loire Valley region plans to celebrate the artistic, cultural, scientific and intellectual developments of this period with a number of events held throughout the year. Highlights include a large travelling digital show mixing contemporary artistic and musical creations, an international architecture competition, numerous exhibitions held in and around the châteaux of the Loire Valley and a variety of guided tours, banquets and international symposia.

Send your news to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com