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

Air Canada has unveiled the newest member of its fleet, the 137-seat (two cabin) Airbus A220-300. The Canadian built, Bombardier-designed aircraft continues Air Canada’s fleet modernization and features state-of-the-art design and reduced fuel consumption (by 20%). It’s first flight was from Montreal to Calgary on Jan. 16. Air Canada has ordered 45 A220s, which will be used primarily on from Montreal and Toronto on existing Canadian and transborder routes, such as to Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and New York – La Guardia.

As part of it’s 2020 summer schedule, Swoop has announced its East Coast network expansion, with flights between Hamilton, Ontario and St. John’s, NL; Moncton, NB; and Charlottetown, PEI. The new service will begin in June as Swoop receives its tenth aircraft.

Chasing the Northern Lights is now within reach for travellers flying to Alaska from the continental US with Alaska Airlines. Through Feb. 12, the airline will offer a minimum discount of 15% up to 35% off fares to Fairbanks and Anchorage based on the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute’s “aurora forecast.” The more intense the Northern Lights’ forecast, the more flyers will save on flights. AA flies from Seattle and other west coast cities.

DEALS

To help Canadians shake off the winter blues, Sunwing is offering savings of up to 35% on all-inclusive vacation packages when booked by Jan. 24. The Blue Monday Buster Sale includes such resorts as Royalton Suites Cancun and Ocean Varadero El Patriarca. In addition, the tour operator is offering Florida flight deals where travellers can buy one seat and get the second for 50% off and savings of up to $500 per couple on cruise select packages (booked by Jan. 22).

Travellers who book Transat South or Europe cruise packages before Jan 31 will not only save $300 per couple but will also receive a range of additional privileges, including on-board credit, premium beverage packages, free wi-fi, shore excursion credit, and specialty dining packages. The cruise month promotion also affords travel agents double Bonbon points or and $10/cabin commission.

The Travel Corp. reminds that Costsaver’s ‘Ready to Go’ rate goes up on Feb. 1. Until then, clients can receive the “lowest possible price” on select worldwide departures.

Clients booking Globus’s “Great Canadian War Memorial Tour” this year can save up to 7.5% off the price of the tour when reserving by Jan. 28, or 5% by April 2018. There are five departures of the 10-day tour, which pays tribute to all who served Canada during the two great wars, taking in museums, memorials and sites of significant interest in France and Belgium, between May and October.

TOURS

With the backing of Travel Without Plastic, Goway is taking its own small steps to reduce the use of single use plastics when travelling in South America, supplying clients with a complimentary, reusable metal water bottle when they travel in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Brazil.

Small group adventure tour operator Intrepid Travel is offering $1 deposits on over 1,000 trips to 120+ countries through Jan. 30 for travel in 2020 after Feb. 15.

To help clients build their bucket lists for the year ahead, Insight Vacations has curated a top 10 list of experiences from its tours in 2020: Learn to dance Flamenco in Seville (tour: Best of Spain & Portugal); Meet the women of the Iraq Al-Amir cooperative and dine under the stars in Wadi Rum (Jordan Experience); Have tea with a Scottish baron (Best of Ireland & Scotland); Stand face-to-face with the Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota (Grand Journey of America’s West); Taste the unique flavours of Anatolia (Treasures of Turkey); Test your hurling skills (Country Roads of Ireland); Explore Monument Walley with a Navajo guide (Enchanting Canyonland); Take a private trip around Glacier National Park (Canadian Rockies and Pacific Coast); Meet a local oyster farmer (Country Roads of Croatia); Explore the Vatican Museums and the Bramante Staircase (Grand Italy & Sicily).

RESORTS

Located 55 minutes via seaplane from the Maldives capital of Male, the newly opened JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa on Vagaru island, Shaviyani Atoll features 60 spacious villas (photo), starting at approximately 770 sq. m., with private pools and wooden sunbathing decks. Duplex Overwater Pool Villas and single-story Overwater Pool Villas are set on stilts overlooking the Indian Ocean, with a choice of sunrise or sunset views. The resort also features white sand beaches, five restaurants, adult-only clubhouse, fitness and spa amenities, and kids club.

Guests staying in a Club Level room at Sandals Halcyon Beach resort in Saint Lucia can now order room service. The new offering allows guests to order from a full room service menu from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and will continue to offer 24-hour room service for Butler categories.

Serenade Caribbean Hotels has renamed its flagship property the Serenade Punta Cana Beach, Spa & Casino Resort, adding “casino” in the title. The new five-star, 603-room, all-inclusive resort is located on Playa Cabeza de Toro in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and is scheduled to open in June.

HOTELS

On the occasion of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the US in January, the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), has intensified its ongoing effort to fight the odious practice. The company has introduced new programs, tools and resources for colleagues to increase awareness and aid prevention of human trafficking, including a free training available to all IHG-branded hotels worldwide, including more than 4,200 properties in the Americas.

The JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa is set to open in February with 516 rooms, a Spa by JW, and a rooftop terrace with nightly views of theme park fireworks.

Now open:

Wellness is front and centre at the Sofitel Mexico Reform. The hotel’s Sofitel Spa with L’Occitane is equipped with five treatment rooms allowing guests to enjoy a Provençal haven of well-being in the heart of Mexico City. The spa features exclusive services emulating a “fine dining menu” sequence, ranging from appetizers to desserts, which includes spa rituals such as the Sleep & Reset Signature Treatment – a 90-minute massage that uses unique techniques to prepare the body for well-deserved sleep.

CRUISE

Celebrity Cruises has named The Travel Agent Next door its Account of the Year for 2019. The award is based on exceeding revenue growth with Celebrity’s corporate brand goals in 2019 and encouraging TTAND travel advisors to become Celebrity Five Star graduates and ambassadors for the brand. Photo: Shean Carmichael, TTAND Director of Marketing; Penny Martin, TTAND VP of Agent Experience; Brenda Lynne Yeomans, Celebrity Cruises Strategic Market Manager Canada; Flemming Friisdahl, Founder, TTAND; and Kris Campbell, TTAND Training Coordinator.

Norwegian Cruise Line reports that it is now single-use plastic beverage bottle free across its fleet. The achievement will result in the elimination six million plastic bottles a year.

“Why Use a Travel Advisor” (WUATA), the year-long Carnival Cruise Line campaign is back. Featured as “100 Reasons Why Use a Travel Advisor,” the initiative also offers travel advisors 100 bonus reward points for every five bookings they enter in the Loyalty Rocks! Rewards Program between Jan. 13 and Feb. 29 (up to 1,000 points). To participate in the 100 Rockin’ Rewards promotion, travel advisors need to complete the opt-in form available on GoCCL.com and, enter their bookings.

ATTRACTIONS/THEME PARKS

Running Universal’s inaugural Epic Character Race 5K and 10K weekend will take off at Universal Orlando Resort on Feb. 1 and 2. The race through the theme park gives participants ages five and up the unique opportunity to run surrounded by beloved pop culture characters, such as Shrek, Transformers, minions, the Velociraptor Blue from Jurassic World. For information visit HERE.

EVENTS

Globus family of brands hosted its annual Partner Appreciation Event Jan. 17 at Capra’s Kitchen in Mississauga. “Our family want to simply thank you for everything you do throughout the year,” said Globus managing director for Canada, Stephanie Bishop. “Stop, take a breath. Have a glass of wine and enjoy each other’s company. That’s the only purpose of today.” Photo: Julian Cotignola, LATAM; Bishop; Spencer Sorensen, WestJet; Julie Virgilio, Travelsavers; Andrew Jones, Flight Centre; Leanne Thousham, CAA; Michael Magliocco, Delta Airlines; Fiona Barclay, CWT; Sherif Sedhom, Lufthansa; Kim Clarke, Globus; and Tony Celio, Air Canada.

FAMS/INCENTIVES

Through Feb. 1, TravelBrands’ Match Game promotion qualifies agents to be entered to win a future travel voucher of $2,020. To play, agents must make a new booking with a minimum net value of $100 per component before taxes. Eligible products include flights, cruises, hotels, car rentals, add-ons, packages with TravelGenie, Sunquest and Exotik Journeys. Four days after the booking is made, travel agents will receive an invitation to play Match Game, where they can win a variety of Loyalty Points prizing. The draw will take place on Feb. 14 and will be announced on the Your TravelBrands BDM Facebook group.

PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS

With the pending retirement of Ken Brooks on March 31, Celebrity Cruises has announced the promotion of Allan Brooks to Director of Market Sales, Canada. Native Montrealer Allan has been with parent company RCI for over 20 years during which time he has successfully held positions onboard their ships, in corporate headquarters and ultimately in field sales.

The Travel Corporation is supporting Australia by donating A$100,000 towards the NSW Rural Fire Service, which is the lead combat agency for bush fires in NSW and directly benefits volunteer firefighters. “Our hearts go out to the devastating loss of life, property, wildlife and nature from the bushfire tragedy. A huge appreciation goes out to the outstanding efforts of the NSW Rural Fire Service – the danger they put themselves in on a daily basis to protect the community and its surrounding area is heroic,” said TTC chief executive Brett Tollman.

NEWS

Starting April 1, visitors to Saint Lucia will be required to pay a nightly accommodation fee of US$3 or $6 (based on the rate threshold of $120/night), while Airbnb and VRBO guests will have to pay 7%. The money will be used for destination marketing and development.

BY THE NUMBERS

Crummy Internet and cell service just might be a selling point to clients who don’t want to stay in touch with the office while on holiday. According to an Ipsos study conducted for Allianz Global Assistance Canada, 39% of Canadians say they have lied or would consider lying about a lack of phone service or wi-fi as an excuse not to check in at work. Among millennials, that number climbs to 52%. Meanwhile, 65% of respondents (including 71% of women) say they don’t check work emails at all while on holiday. Last year, 50% said they actively chose to disconnect from work, while only 35% of Americans do.

DESTINATIONS

2020 and 2021 have been declared Years of the Outdoors in Wales, with the country’s tourist board celebrating and promoting the country’s natural attributes, from The Wales Way family of touring routes to 40 Blue Flag beaches. “It’s easy for your clients to enjoy the Welsh outdoors – there are three national parks each celebrating different landscapes, the rugged mountains of Snowdonia National Park, the big green open spaces, waterfalls and dark skies reserves in the Brecon Beacons National Park and the rocky and sandy coastline of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park – together with our five areas of outstanding national beauty too,” says the tourist board.

A new digital tool encourages safe driving and sightseeing along the Florida Keys Overseas Highway (US Highway 1). The free Florida Keys & Key West Travel App offers two driving tours, south and northbound between Key Largo and Key West triggered by geographic location and giving drivers advance notice of upcoming scenic, iconic or historical points, such as the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center, Robbie’s Marina, National Key Deer Refuge and Bahia Honda and John Pennekamp Coral Reef state parks. The app also features a section on Keys sustainability to encourage low-impact exploration and foster awareness of green travel experiences available in the island chain. It can be downloaded at the Apple Store and Google Play.

Now open, Utah’s Woodward Park City is the first all-in-one sports and ski resort in the US to feature a fully integrated and state of the art campus, complete with indoor and outdoor action sports facilities open 365 days and nights a year. Located just under 45 km from Salt Lake City International Airport, Woodward Park City was imagined from the ground up to encourage intuitive growth and progression in 10 different sports and activities – from lift-accessed snowboarding, skiing and tubing in the winter, to biking and skating in the summer.