Forbes named its best Canadian employers for 2024 – find out which travel companies made the list; other Round-Up highlights include five new planes for WestJet, the launch of Lynx summer service from Montreal to L.A., a sales booking record for Holland America, and consideration by Crystal of its status in the Red Sea.
NEWS
The Canadian travel industry isn’t a bad place to work according to Forbes, which released its annual Canada’s Best Employers rankings for 2024. Among travel-oriented companies to make the list were Marriott Canada at No. 46; Transport Canada – 47; Accor – 77; Expedia Group – 88; Hilton – 108; Four Seasons – 138; VIA Rail – 150; Air Canada – 185; Porter Airlines – 186; Blue Mountain Resort – 189; GTAA (Toronto Pearson) – 210; CAA Quebec – 213; BCAA – 226; WestJet – 249; Transat AT – 260; Manulife – 267, Best Western – 283; and Canadian North – 286.
Meanwhile, Air Canada was also recognized as one of the top employers for young people in Canada in 2024 (numeric ranking not designated), the first time the airline has received this recognition. The honour, awarded by Mediacorp Canada Inc., celebrates the nation’s leading organizations for their commitment to developing and nurturing young professionals. through innovative and forward-thinking programs for young workers, including mentorship, training, career opportunities, and social responsibility.
Perimeter Aviation, the parent company of Bearskin Airlines says it plans to discontinue passenger service from Thunder Bay, Ont. to Dryden, Fort Frances, and Kenora effective May 11. Termination of the flights is being blamed on financial reasons. The alternative is an Ontario Northland bus that provides transportation in a loop between the cities.
BY THE NUMBERS
While visitor spending reached a record $7 billion in 2023, Toronto reached 93% of pre-pandemic arrivals, according to the year-end Toronto’s ‘Visitor Economy: 2023 Market Performance Highlights’ report published by Destination Toronto. Toronto welcomed 8.95 million visitors in 2023, compared to 9.56 million visitors in 2019 with domestic travellers accounting for 71% of all visitors. International visitors – including the vital US market – have shown slower recovery and remain 25% below 2019 levels.
AIR
Five brand new Boeing 737 MAX 8s are being added to the WestJet fleet with the planes expected to arrive in early 2025. Combined with its existing order book, WestJet will now receive as many as 22 brand new Boeing 737 MAX airplanes before the end of 2025, and up to 62 additional airplanes of this type before the end of 2028.
A new route between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) will be launched by Lynx summer with three non-stop flights per week starting on July 11, increasing to daily service as of Aug.11, 2024. Fights will initially operate Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday and tickets are now on sale.
Porter Airlines took flight with roundtrip service between Toronto Pearson and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Jan. 25.
United will remain the largest US carrier to/from Canada with over 150 daily flights between the countries, serving nine destinations in Canada from all seven of its US hub airports this summer. Highlights of United’s “significant” Canadian expansion include: The resumption of flights between Halifax-Newark/New York, Vancouver-Washington, D.C, Winnipeg-Denver, and service from Chicago to Winnipeg and Quebec City, all starting in May; Flying larger planes to Edmonton and Montreal from its hubs in Denver and New York/Newark, respectively; and adding more flights to Toronto, Calgary, and Ottawa.
DEALS
St. James’ Club & Villa, Elite Island Resorts’ family-friendly, all-inclusive resort in Antigua is offering one free place for children aged 11 and under staying with two or more adults in all room categories until January 2025. All food, beverages, activities on site and non-motorized water sports are free for the child for the duration of the stay.
EVENTS
Visit California recently conducted its 2024 Western Canada Trade Roadshow with stops in Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver. Despite frigid Canadian weather, more than 250 travel advisors and 22 trade partners took part, including Air Canada, Air Canada Vacations, WestJet, Porter Airlines, Travel Brands, AMA Travel, Ensemble and Virtuoso (photo). Agents participated in an interactive training platform, including the “California Dating Game,” which highlighted each destination through a fun gameshow-style format.
TOURS
Through Jan. 21, G Adventures’ ‘Great Adventure Sale’ offers 25% off on a huge range of trips throughout 2024. Destination include Colombia, the Galapagos, India, Italy, and Thailand, with savings in effect for travel booked through Dec. 15. For a full list of trips, click HERE.
A new Explorations brochure for 2024 has been released by Collette. The guide features 42 of Collette’s small group Explorations tours, comprised of average groups of just 16 travellers, allowing for a more immersive experience. Tours feature inclusions like spending a night in a Buddhist monastery while in Japan, attending an oyster shucking demonstration while in Maine, and zipping around in a Tuk Tuk while in Thailand. This year’s brochure also includes a preview of an entirely new batch of Explorations tours set to debut in 2025, which will feature destinations like Namibia, South Africa, Greece, Portugal, The Balkans, and South America.
To see it, click HERE.
HOTELS
Now in its 24th edition, Hôtel de Glace, located in Village Vacances Valcartier in Québec City will remain open until March 16. This year’s theme is “Historic Timeline,” spanning the evolution of human life, exploration, and cultural milestones, from music and fashion to sports, video games and writing. Each room and corridor in the ice hotel is themed to a different historical period, adorned with intricate ice sculptures narrating defining moments. Visitors can choose daytime or evening passes or book an overnight stay.
Hotel Indigo, dubbed the ‘World’s Neighbourhood Hotel,’ is seeing rapid global growth with more than 150 properties open and another 130 in the pipeline. Additionally, the brand is poised to double its reach in the next three to five years. In the Americas, Hotel Indigo has continued to bolster its presence with 2023 openings in must-see destinations for next-gen explorers, including the Galápagos Islands, Guadalajara, La Paz and Panama City, Fla. New hotels coming soon in the region include offerings among the inspiring and culturally rich neighbourhoods surrounding Washington, D.C., Barbados, and Grand Cayman.
RESORTS
Sunscape Coco Punta Cana is the newest addition to the Inclusive Collection, part of World of Hyatt. The newly remodeled 1,059-room family-friendly resort expands the Inclusive Collection’s portfolio in the Dominican Republic to 15 resorts and marks the opening of the second Sunscape Resort & Spa branded property in the country. Nestled along the pristine Bavaro Beach in the colourful town of Cabeza de Toro, Sunscape Coco Punta Cana offers a fresh, contemporary design that complements the natural surroundings of bent coconut palms and the Laguna Bavaro Wildlife Reserve.
Jamaica’s The Tryall Club, the luxury private luxury property and golf club in Montego Bay, has opened The Spa at Tryall, offering a plethora of bespoke treatments and fitness offerings, including sound therapy, yoga meditation, massage treatments, guided breathing, and more. Located near the northeast edge of the 200 sq. m. property, The Spa at Tryall was created by The Tryall Club to enhance the guests’ experience with therapeutic wellness. The facility is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, including the full list of treatments and products, go to www.tryallclub.com/spa-in-jamaica/.
CRUISE
With shipping under attack in the Red Sea, Crystal Cruises is the latest cruise line to take stock of its situation in the region. Citing safe passage of its cruises as being of paramount importance, the cruise line says it is “diligently working to create alternate itineraries, recognizing the potential need to make adjustments should the need arise to cancel voyages that transit the Red Sea” and that it will “maintain an ongoing conversation with our guests to ensure their preferences are considered and addressed.” Notably, Crystal says its World Cruise will still reach Miami by June 8, 2024, even impacted by a course change.
Holland America Line says it set a new single-day sales record on Jan. 16, topping the previous record from July 11, 2023, by 18%, and making it the biggest sales day in the 150-year history of Holland America Line. The cruise line also set a record for the week ending Jan. 19, achieving its largest-ever bookings week during a “wave” season, the traditionally high booking period for the cruise industry between January and March. Over one-third of the week’s bookings were for Holland America Line’s Alaska cruises. Guests were also planning ahead, with 22% of the reservations made for cruises in 2025 or later.
ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
The Daytona Aquarium & Rainforest Adventure will be opening in Daytona Beach, Fla., in early 2024 and will be the destination’s first aquarium offering an interactive educational experience featuring animals from both land and sea. The 5,100-sq.-m. facility will be located on the northwest corner of International Speedway Blvd. and Nova Road in the heart of Daytona Beach. Plans for the aquarium include close to 40 separate tanks including a 416,000-litre shark tank and a 45,000-litre-gallon stingray touch pool. There will also be habitats for alligators and crocodiles, frogs, and lizards. The indoor rainforest will be coming in phase 2 and is planned to open within eight to 12 months after opening. The rainforest will have animals like, sloths, armadillos, tamarins, Toucans, and other various types of birds.
FAMS & INCENTIVES
Travel advisors becoming a Peru Agent with PromPerú before Feb. 28 can win a $250 Amazon gift card! Visit the Peru Agent web side or download the app for access to the course.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
Air Transat has named Benjamin Pron VP Commercial Air Transat. Employed by the airline company since 2019, Pron until recently held the position of Commercial Director for Air Transat. In this new role, Pron is responsible for developing and implementing the airline’s sales and distribution strategy in Canadian and international markets, including France and Benelux, the UK, Ireland, and GSA markets.
Porter Airlines is introducing a new senior leadership structure to support its ongoing growth. The president and CEO roles will be separated, with Michael Deluce continuing in the position of CEO, while current executive VP and CCO Kevin Jackson assumes the role of president.
DESTINATIONS
The Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) has appointed Toronto-based Siren Communications to lead its public relations in Canada to raise awareness of the destination across the country. “Virginia Beach is a wonderful travel destination that offers something for everyone,” says Siren founder Ann Layton. “This sunny stretch of the Virginia coastline has so many cultural attractions, including museums, art galleries, theatres, and historic sites. The boardwalk is a popular attraction in its own right with many restaurants, shops, and entertainment options for travellers of all ages.”
San Diego Museum Month will return for its 35th year in February and for the first time, the popular program is expanding to include cultural sites in Tijuana and Baja California, making it the biggest and most diverse ever, with more than 70 regional cultural sites offering half-off admission throughout the entire month.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
In 1986, Britain and France announced plans to build a tunnel under the English Channel. (The “Chunnel” was opened on May 6, 1994. Regular passenger service began six months later.)
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