In this week’s round-up, there are ruff times ahead for Canadian dog owners travelling to the US; one of the world’s oldest family-owned travel companies is being sold; StatsCan confirmed that airfares are still going up; Sabre welcomed Air Canada full NDC content to its roster; ACV revealed its fall product launch dates; and a famous Las Vegas hotel-casino closed its doors for the final time.
NEWS
Due to a fear of rabies, the regulations for taking a dog into the US are changing. Effective Aug. 1, dogs heading stateside will need to be at least six months old, vaccinated, and have a universally readable microchip, and their owners will need to fill out a CDC form and have a veterinarian sign an export document. The rules also apply to Americans who are returning home with their dogs after a visit to Canada and service dogs are not exempt. Ottawa is attempting to have Canadian dogs exempted and maintain existing rules.
The Travel Corporation (TTC), the iconic travel brand founded, owned, and operated by the Tollman family for 104 years being sold. The company, which counts Trafalgar, Insight, Contiki, and Uniworld River Cruises amongst its portfolio of 40 brands, has entered an agreement to be acquired by global asset manager Apollo, which counts Yahoo and the Venetian resort in Las Vegas amongst its US$671 billion of assets under management. Certain brands are not included in the sale, notably The Red Carnation Hotel Collection and will remain under the continued stewardship of the Tollman family.
ACTA reports that its Fall summits will boast a large tradeshow with over 100 registered suppliers. The premier sponsor for the event is Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations, while major sponsors are Globus, Manulife and Brand USA, which will feature a pavilion of regional partners to meet delegates. Dates for the summits are Sept. 12 in Toronto; Sept. 19 in Richmond, BC; and Sept. 25 in Montreal. For agenda and information, visit actaevents.ca; those who register before July 31 could win a $250 Visa gift card.
BY THE NUMBERS
Airfares rose 2% year-over-year in June – and continue to soar above pre-pandemic levels. Figures from Statistic Canada’s consumer price index show the increase follows a 4.5% year-over-year bump in May and a fairly flat April. Prices also stood nearly 19% above what travellers paid for their plane tickets in June 2019.
AIR
Two non-stop seasonal routes to Tulum, Mexico, from Montreal and Quebec City will be launched by Air Transat starting in December. Tulum joins four other destinations in Mexico served by Air Transat: Acapulco, Cancún, Cozumel and Puerto Vallarta. From Montreal, this seasonal service will operate from Dec. 19 to April 27, 2025, with three departures per week on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. From Quebec City, flights will be offered every Saturday from Dec. 21 to April 26, 2025.
Sabre and Air Canada have announced the launch of Air Canada’s full content via new distribution capability (NDC) in Sabre’s travel marketplace. This launch allows travel agencies to consume Air Canada’s expanded NDC offers and services, enabling them to provide a more personalized travel experience to the customers they serve, the companies say. Travel agents and other travel sellers can shop, book, and service Air Canada NDC offers alongside traditional EDIFACT content and low-cost and ancillary XML options.
Turkish Airlines has enhanced its Istanbul Stopover service for Canadian travellers.
Economy passengers with a layover of at least 20 hours in Istanbul will have the opportunity for a two-night stay in a four-star hotel, while Business Class passengers can experience a three-night stay in a five-star hotel. Passengers will also have the option of extending their stay at contracted hotels with special prices. The program will also continue to offer the opportunity to explore the city through the complimentary Touristanbul service for passengers with layovers between six and 24 hours with eight unique tour itineraries available. Reservations can be made at www.turkishairlines.com.
DEALS
Collette Clients of Collette can save up to $350 on select North American departures with July’s “Hot Deals.” This month’s savings on tours such as “Canadian Rockies by Train,” “Nashville & the Smoky Mountains Holiday,” and “Colours of New England.”
Windstar Cruises’ annual Christmas in July Sale continues through the end of the month. The offer gives guests on Windstar European cruises until March 2025 a complimentary upgrade to the line’s All-Inclusive fares, which includes onboard Wi-Fi, all gratuities, and unlimited wine, beer, and cocktails. In addition to the free upgrade, guests enjoy a shore excursion credit of up to US$500 per person, a 10% double discount for Yacht Club Members (Windstar’s returning guests usually receive a 5% savings), and reduced deposits for 2024 sailings.
RESORTS
RIU Hotels & Resorts has returned to Mauritius with two new hotels in the foothills of the famous Le Morne Brabant (photo). Riu Palace Mauritius, a four-star superior Adults Only hotel with the new and exclusive Elite Club service, is the first RIU Palace hotel opening in the destination. The four-star Riu Turquoise, in turn, is a hotel ideal for a family holiday thanks to its wide variety of services and dining options. RIU’s project consisted of demolishing the two previous hotels to build its offerings in Mauritius, a destination it added to its portfolio in 2014, from the ground up. Both hotels have a total of 700 rooms and are the chain’s most energy efficient hotels thanks to the 2,418 solar panels installed on their roofs.
Now open, Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman is the first Indigo in the Caribbean and the newest property along the celebrated Seven Mile Beach strip. Enhanced by local elements and bohemian design property features 282 guest rooms and suites, a multi-concept epicurean hub for dining, outdoor deck with an infinity pool overlooking the ocean, over extensive meeting and event space, as well as the island’s first rooftop lounge, which will feature innovative cocktails and Latin-inspired fare.
HOTELS
The Mirage resort on the Las Vegas Strip closed its doors last week. New operators Hard Rock International and Florida-based Seminole Gaming plan to add 600 rooms to an existing 3,044 in a bright new guitar-shaped hotel where the sidewalk-side volcano rumbled and gushed nightly. Renderings depict guitar string-like beams spiking into the night sky from a purplish 201-metre tower.
Freshly renovated and relaunched, Tropicana Los Cabos will open its doors in August in San Jose del Cabo. Located in the heart of the arts district, the Mexican hacienda-inspired boutique hotel (originally built as the Tropicana Inn in 1956), is close to art galleries, swimmable beaches, biking routes and the San Jose del Cabo Harbour. The 70-room property is also conveniently located within 20 minutes of Los Cabos International Airport (SJD).
TOURS
In celebration of July’s “Wild About Wildlife” month, African Travel Inc., is offering seasonal benefits for clients, including a complimentary night stay at the ultra-luxe Xigera Safari Lodge in Botswana’s stunning Okavango Delta. The luxury safari outfitter, a TravCorp brand, suggests that, while Africa is a year-round destination, clients should discover “green season” (November to March), the continent’s “best-kept secret” when crowds are fewer and animals are giving birth.
As part of a series of responsible itineraries for the travel trade, VisitScotland has now published a new three-day itinerary, combining three cities: Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, Perth with the impressive new Perth Museum, and Scotland’s UNESCO City of Design, Dundee. With growing demand from clients for green travel experiences, VisitScotland says the itineraries are the perfect tool for tour operators and travel advisors to build trips for their clients that offer outstanding travel experiences while being kind to the environment at the same time. For a copy of the itinerary, click HERE.
CRUISE
Emerald Cruises’ winter 2024/25 season aboard the Emerald Azzurra (starting Dec. 7) will offer new routes exploring less-travelled Caribbean locales including Jost van Dyke and Norman Island in the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat and Antigua. Emerald Azzurra will sail between St. Thomas or San Juan and St. John’s, Antigua. Highlighted by overnight stays in the glamorous St. Barths and visits to the serene islands of Guadeloupe and Barbuda in the Leeward Islands, the itineraries are tailored for discerning travellers seeking unique destinations. This expansion comes in response to strong demand for the Caribbean sailings aboard sister yacht Emerald Sakara (photo, in St. Barths), which has nearly reached full capacity for the upcoming season as well as to strategically realign away from the Red Sea.
Royal Caribbean International’s Utopia of the Seas made its debut. The Oasis Class ship is the first of its kind to debut with three-night weekend and four-night weekday getaways, sailing from Florida.
ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
Next year, Super Nintendo World will open at Universal Orlando Resort as one of five imaginative worlds at the all-new Universal Epic Universe theme park. Developed in partnership between the visionaries of Universal Creative and Nintendo, the vibrant land combines popular Nintendo characters with Universal’s craft of creating innovative theme park experiences to deliver a multi-sensory environment where guests will be able to experience Nintendo games in a whole new way.
FAMS & INCENTIVES
When advisors book their clients on a Sunwing all-inclusive vacation package at Aston Hotels properties in Cuba by July 31, for travel by Oct. 31, 2025, they can earn 3X STAR Points on every booking that convert to cash. Plus, advisors will automatically be entered for the chance to win one of two, seven-night hotel stays at Grand Aston Cayo Paredon in Cayo Coco or Grand Aston Cayo Las Brujas Beach Resort and Spa in Cayo Santa Maria.
EVENTS
Air Canada Vacations has announced its fall product show dates, with the “Dream Makers” road show set to roll into five cities across the country – Vancouver, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, and Toronto – in September. The events will feature a trade show, news and updates presentation, networking with supplier partners, food and beverages, entertainment, prizes, and more. Dates are Sept. 4, Vancouver; Sept. 12, Edmonton; Sept. 17, Halifax; Sept. 19, Montreal; Sept. 26, Toronto. Registration/trade show begins at 5 p.m. and presentations take place from 7 to 8. For more details and registration, contact the tour operator.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
Trevello Travel Group is planning to expand into the US – “and beyond” – after 30 years in Canada. Travel industry veteran Elizabeth Crabill has been tapped to lead the efforts, operating as CEO of Trevello World Holdings (TWH). Reporting to Crabill, Zeina Gedeon remains CEO of Trevello’s Canadian operating company and will add responsibility as COO of TWH.
DESTINATIONS
Starting Aug. 1, the 23rd annual Miami Spice Restaurants Months kicks off with participating city venues offering prix fixe, three-course meals for just $30 or $35 for lunch and brunch, and $45 or $60 for dinner. The program encourages locals and visitors to explore Greater Miami and Miami Beach’s diverse food scene at some 250 restaurants. The promotion continues through Sept. 30. More details at www.MiamiTemptations.com.
In the UK, Visit Manchester has launched its first-ever visitor pass, which grants access to the city’s top attractions like the Coronation Street Experience, the RHS Garden Bridgewater, and the Manchester City stadium tour.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
In 1916, Boeing Co., originally known as Pacific Aero Products Co., was founded in Seattle.
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