30 JUL 2018: 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, sales and specials:
AIR
Ottawa has announced expanded air transport agreements with Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. The Canada-Egypt air transport agreement has been expanded to allow designated airlines to operate up to seven passenger flights per week, up from four. In addition, designated airlines now can serve any city in the other country’s territory. The expanded Canada-United Arab Emirates air transport agreement allows each government to allocate 68 percent more capacity.
Sunwing is once again set for Sept-Îles, Que., this winter with an expanded flight program that includes Cancun and a new weekly flight to Punta Cana. Both flight services will be available between Dec. 12 and April 10, 2019 and can be packaged with multiple hotels.
Swoop has released its domestic winter schedule for booking for Oct. 27 to April 27, 2019. WestJet’s ultra low-cost carrier, which currently serves Halifax, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Abbotsford, had its inaugural flight on July 25.
Customers of KLM can now use voice commands to search easily for flights on Google Assistant. The service is available in English and Dutch.
The Star Alliance Connection Service, which assists passengers with tight connections between two Star Alliance member airline flights, is now in effect at Toronto Pearson Airport. Dedicated Connection Service staff use special software to monitor the transfer window for customers with onward flights. Cases where passengers and checked bags appear in danger of missing a connection are automatically highlighted and contingencies put in place before the flight even lands. Toronto is the 13th largest Star Alliance hub in the world. See TIGHT CONNECTIONS
TOURS
Queue up 72 pages of African experiences in the Globus family of brands’ new Africa brochure, with 14 tours from Globus, Cosmos and Monograms. Destinations include Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Victoria Falls, and Botswana. For every traveller booked a donation will be made to the South Africa National Parks anti-poaching campaign and the Lion Recovery Fund. A new 156-page Latin America brochure has also been released.
Contiki’s new Europe 2019 Preview program will offer, for the first time, 100 percent guaranteed definite departures on its over 470 European summer tours in 2019. To help agents entice young clients to book, the tour operator is offering a $100 Free-Time voucher that can be used to spend on any Free Time Add-Ons for any bookings made before Sept. 5.
Costsaver’s “First Look” for 2019 has hit the digital street with prices starting at $143 per day for Britain and Europe tours such as Irish Wonder, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Jewels of Italy. See the full program at www.costsavertour.com.
Air Canada Vacations’ 2018/19 Sun Collection is now on the scene. Boasting over 700 hotels resorts plus 100 cruises in Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii, California, Florida and Las Vegas, the guide is broken out into the following collections: Spotlight, Luxe, Family, Boutique, Adults Only and Spa. Packages are available from 64 Canadian cities.
DEALS & DISCOUNTS
The “dreaded single supplement,” is not a factor for solo travellers on some of Goway’s most popular tours and cruises, the tour company reminds agents. Options include Coral Expeditions and Mekong River cruises, Peregrine Adventures’ Spirit of Amalfi, and some safaris in East Africa.
With only eight weeks left before fall starts, Sunwing’s Summer Blowout Sale is offering vacation packages to select five star resorts across the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America for less than $1000 per person. Availability is limited and all packages must be booked by August 3rd.
The deadline for Avalon Waterways’ Free Air offer has been extended to Aug. 7. Applicable to European river cruises departing between September and December, the incentive includes free sked air on flights from Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, while clients from numerous other gateways receive a special $299 fare. In addition, clients receive a $1,200 saving per couple off the regular price of the cruises.
Collette reminds that July 31 is the final day that clients can book a 2018 tour and save 10 percent (excluding Discovery, Antarctica, Iceland’s Magical Northern Lights, Inspiring Iceland, and Icelandic Adventure). The special offer is in conjunction with the tour company’s 100th anniversary.
ACCOMMODATION
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) opened its 100th Holiday Inn Express property in Canada – the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Trois-Rivières.
Universal Orlando Resort’s Aventura Hotel opens on Aug. 16 – a date that will also mark the opening of Orlando’s first roof-top bar at the hotel. Bar 27 Bistro will be perched on the 17th floor offering food, drinks, and stunning views of the city.
Mark your calendar: In 2021 a new Ritz-Carlton will open in New York. The $500-million 250-room Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad will be located at Broadway and 28th in the vibrant North of Madison Square Park (NoMad) neighbourhood.
RESORTS
Two rights make a… super right? Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa’s new “Skip the Straw, Save a Turtle” initiative to eliminate plastic straws at its beach bar is designed to protect the Saint Lucia resort’s resident turtle population and reduce pollution at the same time. Coconut Bay has been involved in turtle conservation for 13 years and recently released 150 hatchlings to the sea.
CRUISE
For new bookings made through Aug. 3, guests sailing on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth can save up to 50 percent and receive an $800 onboard credit for select sailings. Included are seven-night Transatlantic crossings, New England and Canada and Med. voyages, and 13-night European Cruises. Use the promo code RG5.
If your idea of a Christmas tree is a palm tree, Paul Gauguin Cruises suggests climbing aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin for one of its Dec. 22 or 29 Tahiti & the Society Islands voyages, which allow guests to enjoy the Christmas holiday on French Polynesia’s white-sand beaches or ring in the New Year in the South Seas. Departing from Papeete, the cruises call in Huahine, Taha’a (Motu Mahana), Bora Bora and Moorea, plus PGC’s two exclusive retreats – Motu Mahana, an islet off the coast of Taha’a, and a private beach in Bora Bora.
Sounds like a movie, but it’s the name of Virgin Voyages’ new ship: Scarlet Lady. She’s due in 2020.
Luxury cruise operator Fiordland Discovery has introduced a new Milford Sound overnight winter cruise in New Zealand aboard its Fiordland Jewel, a custom-built 20-passenger catamaran. Two-bedroom cabin rates start at approx. Cdn. $710). www.fiordlanddiscovery.co.nz
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection says it will become single-use plastic free by 2022. Having already removed all plastic straws, water bottles and related single-use items from its ships, Uniworld’s announcement comes on the heels of parent company, The Travel Corporation’s commitment to ban the use of many single-use plastic items at its 40 offices worldwide and will phase them out across all operations by 2022.
DESTINATIONS
Foodies can now begin making reservations for Visit Orlando Magical Dining Month, which runs Aug. 24-30 at more than 100 city eateries, in the city, including 19 new venues. Price is US$35 p.p. for a three-course, prix fixe dinner menu, with $1 from every meal served donated to a local charity. www.OrlandoMagicalDining.com
The world’s first Warner Bros. indoor theme park opened its doors to great fanfare on July 25 in the United Arab Emirates. Located on Yas Island, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi features ‘s 29 state-of-the-art rides, interactive family-friendly attractions and unique live entertainment across six fully immersive lands.
TRENDS
With Qs 1 and 2 in the books, Goway has come up with its top trending destinations based on the first six months of 2018: Italy, Greece, Ireland, Croatia, Japan, Thailand, Malawi, Zambia, Chile, Colombia, Peru and Argentina.
EVENTS
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) will hold its annual State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) Oct. 2-5 at the Atlantis, Paradise Island in The Bahamas. Themed Rejuvenate, Recreate, Reconnect – New Directions for Caribbean Tourism, the conference ties in with CTO’s declaration of 2018 as the “Caribbean Year of Rejuvenation and Wellness,” with multifaceted themes for each of the three conference days. To register go to www.sotic.onecaribbean.org.
PEOPLE
NYC & Company has named John Marshall as director, Tourism Development, Established Markets, serving the USA & Canada. He has worked with the Canadian market before in travel industry posts and will liaise with NYC’s travel trade representatives in Toronto, Reach Global Marketing.
Send your news to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com